This cartoon show aired on ABC beginning in September 1973 and ending in June 1976 (although a lot of repeats occurred in the last two seasons). The animation (by Filmation) is barely acceptable, with lots of looping to cut costs. (Lassie always leaps toward the screen from the same tree in every shot.) The sound effects and dialogue are atrocious. But, for a kid of 8 or 10, the show was entrancing. The show has Lassie living with the Turner family (chief ranger Ben Turner, wife Laura and kids Susan, Jackie, and Ben Jr.) and Native American Gene Fox at Thunder Mountain National Park. In an unintentional parody of the "Lassie" television show (which ran concurrently with the cartoon in the 'toon show's first season), each week Lassie and the gang save the park and its visitors from various disasters -- ecological and not, human and not. Joining Lassie are a motley assortment of animals who live in the park, and who help rescue trapped children, animals threatened by fire, and others. Although adults will find it silly, to kids it was enthralling. Who can beat Lassie, wacky animal pals, and a cliffhanger disaster each week?
