Son continues father’s Lassie legacy

Joyce Rudolph

GLENDALE -- Lassie’s trainer, Rudd Weatherwax, took great care in

protecting the dog’s image over the years they worked on films and TV

series.

Rudd’s son, Bob Weatherwax, strives for the same as he continues the

legacy with the ninth generation of the world’s most famous canine.

Bob, a Burbank native, grew up on the Canyon Country training ranch,

helping his dad with generations of dogs that followed the original Pal.

Before Rudd’s death in 1985, father and son worked on 360 episodes of

Lassie.

When the first movie was made, “Lassie Come Home” (1943), MGM studios

hired Rudd as an advisor and Pal as a stand-in for the female dog.

In the scene in which Lassie swims the river and comes out exhausted,

Rudd trained Pal to come out of the water, struggle, lay down, crawl and

roll over on his side.

The director liked the performance so much, Bob said, that he

exclaimed, “Pal swam in, Lassie swam out.” Pal became Lassie.

Fans can see the scene when the movie is screened at 10 a.m. Saturday at The Alex Theatre. Bob and the ninth-generation Lassie will attend.

Lassie will demonstrate skills like jumping on Bob’s back and walking on

his hind legs, not tricks.

“He’s not a trick dog, he’s an acting dog who needs props,” Bob said.

“If you could bring in a burning barn, big river or a well with Timmy

trapped in it, then we could perform what Lassie really does.”

It was an art, how his father choreographed a scene, Bob said, adding

that he protected the dog’s image, with nothing short of the utmost

integrity and consistency.

For instance, in Lassie’s scenes, Rudd veered away from directors’

suggestions the dog cover his eyes with his paws.

“My father would think about how the dog would react, and train the

dog to do that interpretation,” Bob said.

Now under contract with Random House, Lassie does endorsements like

pet products for Wal Mart. Random House might produce a Lassie movie or

TV film down the road, Bob said.

The reason a male dog was used throughout the years, Bob said, was the

male collie sheds less. As filming took eight months for a movie and nine

months for a TV series, it would have looked like they were using a

different dog, Bob said. So male dogs were used for consistency.

“Plus, it’s always been a conversation piece,” he added.

THE LASSIE FILE:

HOW DOES LASSIE RELAX?: in his favorite chair in his home in Canyon

Country.

DOES HE TRAVEL?: When Lassie travels by airliner, he pays for a

first-class seat but slides down onto the floor next to trainer Bill

Weatherwax’s feet.

TV PEERS: He does an impression of Silver, the Lone Ranger’s horse, by

standing up on his hind legs and walking.

FAVORITE TOY: Collie’s are raised to herd sheep, Weatherwax said, so a

working dog isn’t much into playing with toys.

FAVORITE FOODS: He is fed canned dog food and kibble, but when he’s on

a shoot, he is rewarded with pieces of hot dog, chicken and beef jerky.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: “Lassie Come Home” MGM (1943) starring Roddy McDowall and

Elizabeth Taylor.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday.

WHERE: The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.

TICKETS: $7.50, $5 children.

PHONE: 243-2539.