Lassie "A Christmas Story" (1958)

Lassie was a female dog character who was originally portrayed in a book written by Eric Knight in 1940. "Lassie Come Home."

In 1943, MGM turned Knight's book into a movie. The original dog who played Lassie went by the name of Pal. Pal played Lassie in six more films until 1951.

Pal's owner and trainer Rudd Weatherwax then acquired the Lassie name and trademark from MGM and appeared with Pal (as "Lassie") at rodeos, fairs, and similar events across America in the early 1950s.

In 1954, the long-running, Emmy winning television series Lassie debuted, and, over the next 19 years, a succession of Pal's descendants appeared on the series. The "Lassie" character has appeared in radio, television, film, toys, comic books, animated series, juvenile novels, and other media. Pal's descendants continue to play Lassie today.