The Donna Reed Show (Season 1)

Weekend Trip (Episode 1)

Writer: Phil Leslie

Air date: 1958-09-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Pardon My Gloves (Episode 2)

Air date: 1958-10-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Hike (Episode 3)

Writer: Jay Sommers

Air date: 1958-10-08

Runtime: 30 min

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

Male Ego (Episode 4)

Air date: 1958-10-15

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Football Uniform (Episode 5)

Air date: 1958-10-22

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Foundling (Episode 6)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1958-10-29

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

Three Part Mother (Episode 7)

Air date: 1958-11-05

Runtime: 30 min

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

Change Partners and Dance (Episode 8)

Air date: 1958-11-12

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Dough Re-Mi (Episode 9)

Air date: 1958-11-19

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Guest in the House (Episode 10)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1958-11-26

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Baby Contest (Episode 11)

Air date: 1958-12-03

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Beaded Bag (Episode 12)

Air date: 1958-12-10

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Busy Body (Episode 13)

Air date: 1958-12-17

Runtime: 30 min

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

A Very Merry Christmas (Episode 14) 8.0

Air date: 1958-12-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Mary's Double Date (Episode 15)

Air date: 1958-12-31

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Jeff's Double Life (Episode 16)

Air date: 1959-01-07

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Nothing But the Truth (Episode 17)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-01-14

Runtime: 30 min

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

It's the Principle of the Thing (Episode 18)

Writer: Jerry Davis

Air date: 1959-01-21

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Jeff vs. Mary (Episode 19)

Air date: 1959-01-28

Runtime: 30 min

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

Have Fun (Episode 20)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-02-04

Runtime: 30 min

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

Donna Plays Cupid (Episode 21)

Air date: 1959-02-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Love Thy Neighbor (Episode 22)

Air date: 1959-02-18

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Report Card (Episode 23)

Air date: 1959-02-25

Runtime: 30 min

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

Boys Will Be Boys (Episode 24)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-03-04

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Ideal Wife (Episode 25)

Air date: 1959-03-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Mary's Campaign (Episode 26)

Air date: 1959-03-18

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Flowered-Print Dress (Episode 27)

Air date: 1959-03-25

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

April Fool (Episode 28)

Writer: Jerry Davis

Air date: 1959-04-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Parting of the Ways (Episode 29)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-04-08

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

The Hero (Episode 30)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-04-15

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Do You Trust Your Child? (Episode 31)

Writer: Jerry Davis

Air date: 1959-04-22

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Grateful Patient (Episode 32)

Air date: 1959-04-29

Runtime: 30 min

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

The Testimonial (Episode 33)

Air date: 1959-05-06

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea (Episode 34)

Air date: 1959-05-13

Runtime: 30 min

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

Tomorrow Comes Too Soon (Episode 35)

Air date: 1959-05-20

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.

Advice To Young Lovers (Episode 36)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1959-05-27

Runtime: 30 min

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

Operation Deadbeat (Episode 37)

Writer: Seaman Jacobs

Air date: 1959-06-03

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: 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.