The Littlest Hobo

The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, spanning six seasons and was revived for a popular second run on CTV from October 11, 1979 to March 7, 1985. It starred an ownerless dog. All three productions revolved around a stray German Shepherd, the titular Hobo, who wanders from town to town, helping people in need. Although the concept was perhaps similar to that of Lassie, the Littlest Hobo's destiny was to befriend those who apparently needed help. Despite the attempts of the many people whom he helped to adopt him, he appeared to prefer 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 often referred to by the name Hobo or by the names given by temporary human companions. Hobo's background is also unexplained on-screen. His origins, motivation and ultimate destination are also never explained. Although some characters appeared in more than one episode, the only constant was the Littlest Hobo himself.

Action & AdventureFamilyDrama

Seasons

1. Smoke

Air Date: 1979-10-11

Hobo saves animals from a forest fire and aids a poisoned child.

2. Manhunt (1)

Air Date: 1979-10-18

3. Manhunt (2)

Air Date: 1979-10-25

4. The Defector

Air Date: 1979-11-01

Hobo rescues a defecting ballerina from kidnappers.

5. Double Trouble

Air Date: 1979-11-08

Hobo saves two draft horses from the glue factory. Note: This episode was trailed at the end of #1.21 "Guardian Angel")

6. Silent Witness

Air Date: 1979-11-15

The Hobo witnesses a drunken hit-and-run and haunts the perpetrator, playing his conscience against him. Hobo pursues a hit-and-run driver.

7. Target For Terror

Air Date: 1979-11-29

Hobo rescues a politician's son from kidnappers.

8. Heritage

Air Date: 1979-12-06

Hobo protects an elderly prospector from greedy land-grabbers. Jasper: Leon Ames. Laura: Lynn Griffin. Glenn: J.P. Linton. Cal: Shawn Lawrence. Ralph: Ben Gordon.

9. Little Girl Lost

Air Date: 1979-12-13

10. Boy On Wheels

Air Date: 1979-12-20

Hobo comes to the aid of a wheelchair-bound boy in rehab.

11. Stand-in

Air Date: 1979-12-27

A different dog, and then the littlest hobo has to come and stand in for that dog.

12. Second Chance

Air Date: 1980-01-03

13. Big Al and Sam Strawberry

Air Date: 1980-01-13

14. Give My Regards to Broadway

Air Date: 1980-01-31

A struggling actress resorts to stealing (and writing IOUs) to make ends meet and the Hobo tries to keep her out of trouble.

15. The Last Job

Air Date: 1980-02-07

An ex-convict has a bright future ahead of him, if he goes straight, but is compelled to perform one last bank robbery.

16. Snapshot

Air Date: 1980-02-28

17. The Million Dollar Fur Heist

Air Date: 1980-03-06

18. Diamonds Are a Dog's Best Friend

Air Date: 1980-03-13

19. Romiet and Julio

Air Date: 1980-03-20

The Hobo plays matchmaker to a young couple who, in between being separated by their respective parents, find time to bicker among themselves.

20. Escape

Air Date: 1980-03-27

21. Guardian Angel

Air Date: 1980-04-03

22. The Pied Piper

Air Date: 1980-04-10

23. Willie and Kate

Air Date: 1980-05-15

The Hobo tries to give support and guidance to a couple of quarrelsome human transients--one old man and one young girl.

24. The Further Adventures of Willie and Kate

Air Date: 1980-05-22

The Hobo journeys onward, trying to keep his transient companions out of trouble, when Kate is captured by the authorities and placed in an orphanage run like a military academy.

1. The Balloonist

Air Date: 1980-09-18

2. Duddleman and the Diamond Ring

Air Date: 1980-09-25

3. Guinea Pig

Air Date: 1980-10-02

4. Trapper

Air Date: 1980-10-09

5. The Pearls

Air Date: 1980-10-23

6. Carnival of Fear

Air Date: 1980-10-30

Hobo stalks an ominous carnival patron.

7. Mystery at the Zoo

Air Date: 1980-11-06

Hobo investigates the disappearance of zoo animals. Carol Lynley.

8. Sailing Away

Air Date: 1980-11-13

9. The Hunt

Air Date: 1980-11-20

10. Fast Freddie

Air Date: 1980-11-27

A con man tries to cheat wealthy small-town residents.

