TIME TRAVEL
Look…we’ve got a new time machine. Isn’t it nice? Let’s hope it works. ARE YOU READY? The Canteen is about to embark on another journey back in time.
If you're brave enough, climb aboard, no ticket required……we're about to take off.
Come on, hop in, watch your step ...... Let me set my controls. 
Buckle up. Now don't be afraid....I know how to fly this thing.......Here we goooooooooo.......
WHOOOOOOSHHHHHHHH
Here we are - Ok. I see this new machine is working as it should. We’re moving ahead in time. A little. Let me turn on the television to see what is on.
Do any of you remember these shows?
"Lassie"
9/12/1954 - 9/12/1971 CBS
PLEASE NOTE THE DATES
Black and White - 30 minutes
From the Eric M. Knight book
Lassie Cast
Tommy Rettig as Jeff Miller (1954-1957)
Jan Clayton as Ellen Miller (1954-57)
George Cleveland as George (Gramps) Miller (1954-57)
Jon Provost as Timmy Martin
Cloris Leachman as Ruth Martin (1957-58)
Jon Shepodd as Paul Martin (1957-1958)
June Lockhart as Ruth Martin (1958-64)
Hugh Reilly as Paul Martin (1958-1964)
George Chandler as Uncle Petrie (1957-64)
Arthur Space as Doc Weaver (1954-1964)
Lassie Tidbits
I'm amazed that Lassie pulled off those weekly feats of derring-do. How confusing it must have been. First, they kept calling "Lassie, come here, girl" when the dog was, in fact, a male. Actually, six of them all trained by Rudd Weatherwax.
Then, just when Lassie would get used to one family's little quirks, along would come another. Only Doc Weaver (Arthur Space) and Lassie survived from one family to the next.
Lassie's first family was Jeff Miller (Tommy Rettig), his widowed mother Ellen Miller (Jan Clayton) and Gramps (George Cleveland.)
The Millers moved to the city and left Lassie with his second family. Timmy (Jon Provost) as Timmy Martin must have been as confused as Lassie because after the first year, his parents morphed from Cloris Leachman to June Lockhart as Ruth Martin, and Jon Shepodd to Hugh Reilly as Paul Martin
Then, the Martins moved to Australia where they quarantine dogs entering the country. So Lassie lives with a couple of forest rangers. Now off the farm he has a broader base of people to save and in the final seasons, he didn't need an owner at all. Hey, he never did.
Lassie Theme Song
"Whistle" by Les Baxter
Passings
George Cleveland died in 1957 of a heart attack, Jan Clayton died in 1983 of cancer, Robert Bray in 1983 of a heart attack, Arthur Space in 1983 of cancer, George Chandler in 1985 of cancer, Tommy Rettig in 1996, and Hugh Reilly in 1998 of emphysema.
Donna Reed Show
11/24/58 - 11/3/1966 – ABC
Black and White - 30 minutes
275 episodes
Donna Reed Show Cast
Donna Reed as Donna Stone
Carl Betz as Dr. Alex Stone
Shelley Fabares as Mary Stone (1958-1963)
Paul Petersen as Jeff Stone
Thurston Patti Petersen as Trish Stone (1963-1966)
Bob Crane as Dr. Dave Kelsey (1963-1965)
Ann McCrea as Midge Kelsey (1963-1966)
Janet Langard as Karen Holmby (1964-1965)
Darryl Richard as Smitty (1965-1966)
Donna Reed Show Theme Song
"Happy Days" by William Loose and John Seely
Donna Reed Show Tidbits
The Stone family lived in Hilldale. Alex (Carl Betz) was a pediatrician who had his office in the house. Donna (Donna Reed) and Alex had been married for 15 years when the show began and they had two kids, Mary (Shelley Fabares), who was three years older, and Jeff (Paul Petersen).
Mary goes off to college in 1962 and Jeff followed two season later. Paul Petersen's real life sister, Patty joins the cast as Trish, an eight year old orphan who wants to live with the Stones and gets her wish.
In 1962 Columbia Pictures, under their Colpix label, set Stu Phillips about the task of producing hit singles for the teenage stars of the show. The result was Shelley Fabares' '62 hit Johnny Angel, and Petersen's '63 hit, My Dad.
Among the celebs who made their first major TV appearances on the show:
John Astin ("Mouse at Play" 5/10/61)
James Darren ("April Fool" 1/4/59)
George Hamilton ("Have Fun" 4/2/59)
Donna Stone's maiden name was Mullenger and she was from Denison Iowa, which was Donna Reed's real name and real home town!
Donna Reed was married to the executive producer of the show, Tony Owen, but they were divorced in 1971. She married Grover Asmus in 1974.
The show was produced by Reed's husband, Tony Owen.
Passings
Donna Reed died in 1986 of a pancreatic cancer, and Betz in 1978 of lung cancer.
Dennis the Menace
10/4/1959 - 9/22/1963 CBS 30 minutes
Black & White
From the Hank Ketcham cartoon
Dennis the Menace Cast
Jay North as Dennis Mitchell
Herbert Anderson as Henry Mitchell
Gloria Henry as Alice Mitchell
Joseph Kearns as George Wilson (1959-1962)
Sylvia Field as Martha Wilson (1959-1962) P> Irene Tedrow as Mrs. Lucy Elkins
Dennis the Menace Theme Song
"Dennis the Menace" by Irving Friedman
Dennis the Menace Tidbits
Dennis wasn't bad, but he sure was trouble. The most mischievous boy on TV! He was always irritating his neighbor Mr. Wilson when one of his geat ideas would run afoul of Mr. Wilson's plans.
Joseph Kearns died before the filming of the 1961-1962 season was completed. They brought in Gale Gordon as his brother, John. By the start of the next season John was entrenched in the house, complete with wife, as if the first Mr. Wilson never had existed.
Dennis the Menace was made into a movie in 1993 starring Walter Matthau.
Address: 627 Elm Street in Hilldale
Henry: Engineer at Trask Engineering
Dog: Freemont
George Wilson's hobbies:
Coin collecting
Bird watching
Hank Ketcham had a real son named Dennis.
Passings
Joseph Kearns died in 1962, Sara Seeger in 1990 of a brain hemorrhage, Herbert Anderson in 1994, Irene Tedrow in 1995 of a stroke, Willard Waterman in 1995 of bone-marrow disease, Gale Gordon in 1995 of cancer, and Sylvia Field in 1998.
That's the end of the ride for today. Please watch your step on exiting the time machine. Now that I've shown you a few, how about you share something from your memory. Or, if one of these were your favorite show then, share a memory of the best episode for you.
Final note: All information found freely on the Internet
Footnote: Management is not responsible for the accuracy of historical events. Management is not responsible for lost personal items in the time machine. Finder’s keepers. Shipping and Handling is separate. Taxes are applicable. Void where prohibited. Children under 40 must have parent's approval. When ordering have your credit card ready.
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