Keep in mind that 28 year old Majel Barrett played Lumpy's mom. She was 10 or 11 years older than the character. Weird casting.

Larry's Mom was played by Madge Blake, who was 58 when we first meet Larry and looked even older. Not at all a credible mother of an 8 year old boy. Weirder casting.

Larry made frequent references to an older sister. Are we to conclude that Larry's "Mom" was really his grandmother, and his sister was his REAL mother, and he was being lied to?

This sort of arrangement happened a lot in the old days. Jack Nicholson was raised to think his mother was his sister, and his grandmother was his mother.

This sort of arrangement happened a lot in the old days. Jack Nicholson was raised to think his mother was his sister, and his grandmother was his mother.

So was Bobby Darin.

I don't think it was different for even back then to have older parents. My grandmother was the mother of 8 kids and was an older mother by the time my youngest aunt came along. My oldest uncle already had a few years in the Air Force when she was born.

Agreed, Madge Blake looked more like Larry's grandmother instead of his mother. And Larry's father was never seen, he was always out of town. :lol: Madge Blake wasn't in that many episodes and Larry was no longer in the show by the end of the 3rd season.

Another odd thing about the series, I don't think Eddie's mom was ever seen. I know his father was in at least one episode, not sure if he appeared in any others. I don't recall seeing Lumpy's mom either, it was usually Mr. Rutherford (Richard Deacon) who appeared.

Eddie's mom was in a few episodes. One that comes to mind is 'Summer in Alaska'.

Eddie's mom was in a few episodes. One that comes to mind is 'Summer in Alaska'.
Eddie's mom appeared in 4 episodes and was played by 2 different actresses. Anne Doran and Anne Barton each appeared twice as Mrs. Haskell.

Eddie's mom and dad both appear in the season 6 episode "The Credit Card." Eddie's dad is George Petrie, the same actor who had a supporting role in some Honeymooners episodes.

I don't know if that was intended (Madge Blake being Larry's grandmother), but I admit, I like it. Maybe when I watch the show, in my head, that's what I'll choose to believe.

Agreed, Madge Blake looked more like Larry's grandmother instead of his mother. And Larry's father was never seen, he was always out of town. :lol: Madge Blake wasn't in that many episodes and Larry was no longer in the show by the end of the 3rd season.

Another odd thing about the series, I don't think Eddie's mom was ever seen. I know his father was in at least one episode, not sure if he appeared in any others. I don't recall seeing Lumpy's mom either, it was usually Mr. Rutherford (Richard Deacon) who appeared.

Eddie's father was in more than one episode. two actors played the father in at least 2 episodes each. Eddie's mom was in "Voodoo Magic"(she's the same actress that played Benji Bellamy's mom). Lumpy's mom was seen several times throughout the series(The Rutherfords would go over to the Cleavers to play bridge and look at Fred's slides)

I don't care how old she was Madge Blake was brilliant as Larry's mom.

I just watched episode 5 of season 4 (Beaver's Freckles), and Larry was back!! I thought he was gone after episode 31 of season 3 (Mother's Day Composition). That was kind of weird.

I think Beaver must of been relieved when Larry left. As Larry always seem to talk Beaver into doing something that ended up getting Beaver into trouble.

I think Beaver must of been relieved when Larry left. As Larry always seem to talk Beaver into doing something that ended up getting Beaver into trouble.

Gilbert was just as bad.

l always though she looked too old to be his mother.


Keep in mind that 28 year old Majel Barrett played Lumpy's mom. She was 10 or 11 years older than the character. Weird casting.

Larry's Mom was played by Madge Blake, who was 58 when we first meet Larry and looked even older. Not at all a credible mother of an 8 year old boy. Weirder casting.

Larry made frequent references to an older sister. Are we to conclude that Larry's "Mom" was really his grandmother, and his sister was his REAL mother, and he was being lied to?

This sort of arrangement happened a lot in the old days. Jack Nicholson was raised to think his mother was his sister, and his grandmother was his mother.

It does happen. My father was 45 when I was born, making him 53 when I was eight years old. My mom was 37 when I was born, making her 45 when I was eight.

The casting was a bit extreme, but it really never bothered me.

Also Larry was the youngest child. He mentioned having an older sister and a married brother, so Larry's parents were probably older when they had Larry.

Yes... one thing that certainly would not have been said on LITB-- and, as far as I know, most families would have not said it then, quite a few not even now-- was that Larry 'was never intended,' or 'was an accident.' Mr. and Mrs. Mondello probably thought their family complete with a much older son, born around 1936-40, and a daughter about 8-9 years older than Larry [she was said to be 18 in "June's Birthday," meaning she was born about '41 or '42]. But it seems fair to think the Mondellos did not want or plan another child a lot younger than the older 2, and that might explain significantly Larry's constant unhappiness with his family and his parents being old-school discipline [hitting, that is] and probably unhappy with each other, which might explain his father's being gone most of the time.

LITB was certainly not exempt from being "read between the lines."

Yes... one thing that certainly would not have been said on LITB-- and, as far as I know, most families would have not said it then, quite a few not even now-- was that Larry 'was never intended,' or 'was an accident.' Mr. and Mrs. Mondello probably thought their family complete with a much older son, born around 1936-40, and a daughter about 8-9 years older than Larry [she was said to be 18 in "June's Birthday," meaning she was born about '41 or '42]. But it seems fair to think the Mondellos did not want or plan another child a lot younger than the older 2, and that might explain significantly Larry's constant unhappiness with his family and his parents being old-school discipline [hitting, that is] and probably unhappy with each other, which might explain his father's being gone most of the time.

LITB was certainly not exempt from being "read between the lines."

Not to put too fine a point on this, but...I daresay MOST people on the planet weren't "planned", but if the parents loved each other they would not take that fact and their frustration out of their child. I was certainly not planned but my parents still welcomed the news and me into to world, and didn't display any type of passive/aggressive anger toward me, or towards each other.

Also Larry was the youngest child. He mentioned having an older sister and a married brother, so Larry's parents were probably older when they had Larry.
l was just watching the one where Beaver and Wally catch the rabbit, and it had babies. Beaver asked Larry if anything ever had babies at his house, Larry said, just his "Baby Brother".
So now we have a dad you never see, a sister we never see, and now l guess there is a little brother we never see......................LOL

l was just watching the one where Beaver and Wally catch the rabbit, and it had babies. Beaver asked Larry if anything ever had babies at his house, Larry said, just his "Baby Brother".
So now we have a dad you never seer, a sister we never see, and now l guess there is a little brother we never see......................LOL

I thought he said his brother and wife had a baby.

I thought he said his brother and wife had a baby.
I think they did, but l thought he said "His" baby brother.
I'll check it out.

I think they did, but l thought he said "His" baby brother.
I'll check it out.

No, l just checked, I think thats the only time I heard any mention,
But beavers says, "Hey Larry, did you ever have any babies at your house"?
Larry thinks for a while, and says,
"Not real ones, just my little brother" ......................LOL
from Beaver and Henry, Season 1 episode 36.
When they first are out in the garage Beaver and Larry, looking at the bunnies.

Continuity Error!! And Leave It To Beaver, was pretty good with continuity as opposed to many other sit-coms.

No, l just checked, I think thats the only time I heard any mention,
But beavers says, "Hey Larry, did you ever have any babies at your house"?
Larry thinks for a while, and says,
"Not real ones, just my little brother" ......................LOL
from Beaver and Henry, Season 1 episode 36.
When they first are out in the garage Beaver and Larry, looking at the bunnies.

I looked too last night, I totally heard it wrong. That's funny.