"Leave It to Beaver" (1957) TV series 1957-1963

Creators:

Joe Connelly
Dick Conway
Bob Mosher

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

4 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The Cleavers are the 1950's 'All-American Family' in this 'feel-good' family sitcom. Parents Ward and June...

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Husband Wife Relationship | Marriage | Suburbia | Problem Solving

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Barbara Billingsley	...	June Cleaver (235 episodes, 1957-1963)
Jerry Mathers	...	Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver (235 episodes, 1957-1963)
Hugh Beaumont	...	Ward Cleaver (234 episodes, 1957-1963)
Tony Dow	...	Wallace 'Wally' Cleaver (234 episodes, 1957-1963)
Ken Osmond	...	Edward 'Eddie' Haskell (97 episodes, 1957-1963)

Also Known As:

It's a Small World (USA) (working title)
Wally and the Beaver (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (234 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Gomalco Productions

Trivia:

The name of the state Mayfield was in was never mentioned, although it was said to be somewhere in the Midwest.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: During the opening credits of the '62-'63 edition of the show, the main characters can be seen coming out the front door of the house, and one can see the inside. There appears to be some sort of entryway, with a table with flowers on it. Subsequently, in interior shots, there's nothing like that to be seen.

Quotes:

[Ward has arrived home from work and is reading the mail in the living room, unbeknownst to June and Wally who have just come down the stairs]
June Cleaver: Now Wally, I want you to go in the living room and pick up those orange peels that you left on the coffee table. If your father comes home and sees them he'll be in a terrible mood all through dinner.
Wally Cleaver: Yeah, I don't want him hollerin' at me again.
[June sees Ward in the living room, who has overheard their exchange]
June Cleaver: [sheepishly] Hello Dear. I was upstairs, I didn't know you were home.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wonderland (1997)

Still the All-American Family

For years repeats of Leave It To Beaver were seen on WTBS and WGN out of Chicago during the 1980's,but it still is one of the heartwarming family shows around,and it still is to this day. Jerry Mathers' role as The Beaver was just that: a kid who always had a knack for getting into all sorts of trouble with his friends,but it was always big brother Wally(played by Tony Dow) to bail him out,and it was Ward,the Father(played by Hugh Beaumont)that gave Beaver advise on some things,most of the time giving him the business,right in front of June(played by Barbara Billingsley). The character that really gave them the business was no other than that creepy Eddie Haskell(played by Ken Osmond) who would be polite to them one minute,and getting Wally into some mischief(as Beaver) the next. The show itself,had the boys learning about morals and values and their father always giving them the opportunity to do their best and to stay straight while they kept things together. The show itself was side-splitting hilarious indeed(especially the episodes where Beaver falls into a soup bowl poster with Larry Mondello of all people,and the time where they spike Wally's birthday party with Beaver's friends Gilbert and Whitey getting him into some very serious trouble,and finally getting even with Eddie Haskell once and for all!!!)

Interesting Note about Beaver: The show was on two different networks at the time: 1st,it was on CBS for two seasons from 1957 till 1959,and from there when CBS cancelled the series was picked up by ABC for the remainder of its run from 1959-1963(four seasons)producing 234 episodes,all in classic black and white. Repeats of the Beav's exploits are seen on TV Land every weeknight. Its remembered as the wholesome show of its time,and it will stay that way. Right Beav'?