Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . He is more astute and experienced than his brother and often puts parental communications in simpler terms for Beaver's comprehension. Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." Beaver was relegated to the background. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. He was otherwise an ordained minister with a degree in theology from University of Southern California. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Tony Dow appeared in the series proper as Wally for all the episodes. Toilet scenes were not shown on television back then, but "Leave It to Beaver" became the first although it was just the tank. He was 77. Jerry Mathers, the main star, resigned to focus on his high school education. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. Family matriarch June Cleaver was played by the gorgeous Barbara Billingsley. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. 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. Tony Dow starred as Wally Beaver in "Leave It to Beaver." The actor died at 77 Wednesday. 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. 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. When the show first debuted in 1957, its ratings were only so so, which caused executives at CBS to rethink their commitment to the program. From Quiz: Leave It To Beaver 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 He sometimes clears the dinner table for his mother (i.e., he carries a few dirty dishes to the kitchen), and in one episode is seen drying dishes. In real life, the actor wasnt much different. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. It stars Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers ("as The Beaver", as the opening credits put it). Other members of the original series cast, including Dow, reprised their roles. He would later play the role in spin-offs. But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. 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. 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. Movies. 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. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. 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. "Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble," they said. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. Tony Dow had grown into an attractive, athletic young man and was often featured in "heartthrob"-type magazines aimed principally at teen girls. Later on, they reunited again to film the sequel series "The New Leave It to Beaver. He was so adorable that he landed the role immediately. 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. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. The movie was developed into a new series titledThe New Leave It To Beaver. 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. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. He was otherwise an ordained minister with a degree in theology from University of Southern California. Tony Dow - Biography - IMDb 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 toilet was shown in an episode when Wally and Beaver tried to keep a baby alligator in the toilet tank. It is during the course of the last episode the viewer learns how Beaver got his nickname. Ken Osmond at The Paley Center for Media on June 21, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California | Photo: Getty Images. UnlikeBeaver,Happy Days was filmed during the 1970s, even though it took place in the 1950s. Even though Mary Ellen was Wally's principal romantic interest, Wally dated several other girls during his high school years. Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. Menu. In this web exclusive, actor and artist Tony Dow, who beginning at age 12 starred as Wally Cleaver in the classic sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," explains to co. Osmond passed away in May 2020. When the sequel series begins in 1984, Wally and Mary Ellen are the parents of a 10-year-old daughter, Kelly (Kaleena Kiff). Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. The boys were often shown in the bathroom. Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. Wally arrives home and finds his mother preparing dinner; he regales her with teenspeak banter about the day's events at school. Under their guidance, Jerry recorded two singles, Dontcha Cry and Wind Up Top. Then/Now: The Cast of 'Leave It to Beaver' - Fox News He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. Movies. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. During an interview with MeTV, Jerry Mathers, revealed the reason directors decided to find a new Wally. It didnt stop because of poor ratings, though. 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. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. His dating life is sometimes frustrating as he tries to deal with the thoughts and emotions of teenaged girls. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. Our condolences. 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. Dow never intended to get into acting, so it's no surprise that after the show ended, he moved behind the scenes and became a director. In the 1970s, a popular rumor circulated that Eddie Haskell, as played by Ken Osmond, was really Alice Cooper, the rock star. 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. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. Sadly, he passed away in 1982 from a heart attack at just 79 years old. 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. After he was cast as Ward Cleaver, he had to get himself to California pronto, which meant flying. 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. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. 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. However, its Everybody has a different definition of a perfect vacation. Wally is a good student, who, unlike his brother Beaver, rarely gives his parents or teachers cause for concern. 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. Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series - IMDb That was four years before "Leave It to Beaver" aired. Leave it to Beaver: Jerry Mathers Said Show Had to Move On from Original Wally Cleaver for One Reason. "Leave It to Beaver" Beaver Gets 'Spelled' (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb 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. It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! ). Keep . "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. In 1983, CBS aired the reunion telemovie Still the Beaver starring Jerry Mathers. 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. Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. This was the pilot episode of this television series. Throughout the series, fans debated where the show was set. Most people think it was just part of the characters costume, but thats not why she wore them. 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. Hugh Beaumont might have hated the show, but he did a lot for it anyway. Beaver's big brother, Wally, was often involved in his younger brother's mischief. As for the heels, she wore them to appear taller than the boys as they grew up. He's kind of goofy-looking but he wasn't as bad as I would have guess after I first saw him. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. I don't say he could have done as good a job as Hugh Beaumont, but he was acceptable. 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. 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. In another episode, Eddie "slugs" Wally in the school corridor when he believes Wally is moving in on his girl, and in another episode, Wally is caught by the coach throwing towels around the locker room. Ken Osmond, Eddie Haskell on 'Leave It to Beaver,' dies - CNBC Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. Museum of Broadcasting Seminar Series, The: "Leave It to Beaver Her hobbies included cake decorating and needlepoint. The show producers finally came to a compromise with the FCC by showing only the toilet tank, and not the bowl. The original Wally Mathers is referring to is Paul Sullivan. Hugh Beaumont was contentious about the role of Ward Cleaver, but fans would likely agree that he fit it perfectly. [1] It never aired as an episode within the series. She got married three times, and remained with her last husband, Dr. William S. Mortensen, until his death. 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. 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. Trending. 