Gee Wally, 50 Is Really Old

Fifty years ago, this Thursday, October 4: 1957, the world famous comedy television show, Leave It to Beaver, premiered. The show lasted until 1963.

The Cleavers were a family of four, two boys, a mother and a father.

The youngest, Theodore Cleaver, "Beaver", was played by Jerry Mathers. Mathers played a 7 year old at the show start, he was actually a little older at 9. When the show started Jerry Mathers was already a seasoned movie actor, having worked in 6 films, notably in Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry.

The older brother, Wally Cleaver, was played by Tony Dow. Dow was new to acting, playing Wally. Later in his career Dow played in episodes of serial dramas such as Dr. Kildare.

The mother, June Cleaver, was played by Barbara Billingsley. Barbara had been a B movie actress at the start of her career. Later Barbara had roles in the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Roseanne.

The father was played by Hugh Beaumont. Beaumont was an ordained minister with a Master of Theology degree. The actor appeared in over three dozen feature films before getting the part Ward Cleaver. After the shows cancellation, Hugh Beaumont appeared in guest roles on shows like Mannix, Wagon Train and Petticoat Junction.

Other members of the cast included Eddie, Lumpy and Whitey.

• This show is one of my wife's favorite to relax by, running a strong second to The Andy Griffith Show.
• The innocence of the main character was impossible to dislike.
• Notice the headline at the top of the attached picture. What do you imagine television service cost in 1958, I'm willing to bet it is much lower as a percentage of average income than today. My satellite service runs about $50 per month, only because I don't have any extra channels.