Each week, we will be taking an in depth look at some of the best sitcoms and comedy shows from both the UK and the USA.

Today we will be looking at a comedy that ran between the years of 1957-1963 and launched the same day Sputnik – Leave It To Beaver

Opening Sequence / Theme Tune

About the Show

Summary of Plot

The misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends. –IMDb

Number of Seasons / Episodes

6  seasons

Characters:

Barbara Billingsley – June Cleaver

Jerry Mathers – Theodore Cleaver

Hugh Beaumont – Ward Cleaver

Tony Dow – Wally Cleaver

Trivia

• Although the series was still earning good ratings, its star, Jerry Mathers, wanted to retire from acting to focus on his education upon entering high school. As a result, it was agreed to halt production and the series became the first prime time American production to have a series finale.
• This was in a way the first show to show a toilet and in a way it also wasn’t. They didn’t actually show the toilet pedestal and seat, but they did show the toilet tank and flush handle.
• Barbara Billingsley told an interviewer in 2007 the reason she always wore pearls on camera is because of a small indentation just above her sternum that didn’t photograph well.
• In addition to his role as Ward Cleaver, Hugh Beaumont also did some writing and directing for the series.
• Tony Dow had never acted before and had no aspirations of becoming an actor when he was cast. Dow had accompanied a friend of his to the audition. He auditioned on a whim and got the part.
• No episodes in the entire series featured snow or snowfall
• Among the places the boys would like to go were Metzger’s Field to play baseball, Millers Pond, or Friends Lake.

Classic Clips

Beaver and Money

Cooking and Woman Talk

Stocks and Bonds