6 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Lassie’
The bravest collie to ever ford a river, get stuck on a cliff or, yes, help get Timmy out of a well, Lassie first hit TV screens 70 years ago on Sept. 12, 1954. Though the hero pup had already been the star of seven films, after 1951’s The Painted Hills, the studio considered the character “another washed‐up movie star” and gave the rights to the trainer of the dog who played Lassie, Rudd Weatherwax. Weatherwax then sold those rights to Robert Maxwell, a producer who had worked on George Reeves‘ Superman series, for $2,000 in 1953.
The show debuted the next year and proved to be a powerhouse (and Maxwell turned around and sold the rights in 1956 for $3.5 million). During an astounding 19-year run, Lassie joined two families, an orphanage and the U.S. Forest Service, and spent one season wandering the Earth, solving the problems of various forest creatures. And in the decades since, Lassie has had three feature films and a reboot TV series, all starring sons of the original Lassie.
Wait, sons? Yes, sons. Read on to find out everything you never know about everyone’s favorite courageous house pet.
1. Lassie May Have Been Inspired By Real Dogs
Everett Collection
Most fans know that the original character of Lassie, a female collie who traversed thousands of miles to be reunited with her beloved owner, was the creation of novelist Eric Knight, author of the 1943 hit Lassie Come Home. But many believe the dog was modeled on two real-life heroic collies.
In 1915, a British military ship patrolling the English Channel was torpedoed by a German U-boat. The bodies of some men were placed in the basement of a local pub, which the pub owner’s dog, Lassie, entered. The dog began to lick and cuddle with a man who had been thought dead, but after a half-hour of the dog’s attention, the man was revived.
And in 1923, Bobbie the Wonder Dog walked nearly 3,000 miles to be reunited with his owners in Oregon, after they lost him during a family trip to Indiana — a feat that made him an international celebrity and the star of his own 1924 movie, The Call of the West. Though we don’t know if Knight based Lassie on these dogs, we can agree that they were truly heroic pups who may make you ask your dog, “What have you done for me lately?”
2. Lassie Was Played By Male Dogs
Ivan Nagy/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection
Lassie is a girl — why, it’s right there in the name. But on the big and small screen, Lassie has been played exclusively by male dogs — most famously by a dog named Pal, who appeared in seven Lassie movies. Pal was rejected in his initial audition for Lassie Come Home, but ended up impressing the director later (depending on the story, through his stuntwork, or just by getting his fur washed) and nabbing the role. All subsequent Lassies have been Pal’s offspring, all trained by either original Lassie trainer Rudd Weatherwax, or one of his offspring.
Why was a female dog portrayed by males? Because their fur is more beautiful, and sheds less in the summer. That’s Hollywood for ya!
3. A Famous Comedienne Got Her Start On The Show
LASSIE, Jon Provost, Cloris Leachman, Lassie, (Season 4, aired Dec. 1, 1957), 1954-74 Everett Collection
Quick, who played Timmy’s adoptive mother? If you’re yelling “June Lockhart, you fool!” know that you’re only partially right. The role of Ruth Martin was originated by Cloris Leachman, in her first steady TV gig. Leachman played the role in the second half of Season 4, alongside Jon Shepodd as Paul Martin. According to Lassie star Jon Provost, “Cloris did not feel particularly challenged by the role. Basically, when she realized that all she’d be doing was baking cookies, she wanted out.” When Leachman left, producers ousted Shepodd as well, and replaced them with Lockhart and Hugh Reilly.
4. Filming Sometimes Involved Pouring Gravy On James Stewart
The International Picture Show Company/Courtesy: Everett Collection
When it came to death-defying stunts (or at least, stunts that looked death-defying on TV), Lassie needed no assistance. However, when it came to the smaller stuff, sometimes the collie needed a little help.
Lassie’s vocal communications, which were nearly human-level eloquent on the show, were not supplied on command — they were sometimes recorded separately, then used on the show when needed. And while all the Lassies loved their human costars, they sometimes needed assistance in expressing it. According to a 1979 interview with Rudd Weatherwax in Stars and Stripes, “James Stewart and Lassie got along great. Lassie loved him and he loved Lassie. But, for some reason, Lassie wouldn’t kiss Jimmy. We solved that by putting gravy on Jimmy’s face.” (Lassie’s favorite costars, according to Weatherwax? Elizabeth Taylor and Mary Pickford.)
COURAGE OF LASSIE, from left: Elizabeth Taylor, Lassie, 1946 etaylor-fscn24(etaylor-fscn24)
5. Lassie Got His Own First-Class Airline Seat
For being the world’s most famous dog, the dog who played Lassie had a relatively normal existence, living at home with trainer Weatherwax and other retired patriarchs of the Lassie clan. But he got one major perk: The dog playing Lassie was required to have his own first-class airline seat for travel.
6. Jeff Left The Show Because He Was Overwhelmed By Fame
In early seasons, Lassie lives with the Millers — mom Eileen, son Jeff and grandpa Gramps (0f course). But after four seasons, Tom Rettig, who played Jeff, wanted to leave. As he told The Los Angeles Times in 1990, “I didn’t enjoy the wide recognition. I couldn’t go to dinner. I couldn’t stand in line for a show without attracting a crowd.” Rettig opted to leave and try life as a normal teen, leaving an opening for Jon Provost’s Timmy.
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