TV Series · 1979

The Littlest Hobo

30 min · Drama, Action & Adventure, Family · Ended

Composite

6.9

IMDb

7.7 / 10

1,551 votes

TMDB

7.5 / 10

13 votes

Local

— / 10

No votes

Synopsis

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.

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Cast

London

Hobo (as London the Dog)

Alan Scarfe

—

Don Granbery

Roger Dunn

Wayne Best

Crew

Charles P. Eisenmann Animal Coordinator

Editing

Dean Balser Editor
Gary L. Smith Editor

Sound

Terry Bush Music

Seasons & episodes

Season 1 (24 ep)

1. Smoke

Oct 11, 1979 · 30 min

Hobo saves animals from a forest fire and aids a poisoned child.
2. Manhunt (1)

Oct 18, 1979 · 30 min
3. Manhunt (2)

Oct 25, 1979 · 30 min
4. The Defector

Nov 1, 1979 · 30 min

Hobo rescues a defecting ballerina from kidnappers.
5. Double Trouble

Nov 8, 1979 · 30 min

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

Nov 15, 1979 · 30 min

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

Nov 29, 1979 · 30 min

Hobo rescues a politician's son from kidnappers.
8. Heritage

Dec 6, 1979 · 30 min

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

Dec 13, 1979 · 30 min
10. Boy On Wheels

Dec 20, 1979 · 30 min

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

Dec 27, 1979 · 30 min

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

Jan 3, 1980 · 30 min
13. Big Al and Sam Strawberry

Jan 13, 1980 · 30 min
14. Give My Regards to Broadway

Jan 31, 1980 · 30 min

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

Feb 7, 1980 · 30 min

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

Feb 28, 1980 · 30 min
17. The Million Dollar Fur Heist

Mar 6, 1980 · 30 min
18. Diamonds Are a Dog's Best Friend

Mar 13, 1980 · 30 min
19. Romiet and Julio

Mar 20, 1980 · 30 min

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

Mar 27, 1980 · 30 min
21. Guardian Angel

Apr 3, 1980 · 30 min
22. The Pied Piper

Apr 10, 1980 · 30 min
23. Willie and Kate

May 15, 1980 · 30 min

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

May 22, 1980 · 30 min

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.

Season 2 (18 ep)

1. The Balloonist

Sep 18, 1980 · 30 min
2. Duddleman and the Diamond Ring

Sep 25, 1980 · 30 min
3. Guinea Pig

Oct 2, 1980 · 30 min
4. Trapper

Oct 9, 1980 · 30 min
5. The Pearls

Oct 23, 1980 · 30 min
6. Carnival of Fear

Oct 30, 1980 · 30 min

Hobo stalks an ominous carnival patron.
7. Mystery at the Zoo

Nov 6, 1980 · 30 min

Hobo investigates the disappearance of zoo animals. Carol Lynley.
8. Sailing Away

Nov 13, 1980 · 30 min
9. The Hunt

Nov 20, 1980 · 30 min
10. Fast Freddie

Nov 27, 1980 · 30 min

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

Dec 4, 1980 · 30 min
12. Portrait of Danger

Dec 11, 1980 · 30 min

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

Dec 18, 1980 · 30 min

Hobo and an insurance investigator help recover a missing truckload of diamonds.
14. Here's Joey Jackson

Jan 22, 1981 · 30 min
15. Runaway

Feb 12, 1981 · 30 min

Hobo reunites a runaway boy with a family who wants to adopt him.
16. East Side Angels

Feb 26, 1981 · 30 min

A teen is dropped from a basketball club for arson.
17. Mystique

Mar 5, 1981 · 30 min
18. The Trail of No Return

Apr 9, 1981 · 30 min

Hobo contracts botulism trying to save two children.

Season 3 (18 ep)

1. Photo Finish

Sep 17, 1981 · 30 min
2. The Secret of Red Hill

Sep 24, 1981 · 30 min

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

Oct 1, 1981 · 30 min

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

Oct 8, 1981 · 30 min
5. Suspect

Oct 29, 1981 · 30 min
6. War Games

Nov 5, 1981 · 30 min
7. The Hero

Nov 12, 1981 · 30 min
8. Hidden Room

Nov 19, 1981 · 30 min

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

Nov 26, 1981 · 30 min
10. The Locket

Dec 3, 1981 · 30 min
11. Airport

Dec 10, 1981 · 30 min
12. Music Box

Dec 24, 1981 · 30 min
13. Mail Order Bride

Jan 21, 1982 · 30 min
14. The Clown

Jan 28, 1982 · 30 min

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

Feb 4, 1982 · 30 min
16. A Special Friend

Feb 25, 1982 · 30 min
17. Forget Me Not

Mar 4, 1982 · 30 min
18. Rex Badger P.I.

Mar 11, 1982 · 30 min

Hobo helps a bungling investigator.

Season 4 (18 ep)

1. Napoleon

Sep 16, 1982 · 30 min
2. Home Free

Sep 23, 1982 · 30 min
3. Back to Nature

Sep 30, 1982 · 30 min
4. The Imaginative Invalid

Oct 7, 1982 · 30 min

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

Oct 14, 1982 · 30 min
6. Happy Birthday Mom

Oct 21, 1982 · 30 min

Two brothers compete in a bike race to try to earn money for their mother's birthday.
7. The Spirit of Thunder Rock (1)

Oct 28, 1982 · 30 min

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)

Nov 4, 1982 · 30 min

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)

Nov 11, 1982 · 30 min

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

Nov 18, 1982 · 30 min
11. Day For Night

Nov 25, 1982 · 30 min
12. Trooper

Dec 2, 1982 · 30 min
13. The Loneliest Day of the Week

Jan 27, 1983 · 30 min
14. Double Vision

Feb 3, 1983 · 30 min
15. Winner Take All

Feb 10, 1983 · 30 min
16. Small Pleasures

Mar 3, 1983 · 30 min
17. The Five Labours of Hercules (1)

Mar 17, 1983 · 30 min

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)

Mar 24, 1983 · 30 min

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.

Season 5 (18 ep)

1. Rookie

Sep 15, 1983 · 30 min
2. Scavenger Hunt (1)

Sep 22, 1983 · 30 min
3. Scavenger Hunt (2)

Sep 29, 1983 · 30 min
4. Second Sight

Oct 6, 1983 · 30 min
5. Trucker

Oct 13, 1983 · 30 min
6. Born To Run

Oct 20, 1983 · 30 min
7. Tempest Probe

Oct 27, 1983 · 30 min

A criminal steals a secret laser.
8. Lumberjacks

Nov 3, 1983 · 30 min

A bookie tries to fix a lumberjack competition using extreme methods.
9. Passage

Nov 10, 1983 · 30 min
10. Sartech (1)

Nov 17, 1983 · 30 min
11. Sartech (2)

Dec 1, 1983 · 30 min
12. Dragonslayer

Jan 19, 1984 · 30 min
13. The Genesis Tapes (1)

Jan 26, 1984 · 30 min
14. The Genesis Tapes (2)

Feb 2, 1984 · 30 min
15. Ghost Station

Feb 23, 1984 · 30 min
16. Indian Summer

Mar 1, 1984 · 30 min
17. Applejack

Mar 8, 1984 · 30 min
18. Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Mar 15, 1984 · 30 min

Hobo is mistaken for a sheep-killing wolf.