10. When the show first began, Beaver was only in second grade, making him around 7 years old. Not all passports are created equally. Child actor Paul Sullivan, however, portrays the character in the series pilot, "It's a Small World", which aired in April 1957. The character Wally was portrayed by Paul Sullivan in the pilot episode. Instead, Mathers decided to join the United Air Force Reserve. The pilot was misplaced but was found and aired as the third season premiere for the 1980s revival series "The New Leave It to Beaver" on October 4, 1987, 30 years after the original series premiered on CBS. The star himself was cast as Theodore (Beaver) Cleaver at just eight years old. Ward Cleaver: It's nothing to be alarmed about. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. 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. Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a com Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a commotion at the milk company's office when no one there seems to know anything about a conte Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a commotion at the milk company's office when no one there seems to know anything about a contest after the boys show up to claim their prize, pulling a wagon loaded with a thousand bot See production, box office & company info. Instead they retitled itIts a Small World. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. 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. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. 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. In Still the Beaver and The New Leave It to Beaver, Wally is married to high school-sweetheart Mary Ellen and is an attorney engaged in private practice. Afterthat, series finales became a staple across American television. Wally and Beaver want a new bicycle. Keep . 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. "Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble," they said. Let's take a look at 15 "Leave It to Beaver" facts that fans might not know. 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. The original Wally was, like, 5 7 when we did the pilot, but he grew to about 65, and he was almost as big as Hugh, and thats when they went back and found Tony, Mathers said. Beaver was relegated to the background. Thats on purpose! Surprisingly, the show ran for a total of four seasons, and included many of the original cast members real children as actors on the show. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. He was otherwise an ordained minister with a degree in theology from University of Southern California. We spent a lot of time together. It also helped him hide his sneaky ways. 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. A growth spurt. Before he was a Beaver, actor Jerry Mathers was Little Ricky on the show "I Love Lucy" for one scene. 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. 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." The romance ends when Beaver sends Penny a toad in a nicely wrapped box. 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. 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. He was 77. In the later seasons, Wally has a few after school jobs and buys a used car. The writers didnt want the show to be too comedic. This is because the actors portraying as her sons hit their growth spurt, and in order to maintain the height gap between the characters, Barbara began wearing heels. Paul Sullivan Wally Cleaver Richard Deacon Mr. Baxter Diane Brewster Miss Simms Joseph Kearns Mr. Fred Crowley (as Joe Kearns) Russell Thorson Man with Milk Bottles (as Russ Thorson) Leonard Bremen Milk Bar Proprietor (as Lennie Bremen) Harry Shearer Frankie Bennett Tommy Randall Frankie's Friend Tim Graham Doc Virginia Carroll Nurse Rory O'Connor It would go on to enjoy a total of six seasons before it wrapped. The episode cost a whopping $50,000 to film at the time. "), such punishments never occur. 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. Many episodes have a very brief "after school" scene in the kitchen between June and Wally. When asked about his relationship with Dow, Mathers fondly recalled their relationship on set. 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. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. He would later play the role in spin-offs. 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. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. The rumor spread like wildfire. 'The Vampire Diaries' Cast: Where Are the Actors of the Iconic Show Now? 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. But where are the cast members now? 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. Oh, who are we kidding, we don't need to summon you guys! After he was cast as Ward Cleaver, he had to get himself to California pronto, which meant flying. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. While most of the shows back in the 1960s ended abruptly, "Leave It to Beaver" bid farewell with a look back to its previous episodes in "Family Scrapbook.". 15 What was Miss Landers' first name? The boys collect the bottle caps, but, in attempting to redeem them, learn they've been duped. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. He ended up managing several cast members investments. 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. Beaumont was always professional and friendly on set, but he was severely depressed while working on it. For instance: Ward Cleaver is played by Casey Adams. He didnt become a rockstar like his character wanted. When asked about any on set mishaps in his Fox News interview, Mathers had one very particular story that wasnt well known otherwise. Jerry Mathers didnt have a normal audition. The actress wore pearls to conceal the hollow in her neck. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. Leave it to Beaver: Jerry Mathers Said Show Had to Move On from Original Wally Cleaver for One Reason. 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. In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. In 1985, a sequel to the original series was produced called Still the Beaver, again starring Jerry Mathers and other original cast members. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. Low-key humor was the show's priority and the jokes were intended not to get big laughs. ", Actress Barbara Billingsley attends the opening of "Radio City Christmas Spectaculor" on December 11, 1998 at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California | Photo: Getty Images. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. Thereafter, he was cast as Clarence Rutherford in 101 episodes of . Apparently it was so bad, that nobody listened to it. But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. His friends, Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford and Eddie Haskell, have a knack for getting into trouble and taking Wally along for the ride. Beaumont blamed himself and his work on the show for her death, because he wasnt there to drive the car instead of Hunter. 