"All animals are intelligent, just like people, but they must be educated. The smartest dog in the world is not going to learn to do tricks and behave if somebody doesn’t teach him. And the smartest man in the world, if he doesn’t live with the animal, and love the animal, is not going to be able to train him."

    About This Interview

    In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Frank Inn (1916-2002) talks about his early years, and his first job on the MGM lot as a laborer. He describes training a dog after a terrible car accident and coming to the attention of Hollywood animal trainer Henry East. He recalls working with animal trainer (and "Lassie" owner) Rudd Weatherwax on several classic films, and eventually working as a trainer on the television series Lassie. Inn recounts starting his own business and working as an animal trainer on several classic features including Giant and Breakfast at Tiffany's. He recalls acting as animal trainer on several television series including I Love Lucy, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Andy Griffith Show, and on Green Acres where he trained "Arnold" the pig. He speaks of working on the "Benji" series of films, and details the keys to his success as an animal trainer in Hollywood. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on August 8, 2001 in Sylmar, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
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    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for "Arnold," the pig on Green Acres

    08:46
    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on his trademark hat, and a poem he wrote about his career

    05:06
    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on the specific talents an animal trainer must possess

    05:50
    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Beverly Hillbillies

    08:48
    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on working with "Lassie" on Lassie

    04:29
    Thumbnail of Frank Inn

    Frank Inn on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers

    01:35
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences

    12:11

    On changing his name; on getting his start in show business at the MGM studio lot as a laborer; on the MGM lot in the late 1930s

    16:47

    Chapter 2

    On working as a rodeo clown with Slim Pickens; on training a bull; on learning to train horses, and on his life-altering car accident

    10:47

    On training a dog after his car accident; on meeting Hollywood animal trainer Henry East

    19:12

    Chapter 3

    On meeting celebrity animal trainer Henry East; on his duties working for Henry East; on going to work for Hollywood animal trainer Rennie Renfro, and on working with Rudd Weatherwax on various classic feature films

    11:09

    On helping to train "Daisy," the dog from the "Blondie" series of feature films; on working for Hollywood animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax on several classic films, and on acting as a double in several features

    06:06

    On the colorful personality of "Lassie" trainer Rudd Weatherwax; on what he learned from "Lassie" trainer Rudd Weatherwax, and on Weatherwax retaining the rights to "Lassie"

    10:06

    Chapter 4

    On Rudd Weatherwax losing "Lassie" to John Wayne in a poker game; on the original feature film "Lassie," and on the inception of the Lassie television series; on shooting Lassie in Canada

    14:18

    On working with "Lassie" on Lassie; on teaching "Lassie" tricks on Lassie; on working with a cat on the feature "Rhubarb"

    15:41

    Chapter 5

    On acting as a cat trainer for the feature film "Rhubarb"; on Lassie and the PATSY awards, and on the end of his association with Rudd Weatherwax

    13:04

    On starting his own Hollywood animal training business; on acting as animal trainer for "Breakfast at Tiffany's"; on starting his own animal training company, Frank Inn Incorporated; on acting as animal trainer for The Roy Rogers Show

    15:39

    Chapter 6

    On acting as animal trainer for The Beverly Hillbillies; on the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies; on The Beverly Hillbillies creator Paul Henning

    16:13

    On working with the various animals on The Beverly Hillbillies; on the bloodhound that is seen in the opening of The Beverly Hillbillies, and on how he came to work for Petticoat Junction; on working on the feature film "Benji"

    12:11

    Chapter 7

    On working with Joe Camp on the "Benji" feature films; on acting as animal trainer for Petticoat Junction

    11:02

    On acting as animal trainer for "Arnold," the pig on Green Acres; on working with the cast of Green Acres

    10:23

    On training "Tramp," the dog on My Three Sons; on choosing what projects to work on; on training "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy

    07:31

    Chapter 8

    On "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy, and on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball; on acting as animal trainer for The Andy Griffith Show; on working for producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show

    13:52

    On acting as animal trainer for the feature film "Giant" starring James Dean; on the keys to his success as an animal trainer; on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers, and on the specific talents they must possess

    16:36

    Chapter 9

    On his technique training animals; on his more popular animals like "Arnold," the pig from Green Acres and "Benji"; on the difference between training male dogs and female dogs, and on his animals getting awards

    06:53

    On his trademark hat, and a poem he wrote about his career; on how he'd like to be remembered

    06:12

    On b-roll pictures from his career- with "Benji"; wall with several pictures from his career; Donna Douglas riding an elephant; on the set of The Beverly Hillbillies; with a basset hound; with "Lassie"; on the set of Lassie; article about Frank Inn and "Arnold" the pig from Green Acres; Frank Inn's home filled with pictures and memorabilia

