Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Jerry Mathers in an episode of "Leave it to Beaver." She wraps Wally around her little finger, and even has him going to the library to fetch a copy of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm for her. Heres 22 of them from The History Garage.com. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. When asked about any on set mishaps in his Fox News interview, Mathers had one very particular story that wasnt well known otherwise. Despite the rumors, Mathers became the star ofBeaverspin off movies and TV shows in the 1980s, which was originally titled,Still The Beaver. The Leave It To Beaver Secrets You Never Knew - Pens & Patron 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. Tony Dow - Biography - IMDb There were tons of brands ranging from board games to comic books that were featured during the show. Trending. In one episode, he infuriates his mother by wearing his hair in a greasy "tango dancer" style and in another episode he irks both his parents when he buys a garish suit in a men's wear store. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Leave it to Beaverremains one of the best-beloved American sitcoms ever to air. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. 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. The series lasted one season on the Disney Channel before being picked up by TBS in 1986 and renamed The New Leave It to Beaver. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. Family matriarch June Cleaver was played by the gorgeous Barbara Billingsley. When the war broke out in Vietnam, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, wanted to enlist in the Marines. Wally is portrayed in the series by Tony Dow. More than 60 years after Leave It To Beaver first began airing in 1957, it still maintains its place in the pantheon of great television. He is best known by the public for his role as Wallace "Wally" Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver (1957). In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Sadly, he passed away in 1982 from a heart attack at just 79 years old. Wally Was Re-Cast, Too. 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. The series pilot episode was originally filmed and casted by Max Showalter, and he played Ward Cleaver. 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. 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. Theres a lot of facts you might know. 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. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. 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. When asked about any on set mishaps in his Fox News interview, Mathers had one very particular story that wasnt well known otherwise. 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. It was the first series to have a true finale. In the second season, Wally attends Mayfield High School, and remains there for the show's last five seasons, despite the fact that he should have graduated. "It's a Small World" is the pilot episode from the iconic American television series Leave It to Beaver (19571963). | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. The Yucatan peninsula is a perennial favorite when it comes to travelers visiting Mexico. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. From Quiz: Leave It To Beaver But after a few episodes, the character began wearing heels in every episode. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. 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. 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. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. 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. He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. 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. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. When the production for the show moved from the Republic Studios to Universal, they built a new version of the original house. His dating life is sometimes frustrating as he tries to deal with the thoughts and emotions of teenaged girls. The series was so popular that a television movie "Still the Beaver" was made in 1983. In the original Leave it to Beaver pilot, Wally was played by actor Paul Sullivan. The romance ends when Beaver sends Penny a toad in a nicely wrapped box. But for Pens & Patron is a travel site dedicated to wandering spirits. Like any other show,Leave it to Beaverhad to stop running. The series aired until 1989. Menu. Have you noticed while watching the show that the Cleavers car is missing the rear windshield? Here's a look at what became of them. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. Ken Osmond at The Paley Center for Media on June 21, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California | Photo: Getty Images. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. UnlikeBeaver,Happy Days was filmed during the 1970s, even though it took place in the 1950s. He was played by Tony Dow, who went from being an Olympics diving champion to one of the most unforgettable faces on tv. 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. Here's What Happened to the Cast of 'Father Knows Best'. Trailer for Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series. One of the shows writers, Joe Connelly, based Wally and Beaver off of his own children, whose antics he would scribble down in a notebook on the regular. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. 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". Wally Cleaver - Wikipedia Paul Sullivan Jr. is known for The Natural (1984). June Cleaver had a different longer hairstyle and looked actually prettier with it. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. In 1980, Ken Osmond was shot three times during a foot chase while working for the LAPD. Leave It to Beaver - Wikipedia 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. Jerry Mathers (who was cast as Theodore Beaver Cleaver) in 2007. Before acting onLeave it to Beaver,Hugh Beaumont was a Methodist minister. Fans can enjoy a tour of the iconic place even today. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Fans looked for clues in every episode, but soon found out from the writers and producers that the show was set in Mayfield, a fictional town meant to represent the American ideal. Dow portrays an adult Wally Cleaver in both the reunion telemovie, Still the Beaver (1983), and in the sequel series The New Leave It to Beaver (1985-1989). A portrait of Jerry Mathers circa 1959. It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. Dow died Tuesday morning, his reps Frank Bilotta and Renee James said in a statement. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. Due to particular relationships around the world, some Accio Potterheads! Despite the fact that Beavers friend Lumpy was seen as the ultimate nerd throughout the show, when the actor, Frank Bank wrote his autobiography as a result, he claimed that he was rather gifted when it came to his romantic relationships. The episode was ranked #42 on TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time! Jerry Mathers wanted to take a break from acting in order to focus on going to high school. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. Tony Dow had grown into an attractive, athletic young man and was often featured in "heartthrob"-type magazines aimed principally at teen girls. 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. Wally then becomes romantically involved with Mary Ellen Rogers, though the viewer often hears about her rather than sees her. ", 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. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wally_Cleaver&oldid=1129258944, Articles that may contain original research from April 2022, All articles that may contain original research, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, student; various after school jobs including newspaper carrier, drug store soda jerk, and ice cream vendor, This page was last edited on 24 December 2022, at 10:31. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. Paul Sullivan is known for The Book of Life (2014), Megamind (2010) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). Dow portrays an adult Wally Cleaver in both the reunion telemovie, Still the Beaver (1983), and in the sequel series The New Leave It to Beaver (19851989). 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. