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Added to the database on November 24, 2009

Father Knows Best Episode Guide

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Season 1, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/3/1954
Bud Takes Up the Dance
Bud wants to go to his first school dance. There is just one problem. He does not know how to dance. He decides the best way to learn is to study dancing in a book.

Season 1, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/10/1954
Lesson in Citizenship
Jim wants to teach his family proper ethics. He tells them that they need to help others. His good intensions wind up creating much trouble.

Season 1, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/17/1954
The Motor Scooter
Jim decides that he should buy Bud a motor scooter. This starts a conflict with Margaret who feels the scooter is unsafe. How will win out?

Season 1, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/24/1954
Football Tickets
Every year Jim and Margaret purchase two tickets for the big football game. This year Margaret can not attend. It is decided that Betty will go with Dad this year. Bob Harris, a businessman and friend desperately wants to attend the game. Jim reluctantly promises to take him to the game. Now he's in an awkward position. It make matters worse he realizes that the tickets are in his shirt which is on its way to the dry cleaners.

Season 1, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/31/1954
Live My Own Life
Bud decides that he just can not handle living at home. He moves out but soon discovers that he is not ready to be on his own. He can not clean, cook or take care of his needs. How he is going to save face?

Season 1, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/7/1954
Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation
Jim decides that his best years are behind him. He has aged to the point that he is over the hill. What can be done to rejuvenate him?

Season 1, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/14/1954
Bud's Encounter With the Law
Kathy uses the new washing machine for her astronaut-and-spaceship games. She puts anything she can get her hands. Included in the items sent through the wash are Betty’s which she need for “Girls in Government Day”. Kathy has even laundered the mail. Among the unreadable letter is one from the police to Bud. Why would the police want to talk with Bud?

Season 1, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/21/1954
Thanksgiving Day
Kathy won the first place in their class with her Thanksgiving poem. Jim pride grows unrealistically. He is sure his daughter will be the next Shakespeare. Pride turns to disappointment when the Jim actually hears the prize winning poem. Is it really Kathy’s work?

Season 1, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/28/1954
Second Honeymoon
A weekend retreat is just what Jim and Margaret need. Jim is concerned of how the children will react to the news. When he lets them know that he and Mom are going away for the weekend, the take the news way to well. Jim and Margaret now get concerned about what the children have planned. They decide to go to the lodge anyway. Once they arrive they decide to phone home. No one answers the call.

Season 1, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/5/1954
Typical Father
Betty has been acting funny lately. Jim is sure it means that she is planning to elope with a classmate. What is really happening?

Season 1, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/12/1954
Margaret Goes Dancing
Myrtle feels that her friend Margaret is not getting enough enjoyment in live. She suggests that they take dancing lessons together with their husbands. Margaret loves to dance but knows that Jim will not want to participate. Myrtle suggests that Margaret use her “female art of persuasion” to get Jim to agree. The plan backfires when Jim finds out about the plot from Myrtle’s husband. How will Margaret and Jim resolve the issue?

Season 1, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/19/1954
The Christmas Story
Jim decides that family needs a real Christmas tree. He thinks the family should go into the woods and cut one down. The only problem is that once they find the tree, they become stranded in the woods.

Season 1, Episode 13 – Aired: 12/26/1954
Sparrow in the Window
Kathy discovers a sparrow in the window. She thinks it must be injured and insists that the family is responsible to care for the bird.

Season 1, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/2/1955
Boy's Week
As an educational problem the students get to take on the job of a real professional. Bud gets appointed to be judge the day that Jim must appear before the court for his traffic ticket?

Season 1, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/9/1955
A Friend of Old George's
Kathy has been so excited about her Birthday party. That is until George arrives with an uninvited guest that starts spoiling her party.

Season 1, Episode 16 – Aired: 1/16/1955
Bud the Snob
Bud is having difficulty talking with the girls at school. His behavior is misinterpreted. The students think he is a snob. Jim finds out about the problem and tried to help Bud. They soon discover that he is not just having difficulty talking to girls, he is petrified. They soon discover that behind a Halloween mask he gets his confidence. He decides to have a costume party. Jim has something else in mind to help Bud over come is problem.

Season 1, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/23/1955
The Promised Playhouse
Jim is still wondering how Kathy has gotten him to agree to spending the night in your playhouse.

Season 1, Episode 18 – Aired: 1/30/1955
Jim the Farmer
Jim announces that he is going to give up his job at the office and move to the country. He states that he wants to live a less stressful existence as a farmer. Margaret suspects that there is more to this revelation that meets the eye. As time progresses, Jim becomes quiet and starts to feel despair. No one from the office has called him. Maybe they really do not need him. Meanwhile back at the office his secretary and his replacement are having difficulties. They are concerned about calling Jim with questions because they do not want to disturb him.

Season 1, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/6/1955
Father of the Year
The local newspaper is having a Father of the Year contest. The Anderson children have written an essay to nominate Jim for the contest.

Season 1, Episode 20 – Aired: 2/13/1955
The Mink Coat
The Andersons are short of money. Jim and Margaret have a family meeting to explain the situation to the children. Later that day Jim sees an extraordinary sale on a mink coat. He can not resist getting the coat for Margaret. The gift does not get the desired effect. Margaret loves the coat but how are they going to explain being short of money when she just got a mink coat.

Season 1, Episode 21 – Aired: 2/20/1955
The Matchmaker
Margaret is so happy with her life that she wants to make everyone as happy. She makes a plan to encourage her cousin and her boyfriend to get married. What will her matchmaking lead to?

Season 1, Episode 22 – Aired: 2/27/1955
Bud the Bridesmaid
Margaret's cousin is getting married in the Anderson home. The day of the cermony the a bridesmaid is missing. Bud is forced to stand-in for the bridesmaid.

