It came out in the “Family Scrapbook” finale. Beaver asked his mom why they called him “Beaver” instead of his actual name, Theodore. Mrs. Cleaver explained that when Wally was young couldn’t pronounce his baby brother’s name, and it sounded like Beaver instead of Theodore, so they just left it.
Next, Wally pipes in characteristically with, “Gee, I’m sorry, Beave, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
ABC spent $50,000 on One Episode
"Leave it to Beaver" enjoyed a generous budget. The episode “In the Soup,” in which the Beave decides to climb up to see if it’s real soup, was one of the most expensive.
Luckily, it’s also one of the most memorable. The reason it was so pricey is that the studio built the actual billboard in the Universal backlot. Today’s money is $400,000. In today’s world, they would have had Campbell’s Soup pay for it!
Bob Hope Saved Jerry’s Life
While filming "The Seven Little Foys," a 1955 comedy movie about vaudeville entertainer Eddie Foy, there was a fire scene that got out of hand. Too much gasoline was poured into igniting the scene, and Mathers’ life was in danger.
Hope, the legendary actor/comedian, grabbed a blanket and essentially ran into a burning building to save young Mathers.
What Did Jerry Mathers Wear to His Audition?
Jerry Mathers, who was only a five-year-old actor at the time, was as professional as any big actor could be. Mathers came to the audition for the part of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in a Cub Scout uniform. It stood out and could not be a better choice as it was the All-American image the show's creators were looking to showcase.
This costume contributed to Mathers landing the role as the innocence and boy-next-door charming characteristics were everything Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver stood for. Fun fact: Jerry Mathers was more concerned about being late to his Cub Scout meeting than anything else.
From the Swimming Pool to the Stage
We love it when television productions blend real-life facts into the storyline. Take this story for example. Tony Dow, who played the role of Wally Cleaver on the show, was a professional swimmer and Junior Olympian. His entire life was dedicated to the water, and he never thought of having an acting career.
As it turns out, a lifeguard who attended the same swimming pool as Dow was auditioning for another show and happened to hear about an athletic teen character on the look-for. He couldn't think of anyone better than Dow to take the part, and the rest is history.