I thought it was funny how Mr. Blair and Beaver discuss right and wrong after Beaver tells him how he studied an old test and got a good grade. Never once did either mention how lazy Mr. Blair was to give an old test from years before. My mother was a math teacher and always made up new tests. Also that actor who played Andy Hadlock seemed rather ill at ease in this role.

Yes, and it was clear from the dialog that Wally didn't have Mr. Blair as a teacher. So, Mr. Blair used some other teacher's test.

Another thing that bugged me on this episode: we hear Mr. Blair calling Gilbert "Mr. Harrison". Somebody used that name in a season 4 episode, as well. With multiple writers and directors, this kind of stuff is understandable. However, this is probably what a script continuity person (a title we see in some other sitcom credits) is supposed to do: research and correct errors like this. Go back to the second season (I think) and find out that his name is Gates. But no, we ended up with (again, I think) another use of Harrison, and then, finally, Bates.

Yeah Gilbert's last name change was a real error. I thought he was Gates then Bates then Harrison. I know in the one when Beaver doesn't think he's going to graduate we find out Gilbert's middle name is Grover. He would have been Gilbert Grover Gates if they were consistent. I think his father went from George Gates to Henry Bates (Beaver Takes a Drive).

In the original episode Gilbert's father was a traveling musician. Gilbert went from Gates, to not mentioned, to Harrison (2 or 3 mentions, I think in the Beaver the Bunny episode he's Harrison, too), then ended up Bates.

BTW if I were Mathers I might have gone on strike over Beaver the Bunny. They should have thought that one up for season 3.

Edit: in Kite Day Gilbert says his father is an engineer. Also, in Kite Day, the guy who Beaver wants to do a rain dance because he's part indian is Mr. Henderson. In Wally Goes Steady, Evelyn Boothby's older sister Judy has married a guy named Tom Henderson. Harrison and Henderson, evidently 2 favored LITB names.

Also, in another late season 4 episode, Harry's last name is Harrison.

I just checked IMDB and they only call Stephen Talbot, Gilbert Harrison in Beaver's English Test. I think that Gilbert is called Harrison in The Dramatic Club but he's in the cast as Bates. Even when he's called Gilly by Mary Margaret Matthews he's back to Bates. He's definitely Bates in Uncle Billy's Visit when he gets Beaver to sneak him into the movies.

Then the Dramatic Club is the season 4 episode I was thinking about--in that case I was wrong about Beaver the Bunny. Once he's established as Bates (whenever that is), he stays Bates. In between the initial episode as Gates, until the Dramatic Club, I don't think his last name is used at all (and anyway, he made no more appearances in season 2, and very few in season 3).

In this episode, when Ward and June are looking at the letter sent home about Beaver's bad grades in his English class, Ward tells June she should call and make an appointment to talk to Beaver's teacher about it, June says Ward should since Beaver's English teacher is a man. What? So June can't talk to the teacher because he's a man?

Not to mention the fact she thought it was more important to keep their Bridge date than help the Beaver with his English class. We can see where her priorities lie.

She was able to talk to Mr. Hallor about the hair comb but was afraid of Mrs. Rayburn.

She may have had a fear of Mrs.Rayburn. She said in an early episode that she'd had her as a teacher. I don't think we ever saw June go to see her...she always summoned Ward.

Mr. Hallor sided with Ward's opinion on the hair comb. June was the one who finally told Wally to get rid of it (to her credit).

Thanks to Torgo for bringing this thread back. I updated post #5 with some new, must-read info. (ha, ha) about the popular LITB names, Henderson and Harrison.

Yup Henderson was a very popular LITB name. Thompson is probably used the most but only in dialogue we never see two many Thompsons. Like the Mr. Thompson who calls Ward in Junior Fire Chief that Beaver was putting out his leaf fire and giving him a citation.

As for Henderson in another post I listed all the Hendersons.

Coach Henderson from Wally’s Track Meet
Mr. Henderson (Robards) in Kite Day who Beaver called on that stevea noted.
Tom Henderson (O’Neal) who was married to Evelyn’s sister noted by stevea
Ted Henderson, Ward’s insurance agent he tells Wally to call Wally Buys A Car
Harry Henderson who later was Harrison noted by stevea

Robards was one of the few well-known stars to guest-appear on LITB.

According to Wikipedia, Robards' career was from 1921 to 1961, making his LITB appearance in Kite Day one of his last, if not the last. He died 4/4/1963.

His LITB appearance isn't listed on Wiki--it was a minor appearance, but there were enough lines to not call it a cameo.

She may have had a fear of Mrs.Rayburn. She said in an early episode that she'd had her as a teacher. I don't think we ever saw June go to see her...she always summoned Ward.



Did June go to public school before or after private school? Funny, the way she talked in some episodes she sounded like she only went to a private school.

She was able to talk to Mr. Hallor about the hair comb but was afraid of Mrs. Rayburn.

Ward did all the dirty work, June only talked to Mr Hallor because she didn't want Wally embarrassing her anymore. Maybe she didn't like that Wally's hair took attention away from her pearls.

Yup Henderson was a very popular LITB name. Thompson is probably used the most but only in dialogue we never see two many Thompsons. Like the Mr. Thompson who calls Ward in Junior Fire Chief that Beaver was putting out his leaf fire and giving him a citation.

As for Henderson in another post I listed all the Hendersons.

Coach Henderson from Wally’s Track Meet
Mr. Henderson (Robards) in Kite Day who Beaver called on that stevea noted.
Tom Henderson (O’Neal) who was married to Evelyn’s sister noted by stevea
Ted Henderson, Ward’s insurance agent he tells Wally to call Wally Buys A Car
Harry Henderson who later was Harrison noted by stevea

Wow. These writers should have grabbed a phone book to get some last name ideas.

