In 1963, Wally and the Beave were growing out of their roles. The precocious baby brother was turning into a teenager, and Wally was becoming an adult. It was a natural ending for the family-centric show.
Like any kid, he wanted to play sports in high school, so he quit acting in order to attend Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.
June Cleaver Was Not as Tall as She Appeared
To retain some height over the boys as they grew taller, Barbara Billingsley wore high heels, very high heels.
Considering how significantly the portrayal of women has changed in Hollywood since the '50s, the sight of her wearing heels while cooking and cleaning provides endless fodder for mockery by modern perspectives.
"Leave It to Beaver" Is a Required Study at Some Colleges
However, if you’re a diehard "Leave it to Beaver" fan, you may not enjoy the course. Sociology professors teach about social values and norms by using the show as an example.
Students might compare the 1950s sitcom with more current family programs like "Family Matters" or "Modern Family."
What Happened to Lumpy and Eddie?
Two of the show's most memorable characters were Lumpy and Eddie. Lumpy Rutherford is the typical big bully played by Frank Bank. Eddie Haskell, the kid who charmed adults but was actually a conniver, was portrayed by Ken Osmond. In the final seasons, neither characters were around so much.
Both Frank and Eddie decided to try a more heroic career. They served as U.S. Army reserve officers. Osmond was able to work a deal with the Army. He got leave to tape some episodes in exchange for making appearances for the Army’s Special Services.
Tony Dow Could Not Break the Typecast
As a character, Wally Cleaver made such a cultural impression that the actor who played him could not escape the role. He was typecast. As a result, they asked him to play only extraordinarily naïve and wholesome young lads.
As an actor, Tony was frustrated. It was difficult, he told "Connecticut Magazine." In 2018, he said, “People really wanted you because you were Wally, or they don’t want you because you were Wally.”