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. He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. Sullivan would have been a household name for years to come. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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. In the episode, the Cleavers reminisce over old photos in a scrapbook while flashback clips are played from previous episodes. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Fox News reports that Osmond became a Los Angeles Police Department officer for 18 years before becoming a celebrity spokesman. Leave it to Beaverremains one of the best-beloved American sitcoms ever to air. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivans place as Wally. 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. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. UnlikeBeaver,Happy Days was filmed during the 1970s, even though it took place in the 1950s. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. Beaver - still Jerry Mathers - was a tiny bit smaller than what we saw on the first season, but basically the same kid and character. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. 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. Trailer for Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series. Jerry Mathers was around 8-years-old at the time he auditioned for the role. Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. Leave it to Beaver pilot Small World w/ Harry Shearer, new - YouTube The first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. He was played by Tony Dow, who went from being an Olympics diving champion to one of the most unforgettable faces on tv. Originally, the pilot for the show was titled "It's a Small World." Advertisement Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." | Source: Wikimedia Commons 7. Paul Sullivan is known for Leave It to Beaver (1957), Official Detective (1957) and Studio 57 (1954). From Quiz: 'Leave It To Beaver'- The Pilot Episode! 40 Leave It To Beaver Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts | Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Jerry got a cut of the revenue from all those products, becoming the first child during the time to have had such an opportunity. Sadly, he passed away in 1982 from a heart attack at just 79 years old. Mathers genuinely had a cub scout meeting to go to after his audition, which he was anxious to get too. 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. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Itd be weird if a show didnt tie up all of its loose ends. The first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. 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. 'Leave It to Beaver': A look back at the cast of the beloved TV show I was offended. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. A growth spurt. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. Oh, who are we kidding, we don't need to summon you guys! Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. However, he did so well . Mathers didnt end up pursuing a music career in the end. Beaumont didn't remain the show business after "Leave It to Beaver." There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. 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. Tony Dow wasnt an actor and had no prior acting experience when he started onLeave it to Beaver. Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. (Getty Images) In May, Dow's wife Lauren Shulkind announced Dow's cancer had returned, just a month after . Actor: The Natural. After he was cast as Ward Cleaver, he had to get himself to California pronto, which meant flying. In fact, there was someone else who played little Beaver before Dow. In one episode, however, Ward is out of town and Wally is asked to play the man of the house. But for Pens & Patron is a travel site dedicated to wandering spirits. Although it is not specified what Wally's exact specialties are, he did agree to be Beaver's attorney to fight for custody of his kids, but the plans changed when Beaver's ex-wife asked him to take the boys because the only vet school that will take her is in Italy. In 1985, a sequel to the original series was produced called Still the Beaver, again starring Jerry Mathers and other original cast members. Frank Bank - Wikipedia Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. In June 1963, the series came to a close at milestones in the lives of Wally and Beaver: high school grad Wally preparing for State college and Beaver looking forward to entering Mayfield High. 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.. 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. It also helped him hide his sneaky ways. Dow explained,[I]f any line got too much of a laugh, theyd take it out. It took producers a significant amount of negotiation in order to show even that much, but eventually the executives on the Production Code Association, who were responsible for policing film and television decided to relent, so long as the scene wasnt too crude. One of the most noticeable goofs on the show was the changing age gap between Wally and Beaver. It was the first series to have a true finale. david kent actor leave it to beaver - lineartdrawingsnature Eddie was played by the actor Ken Osmond, but due to a little mix up in an interview, many viewers believed Eddie Haskell grew up to become Alice Cooper, the rock musician. In a play taken straight from Beaver's life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbor's cat. His friends, Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford and Eddie Haskell, have a knack for getting into trouble and taking Wally along for the ride. Luckily, ABC aired the rest of the five seasons later on. Jerry Mathers wanted to take a break from acting in order to focus on going to high school. The windshield created glare on film, so the crew removed it to avoid that issue. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. Instead they retitled itIts a Small World. "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. One day after "Leave It to Beaver" star Tony Dow was pronounced dead by mistake, his son issued a confirmation Wednesday saying his father died after a long health battle in hospice care. Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Jerry Mathers in an episode of "Leave it to Beaver." One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. The pilot had no "canned" laughter in the background. Mathers genuinely had a cub scout meeting to go to after his audition, which he was anxious to get too. Apparently it was so bad, that nobody listened to it. One episode ofLeave it to Beaverwas actually censored by the Federal Communications Commission when it showed a toilet on screen. Two of Wally's friends are pictured, and they are greasy-looking punks. The romance ends when Beaver sends Penny a toad in a nicely wrapped box. 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. It aired as an installment of "Heinz Studio 57," an anthology series. After the show, Ken Osmond left the acting business in order to become a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. A follow-up series called "The New Leave It To Beaver" followed in 1983 which featured the original characters as the older generation. He sometimes humorously regards his parents as clueless squares. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. Due to particular relationships around the world, some Accio Potterheads! [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. 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. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. Yet another episode made it seem like Mayfield was in Ohio, because Wally supposedly went to a school near Shaker Heights. He slips into slang occasionally, which upsets his mother. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. He has two children and a wife. The town was Skokie, Illionis, but the footage wasnt taken for the show. 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. 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. 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. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. 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. 1928), No author has created with less emphasis such pathetic characters as Chekhov has.Vladimir Nabokov (18991977), Like a bad doctor who has fallen down sick you are cast down, and cannot find what sort of drugs would cure your ailment.Aeschylus (525456 B.C. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead.