Lassie
 Lassie
first touched the hearts of moviegoers in 1943’s feature film Lassie
Come Home, but the talented collie soon switched media, first
with a radio series from 1947 to 1950, then with this wildly
successful live-action TV series beginning in 1954.
Lassie first lived on a family farm near the town of Calverton,
where she was the loving companion of Jeff Miller, his widowed
mother, and "Gramps."
For three years, Jeff and Lassie would rescue each other and
anyone else in a perilous situation, always at precisely the right
moment.
But Tommy Rettig, who played Jeff, inevitably grew up, and the
show's producers decided he would "go off to college" so
that they could replace him with a younger actor.
Family #2 featured the Martins, who took Lassie into their home
after the Millers moved to the city. The Martins had recently
adopted a young orphan named Timmy, who quickly became Lassie’s
new best pal.
But Timmy also grew up, and Lassie moved on yet again. This
time, the Martins "moved to Australia" and since Lassie
would have to be quarantined in order to make the move, they
decided to leave her behind.
The Martins left Lassie with old friend Cully Wilson, but when
Wilson became sick and Lassie ran to forest ranger Corey Stewart
for help, Wilson decided that the trustworthy ranger could better
care for the dog.
 No
longer living on the confines of a farm, Lassie found herself able
to wander into even more rugged and dangerous adventures.
When Stewart was injured while fighting a fire, he gave Lassie
to two other rangers, Scott Turner and Bob Erickson. But perhaps
Lassie's new freedom in the forest had given her more confidence,
and beginning in 1970, Lassie had no single owner as she wandered
the town in search of humans in distress.
In her last two years on network TV, Lassie settled at a ranch
run by Keith Holden, becoming his constant companion.
During these years, a cartoon version of the show also
appeared, titled Lassie's Rescue Rangers. The live-action Lassie
episodes were also making the Saturday morning rounds, airing
reruns under altered titles like Jeff's Collie, Lassie and
Timmy and Timmy and Lassie.
Though cast members came and went, and Rin Tin Tin and Benji
gave her a run for her money, Lassie continuously proved the
enduring appeal and loyalty of man's best friend.
Trivia Note
Six different dogs (all male) played the role of the brilliant,
kind-hearted superdog Lassie. Four different owners were blessed
with "her" presence, not counting the two years that
Lassie went solo.
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