"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

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 23	9:00 AM	TVLAND	Beaver's Tree	#3.8
Tue. Nov. 24	9:00 AM	TVLAND	Teacher Comes to Dinner	#3.9

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 character 'Ward Cleaver' was ranked #28 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" (20 June 2004 issue).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the episode where Beaver and Gilbert work as golf caddies, the shadow of the camera and a crew person can be seen on Gilbert as he leaves the scene.

Quotes:

Ward Cleaver: Let's face it, June, Wally and Eddie have been friends for four or five years now - nothing's ever really happed.
June Cleaver: But Eddie has that look about him that makes you think something's always about to happen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Patty Duke Show: Leave It to Patty (#1.33)" (1964)

Might Have Worked as "Leave It To Wally, Too!

When I was young, way back in the 1960's I never really dug this show. It was too `predictable'. In the fist five minutes we meet the Cleavers, then in the next 15, Beaver has screwed up, and the last few minutes of the show, we get a good lesson on `cause and effect' from Ward. Everybody laughs, credits roll, and we get to see Wally and Beaver walking home and a brand new De Soto go by in the street (Chrysler, replacing Ford Motor Company, sponsored the show from about 1959, onward and used the closing credits to get a product placement shot in.) And as I was a kid at the time, I never enjoyed seeing other kids get into trouble.

Now that I'm in my forties, I find the show hysterical. The exasperated look that Ward and June get when something happens, Wally's comments, and the dealings with all the Cleavers friends are priceless.

Wally's come backs of `Aw, heck, Beaver', and `Don't be a creep, or something.' Crack me up. You can always count on a great line from Tony Dow in every episode.

The story lines were fairly typical fifties fluff, with a few exceptions. There is one that deals with an alcoholic handyman that Ward knows, that frankly could be re-shot today, and not feel 40 plus years old. I recently saw one, where Beaver joins a record club, and forgets to send back a card to cancel the next shipment of records. Hands up, out there, how many of us do that today with our CD and DVD club selection cards?

A true, kindhearted, and well written classic to be enjoyed by the whole family.