The final episode of “Leave It to Beaver” disappointed many, to say the least. Instead of an originally written program that concludes the series and ties up loose ends, the production decided to go a different direction.
The “Leave It to Beaver” final episode was merely a montage of earlier shows. It was called “Family Scrapbook.”
Despite its Enduring Popularity, the Show Was Not a Hit
"Leave it to Beaver" is the quintessential 1950 TV program, but during its run, it never made it to the top 10 in ratings.
Not once did the program hit Nielsen’s top 30 rated shows. Surprisingly, they were beaten out by programs that are now virtually unknown, like "The Ann Sothern Show" and "The Ford Show."
The Sitcom Enjoyed a Generous Budget
Though it fell short with ratings, the production behind "Leave it to Beaver" did not skimp. As one of the most expensive sitcoms of the era, it averaged $35,000 per episode. That is equivalent to a $270,000 per episode budget in today’s dollars.
Production costs were high each time outdoor filming was scripted. Filming inside the studio at the Cleavers family home was less costly, but the show required many outdoor scenes.
The Pilot Episode Depicted the Cleavers’ First House
Though we don’t know exactly what state they resided in, it’s been determined that the Cleavers lived at 485 Madison Avenue and also at 211 Pine Street. They also lived in one more house.
The home featured in the pilot episode is different from the others. It’s located at 1727 Buckingham Road, which, in reality, was located at Republic Studios in CBS’s backlot.
The Pilot Episode—How It Was Lost and Found
“It’s a Small World” was the first "Leave it to Beaver" episode, which aired on April 23, 1957. Since then, however, it was tossed aside. No one knew where the reel went.
Finally, after 30 long years, it showed up at a storage unit in Illinois. The recovered tape was a print of the original, and it lay hidden in a film vault until 1987!