11. Licence to Steal

Air Date: 1980-12-04

12. Portrait of Danger

Air Date: 1980-12-11

Hobo protects a photographer who snapped a shot of a bank robbery and decides to sell his picture to the papers. James Stephens.

13. Ghost Rig

Air Date: 1980-12-18

Hobo and an insurance investigator help recover a missing truckload of diamonds.

14. Here's Joey Jackson

Air Date: 1981-01-22

15. Runaway

Air Date: 1981-02-12

Hobo reunites a runaway boy with a family who wants to adopt him.

16. East Side Angels

Air Date: 1981-02-26

A teen is dropped from a basketball club for arson.

17. Mystique

Air Date: 1981-03-05

18. The Trail of No Return

Air Date: 1981-04-09

Hobo contracts botulism trying to save two children.

1. Photo Finish

Air Date: 1981-09-17

2. The Secret of Red Hill

Air Date: 1981-09-24

London hears the screams of a girl named Peggy, who says that she is running from a giant ape loose in a forest. In the neighboring small town of Red Hill, rumors are already spreading about "Bigfoot" being in the vicinity.

3. Wolf Hunt

Air Date: 1981-10-01

In a forest, London encounters three wolf-hunters: a crotchety man and his two sons, one intent about the hunt, the other squeamish. The Hobo decoys hunters away from a wounded wolf and her cubs.

4. The Day of the Fugitive

Air Date: 1981-10-08

5. Suspect

Air Date: 1981-10-29

6. War Games

Air Date: 1981-11-05

7. The Hero

Air Date: 1981-11-12

8. Hidden Room

Air Date: 1981-11-19

Hobo discovers a man and his mute daughter are being blackmailed into performing fraudulent séances for bereaved victims.

9. Fussin' and Fightin'

Air Date: 1981-11-26

10. The Locket

Air Date: 1981-12-03

11. Airport

Air Date: 1981-12-10

12. Music Box

Air Date: 1981-12-24

13. Mail Order Bride

Air Date: 1982-01-21

14. The Clown

Air Date: 1982-01-28

London finds a wallet dropped by a man leaving a park, picks up the wallet, follows the man to the man's home, and gives the wallet to the man.

15. Once Upon a Tyme

Air Date: 1982-02-04

16. A Special Friend

Air Date: 1982-02-25

17. Forget Me Not

Air Date: 1982-03-04

18. Rex Badger P.I.

Air Date: 1982-03-11

Hobo helps a bungling investigator.

1. Napoleon

Air Date: 1982-09-16

2. Home Free

Air Date: 1982-09-23

3. Back to Nature

Air Date: 1982-09-30

4. The Imaginative Invalid

Air Date: 1982-10-07

A wealthy woman announces that she's leaving her money to her dog.

5. Finders Keepers

Air Date: 1982-10-14

6. Happy Birthday Mom

Air Date: 1982-10-21

Two brothers compete in a bike race to try to earn money for their mother's birthday.

7. The Spirit of Thunder Rock (1)

Air Date: 1982-10-28

A seismologist takes his family along on a field assignment, where they are threatened by impending earthquakes of which only the Hobo appears to be fully aware.

8. The Spirit of Thunder Rock (2)

Air Date: 1982-11-04

The quakes continue to imperil the now separated members of the family and an armed poacher who prefers his privacy only adds to the danger.

9. The Spirit of Thunder Rock (3)

Air Date: 1982-11-11

The biggest quake of them all strikes and causes a cave-in, trapping Marti with the poacher.

10. Rabies

Air Date: 1982-11-18

11. Day For Night

Air Date: 1982-11-25

12. Trooper

Air Date: 1982-12-02

13. The Loneliest Day of the Week

Air Date: 1983-01-27

14. Double Vision

Air Date: 1983-02-03

15. Winner Take All

Air Date: 1983-02-10

16. Small Pleasures

Air Date: 1983-03-03

17. The Five Labours of Hercules (1)

Air Date: 1983-03-17

A boy with a leg injury has his heart set on buying a pure-bred dog, but needs to raise the money fast, so the Hobo helps him with a dog-sitting service. This episode was written by Charles Eisenmann, the owner and trainer of London and the other German Shepherds who portrayed Hobo.

18. The Five Labours of Hercules (2)

Air Date: 1983-03-24

The Hobo must escape from a dog catcher's van and round up several unruly dogs which quickly bring havoc to wherever they roam. This episode was written by Charles Eisenmann, the owner and trainer of London and the other German Shepherds who portrayed Hobo.