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. Ward Cleaver: It's nothing to be alarmed about. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. Many episodes have a very brief "after school" scene in the kitchen between June and Wally. 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. Beaver's big brother, Wally, was often involved in his younger brother's mischief. 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 Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. I'm happy to see it has survived television, child psychology and the inroads of progressive education. 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. Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as June and Ward Cleaver from the television program "Leave it to Beaver." The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. Their bedroom is a principal setting on the show. The season four episode shows Beaver stuck inside a giant bowl of soup on a billboard after he went to see if there was real soup in there. During an interview with MeTV, Jerry Mathers, revealed the reason directors decided to find a new Wally. Before the show, he worked as a Junior Olympics diver. He later abandoned screentime to work as a radio broadcaster. He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. Paul Sullivan - IMDb By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. 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. 'Leave It to Beaver' star Ken Osmond's cause of death - Fox News In 1997, the feature film Leave It to Beaver was released with young Erik von Detten as Wally. Some of that stems from the fact that Tony Dow himself was an accomplished athlete, even before he made it onto the show. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. These days, he enjoys sculpting every day. [3] It was televised again in October 2007 as part of TV Land's 50th anniversary celebration of Leave It to Beaver. Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. So, expect to chuckle, but not too much. Oh, who are we kidding, we don't need to summon you guys! 01:23 Tony Dow, the wholesome actor who portrayed "the perfect big brother" Wally Cleaver on the everlasting TV comedy Leave It to Beaver and its 1980s sequel, has died, his reps announced. 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. 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. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. Movies. Leave It To Beaver: 10 Jokes That Aged Rather Poorly - ScreenRant He had been a Junior Olympian swimmer before he began acting. One of the most noticeable goofs on the show was the changing age gap between Wally and Beaver. Toilet scenes were not shown on television back then, but "Leave It to Beaver" became the first although it was just the tank. 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. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. Even though Mary Ellen was Wally's principal romantic interest, Wally dated several other girls during his high school years. 9. Mathers didnt end up pursuing a music career in the end. Did you grow up watching the show? Theres more to the tale of the toilet onLeave It To Beaver than simply being censored for wanting to show a toilet. Wally is a good student, who, unlike his brother Beaver, rarely gives his parents or teachers cause for concern. [4][pageneeded], Last edited on 11 December 2022, at 20:53, "Leave it to DVDs to give us the best of the Beav", "Museums; Weekend Chat; A TV Tribute With No Middle", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It%27s_a_Small_World_(Leave_It_to_Beaver)&oldid=1126896586, This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 20:53. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. The humor of the character rests in Wally's teenage perspective. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. 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 another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. That day, the world could have lost a great actor. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. Dow won the role of Wally in spite of his . Child actor Paul Sullivan, however, portrays the character in the series pilot, "It's a Small World", which aired in April 1957. Explore, taste, and write about the world. "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. Itd be weird if a show didnt tie up all of its loose ends. This wasnt because cars lacked the technology for them, but rather because the glass of the windshield created a glare when filmed by the cameras. If you thought Eddie Haskell was a huge brat, dont worry, youre not alone. About: Wally Cleaver - DBpedia In 1986, Mary Ellen gives birth to their second child, Kevin (who was age advanced to 4 years old in the fall of 1987 and played by Troy Davidson). Jimmy Hawkins - Wikipedia A few episodes deal with Wally's teen taste in hairstyles and clothing. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. That episode was aired as the pilot episode almost 6 months before the main series debuted, but the main series was re-cast, and Showalter was replaced by Beaumont. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. Wally is the "all-American" boy. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. 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. Sullivan would have been a household name for years to come. The first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. It would go on to enjoy a total of six seasons before it wrapped. He was so worried about being late for the meeting, he informed the casting team that he had somewhere to be, which they absolutely loved. 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. Even after the show ended, fans hadn't had enough of the Cleaver family. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. The boys collect the bottle caps, but, in attempting to redeem them, learn they've been duped. Low-key humor was the show's priority and the jokes were intended not to get big laughs. Unlike Tony Dow's character, this kid (Paul Sullivan) wasn't as nice as Dow, calling Beaver "stupid" right off the bat and not having the wholesome appealing personality of Dow, although he did treat the Beaver better as the episode went on. At the age of five, Wally gave a newborn Beaver his nickname while trying to pronounce his given name of Theodore. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. Wallace "Wally" Cleaver is a fictional character in the iconic American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. In 1983, CBS aired the reunion telemovie Still the Beaver starring Jerry Mathers. 'Leave It to Beaver': A look back at the cast of the beloved TV show Ken Osmond, Eddie Haskell on 'Leave It to Beaver,' dies - CNBC James F. Hawkins is an American former actor, producer and writer. david kent actor leave it to beaver - lineartdrawingsnature ). Jerry Mathers - Wikipedia We spent a lot of time together. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Menu. The windshield created glare on film, so the crew removed it to avoid that issue. In real life, the actor wasnt much different. Its clear from his profession as a minister, as well as the fact that he had gotten a Masters degree, he was interested in more serious pursuits. She got married three times, and remained with her last husband, Dr. William S. Mortensen, until his death. He remained on good terms with his former television family until the end. Most people think it was just part of the characters costume, but thats not why she wore them. As Beaver grew into an awkward young teen, he sometimes took a back seat to his older brother Wally, a student in his final years of high school. Some of that stems from the fact that Tony Dow himself was an accomplished athlete, even before he made it onto the show. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. 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. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. The town was Skokie, Illionis, but the footage wasnt taken for the show. Beaumont was always professional and friendly on set, but he was severely depressed while working on it. Actor: The Natural. In a first-season episode, Mary Ellen cultivates Beaver's friendship in order to get to Wally, then maneuvers Wally into going to a dance against his will. Hugh Beaumonts character, Ward Cleaver, was the character who was always setting good moral examples for his kids to follow.