In the original episode Gilbert's father was a traveling musician. Gilbert went from Gates, to not mentioned, to Harrison (2 or 3 mentions, I think in the Beaver the Bunny episode he's Harrison, too), then ended up Bates.

BTW if I were Mathers I might have gone on strike over Beaver the Bunny. They should have thought that one up for season 3.

Edit: in Kite Day Gilbert says his father is an engineer. Also, in Kite Day, the guy who Beaver wants to do a rain dance because he's part indian is Mr. Henderson. In Wally Goes Steady, Evelyn Boothby's older sister Judy has married a guy named Tom Henderson. Harrison and Henderson, evidently 2 favored LITB names.

Also, in another late season 4 episode, Harry's last name is Harrison.

Maybe it was on here, but I could swear I read somewhere that the Bunny suit episode was originally planned for season 1 or 2, but then not used until later.

Easily my least favorite episode of the show, I hated how contrived everything was just to get Beaver in a bunny suit out in public, like Beaver not being able to change at the school- ridiculous.

Exactly. No kid should have to wear that costume in public. Of course if Beaver had it in a bag and Lumpy got a flat he would have caught a bus in regular clothes and no plot. Wonder if Beaver had to wear his little Dutch boy costume on the street. Remember Ward and June didn’t go. In School Play I think Beaver had his canary costume right at school as Beaver had a suit on and June didn’t have it.

I think it would have been hilarious if Wally had to wear his dance hall dress to the play if he kept the part and got caught walking the streets.

I think I read on here someplace (or maybe even wrote) that the episode would have better fit into an earlier season. Maybe with some differences, like you probably wouldn't have sent an 8- or 9-year-old Beaver walking to school after the flat.

About the best thing in the whole episode (I agree with the least-favorite comment) were some of Lumpy's funny lines--"Eh, what's up, doc?" "The only thing funnier than Beaver in a bunny suit would be a bunny in a beaver suit." "Mrs. Cleaver, he looks stunning in his outfit." (approximations of the lines.)

Exactly. No kid should have to wear that costume in public. Of course if Beaver had it in a bag and Lumpy got a flat he would have caught a bus in regular clothes and no plot. Wonder if Beaver had to wear his little Dutch boy costume on the street. Remember Ward and June didn’t go. In School Play I think Beaver had his canary costume right at school as Beaver had a suit on and June didn’t have it.

I think it would have been hilarious if Wally had to wear his dance hall dress to the play if he kept the part and got caught walking the streets.

Now that would have been a funny episode.

I think I read on here someplace (or maybe even wrote) that the episode would have better fit into an earlier season. Maybe with some differences, like you probably wouldn't have sent an 8- or 9-year-old Beaver walking to school after the flat.

About the best thing in the whole episode (I agree with the least-favorite comment) were some of Lumpy's funny lines--"Eh, what's up, doc?" "The only thing funnier than Beaver in a bunny suit would be a bunny in a beaver suit." "Mrs. Cleaver, he looks stunning in his outfit." (approximations of the lines.)

Lumpy was the saving grave of that episode.:)

Yup Henderson was a very popular LITB name. Thompson is probably used the most but only in dialogue we never see two many Thompsons. Like the Mr. Thompson who calls Ward in Junior Fire Chief that Beaver was putting out his leaf fire and giving him a citation.

As for Henderson in another post I listed all the Hendersons.

Coach Henderson from Wally’s Track Meet
Mr. Henderson (Robards) in Kite Day who Beaver called on that stevea noted.
Tom Henderson (O’Neal) who was married to Evelyn’s sister noted by stevea
Ted Henderson, Ward’s insurance agent he tells Wally to call Wally Buys A Car
Harry Henderson who later was Harrison noted by stevea

Well, we were reminded today on MeTV that Mrs. Thompson ran the dancing school. At least, she did in season 5...I think it was a different name in season 3. And we saw this Thompson... (played by Estelle Etterre, who had only 4 TV roles, but was in many movies. She lived to be 96 years old, dying in 1996).

In this episode I wondered why Clarence was in the receiving line and Wally wasn't.

Just for the record in Season 3 I believe Mrs. Prescott ran the dancing school when Larry and Beaver were missing in action.

Yes Thompson was a very popular name I believe Beaver had a teacher, Mr. Thompson Harlan Warde.

Yeah why didn’t Wally have to be in receiving line? Wally had to bring Beaver to the dance and explain how to act. Maybe Wally was late.

When Beaver used the dipper or ladle to give Betsy some punch I thought he was either very nervous or mentally challenged.

Just heard another Thompson. Wally was thinking of another guy to invite to the amusement park and mentioned Arthur Thompson but he was already going with a group.

Yeah, I think Mr. Thompson (referring to post 22) was the one who read Beaver's fake autobiography (that Betsy wrote) in class.

I think we've discussed that before--he shouldn't have done that, particularly since I think Betsy had already told him that she had written it.

Another Thompson, Eddie works for Mr. Thompson at the garage.

Without Thompson and Henderson as last names, and Frank and George as first names, the population of Mayfield would be depleted.

I wonder why Eddie worked for Mr. Thompson--I thought his father ran a garage.

That’s right but his father’s occupation changed with his change in father. Found another Harrison. In The Tooth Beaver goes to see Dr. Harrison. Wish they had a character Henderson Harrison. He could have been the kid who steals and gives stuff to Beaver, Kenny Purcell.

Yet another Thompson in The Clubhouse today--Mr. Thompson who, according to
June, owns a big house by the park. Of course, he could be one of the many other Mr. Thompsons mentioned later.

Thompson was a name that always worked. Wish we could list all the Thompsons but it would be hard.