What is Lassie?
A: Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a
female Rough Collie dog named Lassie.
Who created the show?
A: It was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and
animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax.
When was it televised?
A: From September 12, 1954, to March 25, 1973.
The sixth longest-running U.S. primetime television
series after what?
A: The Simpsons, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Gunsmoke, Law & Order
and Family Guy.
The show ran for how many seasons on CBS?
A: 17.
It entered first-run syndication for its what?
A: Final two seasons.
Initially filmed in black and white, when was the show
transitioned to color?
A: In 1965.
The show's first 10 seasons are about what?
A: Lassie's adventures living on a farm.
11-year-old Jeff Miller, his mother Ellen, and his
grandfather are Lassie's what?
A: 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 11th
season, where does she find new adventures?
A: In the wilderness alongside United States
Forest Service Rangers.
After traveling on her own for a year, Lassie settles
where?
A: At a children's home for her final two syndicated seasons.
Lassie received critical favor at its debut and won
what in its first years?
A: Two Emmy Awards.
Stars Jan Clayton and June Lockhart were nominated for
what?
A: Emmys.
Merchandise produced during the show's run included
what?
A: Books, a Halloween costume, clothing, toys, and other items.
Campbell's Soup, the show's lifelong sponsor, offered
what two premiums?
A: A ring and a wallet, and distributed thousands to fans.
A multi-part episode was edited into what feature film?
A: Lassie's Great Adventure and released in August 1963.
Selected episodes have been released to what?
A: DVD.
Between 1943 and 1951, fictional collie Lassie was the
inspiration for how many feature films produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.?
A: Seven.
With completion of the seventh film in 1951, MGM had no
further films planned for whom?
A: The Lassie character or Pal, the male dog actor who portrayed Lassie.
In lieu of $40,000 back pay owed him by MGM, Pal's
owner and trainer Rudd Weatherwax was given what?
A: All rights to the Lassie trademark and name.
Where did Weatherwax and Pal, appearing as Lassie,
begin to perform?
A: At county fairs, carnivals, rodeos, and other venues.
Needing material for the relatively new medium of
television, producer Robert Maxwell sold Weatherwax on what?
A: The concept of a Lassie television series with a boy and his dog theme.
The two men developed a scenario about what?
A: A struggling war widow, her young son, and her father-in-law set on a
weather-beaten, modern-day American farm.
Two pilots were filmed in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada with
the first ("Inheritance") telling the story of what?
A: The bond forged between boy and dog.
The second pilot, ("The Well") was filmed to give
potential sponsors and network buyers what?
A: an idea of a typical episode.
After viewing the pilots, CBS put the show on its fall 1954 schedule.[4]
Campbell's Soup Company signed on early as the show's
what?
A: Sole sponsor and remained so for the show's entire 19 season run.
Filming for the series began in the summer of 1954, and
Lassie made its début on what date?
A: Sunday, September 12, 1954, at 7:00 p.m. EST, a time slot the show would
call home on CBS for the next seventeen years.