I'm sure it's Ohio

[frani]

The more I watch, the more I'm convinced the Cleavers live in Ohio. Ward just mentioned Shaker Heights.

By the way, has anyone read Winesberg, Ohio? I'm teaching it this term and so I'm reading it right now and it's a really good book. Kind of reminds me of the show in a way.

[John Sterren]

It is absolutely NOT Ohio. Throughout the series there's talk of beaches, surfboards etc. And if it's Ohio, or anyplace in the Midwest, where are the seasons? The Cleaver Universe is seasonless!

My hunch is a medium-sized town in California.

[Leigh Ann]

I think it is too, Ohio. What made me lean towards Ohio is in the brussels sprouts episode, Mayfield was playing the "Packers," as in the Green Bay Packers. I heard this when Wally and Ward were talking at the dinner table.

[LeaveItToBeaverFan]

Originally posted by MamaFan
I think it is too, Ohio. What made me lean towards Ohio is in the brussels sprouts episode, Mayfield was playing the "Packers," as in the Green Bay Packers. I heard this when Wally and Ward were talking at the dinner table.

Wouldn't that then make it Wisconsin?

[tdr]

I suppose the location of Mayfield and Ward's occupation are 2 most never-ending debates about LITB, because these were deliberately kept from being stated outright, and thus there is not one right answer. But fans like to talk about these points nevertheless ;) .

FOR Mayfield's state being Ohio:
There is a Mayfield which is a suburb or Cleveland, which is near Shaker Heights, another suburb.
This Mayfield, Ohio, is close to "20 miles from the 'ocean,'" a statement Ward made once (but they don't call Lake Erie the "ocean", do they?)
They refer so many times to "State" University, as if their state has a big university that is bigger than any other university there, which hopes to play in the Rose Bowl. That certainly fits OSU.
In "Voodoo Magic," Eddie's room has an Ohio State pennant .
Larry's brother lives in Cincinnati, and his father is on business there, it seems, the majority of the time.
Once when Beaver talks about striking oil, Wally tells him "they've got all the oil [i]down in Texas," which should mean they are 'up north' somewhere.
Among the states/regions they clearly indicate Mayfield is not in: Texas, California, New England, South Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii.
No one in Mayfield seems to have a regional accent-- not southern, Appalachian, New England, New York, ['Joisy,' or the hesitation of the Rocky Mountains-- except someone visiting or new there; this may indicate the midwest.

AGAINST Mayfield's state being Ohio:
There is never any snow.
Too close to rugged mountains ["Happy Weekend"; "Night in the Woods"]
"20 miles from any ocean" [Ward]-- unless they do call Lake Erie the "ocean."
In "Summer in Alaska," there is a seaport (not a freshwater port) within a relatiavely short drive, from which fishing boats begin escursions to Alaska-- this indicates the west coast.

Someone referred to the ep, "Beaver Won't Eat," and pointed out that the Green Bay Packers are playing in the football game the Cleavers were going to. But remember that it was an exhibition game. And decades ago, when not too many cities had NFL franchise teams, they played more of their exhibition (pre-) season games at sites which never got to see pro football otherwise. So that could have been almost anywhere.

[frani]

tdr, i'm speechless.

[Corvetteguy]

I always consider Mayfield as being in California, since they live close to the ocean, it never snows, and from time to time you can see palm trees in the background. I consider it California for my own personal view, but I think the show just leaves it up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

[HaskellGirl]

Brian Levant, the creator of the Leave it to Beaver movie, and the New Leave it Beaver series, thinks its Mayfield, Ohio. In the movie, they even state Mayfield is a suburb of Cleveland. In the series, I recall Eddie Haskell saying his family's originally from Akron, OH (okay, that's not necessarily saying anything, but still). It also has snowed on that show.

[BrandonS]

For Ohio: In one episode, Ward refers to someone as living on the other side of Euclid Avenue, which is an extremely prominent street in Cleveland. My actual belief, though, is that, although it's fun to speculateabout it, there is no correct answer.

[Leigh Ann]

Originally posted by LeaveItToBeaverFan


Wouldn't that then make it Wisconsin?

What I meant was that you know how sometimes football teams play other teams that are near them, maybe? So, that's where I got my lead to Ohio.