1st. Ward Cleaver on Andy Grifith Show tonight.

[comet97]

Did everyone listen to the announcer say that the 1st, Ward Cleaver actor would be playing the antique dealer in the Andy Griffith Show tonight?
I couldn't catch his real name though, sorry.
Here's the scoop.

Episode 14:
The Horse Trader
Andy proves fallible when he cons a traveling antique dealer into buying the town's old cannon with a fabulously fictional story of the cannon's glorious past. Opie follows his father's example and cons a friend of his into trading roller skates for some "licorice seeds" that Opie got in a bad trade for his cap pistol. Andy, again seeing his own actions mirrored by his son, turns around and makes ammends for his bad dealings.

What was his name?:confused:
He looks so familier too.
:mad:

[desilu #1]

Wow! There was a first Ward Cleaver?!!:eek: I can not imagine anyone but Hugh being Ward, I mean look at how handsome he was and the Chemistry with Barbara was off the charts! Hugh NOT playing Ward would be like pizza never being invented!:D

[comet97]

Originally posted by desilu #1
Wow! There was a first Ward Cleaver?!!:eek: I can not imagine anyone but Hugh being Ward, I mean look at how handsome he was and the Chemistry with Barbara was off the charts! Hugh NOT playing Ward would be like pizza never being invented!:D :wave:
I agree with you about that desilu.
There will only be one Ward, and thats Hugh Beaumont. #1 in my book!

That other actor I saw tonight just didn't seem the 'type' to be the boy's father,let alone June's husband IMO <LOL>
Maybe the writers and directors realized that too,and looked for another Ward real quick. What'll ya' bet?
:lol:

[David VP]

The LITB "Pilot" was entitled "It's A Small World", and starred Casey Adams (aka: Max Showalter) as Ward Cleaver. It was never aired in prime-time. ........

http://imdb.com/name/nm0795289/

http://www.geocities.com/alcus2/smallworld.html

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-1422/epid-86183/

Although (for some reason) many people intensely disliked Mr. Adams/Showalter (who died in July 2000 of cancer), I rather liked everything I've seen him in -- including that Andy Griffith episode being discussed here.

He was also in the 1953 film "Niagara", starring Marilyn Monroe. A very good flick, too (IMO).

If you have a look at that "Small World" link above, you'll see that Harry Shearer, who now does a myriad of voices on "The Simpsons" TV series, also had a role in the Beaver Pilot.

The "Small World" pilot was a wretched affair. The young man playing "Wally" was awful and wholely unlikeable IMO. You wanted to smack the kid around the block. Saving graces, of course, were Jerry and Barbara, who went on to do the weekly series as well.

Like many "Pilots", Beaver's just wasn't up to snuff with the regular series. Sort of like Dick Van Dyke's "Head Of The Family" Pilot, which had Carl Reiner (instead of Van Dyke) playing "Robert Simpson Petrie". Plus ALL different actors playing the other characters.

It's amazing how some shows are born at all -- given the horrid pilots that spawned them (LITB and TDVDS being but two examples). Glad they were born though. :)

http://www.geocities.com/alcus2/picture581.jpeg
http://www.geocities.com/alcus2/smalltitle.jpeg

[Michael [hXc]]

I saw him on the Andy Griffith Show yesterday and he doesn't seem like the Ward type. I'm glad they replaced him with the one and only Ward, Hugh Beaumont. I have never seen the pilot episode, but given the information I have heard about it, I don't think I want to.

[1954Boomer]

I never saw that pilot episode of LITB, but I am familiar with Casey Adams, and like Beaverfan, I don't think he could fill Hugh's shoes, so to speak. I'm glad they switched to the Ward we all know and love.

Speaking of Casey Adams, however, has anyone ever seen that great 1955 classic, "Niagra," starring Marilyn Monroe? Casey plays a newlywed staying in an adjacent cabin to where Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton are staying. It's excellent!

[Michael [hXc]]

he looks like the guy who played Kirk Bennett in "Black Angel" from 1946. Anyone here other than me see it? It's the one starring Dan Duryea and June Vincent.

[comet97]

Originally posted by BeaverFan5
I saw him on the Andy Griffith Show yesterday and he doesn't seem like the Ward type. I'm glad they replaced him with the one and only Ward, Hugh Beaumont. I have never seen the pilot episode, but given the information I have heard about it, I don't think I want to. :wave:
I'm with you on that one BeaverFan5.
I don't think he would have lasted too long anyway as Ward.
We were lucky getting Hugh IMO. :cool:

[desilu #1]

I was looking at his filmography and I remember him from Sixteen Candles playing grandpa Fred and he was a riot!:lol: But still not good enough to play Ward.;)

[comet97]

Originally posted by desilu #1
I was looking at his filmography and I remember him from Sixteen Candles playing grandpa Fred and he was a riot!:lol: But still not good enough to play Ward.;) :( :D Yeah,I rememer that one!

[GidgetCleaver]

That Casey Adams guy looks kind of like the guy who played Ward in the LITB movie, does anyone else think so? What was his name? I can't remember.

[magellan333]

I think that Casey Adams guy looks like a grown up version of Gilbert.

[GidgetCleaver]

Have you seen grown up Gilbert on Frontline? I think he looks about the same as he did only bigger, taller and older.