The Littlest Hobo

                                                                          

 

                                   Play theme tune...

 

The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series, based upon a 1958 American film directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The show first aired from 1963 to 1965, and was then revived for a popular second run on CTV from 1979 to 1985. All three productions centered around a stray German Shepherd who wanders from town to town, helping people in need. In the movie, the dog was tethered to a lamb for most of the story. Although the concept was similar to that of Lassie, the Littlest Hobo did not have an owner, and despite the attempts of many people to adopt him, he preferred to be on his own, and would head off by himself at the end of each episode. Never actually named on-screen, the dog is therefore often referred to by the name Hobo (though he was often given names by his multitudes of temporary owners). Although there were recurring actors in both series, the only constant was the dog.

 

1963-1965 series

Following the 1958 film, the 1960s TV series was aired in syndication around the world, and is best remembered for a scene (later included in the closing credits of most episodes) showing the dog actually riding a parachute. This was before animal treatment regulations discouraged such activity in film productions.

The German shepherd dogs featured in the 1960s series were owned and trained by Charles "Chuck" Eisenmann. The primary star was London, but several of London's relatives, including Toro, Litlon, and Thorn, also played scenes as the Hobo. Eisenmann recounts many stories from the filming of the series in his 1968 book Stop! Sit! and Think.

Although widely referred to as German Shepherds, the dogs do not have the coloration or markings which are recognized for that breed's standard. Currently this breed is called a "Tamaskan", but no country has accepted the Tamaskan as a registered breed. Their coloration and markings more closely resemble specimens of the Northern Inuit dog which was created by combining several dog breeds, they also closely resemble wolfdog hybrids such as the Saarlooswolfhond or the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. Similar looking dogs were selected to play the role of the Littlest Hobo, however little information is available about the process to breed them and whether Chuck bred the dogs himself.

 

1979-1985 series

In 1979, CTV revived the series, which unlike the previous series was shot on videotape rather than on film. It aired in the U.S. in syndication. Over six seasons the New Littlest Hobo (as it was sometimes called) featured many big-name Hollywood guest stars (such as Alan Hale, Jr., DeForest Kelley, Morey Amsterdam, Patrick Macnee, Vic Morrow, Henry Gibson, John Carradine, Leslie Nielsen and a young Mike Myers) and plotlines that ranged from traditional "dog helps boy" stories to outlandish secret agent-type tales. Its theme song, "Maybe Tomorrow", was sung by Terry Bush. The song was commercially released in 2005 by Terry Bush as part of his debut album, also entitled Maybe Tomorrow

The dogs that starred in the two series were both named London. It is not known if they were actually related to the dog from the earlier series, although they were of the same breed.

 

