|
Hanover
author, historian shares
her enthusiasm for famous collie
Indianapolis
event to
showcase stars from ‘Lassie’ TV show
By
Lela Jane Bradshaw
Contributing Writer
(July 2008) – When Karen Pfeiffer
of Colliehaven Ventures LLC placed the winning bid for a rare
Lassie collectible, she knew she was adding a unique item
to her already impressive collection of Lassie and collie
memorabilia.
 |
|
Photo
by Lela Bradshaw
Karen
Pfeiffer has turned her
devotion to collies into a business.
|
What she didn’t know was that the auction
would lead her to a friendship with two of the people most
responsible for the beloved television series.
After winning the auction for a book stand used in stores
to advertise a book on the history of Lassie, Pfeiffer learned
that the sellers were Jon Provost – the actor famous
for playing Timmy from 1957-1964 – and his wife.
This chance encounter was especially fortunate since Pfeiffer
was working on a book on Lassie collectibles and had until
then been unable to contact Provost to get him involved with
the project.
“I had wanted to write the book, and I wanted Jon Provost
to write the foreword. We started e-mailing and he said he
would love to do it,” Pfeiffer said.
Through Provost, she was introduced to dog trainer Bob Weatherwax,
who assisted on 360 episodes of the “Lassie” television
series and who bred and trained the two most recent dogs to
portray the beloved character.
Pfeiffer, 52, of Hanover, Ind., is in the early stages of
setting up a 2009 event that will bring the famous stars to
Indianapolis. Working in association with an area collie club,
the event will feature trainer Weatherwax, actor Provost,
and the current Lassie. Lassie fans and dog lovers will have
the opportunity to hear more about the classic television
series and learn about dog training techniques used for the
movies.
Colliehaven Ventures LLC began in 1996 as Colliehaven Kennels,
but Pfeiffer’s love of collies and Lassie stretches back
to her childhood. “Growing up, most of my dogs were collies
and collie mixes. Lassie was my main incentive,” she
fondly recalls.
Colliehaven initially served as a collie breeding and rescue
operation, but now Pfeiffer is focusing her efforts on writing
and Lassie history. Pfeiffer has shared her knowledge of the
famous collie by serving as a consultant to “Animal Planet”
specials and the Maryland ASPCA Annual Awards Program. She
works with Provost and Weatherwax setting up appearances for
the Hollywood stars, giving old and new fans a chance to meet
those who knew Lassie best.
Pfeiffer also helps those interested in connecting to the
magic of Lassie through her books. “I was collecting
Lassie, but there was no book to go back to,” says Pfeiffer.
In order to fill in the blanks for fellow collectors, she
worked for six years compiling the research and photographs
for “The Legacy of Lassie.” Pfeiffer’s personal
collection of approximately 1,200 Lassie and collie pieces,
including the wall phone used as part of the set from the
Lassie series, provided the basis for the collector’s
guide. The 343-page book includes pictures and market values
for items ranging from Lassie related books and toys to star
autographs and movie memorabilia.
A new edition with color photographs and information on other
collectors is currently in the works. Pfeiffer encourages
those interested in Lassie to get involved in collecting saying,
“The research and hunt is fun. It’s amazing how
many collectors are out there.”
Pfeiffer is presently completing her latest book, “The
Romance of the Collie,” and expects it to be available
next year. She describes the upcoming collection of stories
as “a nonfiction work that I think people will enjoy
even if they don’t have collies, dog lovers can enjoy
it.”
The book showcases a variety of dogs that exemplify the collie
breed traits of love and loyalty toward family. One of the
stories tells of an elderly couple from Anderson, Indiana
whose collie, appropriately named Lassie, saved them from
a house fire. The book features a forward by Weatherwax and
includes information on the dogs who have played Lassie on
television and in the movies.
As new generations continue to discover Lassie, Colliehaven
Ventures LLC is sure to help these new fans appreciate the
history of this special dog. At one home in Hanover, the magic
of Lassie is alive and well.
• For more information on collie
dogs and Lassie memorabilia, visit www.colliehaven.net.
|
