The Soviet Union announced that it had launched "Sputnik I" into space on October 4, 1963, the same day the show debuted. Actor Paul Sullivan appeared only in the pilot as Wally Cleaver. Beaumont didn't remain the show business after "Leave It to Beaver." He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. TV Shows. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. Instead of showing up, reading some lines, and then hoping for the part, Mathers arrived in his Cub Scout uniform and informed the casting directors that he had to hurry because he had a meeting to attend. Jerry Mathers wanted to take a break from acting in order to focus on going to high school. Were very good friends. To hold the Franklin Milk in the Franklin Milk bottles. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. The series premiered on a notable day in history, though it had nothing to do with the show that would become an icon in its own right later on. It didnt stop because of poor ratings, though. And to celebrate our own enjoyment of the show, we're taking a look at the lives and careers of Hugh, Barbara, Tony and Jerry. It took producers a significant amount of negotiation in order to show even that much, but eventually the executives on the Production Code Association, who were responsible for policing film and television decided to relent, so long as the scene wasnt too crude. He later abandoned screentime to work as a radio broadcaster. To that end, executives attempted to make a pop star out of Jerry Mathers in addition to being a TV star. Child actor Paul Sullivan, however, portrays the character in the series pilot, "It's a Small World", which aired in April 1957. He was so adorable that he landed the role immediately. The show's four main characters appeared in all 234 episodes of the show, and, in the opening sequence, were introduced in the following order: Read more about this topic: Leave It To Beaver Characters, I could live without acting. Acting is a gift Ive received. Eddie was played by the actor Ken Osmond, but due to a little mix up in an interview, many viewers believed Eddie Haskell grew up to become Alice Cooper, the rock musician. When the show first began, Beaver was only in second grade, making him around 7 years old. Frank Bank (April 12, 1942 - April 13, 2013) was an American actor, particularly known for his role as Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the 1957-1963 situation comedy television series Leave It to Beaver.. Bank was cast in fifty episodes of Leave It to Beaver between January 24, 1958, until the series finale on May 30, 1963. He often showed off his personal flare by coming up with constant nicknames for the other characters, most of which were improvised by Ken Osmondon the spot. [1] It never aired as an episode within the series. When the show first began, Beaver was only in second grade, making him around 7 years old. 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By the time those pesky Alice Cooper rumors spread, Ken Osmond had been a police officer for over 18 years! Brewster and Deacon would find roles in the series as Miss Canfield, Beaver's second grade teacher, and Fred Rutherford, Ward's co-worker and father of "Lumpy," Eddie Haskell's easily duped henchman/bully. Menu. Theres a lot of facts you might know. They didnt want a big laugh; they wanted chuckles. You may have wondered why the humor of the show was styled as such, so its nice that Dow provided the answer. In the 1980s, Wally and Beaver were brought back to screens in a TV movie that featured them as parents, with June around as a loving grandma to their kids. The toilet was shown in an episode when Wally and Beaver tried to keep a baby alligator in the toilet tank. The episode was ranked #42 on TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time! Though show may have been more internally consistent than most TV programs in history, but the fictional Mayfields general location seemed to be in flux. Tony Dow appeared in the series proper as Wally for all the episodes. It was released to DVD in 2005. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. On the show, Wally was often portrayed as the successful older brother, who not only was smooth with the ladies, but was admired for his athletic prowess. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Barbara Billingsley chose pearls as part of her regular costume because she had a small scar on her neck that she deemed unsightly for the cameras. Paul Sullivan did not have much of an acting career outside of this pilot. Before shows likeLeave it to Beaver, it wasnt couth to show bodily functions on screen, or even imply them. Jerry Mathers was around 8-years-old at the time he auditioned for the role. Fans got this idea when a college newspaper editor asked Cooper what kind of kid he was, to which he answered, I was obnoxious, disgusting, a real Eddie Haskell. However, the reporter misquoted him and reported that Cooper was the real Haskell. The rumor spread like wildfire. In real life, the actor wasnt much different. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. Wally spends his time in the bedroom at a small desk doing school assignments, the boys entertain their friends in the bedroom, and the room is often the scene of Ward's disciplinary lectures. Other cast members include Russ Thorson as Man with Milk Bottles, Leonard Bremen as Milk Bar Operator, Tim Graham as Doc, and Virginia Carroll as Nurse. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. Frankie Bennett, a mischievous boy, tells them new bikes can be had at a local dairy in exchange for 1,000 bottle caps from the company's products. Many of the scenarios that Beaver and Wally found themselves in throughout the show often seemed to hit very close to the concerns of other children and teenagers their age. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. Dow died Tuesday morning, his reps Frank Bilotta and Renee James said in a statement. One would have imagined that booking such a popular show likeLeave It To Beaver would have been an exciting event, however, for Hugh Beaumont, it led to tragedy. Unlike his brother Beaver (who thinks girls are "creepy"), Wally is popular with the girls and has many girlfriends during the course of the series' run. In the first season of Leave It to Beaver, Wally is a thirteen-year-old in his final year (8th grade) at Grant Avenue Grammar School. We spent a lot of time together. Paul Sullivan, who played Wally in the pilot and who sits in the audience, discusses his career after the pilot. "It's a Small World" was filmed with a single camera, in full screen black-and-white at Republic Studios and the Universal Studios backlot. Unlike most TV shows today, the pilot that was shot for Leave It To Beaver featured several different actors than the ones who would later become famous for the show. Have you noticed while watching the show that the Cleavers car is missing the rear windshield? Thank goodness they made some major changes before the actual first season began because there were some actors who needed to be replaced. Trending. I'm happy to see it has survived television, child psychology and the inroads of progressive education. