For his appearance, he pulled out the old interview uniform, explaining that during the shows run, he and Tony Dow would wear a Mayfield High School letterman sweater for their press appearances. Eddie might have been quite the rascal on the set ofLeave It To Beaver, but Osmonds future profession showed just how different he was from his character. The boys collect the bottle caps, but, in attempting to redeem them, learn they've been duped. At the time, no show had ever shown a bathroom, and the censorship authorities wanted to do more than just remove the scene from the show. Jerry Mathers was around 8-years-old at the time he auditioned for the role. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. Paul Sullivan is an actor, known for Over the Top (1987) and Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008). Their bedroom is a principal setting on the show. After his run as Haskell, Ken Osmond disappeared seemingly for a while, and rumors abounded. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. The show producers finally came to a compromise with the FCC by showing only the toilet tank, and not the bowl. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Heres 22 of them from The History Garage.com. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. 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. At the time, no show had ever shown a bathroom, and the censorship authorities wanted to do more than just remove the scene from the show. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. Eddie might have been quite the rascal on the set ofLeave It To Beaver, but Osmonds future profession showed just how different he was from his character. 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. Leave it to Beaver Trivia Thatll Change How You See the Show, COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. 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. Let's take a look at 15 "Leave It to Beaver" facts that fans might not know. 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. The character Wally was portrayed by Paul Sullivan in the pilot episode. Good thing, too. The pilot (originally proposed as Wally and The Beaver) was first televised April 23, 1957, on the syndicated anthology series, Studio 57, without a laugh track nor the series' well known theme song, "The Toy Parade". The humor of the character rests in Wally's teenage perspective. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. [1] It never aired as an episode within the series. Unfortunately, Billingsley was typecast for her sweet demeanor as June, however, she managed a role in "Airplane." 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. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. He's all right. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. 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. He would wear his Cub Scouts uniform to the several rounds of audition and tell everyone that he was anxious to get to his den. Gerald Patrick Mathers (born June 2, 1948) is an American actor best known for his role in the television sitcom Leave It to Beaver, originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. He was otherwise an ordained minister with a degree in theology from University of Southern California. Unlike most TV shows today, the pilot that was shot forLeave It To Beaver featured several different actors than the ones who would later become famous for the show. 9. 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. And Im grateful for it and I enjoy it. He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. Featured in Leave It to Beaver: Family Scrapbook (1963) 4 /10 gattonero975 Details Release date October 4, 1957 (United States) Country of origin United States Language English Filming locations Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA Production company Gomalco Productions See more company credits at IMDbPro Technical specs Edit Sullivan appeared on the shows pilot titled, Its A Small World.. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. She only began wearing heels as the two boys began growing, so she could better appear to tower over them, especially when dealing with their many misdeeds. Throughout the series, fans debated where the show was set. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivan's place as Wally. Although it was his look of the innocent that got him the part, Matthers would go on to play the role of a troublesome boy quite well. Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." Mathers recalled that it took nearly 5 days to find the frightened kitty. He was 77. Wally and Beaver may have been the center of the show, but the story certainly wouldnt have been the same without having Eddie Haskell in the mix. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. The series aired until 1989. Leave It to Beaver is a 1997 American comedy film based on the television series of the same name. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. Hugh Beaumont turned to acting for very different reasons that most performers. 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. Theres more to the tale of the toilet onLeave It To Beaver than simply being censored for wanting to show a toilet. Left without their main star, the production team agreed the show would not be the same without him, so they decided to wrap it up. 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. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. The star himself was cast as Theodore (Beaver) Cleaver at just eight years old. It would go on to enjoy a total of six seasons before it wrapped. 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. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. Fans can enjoy a tour of the iconic place even today. In 1980, Ken Osmond was shot three times during a foot chase while working for the LAPD. Hugh Beaumont might have hated the show, but he did a lot for it anyway. Then, as Wally leaves the room with a parting bon mot and the canned laughter kicks in, the camera catches June's bewildered, dazed, or amused facial expression. Billingsley passed away due to Polymyalgia at age 94 in 2010. He is best-known for his TV roles in shows like Annie Oakley, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, Petticoat Junction, and The Donna Reed Show; and as Tommy Bailey, son of George Bailey in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life . Before shows likeLeave it to Beaver, it wasnt couth to show bodily functions on screen, or even imply them. His dating life is sometimes frustrating as he tries to deal with the thoughts and emotions of teenaged girls. We actually became much closer as adults, because in the 80s we toured together for 18 months in a play called So Long, Stanley and spent a lot more quality time together.. Wally - this was the weirdest and worst aspect of the pilot. Tony Dow starred as Wally Beaver in "Leave It to Beaver." The actor died at 77 Wednesday. ). But he was in high school and I was in grade school, so we had separate teachers. Her hobbies included cake decorating and needlepoint. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. Since then, the black and white show has gone down in history as one of the trailblazers for tv and film. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. When the show opens, Beaver is seven years old ("almost . In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. In my day, the collecting instinct was strong in every American boy worth his salt. During an interview with MeTV, Jerry Mathers, revealed the reason directors decided to find a new Wally. Following that, she starred in the 1997 "Leave it to Beaver Film. For instance: Ward Cleaver is played by Casey Adams. Both her pearls and her heels are one of the most cited examples of what it meant to be a housewife in the 1950s. 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. Explore, taste, and write about the world. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. Answer: Alice When Miss Landers (Sue Randall) decided to get married, the newspaper carried a story about it wherein her name, Alice, was given. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. Jerry Mathers didnt have a normal audition. This was because Paul Sullivan had grown too tall in between pilot and series. Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. 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. Hugh Beaumont was contentious about the role of Ward Cleaver, but fans would likely agree that he fit it perfectly. Even after the show ended, fans hadn't had enough of the Cleaver family. Stevens' acting work mostly stuck to the era surrounding "Leave It to Beaver." He appeared in guest . I'm happy to see it has survived television, child psychology and the inroads of progressive education. In the episode, the Cleavers reminisce over old photos in a scrapbook while flashback clips are played from previous episodes. He sometimes humorously regards his parents as clueless squares. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. Out was Sullivan and in was Dow. Family matriarch June Cleaver was played by the gorgeous Barbara Billingsley. Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. Menu. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. [2] Following its April 1957 telecast, the episode was subsequently misplaced and was feared lost until a copy was found in a film vault in Illinois. In one episode, he declines a vacation trip with his family to stay at home near his current flame, then discovers she has left town with her parents for a vacation trip. Sadly, he passed away in 1982 from a heart attack at just 79 years old. "Leave It to Beaver" never made it to Nielsen's list of the top 30 shows of the time since there were a plethora of classic shows running at the time. Under their guidance, Jerry recorded two singles, Dontcha Cry and Wind Up Top. 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. "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. 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. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. A number of actors who appeared in supporting roles in the pilot were later cast in recurring roles in the series. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. Jerry got a cut of the revenue from all those products, becoming the first child during the time to have had such an opportunity. 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.". It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. In 1983, the cast got together again for the filming of the TV movie "Still the Beaver." The name "Leave It to Beaver" went from being a '50s classic to a household phrase and one of the most popular references in sitcom history. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. Id work with him all day, then wed go home to our families. Tony Dow wasnt an actor and had no prior acting experience when he started onLeave it to Beaver. The first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. Movies. He ended up managing several cast members investments. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle.