Would you have changed her in anyway if you could?

I loved June but would have kept her as spunky, flirtatious and amusing. Didn’t care for her formal behavior in season 5 and 6.

Agreed! Nosey, worrywart (about her "babies") June doesn't cut it. First house June, much better.

Do you think June ever ran for the shelter of mother's little helper? Maybe Ward was more than we know?

I liked her just the way she was - pearls and all.

In the later season she's much more serious and even her hair is much more Stiff - pushed up above her forehead- which I dislike ... no longer cute if you ask me

Honest Beaver, when June asked him how he liked her new hairdo in a season 5 episode, he said, it makes you look older. When she changed it again later, he said it made her look even older.

Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont had good acting chemistry and it's enjoyable to watch their scenes together in the episodes. However, as a character, June Cleaver is bland and doesn't really add a lot to the show. I suppose Barbara Billingsley's job was to play the role of the obedient 1950's housewife while Hugh Beaumont as Ward Cleaver was the man of the house and the assertive one who laid down the law whenever Wally or Beaver got themselves in a jam. :lol:

Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont had good acting chemistry and it's enjoyable to watch their scenes together in the episodes. However, as a character, June Cleaver is bland and doesn't really add a lot to the show. I suppose Barbara Billingsley's job was to play the role of the obedient 1950's housewife while Hugh Beaumont as Ward Cleaver was the man of the house and the assertive one who laid down the law whenever Wally or Beaver got themselves in a jam. :lol:

June was more than an obedient housewife. She maintained order, decorum and beauty in the home. She often tempered Ward's discipline with a softer, more emotional understanding. She could also be sassy and assertive at times toward both Ward and the boys. June's role in the Cleaver family was crucial, just as important as Ward's, and she is an immortal character in the history of television.

June was more than an obedient housewife. She maintained order, decorum and beauty in the home. She often tempered Ward's discipline with a softer, more emotional understanding. She could also be sassy and assertive at times toward both Ward and the boys. June's role in the Cleaver family was crucial, just as important as Ward's, and she is an immortal character in the history of television.

June Cleaver is overall a bland character/obedient housewife but she does have her occasional moments in the episodes. I wouldn't go so far as to say she's an immortal character in the history of television, but she did give the series a needed female presence as a balance from Ward and the two boys.

She had some characteristics that were irritating, like always snooping thru trash, etc.--but that had to do with how they wrote her.

She was written as subservient but that was the times--That will be up to your father. In Junes's Birthday she told Wally she'd let Ward talk to Beaver (after she didn't wear the blouse). Wally egged her on and told her he's just a little kid. It was good he pushed her into talking to Beaver, because she had a really good scene with him. One of the other good scenes she had with him was after he'e been stung by the bee (after he'd been giving her the silent treatment.) (A lot of people don't like that episode, but that is such typical teen behavior.)

To me a test of immortality is when a character becomes proverbial, as June has. You might hear someone say "My wife is no June Cleaver," etc. The same goes for Eddie Haskell.

Yes but I like her better in the early 1960s style image.

Another thing - in the first few seasons June's tops are REALLY tight - be it a dress thingy or whatever - like totally form fitting - not sure why that so being such a conservative show - looks good though

June's role in the Cleaver family was crucial, just as important as Ward's, and she is an immortal character in the history of television.

I agree and the "June Cleaver Look" is iconic.

Iconic - that is the word I was looking for. June Cleaver is iconic, as are also Ward, Beaver, Wally, and Eddie Haskell.

I always liked her

She is iconic as no one ever compares anyone to Ward Cleaver. Hey I loved her in Stocks and Bonds answering Wally’s questions about the difference between a stock and a bond. Always one step ahead of Ward and he looks irritated.

Another thing - in the first few seasons June's tops are REALLY tight - be it a dress thingy or whatever - like totally form fitting - not sure why that so being such a conservative show - looks good though

It was probably part of the fashion of the late 1950s.

Iconic - that is the word I was looking for. June Cleaver is iconic, as are also Ward, Beaver, Wally, and Eddie Haskell.

In short, Leave it to Beaver is iconic.

I don’t care for either of the parents - they are so cold and emotionally distant from their children. Give them a hug and some warmth, for god’s sake.

