If you could name the most famous dog in the world, which would come to mind first? Snoopy? He’s famous alright, but is only a cartoon character, as is the lovable rascal Scooby Doo, and is the figment of Charles Schulz’ imagination. Don’t forget Eddie, he was given a minor role in  the sitcom Frasier, but ended up stealing the show. Then there is Rin Tin Tin, that amazing dog has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In my mind though, there is none more famous, especially to the baby boomers, than the loyal and wise Lassie.

Lassie’s breed was that of a rough collie, a collie that was not smooth-coated, but a similar breed of dog. Both types originated in Scotland and Wales, and were bred in order to herd goats and sheep.

Television’s beloved Lassie was a bitch, (I mean that in the kindest way possible, as it denotes the female sex) on the 1954 drama Lassie, that ran for 17 years. In actuality, all Lassies were played by male dogs because their coats didn’t shed, and the show could continue year round without interruption. Pal, the original film Lassie, was born in 1940 and lived for 18 years. He was the star of the original franchise films and the television pilot, but retired soon after the pilot was completed. Pal was also instrumental in the hiring of Tommy Rettig, as he showed Tommy favoritism during try-outs. The Lassies that followed in his footsteps, were all his descendants. Lassie Junior was his son and first replacement, while grandsons Spook, Baby, Mire and Hey Hey all played later roles.

Lassie was “man’s best friend” to Jeff, and later to Timmy, in the show, where more often than not, Lassie would rescue the boys, or their families, from some kind of disaster. In a time when dogs were not members of the family, but rather worked to earn their keep, Lassie opened the public’s eyes to the benefits of making the pet a part of the family unit.

Lassie was also a star of print, radio and the big screen, beginning in 1938, when the story was first published in the Saturday Evening Post. Newspaper articles, radio, and the book and movie, Lassie Come-Home, were all precursors to her television success. The novel was published in 1940, and immediately hit the top of the bestseller list. Because of the success of the novel, MGM executives sprang into action and produced a franchise about the collie, that included the films Lassie Come-Home (1943), Son of Lassie (1945), Courage of Lassie (1946), Hills of Home (1948)
The Sun Comes Up (1949) and Challenge to Lassie (1949). Lassie starred among such notable actors as Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, June Lockhart and Peter Lawford, before settling into her tv home on Jeff’s Collie, aka Timmy and Lassie or just plain Lassie. The original TV series starred Tommy Rettig and Jan Clayton as Jeff and Ellen Miller, respectively. As the cast contracts neared the end, some cast  members planned not to renew them, so the producer added Jon Provost, as little Timmy, to pick up the slack.

Lassie, the series, was honored with an Emmy in 1955 and 1956, and although the show won for Best Children’s Program, the talented collie, who had the role at the time, should have received the award for his brilliant behavior and training. Lassie later got his/her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and joined the silent-film star Strongheart, and Rin Tin Tin, as the only three dogs to be so honored.

In 2004, Lassie celebrated 50 years on television, and the following year was honored by Variety Magazine as one of 100 Top Icons of the century. For fans interested in learning more about the famous Pal, there is an out-of-print book that may be found in libraries or as a used book on Amazon, and is titled, The Story of Lassie, His Discovery and Training from Puppyhood to Stardom by Rudd B Weatherwax and John H. Rothwell.