    04:58

    Andy Griffith Show, The

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Andy Griffith Show

    03:19

    Frank Inn on working for producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:44

    Beverly Hillbillies, The

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Beverly Hillbillies

    08:48

    Frank Inn on the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies

    04:03

    Frank Inn on The Beverly Hillbillies creator Paul Henning

    03:22

    Frank Inn on working with the various animals on The Beverly Hillbillies

    03:03

    Frank Inn on the bloodhound that is seen in the opening of The Beverly Hillbillies, and on how he came to work for Petticoat Junction

    04:18

    Green Acres

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for "Arnold," the pig on Green Acres

    08:46

    Frank Inn on working with the cast of Green Acres

    01:31

    Frank Inn on his more popular animals like "Arnold," the pig from Green Acres and "Benji"

    02:37

    I Love Lucy

    Frank Inn on training "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy

    02:01

    Frank Inn on "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy, and on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball

    07:49

    Lassie

    Frank Inn on the original feature film "Lassie," and on the inception of the Lassie television series

    07:33

    Frank Inn on shooting Lassie in Canada

    02:14

    Frank Inn on working with "Lassie" on Lassie

    04:28

    Frank Inn on teaching "Lassie" tricks on Lassie

    01:18

    Frank Inn on Lassie and the PATSY awards, and on the end of his association with Rudd Weatherwax

    04:25

    My Three Sons

    Frank Inn on training "Tramp," the dog on My Three Sons

    02:59

    Petticoat Junction

    Frank Inn on the bloodhound that is seen in the opening of The Beverly Hillbillies, and on how he came to work for Petticoat Junction

    04:18

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for Petticoat Junction

    05:18

    Roy Rogers Show, The

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Roy Rogers Show

    04:03

    Advice

    Frank Inn on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers

    01:35

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    Frank Inn on meeting celebrity animal trainer Henry East

    03:30

    Frank Inn on his animal training mentor Henry East

    01:57

    Frank Inn on his duties working for Hollywood animal trainer Henry East

    01:50

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Frank Inn on meeting Hollywood animal trainer Henry East

    06:25

    Frank Inn on meeting celebrity animal trainer Henry East

    03:30

    Frank Inn on his animal training mentor Henry East

    01:57

    Frank Inn on his duties working for Hollywood animal trainer Henry East

    01:50

    Television Industry

    Frank Inn on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers

    01:35

    Animal Trainer

    Frank Inn on the keys to his success as an animal trainer

    04:21

    Frank Inn on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers

    01:37

    Frank Inn on the specific talents an animal trainer must possess

    05:50

    Frank Inn on his technique training animals

    02:43

    Frank Inn on the difference between training male dogs and female dogs, and on his animals getting awards

    01:31

    Production Professionals

    Frank Inn on the keys to his success as an animal trainer

    04:21

    Frank Inn on advice to aspiring Hollywood animal trainers

    01:35

    Frank Inn on the specific talents an animal trainer must possess

    05:50

    Frank Inn on his technique training animals

    02:43

    Frank Inn on the difference between training male dogs and female dogs, and on his animals getting awards

    01:31

    Comedy Series

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Beverly Hillbillies

    23:34

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer on Green Acres

    10:23

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for Petticoat Junction

    05:18

    Frank Inn on "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy, and on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball

    07:49

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Andy Griffith Show

    06:03

    Drama Series

    Frank Inn on working as a trainer on Lassie

    15:36

    Frank Inn on Lassie and the PATSY awards, and on the end of his association with Rudd Weatherwax

    04:25

    Western Series

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for The Roy Rogers Show

    04:03

    Eddie Albert

    Frank Inn on working with the cast of Green Acres: Eddie Albert

    00:36

    Desi Arnaz

    Frank Inn on "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy, and on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball

    07:48

    Max Baer

    Frank Inn on the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies: Max Baer

    01:04

    Lucille Ball

    Frank Inn on "Little Ricky's" dog on I Love Lucy, and on working with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball

    07:48

    James Dean

    Frank Inn on acting as animal trainer for the feature film "Giant" starring James Dean

    04:48

    Buddy Ebsen

    Frank Inn on the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies: Buddy Ebsen

    01:34

    Eva Gabor

    Frank Inn on working with the cast of Green Acres: Eva Gabor

    00:55

    Paul Henning

    Frank Inn on The Beverly Hillbillies creator Paul Henning

    03:22

    Sheldon Leonard

    Frank Inn on working for producer Sheldon Leonard on The Andy Griffith Show

    02:44

    Irene Ryan

    Frank Inn on the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies: Irene Ryan

    00:58

    John Wayne

    Frank Inn on Rudd Weatherwax losing "Lassie" to John Wayne in a poker game

    04:30

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