“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!
Most TV Shows Conclude With a Grand Finale Episode
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.”
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.
Judy Hensler Had to Leave the Show
Judy played Jeri Weil, who is a classmate of the Beave. There was only one problem the studio had with her...she started growing up.
They asked her to wrap her chest to flatten out any evidence, but the actress refused. It cost her the role.
Jerry Mathers Was Doted on by Alfred Hitchcock
Jerry Mathers worked just a few stages down at the same studio where the television and film legend worked his magic. He was 9 when Hitchcock singled him out for a role in "The Trouble with Harry."
In an interview with Fox News, Mathers recalled, “I would see him when I had a little free time, and he would roll in a big Rolls Royce with a chauffeur.” Hitchcock was always attentive. “He would go, ‘How are you doing today? How’s the show going?’”