The Donna Reed Show (Season 3)

Weekend (Episode 1)

Air date: 1960-09-15

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The family wants to get away for the weekend. The brochure shows Lakeview Lodge to be a great place to go, so Donna and Alex head up there early with Mary and Jeff to join them later, but Lakeview Lodge turns out to be a major disappointment. Now what can they do?

The Mystery Woman (Episode 2)

Writer: Barbara Hammer

Air date: 1960-09-22

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: A lady spots Donna and Mary having lunch in a restaurant, so she stops to say hello. She recognized Donna, even though it had "been 13 years." Donna doesn't recognize her, but is polite and too embarrassed to ask her name. Later, after accepting a dinner invitation, Donna realizes she must find out who the mystery woman was.

Donna Decorates (Episode 3)

Air date: 1960-09-29

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna tries to redecorate the house, but neighbor boy Dennis Mitchell tries to help her...and ends up making things more of a mess. Donna finally calls Dennis' nearer neighbor Mr.Wilson to ask if Dennis would help him with anything. This was a crossover show-with two people from "Dennis the Menace”.

The Love Letter (Episode 4)

Writer: Tom August

Air date: 1960-10-06

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Nick the Greek is the handyman at the Stone's house. He's still learning how to write English, so he asks Jeff for help in writing a love letter to his girlfriend. Later, Mary finds this love letter in Jeff's handwriting and wonders if Jeff is involved in a new romance.

How the Other Side Lives (Episode 5)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1960-10-20

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary's friend Ginny lives in a mansion with a maid, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. Now Ginny is going to spend the weekend at Mary's house. What can Mary do to impress Ginny, with the Stone family having no maid, no pool, no tennis court, and with wild, unruly younger brother Jeff at home?

Alex's Twin (Episode 6)

Writer: Nate Monaster

Air date: 1960-10-27

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary is enamored with the new boy at school, Elroy. Why? Because he reminds her so much of what her dad must have been like as a teenager. Alex can't see the resemblance at all.

Worried Anyone? (Episode 7)

Air date: 1960-11-03

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Like, are we worried about Mary riding in Scotty's car? After all, its only a hot rod made with parts taken from wrecked cars!

Higher Learning (Episode 8)

Writer: Hugh Wedlock Jr.

Air date: 1960-11-10

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna is worried about Jeff’s dropping grades and class ranking.

Never Marry a Doctor (Episode 9)

Air date: 1960-11-17

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The Stones' cleaning lady has troubles. Her baby is sick and her husband lost his job due to illness. Alex takes care of the baby's health, and Donna hires the husband to do odd jobs in their house. Now the Stones have troubles. The twenty dollars that Alex left on the counter for Mrs. Cruikshank's charity is missing.

It Only Hurts When I Laugh (Episode 10)

Air date: 1960-11-24

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The tables are turned as Alex becomes a hospital patient, and a difficult one at that.

The Model Daughter (Episode 11)

Air date: 1960-12-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary goes to a session at Taffy Cinders Charm School and wins a scholarship to learn how to be a model. Most of the girls who went with Mary also "won" scholarships, too! Then the expenses mount up.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions (Episode 12)

Writer: Theodore Ferro

Air date: 1960-12-08

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary is so indecisive, always asking her mother about what clothes to wear which boys to date. Tonight though, she starts making her own decisions when she, Roger, and Larry go out on the town.

Donna Goes to a Reunion (Episode 13)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1960-12-15

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna heads to a Blaine Women's College reunion, and while she's away, Jeff adopts Duke, the dog.

Someone is Watching (Episode 14)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1960-12-22

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jeff wants a motor scooter like Gordie just got, but Alex won't agree to that. Gordie shows off his riding skill until he drives the scooter into a tree in the Stones’s front yard. Gordie proceeds to fake a leg injury that puts him in Jeff's bed overnight, with Donna taking care of him.

The Lean and Hungry Look (Episode 15)

Writer: Tom August

Air date: 1960-12-29

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna can't fit into the dinner dress she bought a few months ago, and she wants to wear it! She decides it's time to exercise and diet the extra pounds off. Then, Alex notices his tuxedo is a little too tight now. And will Jeff ever repay Mary the money he borrowed from her so she can buy that sweater she's been wanting for so long?

Character Building (Episode 16)

Writer: Clifford Goldsmith

Air date: 1961-01-05

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: When Donna's letter-to-the-editor about parents needing to make sure that their children follow through by finishing what they start gets published, it prompts Donna to follow through herself. Now Mary can't play tennis till she finds her lost jacket and returns a library book, and Jeff can't rest till he finds the tire pump he borrowed from a friend.

World's Greatest Entertainer (Episode 17)

Writer: Barbara Avedon

Air date: 1961-01-12

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jeff just can't seem to do anything right. The family needs to build up his spirits, so when he does mediocre imitations of movie stars like James Cagney, Peter Lorre, and Edward G. Robinson, he gets all the family's praise. So, he decides to enter the upcoming school talent show! Now what can Mary, Donna, and Alex do?