Season 1, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/6/1955
Proud Father
Jim Anderson wants to help inspire his children to solve their own problems. He feels an act of courage will make help them to evolve.

Season 1, Episode 24 – Aired: 3/13/1955
Father Delivers the Papers
Bud has a newspaper job. Mr. Collins, his boss, has received several complaints about Bud’s services. Mr. Collins decides to contact Jim about his son’s job performance. Jim promises Mr. Collins that there will not be any more unsatisfied customers. The next day gets hurt and can not perform his newspaper delivers. Will Jim decide to takes Bud’s route in order to keep his promise to Mr. Collins?

Season 1, Episode 25 – Aired: 3/20/1955
No Partiality
How is Jim going to deal with his daughter? Kathy and Betty have both decided to engage the attention of the same man.

Season 1, Episode 26 – Aired: 3/27/1955
Close Decision
Bud is not doing his duties at home. He has embarrassed the family by not learning a poem he was to recite at church. As a punishment for not doing his responsibilities Jim and Margaret decide that he can not play baseball this Saturday. The family goes to watch the team play. Bud is a strong player and without him the team is losing. How does Dad solve the problem?

Season 2, Episode 1 – Aired: 8/31/1955
Art of Salesmanship
Bud thinks he can earn much money fast by selling sauce-boats. He goes into business fast but soon finds that it is harder than he thought. He wants to give up. Jim feels that there is an important lesson to be learned here. Jim insists that Bud stay with the job until he has sold all his quota of sauce boats.

Season 2, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/7/1955
Father's Private Life
Jim feels that his children need to work out their own problems. He feels if he has a private life for himself, they will have to work out their problems independently. Complications to his plan quickly occur.

Season 2, Episode 3 – Aired: 9/14/1955
Lessons in Civics
The county wants to build a new highway right through the old community hall. Jim is upset. The building is a historical monument. In addition, it holds personal memories from his youth. The family joins together and helps organize the town to try and save the old community hall. Can they successfully save the historical site?

Season 2, Episode 4 – Aired: 9/21/1955
First Disillusionment
Bud is upset because he has lost a job to another boy. The boy has faked his resume to get the job. Bud can not see past the results of this young man's actions. Bud decides that a little creative writing would get him the next job.

Season 2, Episode 5 – Aired: 9/28/1955
Woman in the House
Jim wants to invite a friend of his over to the Anderson home. The friend is married. The problem is that Jim's friend's wife makes Margaret uncomfortable. How will the Anderson's resolve this issue?

Season 2, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/5/1955
New Girl at School
There is a new girl at school and it is love at first sight for Bud Anderson. The only problem is that she is dating his best friend.

Season 2, Episode 7 – Aired: 10/12/1955
Kathy Makes Magic
Kathy has trades a friend her skaters for a magician's box. She starts practicing magic. Though mishaps she thinks that she has turned the cat into a bird. Bud and his friend begin annoying her about her magic tricks. She gets mad at them and decides to cast a spell on them to make them die. Meanwhile Bud and his friend are out in back trying out their first taste of smoking cigars. They both end up feeling pretty sick. Kathy sees them getting sick and is sure Bud dying because of her.

Season 2, Episode 8 – Aired: 10/19/1955
Advantage to Betty
Betty is excited her tennis team has made the championships. She and her doubles partner, Jula, are in the play offs. A reporter from the local paper wants to take a picture of the team. He is drawn to Betty and takes a picture of her alone. His photo of her makes all the newspapers. It makes it appear that she is the number one player for the team. The best player on the team is actually Jula. How will their match go with the tension mounting between the girls?

Season 2, Episode 9 – Aired: 10/26/1955
The Big Test
For once in his life Bud has studied hard for a big test. When he gets the highest grade in the class, he is accused of cheating.

Season 2, Episode 10 – Aired: 11/2/1955
Father Is a Dope
Jim becomes paranoid after watching a family sitcom on television. On the sitcom a father is about to take a hunting trip and they manipulates the dad into staying home. Jim has a trip planned with his neighbor to go hunting. Jim is sure his own family is going to prevent the trip with the same tricks as the sitcom family.

Season 2, Episode 11 – Aired: 11/9/1955
Spirit of Youth
Betty, Bud and Kathy are convinced that Mom and Dad are very old. Jim and Margaret take it in stride until the go to Jim’s class reunion.

Season 2, Episode 12 – Aired: 11/16/1955
Bud, the Ladykiller
At school a dorky classmate of Bud’s has a crush on him. Bud is repulsed by Dora. He feels she is down right embarrassing to be seen near. He makes some rude comments to get rid of her. His parents find out what he has done and insist that he do the right thing and apologize. Dora maybe a geek, but she is not stupid. She does not accept his lame apology. Now Bud is really in trouble. He will be punished if he can not get her to accept his apology. What can Bud do to show her that he really means it?

Season 2, Episode 13 – Aired: 11/30/1955
Margaret's Premonition
Margaret's recent predictions have convinced that family that she has psychic powers.


Season 2, Episode 14 – Aired:
12/7/1955
Stage to Yuma
Not a FKB episode at all. Robert Young tells us at the beginning that "the family is on vacation this week"(lucky them) and then proceeds to introduce what is clearly meant to be a Western pilot for an entirely different show. The Western craze had just hit American TV at about this time, and Young wanted to get aboard the stagecoach. In this case, however, it's a good thing he missed it because this pilot stinks.

Season 2, Episode 15 – Aired: 12/14/1955
Bad Influence
Bud has a new friend. Unfortunately, his new friend is a kleptomaniac and Bud gets blame for his friend’s actions.

Season 2, Episode 16 – Aired: 12/28/1955
Betty Hates Carter
Jim has decided to play match maker for his daughter for an upcoming ball. He sets up a blind date with her. He has chosen a young man, Carter, who is the son of a business associate. Betty is anger. She did not ask to go to the dance. She did not ask to be set up with a blind date. Betty decides that to pay Dad back she will make sure the date is a flop. She tries hard to be repulsed by Cater but will repulsion leads to attraction for the couple.

