Okay, I'm going to play devil's advocate for a minute. We need some new topics here anyway. It was said that Hugh and Barbara were very close friends and by Barbara herself. Despite being married to other people, there is no dispute that they spent the majority of the time together working late at least five days out of the week. I read Hugh's ex-wife's book and he also commuted from Hollywood to Minnesota every week instead of moving the family there. That's alot of time away from family! She eluted in her book that they went on drifting apart more as the show went on which led to the divorce and it so happens they were married as long as they were for the kids sake. They were so far apart they had a different circle of friends....I think this is where her current husband came in to form. I get that idea from reading between the lines guys. Of course if there was more then friendship going on between Hugh and Barbara then it was obviously kept under wraps because I think someone would have posted it by now. But I have to wonder sometimes if there wasn't more then a platonic friendship here. I have always said their chemistry was off the charts anyway and they seemed so comfortable with each other....IDK, just a thought. What do you all think. And yes, I know he was an ordained minister.

I just recently rewatched the extras from the LITB complete series set. Jerry Mathers mentioned in an interview that Hugh had wanted to leave the show after two seasons. He didn't explain the reason why but I expect the fact that his wife and family were so far away had a lot to do with his thought process.

With Barbara gone now, we may never know if she and Hugh had more going than a friendship. They did spend more time with each other than they did with their families while filming the series.

I just recently rewatched the extras from the LITB complete series set. Jerry Mathers mentioned in an interview that Hugh had wanted to leave the show after two seasons. He didn't explain the reason why but I expect the fact that his wife and family were so far away had a lot to do with his thought process.

I recall hearing that as well, but the fact is, he didn't leave. If it was because his family was so far away I would think that he could have solved that by just moving them to California. But throughout the book, it wasn't just the show. He and Katherine (his wife) had doubts about getting married in the begining, but did anyway and she mentioned how their relationship was never as most husband/wife relationships because of the age difference. I guess it really was an issue later on. I guess you would have to read the book to get the general idea.

I wanted to add that Barbara did say that later Hugh did embrace working on the show and alot of it was because he didn't want to be typecast so he wouldn't have a hard time getting other roles that may have been the opposite of his "perfect father" role.

With Barbara gone now, we may never know if she and Hugh had more going than a friendship. They did spend more time with each other than they did with their families while filming the series.

I suppose that we won't know but I guess it's just something that I had thought about even though it's none of my business. I just think they were the perfect match.

I suppose that we won't know but I guess it's just something that I had thought about even though it's none of my business. I just think they were the perfect match.
In the interview I mentioned in my previous post Jerry was asked if he looked on the Beaver cast as a second family. Jerry replied that he knew Barbara and Hugh had real life families of their own and so he looked at Barbara, Hugh, and Tony as really good friends that he got to hang out with and work with every day not a family. I have a feeling that the same is probably true of Barbara and Hugh's relationship. They were just good friends. Though it is fun to speculate that there may have more going on!

I suppose that we won't know but I guess it's just something that I had thought about even though it's none of my business. I just think they were the perfect match.

I say they at least had a crush on each other.

In the interview I mentioned in my previous post Jerry was asked if he looked on the Beaver cast as a second family. Jerry replied that he knew Barbara and Hugh had real life families of their own and so he looked at Barbara, Hugh, and Tony as really good friends that he got to hang out with and work with every day not a family. I have a feeling that the same is probably true of Barbara and Hugh's relationship. They were just good friends. Though it is fun to speculate that there may have more going on!

LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this! I heard the interview because I also have the DVD set. I can't recall but I did read too that Barbara had said that she and Hugh kept in close contact even after the show so....well I guess we can draw our own conclusions there. And I was surprised by Jerry's response in NOT thinking of them as second parents because I'm just a fan and I certainly do. IDK, I guess when you grow up in an unstable home you look to other sources and Ward and June happen to be it. Thanks for responding too.:)

I say they at least had a crush on each other.

I'd say that would be the VERY LEAST! LOL! Just look at their flirty scenes throughout the series. You can really tell they had fun and maybe even got into the moment!

I say at this point in time, it dosent really matter anymore.

With Barbara gone now, we may never know if she and Hugh had more going than a friendship. They did spend more time with each other than they did with their families while filming the series.

I say that no matter if they did or didn't, it just shows that they were both very GOOD actors!!!

This really has nothing to do with the question of weather Barbara and Hugh were "more" then friends but I did catch a sweet moment today while watching the episode where the boys buy the alligator. There is a moment where Ward and June are in the kitchen and Ward has his arms around (June) from behind (her) and kisses her shoulder. I had never noticed that before and thought it was romantic. Whatever the case may be, Barbara and Hugh made a handsome couple and had real chemistry with one another (I think.)

