Spike was a muscular yellow Mastador (a cross between a
mastiff and a Labrador retriever) who weighed well over 170 pounds. Rescued
for $3 from a Van Nuys shelter, he became the pet and star
pupil of the movie animal trainer Frank Weatherwax. Spike appeared in episodes
of several television shows during the 1950’s and 1960’s, including The Mickey
Mouse Club, The Westerner and Lassie. You can catch a glimpse of him in
movies as well, like The She Creature, The Silent Call, What Ever Happened to
Aunt Alice? and A Dog of Flanders. But his most memorable role was the title
character in Old Yeller. Like The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars, Old Yeller is
more than just a movie; it’s a part of our culture. You’d be hard-pressed to
find an adult who doesn’t know the story, or who didn’t cry at the end. Not bad
for a lop-eared mongrel.
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