Season 2, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/4/1956
Jim, the Tyrant
Jim has had a bad day at work. When he comes home from the office his mood is amplified when the family ignores him. He responses with a kick jerk declaring that the family is lacking in discipline. He affirms his statement stating that it would take a tyrant to get the family back on track. The next day Kathy has a bad day. She is annoying the other family members. Her general behaviors a inconsiderate. It make matters worse she breaks a window. How is tyrant Jim going to respond?

Season 2, Episode 18 – Aired: 1/11/1956
Betty's Brother
Because of the large age difference between Kathy and Betty, it was been easy for Kathy to be proud to have a sister like Betty. Bud is close in age to Betty and now is attending the same school. It is tough for him to follow after Betty. She is known for being an outstanding student. Bud has lost his self-confidence and identity. In a response to the situation his behaviors change. He starts acting out which includes starting fights. The principal, Jim and Margaret are confused with the change in his behaviors. No one has a clue what is wrong?

Season 2, Episode 19 – Aired: 1/18/1956
Betty Earns a Formal
Jim refused to buy a formal dress for the dance for Betty because it cost too much money. He insists that if she wants the dress, she can earn the money herself. Betty goes out and gets a job. She earns the money and buys the dress. She has not allowed anyone to know where she is working. Jim and Margaret are getting concerned on several levels. One is the fear that she no longer needs them now that she can earn her own money. The other concern is where is she working? What happens when her parents spot her in her uniform?

Season 2, Episode 20 – Aired: 1/25/1956
The House Painter
The Anderson’s are getting their house painted. This starts a moral discussion and the family wage a bet. Betty and Jim are having a discussion about responsibility and pride in a job well done versus the old mighty dollar. Jim feels the man he has hired to paint the house has his own personal business and wants to sincerely to thought of as a man that does quality work. Betty is sure the man is more driven by money. Jim makes a bet with Betty. Jim will make an offer to the painter to use cheap quality paint in exchange for earning some extra money. If the painter accepts the offer Jim wins. If he turns down the offer Jim loses. Jim is so sure that he will win that he offers to by his wife the needed second car if he loses. Will the family get a second car?

Season 2, Episode 21 – Aired: 2/1/1956
Bud, The Wallflower
Bud is depressed because he has not been invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance at school. He decides to plan a camping trip.

Season 2, Episode 22 – Aired: 2/8/1956
The Bus to Nowhere
Betty has been depressed for over a week. No one has been able to cheer her up. Betty seems to be facing a personal crisis and is searching for the meaning of life. She reads a story that Bud has written for school about searching for the meaning of life by going on a bus and taking it to no where in particular. What happens when she decides to make Bud’s story her reality?

Season 2, Episode 23 – Aired: 2/15/1956
Kathy, the Indian Giver
Kathy is much younger than Bud and Betty. Though they love her they often do want to play with her. Kathy is tired of being left alone with her dolls to play. She wants to have a real baby sister to play with. Her best friend Susi is tired of dealing with a real baby sister. The girls decide to trade. The Andersons are quite surprised to come home to a baby in the house. When the go to return the child, Kathy insists that they can not because of a lesson the family has taught her: a trade is a trade and can not be canceled unless both parties agree.

Season 2, Episode 24 – Aired: 2/22/1956
The Historical Andersons
Bud is given an assignment to write an essay about a great man from the War of Independence. Jim inspires Bud to write about an ancestor of theirs named Major Nathaniel Oliver Anderson. During his research Bud discovers that the Major is anything but a war hero. He turns to Betty for advice. How should he deal with the facts he has discovered about Major Anderson?

Season 2, Episode 25 – Aired: 2/29/1956
The Grass is Greener
In college Jim was spent so much time with his four college pals that they were known as the Four Musketeers. Charly Bradley, one of his college pals, is in town. Jim comes to realize that all three of his pals have become financially extremely successful. Jim starts feeling bad that his only claim to fame is selling insurance policies. He does not consider himself successfully. Jim starts to wrestling with his own conscious, what makes a man successful?

Season 2, Episode 26 – Aired: 3/7/1956
The Persistent Guest
Bud has a new friends that he has invited to stay over night at the Anderson Home. Unfortunately the friend has decided to make their home his new residency. What will the Anderson's do when they discover that he does not have a family.

Season 2, Episode 27 – Aired: 3/14/1956
Family Reunion
Margaret is all excited about her family reunion. Her excitement is not shared by the family. They have found all kinds of excuses to prevent them from going to her reunion.

Season 2, Episode 28 – Aired: 3/28/1956
Family Dines Out
Betty has a new friend, Elouise Sanford. Elouise is from an upper class family. Betty is concerned that she will not be able to keep the friendship unless Elouise thinks they are from the same class. Betty tells Elouise that of course she and her family are attending the opening of the Country Club. Jim is anger. How can they afford to attend? He finally agrees because he knows how much this means to Betty. Bud had just taken a job as a cook in a local restaurant. He got the job because he promised that he would be able to get them more customers. Jim had told Bud, he could count on him to help. The first day of his job is also the club’s opening. How will Jim handle the situation?

Season 2, Episode 29 – Aired: 4/4/1956
Bud, the Boxer
Eddie Jarvis is the school bully. He challenges Bud to a boxing match. Bud takes an embarrassing lost. Jim encourages Bud to join the boxing club. Bud is a quick study and soon becomes a star. The match against the champion, Eddie Jarvis, is made. Bud is excited about the match. Jim is proud. Margaret and Betty are furious that Bud is becoming the bully he once detested.

