Tonight for Valentine's Day I will be watching one of the most romantic LITB episodes, "Wally's Dinner Date." A strong episode, in my opinion, and a good start to the last season.

It was a strong episode to open the sixth season, it debuted on 9/27/1962 (the first-produced episode, according to Wikipedia prod. numbers, was "Wally's License.")

Had MeTV done a Valentine's stunt, it would have been a good one to show. Another good one for the other episode would be 2-6, "Her Idol."

I like this one. Really liked how Ward came through for Wally at the restaurant.

Let’s not forget it was Snooping June who found Wally’s wallet while going through his clothes. She did want Ward to go to the restaurant and hand it to him. Why not just go down to the restaurant and ask the maître d’ to call Wally out to the lobby and let Ward hand him the dough.

Let’s not forget it was Snooping June who found Wally’s wallet while going through his clothes. She did want Ward to go to the restaurant and hand it to him. Why not just go down to the restaurant and ask the maître d’ to call Wally out to the lobby and let Ward hand him the dough.

Because Ward saw the chance to make Wally look like a big shot in front of Julie by signing for the check like a VIP.

Yeah, wasn't it after that when Julie said, Oh, Wally, I never knew you were like this!

Then instead of going steady with her, he dated a whole bunch of other girls. (And, she went with Wayne Gregory because of his mustache.)

Then Julie tells her friends that Wally’s nice and all but rather naive and immature.

Hey if Wally hasn’t gotten his license yet, how did he get to the restaurant? Did they walk? Did Julie drive them? Hey maybe Evelyn Boothby drove them.

Julie: "Who's this, Wally? Your new chauffeur? Oh, wait, girls aren't chauffeurs."

Since the first episode produced was "Wally's License", it was intended to be the first aired. So the driving issue would be an ABC produced gaffe.

Why not just go down to the restaurant and ask the maître d’ to call Wally out to the lobby and let Ward hand him the dough.
Because Wally was dating, a blonde (kind of pisses me off the way Ward says it like Julie is not human) and blondes are way different than other women.

I love the waiter, played by Than Wyenn. He is the ideal waiter all of us want to have at a fancy restaurant.

One thing I always wondered: Did Ward call the restaurant and arrange the reservation, after they had earlier said that there was none available? When Wally comes downstairs and Beaver tells him that the restaurant just called to say a table was available, Ward winks slyly at June as if he had some hand in it.

Another thing, why was Wally so upset when the restaurant tells him there is no table? Wouldn't he be happy to be off the hook and not have to go? He and Julie could go to a less expensive restaurant instead.

Hey if Wally hasn’t gotten his license yet, how did he get to the restaurant? Did they walk? Did Julie drive them? Hey maybe Evelyn Boothby drove them.

Julie's brother drove them.

One thing I always wondered: Did Ward call the restaurant and arrange the reservation, after they had earlier said that there was none available? When Wally comes downstairs and Beaver tells him that the restaurant just called to say a table was available, Ward winks slyly at June as if he had some hand in it.

I always assumed that.

After Wally couldn't get a reservation, Ward found some excuse to get Beaver out of the room, and then called the maitre d', who he knew because his firm takes clients there (even though Julie said earlier that it just opened last month), to privately arrange the reservation.


Another thing, why was Wally so upset when the restaurant tells him there is no table? Wouldn't he be happy to be off the hook and not have to go? He and Julie could go to a less expensive restaurant instead.

By this time, though, Wally had solved the money problem as Ward had agreed to lend him some.

Because Ward saw the chance to make Wally look like a big shot in front of Julie by signing for the check like a VIP.

Bingo. Even if it was for just one night, Ward wanted Wally to feel special.

That's right Ward called and arranged for the restaurant to call back. I think Beaver should have had Wally talk to the manager and not take the message they had a table. Was it still 7:30? Wally would have enjoyed being told they had a reservation. He sounded just like a 12 year old when he called for a reservation.

I also found it funny that Ward knew the maître d' even though it was a brand new place.

...I also found it funny that Ward knew the maître d' even though it was a brand new place.

He said they'd taken clients there several times. Maybe it was a 'relatively' new place.

I love the waiter, played by Than Wyenn. He is the ideal waiter all of us want to have at a fancy restaurant.

Another thing, why was Wally so upset when the restaurant tells him there is no table? Wouldn't he be happy to be off the hook and not have to go? He and Julie could go to a less expensive restaurant instead.


Seems Wally was made to look childlike at times, probably didn't want to tell Julie the bad news ... (?)

The maitre'd asked Wally a time, and he said around 7:30. Then he was told there was no table. Maybe he should have asked if there was a table at any time that night. Or, make a reservation for the next Saturday.

Re why was Wally upset at not gettin a table: Beaver thought that was good and told him so, and Wally blew his top and swatted the newspaper out of Beaver's hands. So right, that was kind of childish.

Wally was disappointed there was no table because he was already nervous and had promised Julie that’s where they would go. He probably realized he sounded like an amateur too. Lots of phone calls made to the White Fox. How many calls were made to and received from the White Fox?

So two Specialties of the House baked haddock Almodine?

I love when Wally says yes we’ll have two of the baked haddock like that and two tossed green salads with the white fox dressing.

Wally was disappointed there was no table because he was already nervous and had promised Julie that’s where they would go. He probably realized he sounded like an amateur too. Lots of phone calls made to the White Fox. How many calls were made to and received from the White Fox?

So two Specialties of the House baked haddock Almodine?

I love when Wally says yes we’ll have two of the baked haddock like that and two tossed green salads with the white fox dressing.

soup = $ .80
coffee = $ .40
hen, squab, lamb $ 7.50
veal = $ 7
Chateau Briand for 2 = $ 14
Sole Almondine $ 6.25

total = $ 14.37

1962 minimun wage = $ 1.15 / hour

Eddie calls Wally Gerturde
June calls Wally Sonny - never heard that ?

Waiter: Two green salads, wiz ze special White Fox dressing?

Julie: Does it come with? (Loved that!)

Wally: Yes, two salads with the White Fox dressing.

The $15.00 bill (approx.) was just what Ward gave him, if he'd had the wallet. It would also mean the salad didn't come with.

Yep, Eddie had some good lines, as usual.

Beaver: Why don't you call and ask the prices?

Eddie: Good idea, Junior. You're smarter than you look.

Ward or June: What did you have?

Wally: Some kind of fish with nuts on it.

Ward or June: Was it good?

Wally: It was if you like fish with nuts on it.

Zees wuz ze waiter we would all want! Ze epitome of diplomacy and tact, and good service.

Waiter: If our service wuz satisfactory, you may indicate ze gratuity on ze ticket.

Wally: Uh, let's see, 15 percent...

$15 in 1962 is approximately is $125.95 in todays dollars. Seems a bit steep for 15 year old HS kids.

I wondered how that would translate. No wonder Wally went bonkers on the phone, at some of the prices.

Well the Sole Almondine was the Specialty de la Maison at 6.25. He said the salad comes with it. So that was $12.50. If he gave 15% gratuity that’s about $1.87. He tells Beaver he gave the waiter $14.37 so coffee was free?

I didn't think there was any answer about ze salad "coming with." Of course, it could have--but maybe there was an extra charge for ze special White Fox dressing.

Too bad Julie didn’t check the prices online then they could have gone to Bowzer Burgers or the Golden Arches.

How about the Chuckwagon for Doggie Burgers? If it was good enough to recommend to Aunt Martha and Mrs. Elkins....