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Paul Martin is a fictional character on the long-running television series ''Lassie'' (1954–1973).〔(Museum of Broadcast Communications: ''Lassie'' )〕 Paul is a farmer, and the husband of Ruth, a housewife. The couple are adoptive parents of Timmy, a foster child living on a small farm in the American midwest that the couple purchase.〔Ford, Nancy. "Lassie...My Best Friend". ''Jack and Jill''. The Curtis Publishing Company, November, 1959. Volume 22, Number 1.〕 Paul is depicted as a sober, industrious, brave, and intelligent man who attends church, is a volunteer firefighter, and a member of the Grange. In the show's fourth season episode "The Ring", his uncle, Petrie Martin of Millvale, Pennsylvania, joins him on the farm to help with the work. The creation of Paul Martin came at a critical time in the show's history and permitted a new storyline to develop that proved popular with audiences. The show's highest ratings were recorded during the Martin family years. Paul makes his first appearance mid-fourth season (1957) and his last appearance in the opener of the eleventh season (1964), making a total of 147 episode appearances. The character is portrayed on the series, first, by Jon Shepodd (1957–1958) and thereafter by Hugh Reilly (1958–1964).〔〔 The character appeared in show-related merchandise such as novels and comic books. Selected episodes featuring the character are available on VHS and DVD including all the Christmas episodes filmed during the Paul Martin seasons of the show. ==Background== The television series ''Lassie'' debuted on CBS in September 1954 with Jan Clayton playing widowed farm woman Ellen Miller, Tommy Rettig her son Jeff, and George Cleveland her father-in-law George Miller. In its first three years, the show won two Emmy Awards, and, at the beginning of its fourth season (1957), introduced child actor Jon Provost to audiences as a young runaway named Timmy. In his debut, Timmy remains on the Miller farm in a foster status after a social worker's assistance. When George Cleveland died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 17, 1957, producers realized the series required an immediate overhaul. The fictional Miller farm couldn't be worked without an adult male on the premises. Provost was a smash hit with audiences and would remain on the show. However, when it was learned no state in the Union allowed an unmarried woman to adopt a child (making Timmy's adoption by Ellen Miller an impossibility), production staff suggested the plot be saved by having Ellen wed. She would then have a man around the place to work the farm and a husband to make possible Timmy's adoption. Jan Clayton (who wanted to leave the show to return to her roots in musical theater), rejected the idea.〔 With a marriage for Ellen nixed, writers fashioned a story in which her farm would be sold to Ruth and Paul Martin, a young couple new to the area. The Martins would then adopt Timmy, and Lassie would remain on the farm with the boy. Stars Jan Clayton and Tommy Rettig would be written out of the show by having their characters move to distant Capitol City. Other characters associated with the Miller years including "Porky" Brockway (Donald Keeler), his basset hound Pokey and his parents Matt and Birdie (Paul Maxey and Marjorie Bennett) would be dropped as well, simply disappearing without explanation to the audience.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Paul Martin (Lassie)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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