Season 2, Episode 30 – Aired: 4/11/1956
Betty, Girl Engineer
After a job fair, Betty decides she would like to be an engineer. The students are able to sign up for practical work experience to see if the vocation is right for them. Betty’s friends are opposed to her choice of professions because she is a girl. Unfortunately, her boss for the practical experience thinks a woman’s place is in the home. How will Betty resolve this situation?

Season 2, Episode 31 – Aired: 4/18/1956
The Martins and the Coys
Betty and her boyfriend are getting along wonderful until his father and Jim have a fight. After the fight, he refuses to see her ever again.

Season 2, Episode 32 – Aired: 4/25/1956
Dilemma for Margaret
Margaret is candid about some minor issues with her children. The members of the PTA interpret her remarks less than flattering. They think she can not control her own children.

Season 2, Episode 33 – Aired: 5/2/1956
Hero Father
All Star, Duke Snider, guest stars in this episode. Bud impresses his classmates when his father gets Duke Snider make a visit to Springfield.

Season 2, Episode 34 – Aired: 5/9/1956
Father, the Naturalist
Kathy is al excited because if she can find five more herbs, her folder will be complete and she can get her promotion to tribe princess. She gets dad to give her a ride into the woods. She finds to herbs but unfortunately leaves the folder and all its contents in the woods. She does not realize it until she gets home. She is devastated. Once at home Bud and Betty have a big fight. Bud has refused to do a favor to help his sister. Will Dad show Bud how important it is to do a favor by going back and getting Kathy’s folder or will he teach Kathy a lesson about being responsible?

Season 2, Episode 35 – Aired: 5/16/1956
The Ten Dollar Question
Jim and Margaret are so tired of the family dynamics. The children will not stop tattling on each other. They offer a ten dollar review to the child that does not tattle for one week.

Season 2, Episode 36 – Aired: 5/23/1956
Adopted Daughter
Kathy is cleaning up and finds a receipt for $25 from the adoption center. She is sure that she has been adopted and is determined to get Jim and Margaret to confuss the truth to her.

Season 2, Episode 37 – Aired: 5/30/1956
Betty's Graduation
As Kathy approaches her completion of Junior High, she grows anxious. She is scared that this is the end. Jim tries to reassure her that Betty felt this way last year, when she graduated High School. As graduation grows nearer no one can reconcile Kathy’s fears.

Season 3, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/12/1956
No Apron Strings
Bud has a new girlfriend, Georgia. Georgia is jealous of Bud’s family life. Bud has a close relationship with his parents. He lives in a nice neighborhood. Georgia’s mother is dead. She and her father live in a rundown apartment. Georgia wants to Bud to prove to her that he is not tied to his mother and makes him promise that they will out on the same day that the family is going to celebrate Margaret’s birthday.

Season 3, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/19/1956
Never in Twain
Betty leaves to ride on a dude ranch. She falls in love with a cowboy at the ranch. Unfortunately, Betty discovers that dude ranches and love does not last.

Season 3, Episode 3 – Aired: 9/26/1956
Betty Goes to College
Jim and Margaret are all excited about Betty starting college. They have planned that she will attend their Alma Mater. In fact, they have planned every aspect of her college life. How is Betty going to break it to them that she wants to live at home and attend Springfield Junior College with her friends.

Season 3, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/3/1956
Man About Town
Bud is attracted to Marisa, an older woman. He makes the mistake of convincing her that he is 19 years old. Marisa believing that he is the person he presents himself to be wants to go to an exclusive, expensive restaurant. Jim and Margaret think that they can save the situation by double dating with Bud and Marisa.

Season 3, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/10/1956
The Homing Pigeon
Bud is all excited about his homing pigeon, Charlie. He takes Charlie 100 miles from home and the bird returns. He decides to test the bird with a 500-mile distance. Margaret and Jim are wondering if children are like homing pigeons. Betty has decided to move out with her best friend, Gene. Margaret and Jim are wondering if Betty will return. Bud is worried that his pigeon has not returned. Both are long overdue with their return to home.

Season 3, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/17/1956
Spaghetti for Margaret
Harper Emes was Jim’s High School teacher. He gave up his career as a school teacher after he got an article published. He never had any other successful articles punished and has not given up his dream. Jim over the years has given Harper loans and helps support this unsuccessful dream. Now Harper has gotten Kathy involved in his fantasy world. He has invited her to a banquet that is being thrown in his honor for his achievements as an author. How are Margaret and Jim going to fix this situation?

Season 3, Episode 7 – Aired: 10/24/1956
Betty's Birthday
Betty has decided that birthday are not events that are meant to be celebrated. She does not want a party or gifts. She is refusing to part take in any of the events her family has planned.

Season 3, Episode 8 – Aired: 10/31/1956
Bud, the Millionaire
Jim wants to teach Bud a lesson about the value of money. He gives Bud an allowance of 10 dollars a week. They only resistriction is that Bud can only spend the money on himself.

Season 3, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/7/1956
The Old Days
The PTA is having a fund raising dance. Families are to come in costumes. Margaret and Jim have picked out the most perfect outfits. They have decided that Bud and Betty should wear the clothes that Jim and Margaret wore on the day they met. Bud and Betty have decided that Mom and Dad can wear kid's modern fashions. How will it feel to walk in each other's shoes?

Season 3, Episode 10 – Aired: 11/14/1956
Whistle Bait
There is a new girl at school and she is getting all the attention. Betty becomes extremly sad because it is all the attention that use to be given to her. How will she cope with her low self esteem?

Season 3, Episode 11 – Aired: 11/21/1956
The Great Guy
Bud and his friend Kippy take on a job at a publishing house. Sinclair Bruder, the boss, is a difficult manager. Bud can not handle Sinclair's management style and at the same time can not quit. Bud has been bragging at home about his job and does not want to be humiliated by the family if he quits.

