Lassie (1954 TV series)
| Lassie | |
|---|---|
Title screen of Lassie, seasons 1–4
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| Also known as | 'Jeff's Collie (episodes 1–116) Timmy & Lassie (episodes 116–352) |
| Genre |
Children/Family Adventure/Drama |
| Created by | Robert Maxwell |
| Starring |
Tommy Rettig Jan Clayton George Cleveland Jon Provost Cloris Leachman Jon Shepodd June Lockhart Hugh Reilly Robert Bray Jack De Mave Jed Allan Ron Hayes Larry Wilcox Pamelyn Ferdin Lassie (various dogs) |
| Theme music composer | Les Baxter |
| Opening theme | Whistle |
| Composer(s) | Raoul Kraushaar |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 19 |
| No. of episodes | 591 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Robert Maxwell Robert Golden Dusty Bruce Leon Fromkess |
| Location(s) | California |
| Running time | 26 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Lassie Television Robert Maxwell Associates Jack Wrather Productions |
| Distributor | 20th Century Fox (Feature film only) |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBS (1954-1971) Syndication (1971-1973) |
| Picture format |
Black-and-white (seasons 1–10) Color film (seasons 11–19) |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | September 12, 1954 – March 24, 1973 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The New Lassie |
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie dog named Lassie and her companions, both human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 25, 1973. The fourth longest-running U.S. primetime television series after The Simpsons, Gunsmoke, and Law & Order, the show chalked up 17 seasons on CBS before entering first-run syndication for its final two seasons. Initially filmed in black and white, the show transitioned to color in 1965.
The show's first 10 seasons follow Lassie's adventures in a small farming community. Fictional eleven-year-old Jeff Miller, his mother, and his grandfather are Lassie's first human companions until seven-year-old Timmy Martin and his adoptive parents take over in the fourth season. When Lassie's exploits on the farm end in the eleventh season, she finds new adventures in the wilderness alongside United States Forest Service Rangers. After traveling on her own for a year, Lassie finally settles at a children's home for her final two syndicated seasons.
Lassie received critical favor at its debut and won two Emmy Awards in its first years. Stars Jan Clayton and June Lockhart were nominated for Emmys. Merchandise produced during the show's run included books, a Halloween costume, clothing, toys, and other items. Campbell's Soup, the show's lifelong sponsor, offered two premiums (a ring and a wallet), and distributed thousands to fans. A multi-part episode was edited into the feature film Lassie's Great Adventure and released in August 1963. Selected episodes have been released to DVD.
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