Variations On a Theme (Episode 18)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-01-19

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The piano becomes a "parking lot”, with everyone dropping things on it, so Alex decides to sell it. All of a sudden, Mary has a problem with that idea.

The Stones Go to Hollywood (Episode 19)

Air date: 1961-01-26

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Alex needs to go to Hollywood to discuss suggestions for a Children's Clinic, so the whole family takes the opportunity to go along and see Hollywood, except it rains—for 2 days! They had so much wanted to meet a movie and TV star before they leave.

Donna Directs a Play (Episode 20)

Air date: 1961-02-02

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna fills in for the director of Mary's drama group when he is called to Hollywood for a part in a movie.

Trip to Nowhere (Episode 21)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-02-09

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Jeff has been complaining that there's nothing to do. To top it off, Ricky comes over and brags about how his dad is taking him on an exciting camping trip this weekend. Now Jeff wants to go camping, but Alex is away at a conference.

The Geisha Girl (Episode 22)

Air date: 1961-02-16

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: The new doctor has a Japanese Geisha girl for a wife. She is constantly seeing to her husband's needs, can't do enough for him. The married couples of Hilldale have a difficult time adjusting to her. Leave it to Donna to "Americanize" her in matters of wifely duties.

The Busy People (Episode 23)

Writer: Hugh Wedlock Jr.

Air date: 1961-02-23

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: In an attempt for more togetherness, Donna signs Alex and herself up for painting lessons.

Tony Martin Visits (Episode 24)

Air date: 1961-03-02

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: While driving through Hilldale, Tony Martin is arrested for speeding by a policeman using radar. He knows he wasn't speeding, but figures he'll just pay the fine and be on his way. In court, Tony sees Donna fighting a parking meter violation and insisting on a jury trial rather than pay a $2 fine.

Aunt Belle's Earrings (Episode 25)

Air date: 1961-03-09

Runtime: 30 min

Poodle Parlor (Episode 26)

Air date: 1961-03-16

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna and her friend consider opening a poodle parlor, where owners can bring their poodles to get clipped and buy them fancy accessories. The husbands think the whole idea is ludicrous, which makes the ladies all the more determined to succeed.

Mary's Heart Throb (Episode 27)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-03-23

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: While babysitting for the Damons, Mary meets their older son, Rick, who has dropped out of college because he wasn't accepted by his father's old fraternity. He plans to join the Foreign Legion and wants Mary to help him.

Donna's Helping Hand (Episode 28)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-03-30

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Dr. Steinhaus is retiring as the head of the Board of Health. Donna thinks this is the perfect opportunity for Alex to have a position that offers him more regular hours and she intends to help him get it.

The Merry Month of April (Episode 29)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-04-06

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Income tax time, so Alex decides to save money and prepare his own taxes this year, rather than have Harvey do it. When Alex figures out he owes money, he gets mad about a hat he thinks Donna bought for $49.50.

Music Hath Charms (Episode 30)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-04-13

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Donna buys Alex a musical, apothecary-styled tobacco jar for Alex. When the jar is broken, the search for a replacement ensues.

Let's Look at Love (Episode 31)

Air date: 1961-04-20

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary gives up boys when Roger and Elroy let a coin toss decide which one will play tennis with her. She decides to become a scientist.

For Better or Worse (Episode 32)

Writer: Phil Sharp

Air date: 1961-04-27

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: A story about every married couple's dilemma: what decisions can a husband make on his own and which require a conference for his wife's agreement?

Jeff, the Treasurer (Episode 33)

Air date: 1961-05-04

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: As class Treasurer, Jeff is responsible for the class dues and ends up losing it. It's Thursday. The class picnic is Saturday. Mrs. Haskell needs the money to pay for the bus that will take the class to the picnic.

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (Episode 34)

Writer: John Whedon

Air date: 1961-05-11

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: When the school bully, Jocko, makes fun of Jeff being in the choir, Jeff starts “pumping iron” because it looks like there will be a fight.

Military School (Episode 35)

Air date: 1961-05-18

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: When Herbie suggests his visiting friend Ken goes along with them to the dance, Mary decides not to go to the dance at all. Then she meets Ken, who's in full uniform from the Carter Military Academy. Yeah, she wants to go to the dance now! But where does that leave Herbie?

Mary's Driving Lesson (Episode 36)

Air date: 1961-05-25

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Scotty, smitten by Mary, agrees to teach Mary how to drive. Oh boy! Does he have his hands full! Will their romantic friendship last through this experience?

The Mustache (Episode 37)

Air date: 1961-06-01

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Alex growing a mustache turns out to be quite a controversial event in the Stone household.

Mary's Little Lambs (Episode 38)

Air date: 1961-06-08

Runtime: 30 min

Overview: Mary and Mark decide to have a Saturday nursery school (i.e., day care) to earn enough money to paint Mark's car. Alex, on the other hand, would like to sleep late on Saturday morning, unaware of the bedlam that's about to take place!