Season 3, Episode 12 – Aired: 11/28/1956
The Family Goes to New York
Betty takes a trip to New York to participate in her friend's Barbara’s wedding. As Barbara's bridesmaid, she is overwhelmed by Barbara’s rich lifestyle. Tony, the brother of Barbara’s fiancée, becomes her companion and tries to help her adjust to the situation. It winds Betty and Tony up in the latest gossip column. How do Margaret and Jim respond when they see their daughter's name in the New York gossip column?

Season 3, Episode 13 – Aired: 12/5/1956
Betty Goes Steady
Bud's advisor, (Robert Vaughn), is concerned that Betty is getting involved with a group of students because they are from the right social class. Betty’s involvement deepens as she gains a steady friend and the purpose of the friendship is to improve Betty’s social position. Will Bud’s advisor be able to show Betty that there are things in life more important than social class? Will he be able to show her that she has given away her free mind and opinions just to fit in with this group of students? None of the Anderson’s have gotten through to her.

Season 3, Episode 14 – Aired: 12/12/1956
The Good Prospect
The Anderson meet an elderly man, Aldus Lydum, who is a smooth talker. He appears to be a success business man. He wants to give his support and mentor the family in several business opportunities. Bud is seeking a sponsor for his newly created bowling league. Kathy is starting a small venture selling doughnuts. Jim wants to make some insurance investments. Is he the real deal or is he actually a failure?

Season 3, Episode 15 – Aired: 12/19/1956
The Angel's Sweater
It is Christmas Eve at the Anderson’s home this is usually a time of fun and joy. Tonight it is filled with apprehension. Aunt Neva, Jims’ sister has decided to pay the family a visit. She is not fond of children. The family is concerned that she is going to ruin the holiday. The visit starts out poorly with Aunt Neva yelling at Kathy for a minor mishap. To make matters worse a pipe busts and the Anderson’s needs to call a handyman to fix it. While he is working on the pipe, he tells Kathy an inspiring Christmas story. Will his influence change this into a their perspective and their responses to Aunt Neva?

Season 3, Episode 16 – Aired: 12/26/1956
The Promising Young Man
John Seastrom, the vice president, asks Jim to teach his son, Woody, how to be a successful salesman. The problem is that Elwood does not want to have a career in the insurance business. Woody lives a carefree life and enjoys charming people with his sense of humor. Everyone loves Woody because he is fun and engaging. How can Jim best deal with this situation?

Season 3, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/2/1957
Margaret Hires a Gardener
The Anderson hire a Spanish immigrant, Frank, to work on their lawn. Frank does a wonderful job but when he gives them the bill for his work, it is higher than they price they agreed. How will Jim handle this situation?

Season 3, Episode 18 – Aired: 1/9/1957
Swiss Family Anderson
The Anderson family becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Season 3, Episode 19 – Aired: 1/16/1957
Brief Holiday
Margaret has become bored with her household work and decides she needs a break. He takes some time off and goes shopping, and dining in a restaurant. She feels that it will be nice to have a portrait of herself done. She goes to a local artist and sits for the portrait. When the artist comes by with the completed picture, Jim is sure there is more than boredom behind this break.

Season 3, Episode 20 – Aired: 1/23/1957
The Lawn Party
Bud has planned a lawn party at the family home. The problem is that he tells the family about the lawn party the day before it is to occur. What will Margaret and Jim do about it?

Season 3, Episode 21 – Aired: 1/30/1957
Short Wave
Bud is learning to use a short wave radio. He is excited that it is working properly and gets the family to listen in on his conversation. They overhear a distress call from a boat.

Season 3, Episode 22 – Aired: 2/6/1957
Carnival
Bud stops at a carnival on his way to pick up some items at the tailor. At the carnival he loses the money was given to pay to the tailor. One of the booth owners at the carnival, befriends Bud. He offers his a job, which Bud accepts so that he can earn back the money he lost. Bud quickly learns that the owner is a crook and learns the hard way about con artists.

Season 3, Episode 23 – Aired: 2/13/1957
Betty and the Jet Pilot
Betty is in love again. Her new boyfriend is a jet pilot. What will Betty decide to do when he is transferred to Alaska?

Season 3, Episode 24 – Aired: 2/20/1957
Trip to Hillsborough
Bud and Kippy want to go to Hillsborough to collect material to write a book. Jim and Margaret agree to allow Bud to go on the condition that Kippy is with him. At the last minute Bud finds out that Kippy can not come along. Bud decides to make the trip alone. Jim and Margaret find out that Bud has gone to Hillsborough alone. How will they respond?

Season 3, Episode 25 – Aired: 2/27/1957
An Evening to Remember
Hollywood star Cornell Wild has an accident in Springfield. Cornel is concerned that he will be sued because he is rich. He goes to Jim Anderson to ask for advice. Cornell is not able to reach Jim at his office and decides to go to the Anderson home. How will the Anderson family and their friends respond when they recognize this famous star?

Season 3, Episode 26 – Aired: 3/13/1957
Bud Buys a Car
Bud, who only has a learners permit, wants to buy a car to impress his latest girlfriend. One of his friends offers him a car for ten dollars. Bud is totally thrilled at the offer and gets the car. He is sure he can fix all the problems of this car himself and make the needed impression on his girlfriend. Unfortunately, the car does not impress her and he is in need to help to fix the car.

Season 3, Episode 27 – Aired: 3/20/1957
Safety First
Bud violates a traffic law and gets a ticket. As part of his community service for his punishment, he is forced to become a crossing guard.

Season 3, Episode 28 – Aired: 3/27/1957
Bud, the Hero
Bud has become involved in a romantic triangle. A girl is using Bud to make her boyfriend jealous. The situation changes when a series of events results in Bud preventing a bank robbery. Bud becomes the town hero.

Season 3, Episode 29 – Aired: 4/3/1957
Betty, the Track Star
Betty becomes flower queen and wins a track race all in the same day.

