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Season 1
September 24, 1958

Season 1

01. Weekend Trip

In the premiere episode, Donna hopes to get away to a ski weekend with her brood, but pediatrician husband Alex's on-call schedule makes this tricky, especially since one of his young patients, Eddie Barclay (played by one of the Corcoran siblings of Disney film and TV fame; sister Noreen was on "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe), has a mysterious illness and Alex doesn't want to leave him in the care of another doctor.

30min
September 24, 1958

02. Pardon My Gloves

Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocks Donna's acting in a local play. So, Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.

30min
October 1, 1958

03. The Hike

Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.

30min
October 8, 1958

04. Male Ego

Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.

30min
October 15, 1958

05. The Football Uniform

Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.

30min
October 22, 1958

06. The Foundling

A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

30min
October 29, 1958

07. Three Part Mother

Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.

30min
November 5, 1958

08. Change Partners and Dance

Mary has a crush on the school basketball star, George, who wants to take her to the prom, but hasn’t asked her because he can't dance.

30min
November 12, 1958

09. Dough Re-Mi

Donna tries to get a famous concert pianist to perform at a benefit, and, at the same time, Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy. These two seemingly unrelated projects intertwine.

30min
November 19, 1958

10. Guest in the House

A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.

30min
November 26, 1958

11. The Baby Contest

Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.

30min
December 3, 1958

12. The Beaded Bag

When Donna longingly admires a lovely, expensive bag at a store, the saleswoman (along with a female friend of hers) schemes to coax Alex into getting it for her for a birthday gift. But Alex is suspicious that Donna is pulling the strings behind the scenes, instead of being forthright about it.

30min
December 10, 1958

13. The Busy Body

Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.

30min
December 17, 1958

14. A Very Merry Christmas

Donna searches for the mysterious person who puts on a Christmas party in the children’s ward at the hospital every year. The quintessential comedian Buster Keaton guest stars.

30min
December 24, 1958

15. Mary's Double Date

Mary's Junior prom is imminent, and she has trouble deciding between two boys on the football team who might ask her. She also dangles another nice boy on a string. But, eventually, the resultant consequences of her selfish decisions come to fruition.

30min
December 31, 1958

16. Jeff's Double Life

After nosy neighbor Mrs. Wilgus (the inimitable Kathleen Freeman) alerts Donna and Alex about Mary having a noisy party while they were out, the kids get lectured about being the children of a doctor, and that they should behave accordingly.

Not too long after this, Jeff takes a ride from Mary's troublemaker friend Tommy Hendricks, who doesn't have a license and has taken his father's car out for a joyride, and they get into a minor accident while fleeing a cop.

30min
January 7, 1959

17. Nothing But the Truth

David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.

30min
January 14, 1959

18. It's the Principle of the Thing

Mr. Popkin won't let Alex treat Joey because he has no money. So, Donna hires him to do repairs around the house, but Alex fires him. Then Donna tries another method to help him get the finances he needs.

30min
January 21, 1959

19. Jeff vs. Mary

Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

30min
January 28, 1959

20. Have Fun

When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.

30min
February 4, 1959

21. Donna Plays Cupid

Donna decides that Alex’s obstetrician friend, Beau, is a lonely bachelor in need of a mate, so she tries to pair him and her good friend Celia (who has recently broken up with her boyfriend) up.

30min
February 11, 1959

22. Love Thy Neighbor

Donna and Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilbur & Celia Wilgus, only for Donna to get caught up in a misunderstanding later.

30min
February 18, 1959

23. The Report Card

Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.

30min
February 25, 1959

24. Boys Will Be Boys

David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies, and is invited to stay the night. Later, Jeff is left in charge of David, as everyone else will be gone.

30min
March 4, 1959

25. The Ideal Wife

Donna keeps getting praised for being an excellent wife and mother—so much so, that she, illogically, becomes a bit paranoid that people really mean something negative about her beneath the surface of their words, and fears her kids are taking advantage of her.

30min
March 11, 1959

26. Mary's Campaign

Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.

30min
March 18, 1959

27. The Flowered-Print Dress

Donna and Alex dine at a young couple’s home. The couple are still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage, and the experience gives Donna pangs of nostalgia.

30min
March 25, 1959

28. April Fool

When Buzz Barry, teenage idol (played by James Darren), comes to Hilldale to sing at a concert, he falls ill with the measles and the concert is canceled, leaving Mary and her friends devastated. Then he ends up staying at the Stone’s home to recuperate, causing unexpected complications.

30min
April 1, 1959

29. The Parting of the Ways

Mary’s friend Babs confides in her that her parents are having troubles and may be divorcing soon. And, though she’s exaggerating, Donna is unaware of this and problems ensue in their family as a result.

30min
April 8, 1959

30. The Hero

Alex's roommate, Biff Jameson, comes to Hilldale, and though he charms the family and dazzles Jeff, Alex confesses to Donna that his old pal seems to be off from what he used to be.

30min
April 15, 1959

31. Do You Trust Your Child?

Donna gives a speech, at a PTA meeting, on parent/child relationships urging parents to trust their child. Her advice, of course, ends up being tested.

30min
April 22, 1959

32. Grateful Patient

Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.

30min
April 29, 1959

33. The Testimonial

Donna plans a testimonial dinner to honor Dr. Jason, a long-time denizen of the town and a beloved doctor, who finally intends to retire.

30min
May 6, 1959

34. Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea

The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.

30min
May 13, 1959

35. Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

After a particularly long week, Donna and Alex long for a weekend alone without kids. But when they get it, it’s not quite how they imagined it would be.

30min
May 20, 1959

36. Advice To Young Lovers

When Mary and George get in a fight over him and her best friend Babs, Donna advises her on how to handle the situation.

30min
May 27, 1959

37. Operation Deadbeat

Alex insists Jeff pay back money he owes to develop good character for when he is an adult. Meanwhile, Donna decides to try to get the past due money owed to Alex by his patients.

30min
June 3, 1959