Father Knows Best (Season 3)

No Apron Strings (Episode 1)

Writer: Roswell Rogers

Air date: 1956-09-12

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud tries to prove he's not tied to his mother's apron strings.

Never in Twain (Episode 2)

Writer: Paul West

Air date: 1956-09-19

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: On a dude ranch, Betty falls in love with a cowboy only to discover the relationship won't last.

Betty Goes to College (Episode 3)

Writer: Roswell Rogers

Air date: 1956-09-26

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim and Margaret are excited about Betty going to the state college they attended. Betty, who wants to, at first, changes her mind.

Man About Town (Episode 4)

Writer: Dorothy Cooper

Air date: 1956-10-03

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Kippy promises Bud a date with his beautiful cousin, Marissa.

The Homing Pigeon (Episode 5)

Writer: Paul West

Air date: 1956-10-10

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim tries discouraging Betty from moving into an apartment. Bud and the family await the arrival of Charlie, a homing pigeon.

Spaghetti for Margaret (Episode 6)

Writer: Roswell Rogers

Air date: 1956-10-17

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The Andersons entertain an aspiring writer—aspiring for 30 years.

Betty's Birthday (Episode 7)

Writer: Dorothy Cooper

Air date: 1956-10-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: After listening to a lecture in class on the origins of giving gifts, Betty announces that she doesn't want a birthday party or presents.

Bud, the Millionaire (Episode 8)

Writer: Paul West

Air date: 1956-10-31

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: To teach Bud a lesson, Jim gives him ten dollars a week for allowance, but he's not to spend the money on anyone else but himself, even indirectly.

The Old Days (Episode 9)

Air date: 1956-11-07

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim and Margaret complain about the children's sloppy clothes.

Whistle Bait (Episode 10)

Air date: 1956-11-14

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty's esteem is low after another girl gets all the attention she used to get.

The Great Guy (Episode 11)

Air date: 1956-11-21

Runtime: 30 min

The Family Goes to New York (Episode 12)

Air date: 1956-11-28

Runtime: 30 min

Betty Goes Steady (Episode 13)

Air date: 1956-12-05

Runtime: 30 min

The Good Prospect (Episode 14)

Air date: 1956-12-12

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The Andersons try bringing an old man out of his dream world.

The Angel's Sweater (Episode 15)

Air date: 1956-12-19

Runtime: 30 min

The Promising Young Man (Episode 16)

Air date: 1956-12-26

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The boss's son goes to work in Jim's office.

Margaret Hires a Gardener (Episode 17)

Air date: 1957-01-02

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: A Spanish immigrant, Frank, fixes the Andersons lawn and then charges a high price.

Swiss Family Anderson (Episode 18)

Air date: 1957-01-09

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The Anderson family becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Brief Holiday (Episode 19)

Air date: 1957-01-16

Runtime: 30 min

The Lawn Party (Episode 20)

Air date: 1957-01-23

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud tells the family they are to set up for a lawn party that is tomorrow.

Short Wave (Episode 21)

Air date: 1957-01-30

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: While listening to Bud’s short wave radio, the family overhears a distress call from a boat.

Carnival (Episode 22)

Air date: 1957-02-06

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud squanders Jim's money at a carnival.

Betty and the Jet Pilot (Episode 23)

Air date: 1957-02-13

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty's new boyfriend, a jet pilot, is transferred to Alaska.

Trip to Hillsborough (Episode 24)

Air date: 1957-02-20

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Looking for adventure, Bud travels to a neighboring town.

An Evening to Remember (Episode 25)

Air date: 1957-02-27

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The Anderson home is disrupted by a visit from actor Cornel Wilde.

Bud Buys a Car (Episode 26)

Air date: 1957-03-13

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud buys a car for $10.

Safety First (Episode 27)

Air date: 1957-03-20

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: When Bud receives a traffic ticket, he is forced to become a crossing guard.

Bud, the Hero (Episode 28)

Air date: 1957-03-27

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud…a hero? A chain reaction of events, starting with a girl who wants to use Bud to make her boyfriend jealous, leads to Bud becoming a hero of the town.

Betty, the Track Star (Episode 29)

Air date: 1957-04-03

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Betty becomes flower queen and wins a track race, all in the same day.

The Spelling Bee (Episode 30)

Air date: 1957-04-17

Runtime: 30 min

Bud, the Philanthropist (Episode 31)

Air date: 1957-04-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Kippy takes credit for a church donation Bud made, and Bud plans to get even.

Baby in the House (Episode 32)

Air date: 1957-05-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim and Margaret take care of a baby Betty is supposed to babysit, so she can go out.

Class Prophecy (Episode 33)

Air date: 1957-05-08

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Henry Pruett, a traveling salesman, knocks on the Anderson’s door. It turns out she, Jim and Henry all attended college together.

The Art of Romance (Episode 34)

Air date: 1957-05-15

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Bud gets advice from Jim on how to win over Judy, while she is asking Margaret.

Margaret Disowns Her Family (Episode 35)

Air date: 1957-05-22

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Margaret tries to help a young woman overcome her fear of having a baby.

Grandpa Retires (Episode 36)

Air date: 1957-05-29

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jim and Margaret are called in to help Margaret's dad, who's about to hand over his printing office and retire.

Shoot for the Moon (Episode 37)

Air date: 1957-06-05

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Sageman helps the Andersons regain their self-confidence.