Season 1


Season 1, Episode 1: Smoke

Original Air Date—11 October 1979


Season 1, Episode 2: Manhunt: Part 1

Original Air Date—18 October 1979


Season 1, Episode 3: Manhunt: Part 2

Original Air Date—25 October 1979


Season 1, Episode 4: The Defector

Original Air Date—1 November 1979


Season 1, Episode 5: Double Trouble

Original Air Date—8 November 1979


Season 1, Episode 6: Silent Witness

Original Air Date—15 November 1979


Season 1, Episode 7: Target for Terror

Original Air Date—29 November 1979


Season 1, Episode 8: Heritage

Original Air Date—6 December 1979


Season 1, Episode 9: Little Girl Lost

Original Air Date—13 December 1979


Season 1, Episode 10: Boy on Wheels

Original Air Date—20 December 1979


Season 1, Episode 11: Stand-in

Original Air Date—27 December 1979


Season 1, Episode 12: Second Chance

Original Air Date—3 January 1980


Season 1, Episode 13: Big Al and Sam Strawberry

Original Air Date—10 January 1980


Season 1, Episode 14: Give My Regards to Broadway

Original Air Date—31 January 1980


Season 1, Episode 15: The Last Job

Original Air Date—7 February 1980


Season 1, Episode 16: Snapshot

Original Air Date—28 February 1980


Season 1, Episode 17: The Million Dollar Fur Heist

Original Air Date—6 March 1980


Season 1, Episode 18: Diamonds Are a Dog's Best Friend

Original Air Date—13 March 1980


Season 1, Episode 19: Romiet and Julio

Original Air Date—20 March 1980


Season 1, Episode 20: Escape

Original Air Date—27 March 1980


Season 1, Episode 21: Guardian Angel

Original Air Date—3 April 1980


Season 1, Episode 22: The Pied Piper

Original Air Date—10 April 1980


Season 1, Episode 23: Willie and Kate

Original Air Date—15 May 1980


Season 1, Episode 24: The Further Adventures of Willie and Kate

Original Air Date—22 May 1980


Season 2


Season 2, Episode 1: The Balloonist

Original Air Date—18 September 1980


Season 2, Episode 2: Duddleman and the Diamond Ring

Original Air Date—25 September 1980


Season 2, Episode 3: Guinea Pig

Original Air Date—2 October 1980


Season 2, Episode 4: Trapper

Original Air Date—9 October 1980


Season 2, Episode 5: The Pearls

Original Air Date—23 October 1980


Season 2, Episode 6: Carnival of Fear

Original Air Date—30 October 1980


Season 2, Episode 7: Mystery at the Zoo

Original Air Date—6 November 1980


Season 2, Episode 8: Sailing Away

Original Air Date—13 November 1980


Season 2, Episode 9: The Hunt

Original Air Date—20 November 1980


Season 2, Episode 10: Fast Freddie

Original Air Date—27 November 1980


Season 2, Episode 11: Licence to Steal

Original Air Date—4 December 1980


Season 2, Episode 12: Portrait of Danger

Original Air Date—11 December 1980


Season 2, Episode 13: Ghost Rig

Original Air Date—18 December 1980


Season 2, Episode 14: Here's Joey Jackson

Original Air Date—22 January 1981


Season 2, Episode 15: Runaway

Original Air Date—12 February 1981


Season 2, Episode 16: East Side Angels

Original Air Date—26 February 1981


Season 2, Episode 17: Mystique

Original Air Date—5 March 1981


Season 2, Episode 18: The Trail of No Return

Original Air Date—9 April 1981


Season 3


Season 3, Episode 1: Photo Finish

Original Air Date—17 September 1981


Season 3, Episode 2: The Secret of Red Hill

Original Air Date—24 September 1981


Season 3, Episode 3: Wolf Hunt

Original Air Date—1 October 1981


Season 3, Episode 4: The Day of the Fugitive

Original Air Date—8 October 1981


Season 3, Episode 5: Suspect

Original Air Date—29 October 1981


Season 3, Episode 6: War Games

Original Air Date—5 November 1981


Season 3, Episode 7: The Hero

Original Air Date—12 November 1981


Season 3, Episode 8: Hidden Room

Original Air Date—19 November 1981


Season 3, Episode 9: Fussin' and Fightin'

Original Air Date—26 November 1981


Season 3, Episode 10: The Locket

Original Air Date—3 December 1981


Season 3, Episode 11: Airport

Original Air Date—10 December 1981


Season 3, Episode 12: Music Box

Original Air Date—24 December 1981


Season 3, Episode 13: Mail Order Bride

Original Air Date—21 January 1982


Season 3, Episode 14: The Clown

Original Air Date—28 January 1982


Season 3, Episode 15: Once Upon a Tyme

Original Air Date—4 February 1982


Season 3, Episode 16: A Special Friend

Original Air Date—25 February 1982


Season 3, Episode 17: Forget Me Not

Original Air Date—4 March 1982
A woman with amnesia is found wandering around a theme park.


Season 3, Episode 18: Rex Badger P.I.

