8/17/2011:
On this date in 1956, the Bismarck Tribune wrote about a rising star’s dazzling performance at a Bismarck Barons baseball game. The star’s name was London, and he had fur, four legs, and a tail. Little did the fans know, that one day a writer would call London "the smartest dog that ever lived."
The story began in Bismarck when Chuck Eisenmann, a baseball player, had his dog amuse spectators before a game. According to the Tribune, London “brought keys from Eisenmann's car, bowed to the crowd, brought a bat and a broom to the pitcher, ran the bases, brought a ball bag from the mound, told how old he is, imitated a kangaroo, closed a door, turned out a light, played dead, untied a bow and did a little typewriting."
The crowd’s response was so positive that Eisenmann gave up baseball and began a more promising career with his dog in show business. Life Magazine put London in a three page feature, and then Hollywood producers approached Eisenmann about a movie called “The Littlest Hobo.” The plot centered on a dog named “Hobo” who saves a lamb from the slaughterhouse. The dog and lamb travel the country, running away from the authorities. London was also in the 1960 movie “My Dog, Buddy,” a touching story about a dog and boy who are separated and reunited. Then, London was on TV! “The Littlest Hobo” was made into a successful television series that ran from 1963-1965. The scene most people remember featured London riding in a parachute. London’s legacy was further secured by the 1963 book titled “London: The Dog Who Made the Team.”
Chuck Eisenmann (the player from the Bismarck Barons) remained London’s trainer, although he preferred the term “educator.” He taught London (and later other dogs) how to understand English, German, and French, and even how to recognize colors. While “The Littlest Hobo” ran on TV, he promoted his training methods with live performance tours featuring London’s tricks, and he wrote several books on his education methods, with titles such as “The Better Dog: The Educated Dog.” Despite Eisenmann’s ingenious influence, London was always the star, and fans loved “autographed” posters stamped with London’s paw-print.
Dakota Datebook written by Leewana Thomas
Sources: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/article_02892fec-1927-11df-aa61-001cc4c002e0.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Littlest_Hobo
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051870/