This really has nothing to do with the question of weather Barbara and Hugh were "more" then friends but I did catch a sweet moment today while watching the episode where the boys buy the alligator. There is a moment where Ward and June are in the kitchen and Ward has his arms around (June) from behind (her) and kisses her shoulder. I had never noticed that before and thought it was romantic. Whatever the case may be, Barbara and Hugh made a handsome couple and had real chemistry with one another (I think.)

Wow, glad to see you made it to the LITB board, Blanche&Rosefan! I love that scene!! I remember when I first saw it I was chopping vegetables and nearly cut myself because it was so new to me and so incredibly sweet! We never saw that on TV Land, that's for sure.

About their chemistry....you are so right! I'm so glad they brought Hugh in after that pilot episode - the one I refuse to watch. I will even go as far as saying that had he not joined the show as Ward, I don't think it would have been the hit it was.JMO, of course.

Hugh's girl hello! You are one of my favorite posters here. It is always a pleasure to "see" you. You and I had the same reaction to that sweet moment then! I had to do a double take to make sure he had really kissed her shoulder. I just think that's an incredibly sweet and romantic gesture. Aren't Hugh and Barbara just a gorgeous pair? They both have this grace and elegance about them. They were extremely believable as a married couple. No way would LITB have been the same quality of show without Hugh. I have never seen the pilot and don't think I ever will. To me, Hugh was such a dashing man and the only one to play Ward. He was very genuine as the boy's father and he and Barbara...as we said they were fabulous together.

It must have been hard to commute from Minnesota to California to work. I know Tom Bergeron of Dancing with the Stars does it. He lives in Conn, Beaver was on 50+ years ago and communication isn't like today. No cell phones or texting. I would like to read Hugh's wife's book.

Originally Posted by Marvo301
I just recently rewatched the extras from the LITB complete series set. Jerry Mathers mentioned in an interview that Hugh had wanted to leave the show after two seasons. He didn't explain the reason why but I expect the fact that his wife and family were so far away had a lot to do with his thought process.

I recall hearing that as well, but the fact is, he didn't leave.

I have serious doubts his decision to stay had anything at all to do with Barbara Billingsley. When the show began, she was a recent widow with two young children at home. Shortly after the second season ended in 1959, she remarried. I don't think Hugh Beaumont's decision to remain in California at that time could have had anything to do with Barbara Billingsley because she was in the process of marrying someone else. And she remained married until her husband's death in 1981.

How old were Barbara's children when she was widowed. Must have been hard to be away from her children but I guess she had help. Mother, sister, ?? Then again the money was good compared to say being a waitress, cashier or secretary. Just think she had the program to look back on as she got older and the children were grown. How many of us can say, I was on tv?

How old were Barbara's children when she was widowed. Must have been hard to be away from her children but I guess she had help. Mother, sister, ??

The two children were from her first marriage, to Glenn Billingsley. It was her second husband, Roy Kellino, who died in 1956 and left her a widow. Her marriage to Glenn Billingsley lasted from 1941 to 1947, ending in divorce. So her two sons were born in the '40s. I'm not sure exactly how old they were, but the oldest would not have been more than 15 when Leave It to Beaver began. When her second husband died, I assume her first husband was available to help raise her two sons as he was their actual father. Her third marriage, in 1959, was to a Dr. William Mortensen, and lasted until his death in 1981, the year after her famous comeback role in the movie, Airplane.

I have serious doubts his decision to stay had anything at all to do with Barbara Billingsley. When the show began, she was a recent widow with two young children at home. Shortly after the second season ended in 1959, she remarried. I don't think Hugh Beaumont's decision to remain in California at that time could have had anything to do with Barbara Billingsley because she was in the process of marrying someone else. And she remained married until her husband's death in 1981.

Um, I don't ever recall saying that he stayed BECAUSE of Barbara. I said that she made the comment that he had finally made peace with the show.
And really, I just wanted to post something I found interesting to talk about and observations that I had in hopes to get this board moving some.

Hugh's girl hello! You are one of my favorite posters here. It is always a pleasure to "see" you. You and I had the same reaction to that sweet moment then! I had to do a double take to make sure he had really kissed her shoulder. I just think that's an incredibly sweet and romantic gesture. Aren't Hugh and Barbara just a gorgeous pair? They both have this grace and elegance about them. They were extremely believable as a married couple. No way would LITB have been the same quality of show without Hugh. I have never seen the pilot and don't think I ever will. To me, Hugh was such a dashing man and the only one to play Ward. He was very genuine as the boy's father and he and Barbara...as we said they were fabulous together.

Glad to have another fan here...we need more posting!:wave: