Father Knows Best (Season 2)

Art of Salesmanship 0.0

Air date: 1955-08-31

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim tries to encourage Bud to take after him in salesmanship.

Father's Private Life 0.0

Air date: 1955-09-07

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim comes home tired one day and is harangued by the kids. So, he and Margaret set up new rules to give him some time to relax—but it ends up backfiring.

Lessons in Civics 0.0

Air date: 1955-09-14

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: A new highway is getting built, and for that the old community hall is going to be pulled down. That's something Jim wouldn't like to see since the hall is a historical monument, and also, memories from his youth are connected with this hall. Everyone from the family sees how much the hall means to Jim, and they use different ways to organize help.

First Disillusionment 0.0

Air date: 1955-09-21

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud loses a job to a boy who fakes his resume, which leads him to believe it is alright to do this himself

Woman in the House 0.0

Air date: 1955-09-28

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Margaret is forced to invite a woman who makes her uncomfortable because she is Jim's friend's wife.

New Girl at School 0.0

Air date: 1955-10-05

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud learns that the girl he likes is dating his best friend.

Kathy Makes Magic 0.0

Air date: 1955-10-12

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Kathy gets a new magic set, from a trade with a friend, and becomes convinced she can truly wield magic.

Advantage to Betty 0.0

Air date: 1955-10-19

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty has recently taken up tennis at school and is chosen for a photo shoot for the paper. This causes friction between her and her doubles partner, Eula, who is the team’s best player.

The Big Test 0.0

Air date: 1955-10-26

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud is accused of cheating because he is suddenly getting high grades in class.

Father Is a Dope 0.0

Air date: 1955-11-02

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: After commenting on a sitcom (“Father Does It Again”) the family watches together one night, Jim speaks about how TV fathers are often portrayed as dumb in comparison with their families. Later, he plans on going hunting and starts believing that Margaret and the kids are secretly trying to get him to stay.

Spirit of Youth 0.0

Air date: 1955-11-09

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: When Jim gets an invitation to a dance for his class reunion—class of ‘33—the kids start behaving as if their parents are ancient. Then, when the kids at their alma mater treat them the same, Jim and Margaret deal with the thought of getting older.

Bud, the Ladykiller 0.0

Air date: 1955-11-16

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud gets irritated by a girl (whom he refers to as “Dumb Dora”) who has a crush on him, hurts her feelings when his irritation leads to cruelty, and must make amends.

Margaret's Premonition 0.0

Air date: 1955-11-30

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Margaret has a premonition of danger for Jim’s upcoming business trip, and tries to get Jim to postpone it. But Jim believes it’s a bunch of superstitious nonsense, and insists on going anyway.

Stage to Yuma 0.0

Air date: 1955-12-07

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Tate Idsen saves a stagecoach from savage Indians in a flashback sequence.

Bad Influence 0.0

Air date: 1955-12-14

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud gets in trouble when his latest friend turns out to be a kleptomaniac.

Betty Hates Carter 0.0

Air date: 1955-12-28

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty is indignant when Jim arranges a date for her with an old insurance salesman buddy’s son, Carter.

Jim, the Tyrant 0.0

Air date: 1956-01-04

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim comes home early from work, after a long, hard day, and expects to gain comfort from his family, but is quickly disillusioned when they all are too absorbed in their own interests and tasks to pay attention to him. This just makes his mood more sour and he declares at dinner that if he must, he will become a tyrant. This leads to unwelcome consequences.

Betty's Brother 0.0

Air date: 1956-01-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud is having trouble in school and the family are hard-pressed to find out why. Eventually, Jim and Margaret come to the conclusion that, since he’s entered high school, he’s lost his confidence over being constantly compared to Betty and her accomplishments.

Betty Earns a Formal 0.0

Air date: 1956-01-18

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty gets a job to pay for a new, expensive formal for the Cinderella Ball at the country club.

The House Painter 0.0

Air date: 1956-01-25

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim has a bet with Betty and Margaret concerning human nature, integrity and the man painting their house—Mr. Everett.

Bud, the Wallflower 0.0

Air date: 1956-02-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud seems determined not to go to a Senior/Freshman dance that is Sadie Hawkins-themed.

The Bus to Nowhere 0.0

Air date: 1956-02-08

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty becomes irritable with her family as she goes through an existential crisis.

Kathy, the Indian Giver 0.0

Air date: 1956-02-15

Runtime: 30 min

The Historical Andersons 0.0

Air date: 1956-02-22

Runtime: 30 min

The Grass is Greener 0.0

Air date: 1956-02-29

Runtime: 30 min

The Persistent Guest 0.0

Air date: 1956-03-07

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud new friend won't leave the Anderson house because he has no family.

Family Reunion 0.0

Air date: 1956-03-14

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The family tries to think up excuses to keep from going to Margaret's family reunion.

Family Dines Out 0.0

Air date: 1956-03-28

Runtime: 30 min

Bud, the Boxer 0.0

Air date: 1956-04-04

Runtime: 30 min

Betty, Girl Engineer 0.0

Air date: 1956-04-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty decides to become an engineer. Doyle: Roger Smith. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin.

The Martins and the Coys 0.0

Air date: 1956-04-18

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty and her boyfriend refuse to see again after Jim and his father fight.

Dilemma for Margaret 0.0

Air date: 1956-04-25

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Margaret admits before the PTA that she can't control her children.

Hero Father 0.0

Air date: 1956-05-02

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Former baseball star Duke Snider appears in this episode. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Sandy: Tommy Ivo. Bramer: Kenneth Tobey. Kippy: Paul Wallace.

Father, the Naturalist 0.0

Air date: 1956-05-09

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim fights the elements to collect plants for Kathy's nature folder. Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray.

The Ten Dollar Question 0.0

Air date: 1956-05-16

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The family member who doesn't tattle for one week will receive ten dollars.

Adopted Daughter 0.0

Air date: 1956-05-23

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Kathy finds a receipt for $25 from the adoption center and believes she was adopted.

Betty's Graduation 0.0

Air date: 1956-05-30

Runtime: 30 min