Season 3, Episode 30 – Aired: 4/17/1957
The Spelling Bee
Kathy wins the spelling bee contest in her school and makes the county finals. The whole contest has made Kathy nervous and she does not want to participate in the finals. Betty finds a penny and convinces Kathy that this penny has magical lucky powers. This gives Kathy the confidence she needed to agree to be in the contest. On the day of the contest the penny is missing. What will Kathy do?

Season 3, Episode 31 – Aired: 4/24/1957
Bud, the Philanthropist
Bud makes a donation to the church in good faith. Kippy manipulates the situation to make it appear that the donation is from him. Bud is anger and wants to get even.

Season 3, Episode 32 – Aired: 5/1/1957
Baby in the House
Jim and Margaret agree to take care of a baby that Betty is baby-sitting to enable her to go out. The baby makes them feel some emotions that they have not felt in a long time.

Season 3, Episode 33 – Aired: 5/8/1957
Class Prophecy
Henry Pruett. Margaret and Jim Anderson attended college together. Jim admired Henry, who was an excellent student. Henry was on his way to becoming a doctor when Jim last saw Henry. There is a knock on the door; it is a traveling salesman. The salesman is none other than Henry Pruett. Henry is not only a salesman but he is not good at his job. He tried to keep this fact and the fact that he hates what he has become from Margaret and Jim. They find out anyway.

Season 3, Episode 34 – Aired: 5/15/1957
The Art of Romance
Bud would like to make a good impression a girl he has recently decided he likes, Judy. He goes to get advice from Jim on how to win Judy’s attention. At the same time Judy decided that she can best get advice from Margaret on how to gain Bud’s attentions.

Season 3, Episode 35 – Aired: 5/22/1957
Margaret Disowns Her Family
Margaret tries to help a young woman overcome her fear of having a baby.

Season 3, Episode 36 – Aired: 5/29/1957
Grandpa Retires
Margaret’s father has decided it is time to retire. He feels that if he hands over the responsibilities of his printing office, his health problems will disappear. While Jim and Margaret come over to help him with the tasks needed to retire, they all realize the actual source of his health problems. Will Margaret’s father end up retiring or find out that he actually wants to work.

Season 3, Episode 37 – Aired: 6/5/1957
Shoot for the Moon
Sageman (Royal Dano) helps the Andersons regain their self confidence.

Season 4, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/25/1957
Follow the Leader
Bud must decide if he should stand up for a teacher or join the class in a revolt.

Season 4, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/2/1957
The Awkward Hero
Betty tutors a football player who will escort her to a dance as payment.

Season 4, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/9/1957
The Good Neighbor
Margaret receives a new house which she plans to rent out.

Season 4, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/16/1957
Bud, the Executive
Bud becomes the chairman for the planning of his high school picnic.

Season 4, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/23/1957
Sentenced to Happiness
The Anderson's gardener, Frank, is forced to get a real job and then winds up in court.

Season 4, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/30/1957
Mother Goes to School
Margaret enrolls in an English class in college and is put in Betty's class.

Season 4, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/6/1957
The Indispensable Man
Bud is not able to play in the football game because he would not go to bed early.

Season 4, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/13/1957
Kathy's Big Chance
Kathy competes in an essay contest judged by Greer Garson.

Season 4, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/20/1957
Margaret Learns to Drive
Jim tries to teach Margaret how to drive a car.

Season 4, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/4/1957
The Way of a Dictator
Bud informs Margaret and Jim that they are raising Kathy all wrong. His parents decide to teach him a lesson. they give him the pleasure of raising Kathy.

Season 4, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/11/1957
Mr. Beal Meets His Match
Betty Anderson has a nightmare about "Springfield's Most Honorable Man" contest. The nightmare becomes all too real.

Season 4, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/25/1957
Kathy Makes a Wish
Kathy finds a horseshoe. It makes her wish she had a horse. What happens when her wish comes true?

Season 4, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/1/1958
Man With a Plan
One of the girls from school misunderstand Bud and thinks he is going into the Army. What is Bud going to do when she throws him a going away party?

Season 4, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/8/1957
Big Sister
At summer camp Kathy rebels after her counselor, Betty, keeps pushing her to do better.

Season 4, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/15/1958
Calypso Kid
Bud practices the bongo drums to impress his new girlfriend.

Season 4, Episode 16 – Aired: 1/22/1958
Father's Biography
Kathy has written a biography about Jim. The PTA has choosen her biography to be read at the next PTA meeting. Jim is faced with a decision. Should he attend the PTA meeting or should be be at an important business meeting. Both meetings are scheduled for the same night.

Season 4, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/29/1958
The Rivals
Betty has two dates for the same night and doesn't plan to break either one.

Season 4, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/5/1958
Bud, the Mind Reader
Bud practices mind reading, and Betty tries to make the debating team.

Season 4, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/12/1958
Margaret's Other Family
The family gets mad when Margaret keeps helping a furniture maker and his wife.

Season 4, Episode 20 – Aired: 2/19/1958
The Trial
Bud is in trouble when he is accused of causing damage to a neighbor's property.

Season 4, Episode 21 – Aired: 2/26/1958
Revenge is Sweet
Some important individuals some over to the Anderson's home. Betty realizes that Bud's sloppy environment is not well received. She teases Bud about his sloppy nature.

Season 4, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/5/1958
Country Cousin
The Anderson's cousin, Milly, arrives for a visit and to look at the college.

Season 4, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/12/1958
Poor Old Dad
Bud believes that his father is henpecked when he willingly does everything Margaret wants him to.

Season 4, Episode 24 – Aired: 3/19/1958
Betty's Crusade
Betty tries to help an old man fix up his restaurant so he is not evicted by Jim's company.

Season 4, Episode 25 – Aired: 3/26/1958
Young Love
Bud falls in love with an older woman at the grocery store who is married.

