Season 1 Plot
The first season of the television series Lassie premiered in the United States on CBS on September 12, 1954 and ran for 26 episodes until its conclusion on March 6, 1955. Produced by Robert Maxwell, the episodes follows the adventures of a female rough collie named Lassie and her young owner Jeffrey Miller. In 1958, the first through third seasons began syndication under the title "Jeff's Collie." Though the first season of Lassie has never been released completely to home video, some episodes from the first season have been released to DVD. On November 25, 2003, Classic Media released a three episode set, "Lassie: Best of Jeff's Collie," which included the series first episode, "Inheritance". A second set, "Lassie: 50th Anniversary Collection", was released on September 14, 2004 and contained 24 episodes from across the entire series. The set includes three episodes from the first season: "Inheritance", "The Lion", and "Lassie's Pups". "Secret of the Silent Hills", composed by William Lava, is used as the opening and ending theme for the entire season.
Lassie Season 1 aired on September 12th, 1954.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Inheritance
Premiere episode. Jeff inherits Lassie from the late Homer Carey, but the young collie seems strangely reluctant to leave the Carey home.
2. Arithmetic
Jeff is failing arithmetic due to his problems with fractions, so Ellen tells him he may not go to the circus if he doesn't pass his next test.
3. The Colt
To make up for ignoring Jeff, Gramps brings him home a colt Jeff names ""Domino."" Jeff then starts ignoring Lassie in his enthusiasm over having a horse.
4. The Gun
Jeff wants to learn to use his father's gun, but Ellen is terrified of him being exposed to a firearm, although Gramps thinks he should learn to use it.
5. Mr. Peabody
Gramps hires a tramp to do some odd jobs on the farm, then is jealous when Jeff starts to idolize the tale-telling old man.
6. The Convict
Jeff and Lassie meet an escaped convict in the woods.
7. Feud
When Gramps quarrels with Matt Brockway after a hotly contested checker game, both men forbid their sons to play with each other. After Jeff and Porky's first attempt to fix the problem goes horribly wrong, so the boys hide in the woods in hopes that in ""saving"" them Gramps and Matt will be friends again.
8. The Lion
With Gramps and Ellen away for the day, Jeff and Porky plan a lazy day--until an escaped circus lion invades the farm. Worse, no one will believe them when they call for help.
9. Gramps
When Gramps has chest pains, the family tries to keep him from exerting himself.
10. Lassie's Pups
Jeff thinks Lassie needs a vet when her time comes, but a storm is brewing and Gramps says dogs can cope. Dr. Wilson: Frank Ferguson. Mrs. Wilson: Frances Morris.
11. The Job
A radio producer hears Ellen singing at church and offers her a job singing on radio--but she and Jeff must take an apartment in the city and leave Lassie with Gramps to do it.
12. The Carnival
Jeff shows a dog trainer at the fair Lassie's tricks--and thinking she can be a headliner for them, the man and his partner steal her. Clay: Richard Garland.
13. Sale of Lassie
Jeff overhears the wrong conversation, and, thinking Gramps needs an expensive operation, attempts to sell Lassie to raise the money.
14. The Rustlers
The calf Jeff is raising for the county fair vanishes the same night Lassie comes home injured and covered with mud--then she mysteriously starts chasing Ellen's car.
15. The Fighter
Jeff doesn't understand why a famous prizefighter doesn't want to box any longer and pegs him as a coward.
16. The Contest
While Jeff prepares for the county fair, a spoiled little girl visits the farm and continually tries to hurt Lassie.
17. Runaways
After Lassie is suspected of having rabies, she's about to be taken to the pound--but Jeff runs away with her. Clay: Richard Garland. Brockway: Paul Maxey.
18. The Brat
Ellen offers the boys a special treat if they will babysit a boy while she is called out on an errand. But the kid turns out to be more than Jeff and Porky can handle.
19. Father
The church is holding a father-son event and Jeff doesn't want Gramps to fill in for his dad. Jeff is then even more embarrassed when Ellen decides to accompany him instead.
20. The Fawn
Jeff wants to adopt an orphan fawn, but Gramps says there is no place for wild animals on a farm.
21. Blind Soldier
The parents of a blind veteran try to buy Lassie--the young man's own collie Lassie has died and they do not want to tell him the truth, fearing he will slip into depression again.
22. The Cave
Jeff and Lassie are trapped in a cave shown to them by a malicious classmate.
23. The Injury
An injured man, hurt in a car accident, is brought to the farm. He mutters something about hitting a collie with his car--and Lassie is acting strangely.
24. The Well
A snoopy inspector from the water department insists on seeing the Miller well.
25. The Snake
Jeff is bitten by a rattlesnake and Gramps and Ellen rush to get him to a doctor.
26. The Bear
Jeff and Porky's campout is ruined by a persistent bear.