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. At 69, Jerry Mathers hasnt been acting much lately, but he did surprisingly end up the focus of a tragic rumor during his mid-life years. Theres more to the tale of the toilet onLeave It To Beaver than simply being censored for wanting to show a toilet. There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. The humor of the character rests in Wally's teenage perspective. In this web exclusive, actor and artist Tony Dow, who beginning at age 12 starred as Wally Cleaver in the classic sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," explains to co. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. Heres 22 of them from The History Garage.com. By the end of the show, however, Beaver was set to begin high school, while Wally was graduating, meaning the gap had reduced to only a four year difference. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. Richard Lewis produced the episode. Beaumont was always professional and friendly on set, but he was severely depressed while working on it. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Barbara Billingsley chose pearls as part of her regular costume because she had a small scar on her neck that she deemed unsightly for the cameras. In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. After the directors decided to give the role to Dow, he would go on to be a permanent fixture on the show until its end. Matthers returned to television for a reunion, "Still the Beaver" in 1983, and appeared in a few episodes of the famous series, "Lassie." Wally arrives home and finds his mother preparing dinner; he regales her with teenspeak banter about the day's events at school. You're flying in the face of Dr Brady. 1961-1962 Leave It to Beaver TV Series Bill Scott Scott. He occasionally makes blunt or inappropriate comments that are bewildering or embarrassing to adults. From Quiz: 'Leave It To Beaver'- The Pilot Episode! It stars Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers ("as The Beaver", as the opening credits put it). He has two children and a wife. His son announced the news, revealing that loved ones surrounded the actor as he went and adding, "he was loved and will be very missed." Other members of the original series cast, including Dow, reprised their roles. ", Kami Cotler AKA Elizabeth from 'The Waltons' Is Now a Mom of Two 41 Years after the Show Inside Her Life, Tim Allen Left Ex-wife of 15 Years In the Back Seat When He Found Fame Despite Her Support in His Career, Jon Provost, Who Played Little Timmy in 'Lassie', Was 'Lucky' to Escape the Child Star Curse He Is 71 Now, Jenna Bush Hager Proposed to Her Future Husband a Few Months after the Worst First Date - He Said No', Roseanne Barr Blamed Sara Gilbert for Destroying Her Her Family-Oriented Life After the Scandal. In one episode, were shown footage of a town. In another episode, Wally takes cha-cha lessons to enter a dance contest with Mary Ellen. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. Originally, the pilot for the show was titled "It's a Small World." Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. Mathers recalled that it took nearly 5 days to find the frightened kitty. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. He was 77. Wally is the thirteen-year-old son of archetypal 1950s suburban parents, Ward and June Cleaver and the older brother of the seven-year-old ("almost eight") title character, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. In order to be able to see the boys sitting in the back seat of the car, the glass was therefore removed, which solved the problem of glare. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. It also helped him hide his sneaky ways. This was the pilot episode of this television series. "Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble," they said. The Yucatan peninsula is a perennial favorite when it comes to travelers visiting Mexico. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. When the war broke out in Vietnam, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, wanted to enlist in the Marines. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. Good thing, too. When asked about any on set mishaps in his Fox News interview, Mathers had one very particular story that wasnt well known otherwise. He's kind of goofy-looking but he wasn't as bad as I would have guess after I first saw him. Beaver's big brother, Wally, was often involved in his younger brother's mischief. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. Many episodes have a very brief "after school" scene in the kitchen between June and Wally. Somehow, a myth was begun and perpetuated that Mathers had in fact been killed in Vietnam, which is ironic because the military wouldnt let him serve for that reason. Miss Simms ( Diane Brewster) is a secretary/receptionist at the Franklin Milk Company. The actor who played Larry, Robert "Rusty" Stevens, was born in 1948 and is still alive today. The day the series began running was October 4, 1957, which was the same day that the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the very first satellite into space. The episode cost a whopping $50,000 to film at the time. Jimmy Hawkins. Even after the show ended, fans hadn't had enough of the Cleaver family. Our condolences. The producers werent able to figure out a way for the show to go on without him, so they decided it would be best forLeave It To Beaver to go off the air. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivan's place as Wally. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. He slips into slang occasionally, which upsets his mother. At other times, he clues the parents in on Beaver's activities, plans and feelings. It aired as an installment of "Heinz Studio 57," an anthology series. Wally's first girlfriend on the show is Penny Jamison, a New York girl he meets during ballroom lessons at Miss Spencer's School of the Dance. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. Wally is based on Connelly's son, Jay. Movies. Somehow, a myth was begun and perpetuated that Mathers had in fact been killed in Vietnam, which is ironic because the military wouldnt let him serve for that reason. An epic family comedy that revolved around the lives of a family living in the suburbs, "Leave It to Beaver" captures the essence of being a child during the 1950s by following the adventures of a curious boy named Theodore aka "The Beaver.". Answer: Alice When Miss Landers (Sue Randall) decided to get married, the newspaper carried a story about it wherein her name, Alice, was given. He often showed off his personal flare by coming up with constant nicknames for the other characters, most of which were improvised by Ken Osmondon the spot. The character Wally was portrayed by Paul Sullivan in the pilot episode. Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. Wally Was Re-Cast, Too. To that end, Beaumont was able to play a part in writing for several episodes ofLeave It To Beaver, as well as to also direct some of the episodes. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. In celebration of the TV shows 60th anniversary, many of the cast members began doing interviews on many TV networks in order to discuss their time on the show. Then: Tony Dow Dow played Wally Cleaver in every episode of the show except for the pilot, when Paul Sullivan played the Beaver's polite older brother. He is more astute and experienced than his brother and often puts parental communications in simpler terms for Beaver's comprehension. Its just stock footage they paid to use. Wally is a good student, who, unlike his brother Beaver, rarely gives his parents or teachers cause for concern. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today.