Some of the surviving members of Leave It to Beaver recently reunited at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles.
Those attending were Frank Bank (Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford), Jerry Mathers (Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver), Tony Dow (Wally Cleaver) and Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell). Barbara Billingsley (mother June Cleaver), who is now 94 years old, was not present.
Matt Hurwitz was the event’s moderator. The actors discussed being cast on the show and their recollections of filming it. They also talked about the late Hugh Beaumont (dad Ward Cleaver), Richard Deacon (Lumpy’s father), and directors Norman Tokar and Norman Abbott.
Dow recalled that, when the Still the Beaver reunion movie was being prepared, they tried to find Robert “Rusty” Stevens, who played Beaver’s pudgy friend Larry Mondello. When the detective they hired went to his home, his wife answered. She wasn’t sure that her husband was who the detective was looking for since he’d never told her he’d been on the show.
The founders of Shout Factory, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, were also on hand. The gathering was held in part to promote the release of Leave It To Beaver: The Complete Series
In addition, the set will include several two-hour audio interviews with members of the cast, courtesy of our friend Stu Shostak and his Internet radio program, Stu’s Show.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Leave It to Beaver? What are your favorite episodes from this beloved show?
Images courtesy Kevin Parry/The Paley Center for Media.
Enjoyed the show and history,,Beav and wally served in the Hollywood natl guard together,,along with most everyone in the business,,but I went to Viet for them all lol
Eddie was the OG of Mayfield. The show wouldn’t have been as funny without him.
I watch the “Beav” every morning I can. It’s a great way to start my day before I head out into the world. I know it’s an idealistic corny suburban show; but the little bits of insight into daily life in the Cleaver family absolutely ring true in my experience.
A much more hopeful way to look at the world that what is being thrust at us in these declining moral times.
You are so right!
Two of my favorite episodes are Eddie changing the grade on beaver’s report card and Eddie and Lumpy dumping the Cleavers trash on Mr. Hill’s privately owned vacant lot.
They should have had a series,,
I’m a huge fan that’s all I watch is shows like Beaver, Father knows best etc I was born in early 50s it prout us all much pleasure
My husband and I watch “Leave it to Beaver” every morning with breakfast before he leaves for work. Friends gave us the complete DVD series and we are just finishing the last disc this week! We also enjoy watching the original TV “Superman’s” series, surprisingly enough where we also found the actor playing “Beaver’s Dad” being rescued from a storage vault and receiving a “Citizen of the Year Award.” We love the classic TV series’s because they show good family: relationships, morals, actually spending quality time time and patience teaching right from wrong, explaining issues, discipline, and eating meals together… Read more »
I think that Wally was the perfect brother. I love all the shows. Wally was always there for this brother advising him about his parents and that Eddie. Gilbert and Larry got Beaver into so much trouble. So did Eddie, because Beaver listened to his advise. There was time that Eddie showed a good side of himself and I like those times. I watch Leave It to Beaver on 26.3 every week day morning at 7am. I love this show and I like seeing the shows over and over again. I am glad that they are shown on TV now.… Read more »
I PVR the series and watch one every morning with my coffee before work and I just love it, and many mornings shed a tear! I am so addicted!