June - the Real "Brains" of the Family?

[Bugiddle]

I was watching an episode today in which Wally and Beaver play the stock market. Wally asks his dad, "What's the difference between stocks and bonds?" June interrupts three times during the conversation to give her knowledgeable input on the subject (annoying the heck out of Ward!:lol: ) and I just thought, "You go, girl!!" Supports my assertion on another thread that June is an intelligent sitcom mom. :) One of my few beefs about the series is that June isn't shown as consistently intelligent throughout the series, however. Sometimes she's too whiny or a little clueless, or too subservient to Ward or the boys. I feel that the creators did intend for her to be smart and an independent thinker, though.

June Cleaver - Financial Whiz and Mom Extraordinaire!

[GidgetCleaver]

I think June was every bit as intelligent as Ward. I would almost say that Ward was more savvy than June because he "got out" more, but the more I think about it, June was very sophisticated and knew her way around in her little world; luncheons, social occasions, school and ladies clubs, etc. I think in that time period that's pretty much the way things were. Almost makes you wonder why she went to college. Maybe she had other plans for her life until she met Ward.

[tdr]

I think this is one of quite a number of examples meant to show that June was knowledgeable about subjects besides being a wife and mother. But she simply saw the homemaker role as her only real 'calling,' so she rarely expressed interest in non-family or nondomestic topics. The stock market episode is one example where she did show some buisness savvy; yet still she told the boys that "I think your father should decide that" when they decided to buy stock and considered what stock to buy.

But one of the best examples that she did know a lot about how to influence people is in "Wally's New Suit." Wally is allowed to go buy his own new suit, over Ward's protest, and he comes home with a bright colored, striped, multi-pocketed coat and pants. Ward tries the authoritative approach to tell Wally it is in "poor taste" and he should exchange it. As this just makes Wally more determined, June, behind everyone's back, calls the store and plots with the salesman to use more subtle tactics. Under the pretense of taking the suit back to have it altered, they get Wally back at the store and the salesman and June point out what a muscular build Wally has, and that the suit he picked out does not accentuate it; rather it should be for someone with narrow shoulders. So he tries on a plain dark coat and they say how handsome he now looks.. et al, et al... So she could have been successful in sales or other public contact work. Ward tells her she is the "master of the indirect approach," and of course she says "How do you think I got you?" Although that is not meant to be taken too seriously (IMO), I suppose she was still successful in using her ability here.

[frani]

I definitely think June was meant to be intelligent. In the first place, I don't think Ward would have married an airhead. Also, she is very often seen reading. She always has an intelligent answer for things and in the earlier shows, she and Ward are always bantering in a very clever way.

[colkid]

Is Barbra still alive?? This is one of the best series out of 50's TV.
Have they worked on the quality of these tapes. They should be
preserved for future generations.
What is a good basic site,that tells about the main actors after
the series.
thank you & God Bless,
colkid

[junecleaver]

yes, Barb is 81! i don't know if they are trying to work on these tapes or not...but that is some of the reasons they have skipped epi's like "Wally's New Suit" or "beaver's haircut", they claim that the tapes are weak or something...
The best site to find info on all actors would be tvtome.com, it'll tell you some about them..and a list of all the stuff they acted in before and after LITB

[colkid]

Thank you,
colkid:)