Season 4, Episode 26 – Aired: 4/2/1958
Tell It to Mom
Chaos strikes when Betty hides a pair of skates for a friend of hers.

Season 4, Episode 27 – Aired: 4/16/1958
A Friend in Need
A very talented dog shows up and takes residence in the Anderson's house.

Season 4, Episode 28 – Aired: 4/23/1958
A Medal For Margaret
When Jim plans to build a case for trophies, and Margaret sets out to win a medal.

Season 4, Episode 29 – Aired: 4/30/1958
The Weaker Sex
Betty tries to use her feminine wiles on a young man to get him to take her out.

Season 4, Episode 30 – Aired: 5/14/1958
Jim, the Answer Man
Jim has a buisness trip. Before he can leave, he has several tasks for work that must be finished. As he attempts to complete his job responsibilites he is continually interrupted by Bud, Betty and Kathy's problems that only their daddy father can solve.

Season 4, Episode 31 – Aired: 5/21/1958
Bud Quits School
When Bud meets a successful business man who quit school and Bud plans to do the same.

Season 4, Episode 32 – Aired: 6/4/1958
A Matter of Pride
Bud is chosen as the most popular boy in his class at school.

Season 4, Episode 33 – Aired: 6/11/1958
Betty Finds a Cause
Betty tries to make a man remove a hedge that blocks the view on a road.

Season 5, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/15/1958
Vine Covered Cottage
Betty and Ralph plan to get married, but find it is not as happy as they thought.

Season 5, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/22/1958
Be Kind to Bud Week
Bud thinks Betty has an ulterior motive when she is kind to him.

Season 5, Episode 3 – Aired: 9/29/1958
Kathy's Romance
Kathy's new boyfriend is more interested in Jim than of Kathy.

Season 5, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/6/1958
Voice From the Past
Bud prepares for the arrival of the homecoming queen.

Season 5, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/13/1958
Frank's Family Tress
Frank tries to console Kathy by telling her that his family are entertainers.

Season 5, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/20/1958
Always Plan Ahead
Jim tries to teach the children a lesson when they are constantly not planning ahead.

Season 5, Episode 7 – Aired: 10/27/1958
Second Wedding
Betty talks Jim and Margaret into getting married again for their anniversary.

Season 5, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/3/1958
Bud, the Caretaker
Bud finds a dent on the back of the car he is watching for a friend.

Season 5, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/10/1958
Betty, the Pioneer Woman
Betty plays the founder of Springfield's wife in a play of what really happened.

Season 5, Episode 10 – Aired: 11/17/1958
Fair Exchange
An Indian exchange student arrives for the weekend from Betty's college.

Season 5, Episode 11 – Aired: 11/24/1958
Bud, the Snob
Summary for "Bud, the Snob" to follow.

Season 5, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/1/1958
Margaret Wins a Car
In a raffle, Margaret wins a car and uses it to help the orphans home.

Season 5, Episode 13 – Aired: 12/8/1958
The Great Experiment
Jim attempts to get the family to broaden their horizons and disaster strikes.

Season 5, Episode 14 – Aired: 12/15/1958
The Christmas Story
The family recalls as they are putting up theChristmas tree, how Jim wanted them to cut their own tree, and in the process got stranded in a cabin.

Season 5, Episode 15 – Aired: 12/22/1958
The Basketball Coach
Jim becomes the coach of Bud's basketball team.

Season 5, Episode 16 – Aired: 12/29/1958
Kathy, Girl Executive
Kathy is elected by the family to control Bud's lawn moving company.

Season 5, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/5/1959
The Good Samaritan
Bud must do a good deed for an English report and ends up resenting the whole world.

Season 5, Episode 18 – Aired: 1/12/1959
The Ideal Father
Uncle Charlie believes the children are spoiled when they forget Jim's birthday.

Season 5, Episode 19 – Aired: 1/19/1959
Big Shot Bud
Bud gets into hot water when he tries to buy Margaret a bottle of expensive perfume.

Season 5, Episode 20 – Aired: 1/26/1959
Hard Luck Leo
Leo visits and takes advantage of the whole family until something surprising happens.

Season 5, Episode 21 – Aired: 2/2/1959
Bud, the Campus Romeo
When Bus refuses dates, the girl launch an anti-Bud campaign.

Season 5, Episode 22 – Aired: 2/9/1959
Crisis Over a Kiss
Bud tries to save Betty from her boyfriend but Betty resents the help.

Season 5, Episode 23 – Aired: 2/16/1959
Kathy Grows Up
Kathy says she wants to be treated as if she was an adult.

Season 5, Episode 24 – Aired: 2/23/1959
A Man of Merit
Jim learns that he has been nominated as a candidate for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce's Merit Man. It ia an annual award given to an outstanding citizen in community in affairs.

Season 5, Episode 25 – Aired: 3/2/1959
Betty Makes a Choice
Betty wants to complete for the lead in the Springfield Jr. College Musical. She figures she will ace the audition because she got the lead the year before, and there is no competition.

Season 5, Episode 26 – Aired: 3/9/1959
It's a Small World
Margaret must decide to attend a luncheon or go with Jim on an important trip.

Season 5, Episode 27 – Aired: 3/16/1959
Two Loves Has Bud
Bud has a hard time when he must decide between two girls to take to the prom.

Season 5, Episode 28 – Aired: 3/23/1959
An Extraordinary Woman
The Anderson's are visited by an author on African Culture.

Season 5, Episode 29 – Aired: 3/30/1959
The Art of Romance
Summary for "The Art of Romance" in progress.

Season 5, Episode 30 – Aired: 4/6/1959
Formula for Happiness
Strange things begin to happen when Jim's dreams start to come true.

Season 5, Episode 31 – Aired: 4/13/1959
Bud and the Debutante
Bud tries to impress a wealthy girl by taking her to an expensive restaurant.

