From 1954 to 1959, the Rin Tin Tin show casted one of television's earliest canine heroes, who left big paw prints for his descendants to follow. Rin Tin Tin was the only dog in Los Angeles to be listed in the telephone directory. Lee Duncan, his owner and trainer, said, "Rinty was very close to his great grandfather," the original Rin Tin Tin, who appeared in many popular motion pictures of the 30's and 40's, and was, for a time, the highest paid performer (actor?) in films.