S01E01 Weekend Trip
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...
The Donna Reed Show
S01E20: Have Fun
When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.
Overview
Revolves around typical family problems, such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the children.
Episodes
S01E02 Pardon My Gloves
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.
S01E03 The Hike
Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.
S01E05 The Football Uniform
Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.
S01E07 Three Part Mother
Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.
S01E08 Change Partners and Dance
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.
S01E09 Dough Re-Mi
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.
S01E10 Guest in the House
A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.
S01E12 The Beaded Bag
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...
S01E13 The Busy Body
Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.
S01E14 A Very Merry Christmas
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.
S01E15 Mary's Double Date
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...
S01E16 Jeff's Double Life
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...
S01E17 Nothing But the Truth
David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.
S01E18 It's the Principle of the Thing
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...
S01E19 Jeff vs. Mary
Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.
S01E20 Have Fun
When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.
S01E21 Donna Plays Cupid
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)...
S01E22 Love Thy Neighbor
Donna and Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilbur & Celia Wilgus, only for Donna to get caught up in a misunderstanding later.
S01E23 The Report Card
Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.
S01E24 Boys Will Be Boys
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.
S01E25 The Ideal Wife
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...
S01E26 Mary's Campaign
Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.
S01E27 The Flowered-Print Dress
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.
S01E28 April Fool
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...
S01E29 The Parting of the Ways
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.
S01E30 The Hero
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.
S01E31 Do You Trust Your Child?
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.
S01E32 Grateful Patient
Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.
S01E33 The Testimonial
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.
S01E34 Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea
The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.
S01E35 Tomorrow Comes Too Soon
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.
S01E36 Advice To Young Lovers
When Mary and George get in a fight over him and her best friend Babs, Donna advises her on how to handle the situation.
S01E37 Operation Deadbeat
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.
Cast
Donna Reed
Donna Stone
Carl Betz
Alex Stone
Paul Petersen
Jeff Stone
Patty Petersen
Trisha Stone