Original Air Date—11 March 1982


Season 4


Season 4, Episode 1: Napoleon

Original Air Date—16 September 1982


Season 4, Episode 2: Home Free

Original Air Date—23 September 1982


Season 4, Episode 3: Back to Nature

Original Air Date—30 September 1982


Season 4, Episode 4: The Imaginative Invalid

Original Air Date—7 October 1982


Season 4, Episode 5: Finders Keepers

Original Air Date—14 October 1982


Season 4, Episode 6: Happy Birthday Mom

Original Air Date—21 October 1982


Season 4, Episode 7: The Spirit of Thunder Rock: Part 1

Original Air Date—28 October 1982


Season 4, Episode 8: The Spirit of Thunder Rock: Part 2

Original Air Date—4 November 1982


Season 4, Episode 9: The Spirit of Thunder Rock: Part 3

Original Air Date—11 November 1982


Season 4, Episode 10: Rabies

Original Air Date—18 November 1982


Season 4, Episode 11: Day for Fright

Original Air Date—25 November 1982


Season 4, Episode 12: Trooper

Original Air Date—2 December 1982


Season 4, Episode 13: The Loneliest Day of the Week

Original Air Date—27 January 1983


Season 4, Episode 14: Double Vision

Original Air Date—3 February 1983


Season 4, Episode 15: Winner Take All

Original Air Date—10 February 1983


Season 4, Episode 16: Small Pleasures

Original Air Date—3 March 1983


Season 4, Episode 17: The Five Labours of Hercules: Part 1

Original Air Date—17 March 1983


Season 4, Episode 18: The Five Labours of Hercules: Part 2

Original Air Date—24 March 1983


Season 5


Season 5, Episode 1: Rookie

Original Air Date—15 September 1983


Season 5, Episode 2: Scavenger Hunt: Part 1

Original Air Date—22 September 1983


Season 5, Episode 3: Scavenger Hunt: Part 2

Original Air Date—29 September 1983


Season 5, Episode 4: Second Sight

Original Air Date—6 October 1983


Season 5, Episode 5: Trucker

Original Air Date—13 October 1983


Season 5, Episode 6: Born to Run

Original Air Date—20 October 1983


Season 5, Episode 7: Tempest Probe

Original Air Date—27 October 1983


Season 5, Episode 8: Lumberjacks

Original Air Date—3 November 1983


Season 5, Episode 9: Passage

Original Air Date—10 November 1983


Season 5, Episode 10: Sartech: Part 1

Original Air Date—17 November 1983


Season 5, Episode 11: Sartech: Part 2

Original Air Date—1 December 1983


Season 5, Episode 12: Dragonslayer

Original Air Date—19 January 1984


Season 5, Episode 13: The Genesis Tapes: Part 1

Original Air Date—26 January 1984


Season 5, Episode 14: The Genesis Tapes: Part 2

Original Air Date—2 February 1984


Season 5, Episode 15: Ghost Station

Original Air Date—23 February 1984


Season 5, Episode 16: Indian Summer

Original Air Date—1 March 1984


Season 5, Episode 17: Applejack

Original Air Date—8 March 1984


Season 5, Episode 18: Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Original Air Date—15 March 1984


Season 6


Season 6, Episode 1: Second Best

Original Air Date—13 September 1984


Season 6, Episode 2: Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 1

Original Air Date—20 September 1984


Season 6, Episode 3: Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 2

Original Air Date—27 September 1984


Season 6, Episode 4: Rodeo

Original Air Date—4 October 1984


Season 6, Episode 5: One Door Closes

Original Air Date—11 October 1984


Season 6, Episode 6: Lucky

Original Air Date—18 October 1984


Season 6, Episode 7: Arrivederci Roma

Original Air Date—25 October 1984


Season 6, Episode 8: The Good Shepherd

Original Air Date—1 November 1984


Season 6, Episode 9: Matchmaker

Original Air Date—8 November 1984


Season 6, Episode 10: Firehorse: Part 1

Original Air Date—15 November 1984


Season 6, Episode 11: Firehorse: Part 2

Original Air Date—22 November 1984


Season 6, Episode 12: Prodigal Son

Original Air Date—29 November 1984


Season 6, Episode 13: Torque

Original Air Date—31 January 1985


Season 6, Episode 14: Small Change

Original Air Date—7 February 1985


Season 6, Episode 15: Voyageurs: Part 1

Original Air Date—14 February 1985


Season 6, Episode 16: Voyageurs: Part 2

Original Air Date—21 February 1985


Season 6, Episode 17: Liar, Liar

Original Air Date—28 February 1985


Season 6, Episode 18: Pandora

Original Air Date—7 March 1985

 

                                                                          Copyright(C) 2007 - 2020. All rights reserved

 

 

Genre Adventure | Drama | Family
Directed By Mario Azzopardi
Jan Darnley-Smith
Voices of  
Narrated by  
Counrty of origin Canada
No. of episodes 6 seasons
Running Time 30 mins
Original Run 1979 - 1985
Language English

 

 

 back