DVD creation question

[J. K. Cliburn]

Question: Does a dvd that contains multiple VTS_nn_x.VOB files
*require* a menu file in order to play from beginning to end on a
hardware dvd player?

Using FC4 and dvdauthor, I've created a menuless dvd of home movies
consisting of 3 sequential vob files, but my Panasonic player that's
attached to the TV stops playing when it reaches the end of the first
vob file, as if it's reached the end of the disk.

The same dvd plays through all 3 vob files sequentially and seamlessly
if I use Xine.

Thanks,
Jay