Paul Sullivan did not have much of an acting career outside of this pilot. 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. When the war broke out in Vietnam, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, wanted to enlist in the Marines. In a play taken straight from Beavers life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbors cat. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. On a whim, Tony decided to audition alongside his friend, and they filmed a pilot together, which never got off the ground. 15 What was Miss Landers' first name? Billingsley followed up her run with a role in the sequel, "The New Leave it to Beaver," which aired in the '80s. 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. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. In one episode, Wally runs for class president but loses the election. Hugh Beaumont might have hated the show, but he did a lot for it anyway. He later abandoned screentime to work as a radio broadcaster. Theres a lot of facts you might know. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. Leave it to Beaverremains one of the best-beloved American sitcoms ever to air. It is during the course of the last episode the viewer learns how Beaver got his nickname. In a play taken straight from Beaver's life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbor's cat. The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. He had been a Junior Olympian swimmer before he began acting. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. James F. Hawkins is an American former actor, producer and writer. Penny has danced with college boys and thinks Wally dances just as smoothly as they do. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. 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. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. Wally's first girlfriend on the show is Penny Jamison, a New York girl he meets during ballroom lessons at Miss Spencer's School of the Dance. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. Wally's age permitted the writers to place him in dating situations with his school friends. However, Tony Dow wasnt always a member of the fictional family. 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. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. Menu. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. She also did her best to keep her boys out of trouble. "It's a Small World" is the pilot episode from the iconic American television series Leave It to Beaver (19571963). Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. 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. 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.". Miss Simms ( Diane Brewster) is a secretary/receptionist at the Franklin Milk Company. Toilet scenes were not shown on television back then, but "Leave It to Beaver" became the first although it was just the tank. 9. Instead they retitled itIts a Small World. The family lives at 213 Pine Street next door to his widowed mother June, Beaver, and Beaver's sons; Ward had died shortly before the events of Still the Beaver take place (series star Hugh Beaumont had died in 1982). In 1997, the feature film Leave It to Beaver was released with young Erik von Detten as Wally. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. 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. "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. Were very good friends. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. 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. Fans got this idea when a college newspaper editor asked Cooper what kind of kid he was, to which he answered, I was obnoxious, disgusting, a real Eddie Haskell. However, the reporter misquoted him and reported that Cooper was the real Haskell. Apparently it was so bad, that nobody listened to it. What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of It's a Small World (1957) in Australia? Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. 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. Billingsley passed away due to Polymyalgia at age 94 in 2010. In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. 1961-1962 Leave It to Beaver TV Series Bill Scott Scott. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. Debra Winger Still Saves White Dress from 1st Wedding as It Felt 'Electrifying' Wearing It for Her 2nd Husband, Mick Jagger Seduced His Kids' Nanny & Cheated with Her on His Wife Who Was in the Next Room, Erin Murphy AKA Tabitha from 'Bewitched' Is Now a Mom of 6 Inside Her Life 50 Years after the Show, Barbara Hale Was Close with Raymond Burr's Partner after Star's Death - He Kept Their Relationship a Secret for 35 Years, Michael Weatherly's 'Difficult' Divorce from 1st Wife Made Him a Better Man despite Its Impact on His Son, Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values Inside His Decision to Protect Them, Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher Designed Farmhouse with 'Future of Their Family' in Mind Inside Their Home, Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing. Ward Cleaver: Yeah. Mathers genuinely had a cub scout meeting to go to after his audition, which he was anxious to get too. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. If you thought Eddie Haskell was a huge brat, dont worry, youre not alone. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. The original Wally Mathers is referring to is Paul Sullivan. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. In one episode, Wally grows a moustache over the summer, thinking Julie will be enchanted with his debonair look, and then the poor boy is humiliated when she laughs at it when he arrives back to school. Hugh Beaumont was contentious about the role of Ward Cleaver, but fans would likely agree that he fit it perfectly. 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. A few episodes deal with Wally's teen taste in hairstyles and clothing. Beaumont blamed himself and his work on the show for her death, because he wasnt there to drive the car instead of Hunter. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. Richard Lewis produced the episode. 