The Donna Reed Show: Season 1
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
Weekend Trip
Sep 24, 1958 · 30 min
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 yo
Pardon My Gloves
Oct 1, 1958 · 30 min
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
Oct 8, 1958 · 30 min
Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.
Male Ego
Oct 15, 1958 · 30 min
Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.
The Football Uniform
Oct 22, 1958 · 30 min
Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.
Three Part Mother
Nov 5, 1958 · 30 min
Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.
Change Partners and Dance
Nov 12, 1958 · 30 min
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
Nov 19, 1958 · 30 min
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 unrelat
Guest in the House
Nov 26, 1958 · 30 min
A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.
The Baby Contest
Dec 3, 1958 · 30 min
Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.
The Beaded Bag
Dec 10, 1958 · 30 min
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 gif
The Busy Body
Dec 17, 1958 · 30 min
Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.
A Very Merry Christmas
Dec 24, 1958 · 30 min
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
Dec 31, 1958 · 30 min
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, eventuall
Jeff's Double Life
Jan 7, 1959 · 30 min
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 c
Nothing But the Truth
Jan 14, 1959 · 30 min
David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.
It's the Principle of the Thing
Jan 21, 1959 · 30 min
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 g
Jeff vs. Mary
Jan 28, 1959 · 30 min
Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.
Have Fun
Feb 4, 1959 · 30 min
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
Feb 11, 1959 · 30 min
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
Love Thy Neighbor
Feb 18, 1959 · 30 min
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
Feb 25, 1959 · 30 min
Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.
Boys Will Be Boys
Mar 4, 1959 · 30 min
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
Mar 11, 1959 · 30 min
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 be
Mary's Campaign
Mar 18, 1959 · 30 min
Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.
The Flowered-Print Dress
Mar 25, 1959 · 30 min
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
Apr 1, 1959 · 30 min
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 frie
The Parting of the Ways
Apr 8, 1959 · 30 min
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 th
The Hero
Apr 15, 1959 · 30 min
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 b
Do You Trust Your Child?
Apr 22, 1959 · 30 min
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
Apr 29, 1959 · 30 min
Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.
The Testimonial
May 6, 1959 · 30 min
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
May 13, 1959 · 30 min
The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.
Tomorrow Comes Too Soon
May 20, 1959 · 30 min
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
May 27, 1959 · 30 min
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
Jun 3, 1959 · 30 min
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.