Season 5, Episode 32 – Aired: 4/20/1959
The Promised Playhouse
Re-cap of episode 17.

Season 5, Episode 33 – Aired: 4/27/1959
The Meanest Professor
Bud regrets writing a bad article about a professor after the professor finds the article.

Season 5, Episode 34 – Aired: 5/4/1959
Live My Own Life
This is a recut version of episode 5 with the same name where Bud goes out on his own and tries to make good.

Season 5, Episode 35 – Aired: 5/11/1959
Bud Has A Problem
Bud blames his professor when it appears he will not pass Physics.

Season 5, Episode 36 – Aired: 5/18/1959
The Great Anderson Mystery
The Andersons act out a detective story when the television breaks down.

Season 5, Episode 37 – Aired: 5/25/1959
Margaret Goes Dancing
Summary for "Margaret Goes Dancing" to follow.

Season 5, Episode 38 – Aired: 6/1/1959
The Gold Turnip
Bud feels that there is no use for tradition so he starts to break all traditions.

Season 6, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/5/1959
A Day in the Country
While on the way to visit Margaret's parents, the car breaks down leaving the family stranded on a deserted road.

Season 6, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/12/1959
Bud Branches Out
Bud falls in love with his college French professor.

Season 6, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/19/1959
The Gardener's Big Day
Frank is chosen to represent the town at the opening of a park, but when the town council meets Frank, they want another person to represent their city- someone who looks more like an average American.

Season 6, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/26/1959
The Imposter
Betty becomes involved with a young lawyer pretending to be the owner of a radio store.

Season 6, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/2/1959
Bud Plays It Safe
Bud decides to date the coach's daughter in order to make sure he gets on the football team.

Season 6, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/9/1959
Bicycle Trip for Two
Jim's plans for a quiet bicycle trip end up with Jim and Margaret arguing

Season 6, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/16/1959
First Disillusionment
Bud tells Kathy about the job he didn't get when another boy faked his credentials.

Season 6, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/23/1959
Margaret's Old Flame
Jim and Margaret tease one another about people they dated as their college reunion nears.

Season 6, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/30/1959
Kathy Becomes a Girl
The family tries to change Kathy from a tomboy into a beautiful girl.

Season 6, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/7/1959
Bud, the Willing Worker
Bud wants a part-time job at a service station in order to get enough money to buy a boat.

Season 6, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/14/1959
Turn the Other Cheek
Both Jim and Kathy are doublecrossed by their friends.

Season 6, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/28/1959
Good Joke on Mom
Margaret tricks the family into believing that she has been elected chairwoman of the children's clinic building program.

Season 6, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/4/1960
Betty's Double
Betty wins a trip to Hollywood because she looks like a famous movie star.

Season 6, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/11/1960
Father, the Naturalist
This is a recut version of episode 30. It is not part of the current syndication package and is considered "lost".

Season 6, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/18/1960
Bud Hides Behind a Skirt
Betty is campaigning for safe driving, while Bud is accused of reckless driving.

Season 6, Episode 16 – Aired: 1/25/1960
Togetherness
A reporter visits the family in order to do an article on family togetherness.

Season 6, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/1/1960
Second Best
Betty competes in the college fencing tournament.

Season 6, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/8/1960
Kathy's Big Deception
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.

Season 6, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/15/1960
Cupid Knows Best
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.

Season 6, Episode 20 – Aired: 2/22/1960
The Big Test
Betty arranges a match between Frank and a worker in a flower shop.

Season 6, Episode 21 – Aired: 2/29/1960
Jim's Big Surprise
Jim has a big surprise for the family. The Anderson clan are sure it is something special. They start to imagine what it could be: a new car, a vacation to Hawaii. How will they react when they find out what the real surprise is?

Season 6, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/7/1960
Time to Retire
When Bud reaffirms and old man's belief in life, he decides to open his own insurance company and hire Bud as his assistant.

Season 6, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/14/1960
Bud, the Speculator
Bud invests money in a phony stock scheme and winds up losing fifty dollars

Season 6, Episode 24 – Aired: 3/21/1960
The $500 Letter
The Anderson's receive a large check for a secret admirer. Now the family must figure out who the gift recipient is.

Season 6, Episode 25 – Aired: 3/28/1960
Adopted Daughter
While Kathy is trying to repair her birth certificate frame, she recalls the time she thought she was adopted.

Season 6, Episode 26 – Aired: 4/4/1960
Family Contest
Kathy destroys a picture of a family competing against hers in a photo contest

Season 6, Episode 27 – Aired: 4/11/1960
Love and Learn
Bud falls in love with his English Tutor

Season 6, Episode 28 – Aired: 4/18/1960
Blind Date
Betty dates a boy everyone regards as a loser

Season 6, Episode 29 – Aired: 4/25/1960
Betty's Career Problem
Every time that Betty enters a college contest so does Cliff Bowman. In addition, each time Cliff wins the contest. Now they are competing for a job. Is Cliff going to bet Betty one more time?

Season 6, Episode 30 – Aired: 5/9/1960
Bud Lives It Up
Bud spends more money than he has in order to impress a girl in Chicago.

Season 6, Episode 31 – Aired: 5/16/1960
Not His Type
Betty is caught in the middle of an argument between two of her friends who are planning to marry.

Season 6, Episode 32 – Aired: 5/23/1960
Betty's Graduation
When Kathy refuses to graduate from high school, the family tells her about Betty's reluctance to graduate from High School, too. This is a recut version of episode 63.

Special. Season 7, Episode 1 – Aired: 5/15/1977
Father Knows Best Reunion
Betty, Bud, and Kathy, secretly come home to surprise their parents on their wedding anniversary.

Special. Season 7, Episode 2 – Aired: 12/18/1977
Home for Christmas
Betty, Bud, and Kathy, come home for Christmas and discover the family house is up for sale.

Viewed 24330 times Last modified on October 7, 2016