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.
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!
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?’”
At the Audition for Beaver, Mathers Had Another Place to Be
The day Mathers made the cut for the iconic role, he was a 9-year-old boy with an important schedule. He had a Cub Scout meeting, and he didn’t want to be late!
Ironically, his impatient attitude regarding his priority, plus the adorability factor of a little boy in a Cub Scout uniform, got him the gig. Producers found his honesty charming and a perfect fit with the character. It turns out that staying true to yourself pays off!