Say, that's a great point. And I never recall hearing, "I love you." There are third-person references, "When you love your children..."

Say, that's a great point. And I never recall hearing, "I love you." There are third-person references, "When you love your children..."


I can relate ... as I was raised that way as well ... and probably many others as well

Ditto. And I think it would have helped (me).

There were some parents who would grab and hug their kids often but maybe the norm was to not say “I love you” and hug your kids. In the 70’s I would hear someone on the phone talking to mom or dad and say “love you too.” Sometimes it was genuine and other times superficial.

Just caught Ward and June at that wedding in Child Care with Puddin’ and they are really flirtatious and funny. “Oh go kiss the bride.” “Now that I see her I remember her from the float.” Ward had a sexy look in his eye. June says “Ha Ha!”

Ward and June were always pretty flirty especially in the early seasons. I never thought they were cold and distant toward the boys and they hug them pretty often. I did think it was weird that the boys only play in their room, but some of that is just because it's a TV show. Wally and Beav had to discuss things out of earshot of Ward and June and vice versa. Tony Dow says most of the things people criticize about the show are superficial. I tend to agree.

I would hear someone on the phone talking to mom or dad and say “love you too.” Sometimes it was genuine and other times superficial.



Also a good point. A lot of times I'd hear it and it seemed habitual, superficial, and more like a greeting or a see you later.

The more episodes I watch the less I like June - not much of a fun personality the way they wrote her parts ...

Another thing is how ALL the adults are over dressed no matter what what is going on ... takes away the authentic feel - June in High Heels serving breakfast before school ?

Another thing is how ALL the adults are over dressed no matter what what is going on ... takes away the authentic feel - June in High Heels serving breakfast before school ?

Not always true - Ward wore polo shirts and even sweatshirts at times, more in the early seasons than in the later ones. June I think wore slacks once. The clothes did seem to get more formal in the later seasons.

The more episodes I watch the less I like June - not much of a fun personality the way they wrote her parts ...

Another thing is how ALL the adults are over dressed no matter what what is going on ... takes away the authentic feel - June in High Heels serving breakfast before school ?

Miss Billingsley said that June did often wear flats for the First Season but then the boys shot up so TPTB thought June better wear high heels to try to give her some authority over her onscreen sons! At least she wasn't quite as tiny as Ellen Corby who had to wear elevator shoe insoles since even the youngest Walton grandchild quickly grew outgrew Grandma!

I replied to this before but I'll elaborate saying that yes, I have always liked her and I thought she was good mom to her boys and a good wife. Plus she's beautiful and always dressed nicely (of course all mom's did in those days!), but I can't think of anything off hand that I would change about her.

The only thing I didn't like about June was the way she always had Ward discipline, or even just give a good talking to, the boys. I think even back in those times, Moms would play more of a role... mine sure did. Even in episodes where she was the center of the problem (the birthday blouse, for example),she tried to get Ward to do all the dirty work.

Why didn't June tell Ward about the dentist appointment which made so that Beaver wasn't even there when the report card was delivered so something was fishy? Would she have looked at the report card before she gave it to Beaver?

The only thing I didn't like about June was the way she always had Ward discipline, or even just give a good talking to, the boys. I think even back in those times, Moms would play more of a role... mine sure did. Even in episodes where she was the center of the problem (the birthday blouse, for example),she tried to get Ward to do all the dirty work.

Right. The only reason she talked to Beaver about the blouse was that Wally gave her a "bunch of things to say." Wally even had to tell her not to be afraid, he's just a little kid.

Why didn't June tell Ward about the dentist appointment which made so that Beaver wasn't even there when the report card was delivered so something was fishy? Would she have looked at the report card before she gave it to Beaver?

I just thought the writing on this one was poor. They knew their kid, and it was unlikely he would do something like altering the grade. Even if he did, not admitting it was totally out of character. June even wondered about it. It took Wally to settle it. Suppose Beaver was an only child. They probably would have put him in "reform school."

And just a few episodes earlier Ward believed Beaver when he said he hadn't stolen the items out of the school lockers.

Sorry...I was a little off the "June" topic here.