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. Originally, the pilot for the show was titled "It's a Small World." Before acting onLeave it to Beaver,Hugh Beaumont was a Methodist minister. 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. Paul Sullivan is known for Leave It to Beaver (1957), Official Detective (1957) and Studio 57 (1954). Despite the rumors, Mathers became the star ofBeaverspin off movies and TV shows in the 1980s, which was originally titled,Still The Beaver. Here's the scoop about the young actress Jeri Weil who played Judy Hensler during the first three seasons of the classic TV series, Leave It To Beaver.Check . 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. 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 pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. 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. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. Paul Sullivan Jr. is known for The Natural (1984). If you thought Eddie Haskell was a huge brat, dont worry, youre not alone. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldnt be able to reprise Wallys role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. 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.. 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. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. [1] The series made its CBS debut several months later on October 4, 1957, with the episode, "Beaver Gets 'Spelled". From Quiz: 'Leave It To Beaver'- The Pilot Episode! When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. Diane Brewster appears as Miss Simms, a secretary, with Richard Deacon as Mr. Baxter, Miss Simms' boss. Leave it to Beaver was created by writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who found inspiration among their own children for plot lines and dialogue. 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. In 1983, the cast got together again for the filming of the TV movie "Still the Beaver." 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. However, Tony Dow wasnt always a member of the fictional family. Paul Sullivan, who played Wally in the pilot and who sits in the audience, discusses his career after the pilot. He slips into slang occasionally, which upsets his mother. 9. 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. Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. WhenLeave It To Beaver first debuted on CBS, strict censorship laws governed what could and couldnt be shown on TV. Paul Sullivan, Actor: Over the Top. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. Dow died Tuesday morning, his reps Frank Bilotta and Renee James said in a statement. Menu. 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. In one episode, were shown footage of a town. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The boys were often shown in the bathroom. 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. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. June Cleaver, portrayed by Billingsley, notably wore pearl necklaces in every single episode. After his run as Haskell, Ken Osmond disappeared seemingly for a while, and rumors abounded. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. As of September 2012 he was living and working in Topanga Canyon, CA, as a sculptor. (Getty Images) In May, Dow's wife Lauren Shulkind announced Dow's cancer had returned, just a month after . Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. Back home, his son, Hunter, drove his mom and grandmother to work one day and lost control of the car. Osmond passed away in May 2020. He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. 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. Dow won the role of Wally in spite of his . 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. It would go on to enjoy a total of six seasons before it wrapped. 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. I'm happy to see it has survived television, child psychology and the inroads of progressive education. To that end, executives attempted to make a pop star out of Jerry Mathers in addition to being a TV star. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. Due to particular relationships around the world, some Accio Potterheads! 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. Highlights of the original and previously unaired pilot for Leave it to Beaver, called "It's a Small World" and featuring different actors in roles of Ward a. Hugh Beaumonts character, Ward Cleaver, was the character who was always setting good moral examples for his kids to follow. 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. Our condolences. Though Wally sometimes warns Beaver he will suffer some sort of physical punishment from Ward ("Dad's gonna clobber you! Later on, they reunited again to film the sequel series "The New Leave It to Beaver. June Cleaver had a different longer hairstyle and looked actually prettier with it. Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. One high-school friend who made five "romantic" appearances was Julie Foster. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. Jerry Mathers was a huge star during his time, and the network wanted to make extra money, so they had him record a music single, titled Dont Cha Cry. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. 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Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. Beaver - still Jerry Mathers - was a tiny bit smaller than what we saw on the first season, but basically the same kid and character. During an interview for the shows 60th anniversary, Tony Dow toldToday that the shows writers didnt wantLeave It To Beaver to be filled with jokes that had audiences rolling on the floor in laughter. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. He was played by Tony Dow, who went from being an Olympics diving champion to one of the most unforgettable faces on tv. 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. Fans can enjoy a tour of the iconic place even today. Yet another episode made it seem like Mayfield was in Ohio, because Wally supposedly went to a school near Shaker Heights. He is an athlete with track, basketball and baseball being his three favorite sports; and, he excels at all. The Yucatan peninsula is a perennial favorite when it comes to travelers visiting Mexico. In the episode, the Cleavers reminisce over old photos in a scrapbook while flashback clips are played from previous episodes. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivan's place as Wally. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. 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. 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. 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" might be a hit series of its time, but initially it was canceled by CBS after the first season ended in 1958. Mathers recalled that it took nearly 5 days to find the frightened kitty. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. 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