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. Id work with him all day, then wed go home to our families. Today, many of the show's cast members including Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver), Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver), and Frank Dank (Lumpy Rutherford), are no longer alive, but the memories of them are still fresh. But where are the cast members now? In the 1970s, a popular rumor circulated that Eddie Haskell, as played by Ken Osmond, was really Alice Cooper, the rock star. Thank goodness they made some major changes before the actual first season began because there were some actors who needed to be replaced. 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. Matthers returned to television for a reunion, "Still the Beaver" in 1983, and appeared in a few episodes of the famous series, "Lassie." Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. When the show opens, Beaver is seven years old ("almost . 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. June Cleaver: The boys have got a whole dishpan of them upstairs. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. Before he was a Beaver, actor Jerry Mathers was Little Ricky on the show "I Love Lucy" for one scene. Yes, after filming the pilot, Sullivan was growing and, well, grew out of the role. Still, that didn't happen. Wally - this was the weirdest and worst aspect of the pilot. So many people, in fact, that TV Guide ranked Eddie Haskell as #2 in their list of TVs 10 Biggest Brats on its March 27, 2005 issue. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. Frankie Bennett, a mischievous boy, tells them new bikes can be had at a local dairy in exchange for 1,000 bottle caps from the company's products. He would later play the role in spin-offs. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. We spent a lot of time together. Stevens' acting work mostly stuck to the era surrounding "Leave It to Beaver." He appeared in guest . Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. Theres more to the tale of the toilet onLeave It To Beaver than simply being censored for wanting to show a toilet. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Originally, the pilot for the show was titled "It's a Small World." Jerry Mathers was around 8-years-old at the time he auditioned for the role. 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. In one episode, were shown footage of a town. Like any other show,Leave it to Beaverhad to stop running. In fact, there was someone else who played little Beaver before Dow. Instead, Mathers decided to join the United Air Force Reserve. 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. This was the pilot episode of this television series. In 1985, a sequel to the original series was produced called Still the Beaver, again starring Jerry Mathers and other original cast members. As for the heels, she wore them to appear taller than the boys as they grew up. Explore, taste, and write about the world. Meanwhile, what a shock to see some of the show's regulars as other people on this episode. 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. Beaver was relegated to the background. Jimmy Hawkins. Beaver says, "I filled the bathtub so it'd be ready for our alligator." Wally answers, "Beaver, if we keep him in there, we won't be able to take a bath." Beaver finishes the joke with, "Yeah, it's real good having an alligator." Despite the absurdity of this episode, it was the first to show a toilet on television. It stars Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers ("as The Beaver", as the opening credits put it). 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. Jerry Mathers didnt have a normal audition. It's been over five decades since the hit show "Leave It to Beaver" ended, but fans still remember the adventures of little Theodore who breathed life into the series. Even though Mary Ellen was Wally's principal romantic interest, Wally dated several other girls during his high school years. Producers took advantage of Dow's popularity and scripted episodes delving into Wally's dating life, his after school jobs, his pals, and his car. The boys were often shown in the bathroom. 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. 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. The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. What happened to take him out of the spotlight? For instance: Ward Cleaver is played by Casey Adams. What Cooper had meant was that he behaved a lot like the character of Haskell as a child, not that he portrayed him. Beaver's big brother, Wally, was often involved in his younger brother's mischief. His friends, Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford and Eddie Haskell, have a knack for getting into trouble and taking Wally along for the ride. Good thing, too. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Thats on purpose! ", 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. 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. Wally is based on Connelly's son, Jay. Advertisement Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." | Source: Wikimedia Commons 7. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Jerry Mathers (who was cast as Theodore Beaver Cleaver) in 2007. 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. It aired as an installment of "Heinz Studio 57," an anthology series. 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. Osmond passed away in May 2020. Fans can enjoy a tour of the iconic place even today. Back home, his son, Hunter, drove his mom and grandmother to work one day and lost control of the car. An epic family comedy that revolved around the lives of a family living in the suburbs, "Leave It to Beaver" captures the essence of being a child during the 1950s by following the adventures of a curious boy named Theodore aka "The Beaver.". He didnt become a rockstar like his character wanted. 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. Wallace "Wally" Cleaver is a fictional character in the iconic American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Keep . 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. They were never seen in the series - another smart move. Dow won the role of Wally in spite of his . Mathers genuinely had a cub scout meeting to go to after his audition, which he was anxious to get too. 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. Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher wrote the teleplay with Jerry Hopper directing the episode. Have you noticed while watching the show that the Cleavers car is missing the rear windshield? The original pilot never aired with the mainLeave it to Beaverseries. I'm happy to see it has survived television, child psychology and the inroads of progressive education. The series aired until 1989. 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. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. Simon closes the seminar, expressing his hope that this is one of many cast reunions to . Unlike his brother Beaver (who thinks girls are "creepy"), Wally is popular with the girls and has many girlfriends during the course of the series' run. In another episode, Wally takes cha-cha lessons to enter a dance contest with Mary Ellen. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. Actor Paul Sullivan appeared only in the pilot as Wally Cleaver. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. Beaumonts mother-in-law was killed in the crash. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. 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. The humor of the character rests in Wally's teenage perspective. Sullivan would have been a household name for years to come. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. Itd be weird if a show didnt tie up all of its loose ends. Oops? Beaver - still Jerry Mathers - was a tiny bit smaller than what we saw on the first season, but basically the same kid and character. 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 characters grew older along with the actors. Not all passports are created equally. 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. 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. Both her pearls and her heels are one of the most cited examples of what it meant to be a housewife in the 1950s. 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. 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. 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. Some of that stems from the fact that Tony Dow himself was an accomplished athlete, even before he made it onto the show. 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. 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. Wally is portrayed in the series by Tony Dow. Leave It to Beaver is an iconic [1] American television situation comedy about an American family of the 1950s and early 1960s. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. 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. 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. 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 and Wally, and Harry Shearer as an Eddie Haskell-type smart-aleck, and Richard Deacon (Mr. Rutherford) and Diane Brewster (Miss Canfield) as different characters, was teased on Entertainment Tonight and then shown for the first time as the first episode of the 1987 season of The New Leave it to Beaver on TBS Superstation October 4th, with an introduction by Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, Barbara Billinglsey, and Kipp Marcus (Beaver, Wally, June, and Kipp Cleaver). 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. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. This was because Paul Sullivan had grown too tall in between pilot and series. One of the shows writers, Joe Connelly, based Wally and Beaver off of his own children, whose antics he would scribble down in a notebook on the regular. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. "), such punishments never occur. 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. I don't say he could have done as good a job as Hugh Beaumont, but he was acceptable. What Cooper had meant was that he behaved a lot like the character of Haskell as a child, not that he portrayed him. 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. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. Most people think it was just part of the characters costume, but thats not why she wore them. Paul Sullivan, Actor: Over the Top. Yet another episode made it seem like Mayfield was in Ohio, because Wally supposedly went to a school near Shaker Heights. To that end, Beaumont was able to play a part in writing for several episodes ofLeave It To Beaver, as well as to also direct some of the episodes. The last episode was a retrospective one called "Family Scrapbook" and has claimed its place in TV history as the first prime time sitcom episode specifically written as a series finale. So, expect to chuckle, but not too much. Tony Dow had grown into an attractive, athletic young man and was often featured in "heartthrob"-type magazines aimed principally at teen girls. The Cleaver family from the television program "Leave it to Beaver." He was 77. In 1986, Mary Ellen gives birth to their second child, Kevin (who was age advanced to 4 years old in the fall of 1987 and played by Troy Davidson). Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. The first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. After the show, Ken Osmond left the acting business in order to become a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Movies. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. Off-screen, the actress enjoyed being a mom to two boys just like in the show. When the war broke out in Vietnam, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, wanted to enlist in the Marines. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Wally is rarely seen doing regular chores around the house. He was so worried about being late for the meeting, he informed the casting team that he had somewhere to be, which they absolutely loved. He remained on good terms with his former television family until the end. He is best-known for his TV roles in shows like Annie Oakley, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, Petticoat Junction, and The Donna Reed Show; and as Tommy Bailey, son of George Bailey in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life . 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. 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. The series ends with Wally a high-school graduate preparing for State college and Beaver looking forward to entering Mayfield High. Wally arrives home and finds his mother preparing dinner; he regales her with teenspeak banter about the day's events at school. 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 associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. 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. Though Wally sometimes warns Beaver he will suffer some sort of physical punishment from Ward ("Dad's gonna clobber you!
paul sullivan actor leave it to beaver