Ward mentioned Lucius in a recent episode maybe Eddie Quits School. Does anyone remember in what context he was mentioned? I had to look him up. I guess he was prominent and had his hand in lots of occupations.

It was at the beginning of Wally Stays At Lumpy's. W&J were talking about Lumpy's party, and Ward says Fred thinks it may make Lumpy the Lucius Beebe of Mayfield. I never understood the reference.

Thanks stevea I knew it was a recent episode. I guess Beebe was still alive at the time and probably a prominent newspaper man. June once had to consult her social calendar about going to a ballgame and either she or Ward called her the Elsa Maxwell of Mayfield another name from the past.

Speaking of Lucius Beebe he was the first openly "gay" personality. He was a columnist, author, gourmet, journalist etc. who had his own railroad car.
(Cruiselinehistory.com)

Wonder if Ward would choose that name to describe Lumpy today?

Of course, in the same episode, after Fred saw the stain Lumpy put in the carpet, Fred called him every other (Mayfield-permitted) name in the book.

I just checked Wiki and Beebe died in 1966...so, who is a prominent journalist today? Alas, I can't think of one who's well-known and respected. Thinking of admired and respected people generally, there really aren't very many...a lot of people today go for pop culture and accomplished people like the Kardashians (ugh!). Locally, Peyton Manning is highly-thought of. Maybe Fred would think rich and use the name Bill Gates.

Ward says ‘Lumpy Rutherford could become the Lucius Beebe of Mayfield.’ I looked him up and he was a prominent author/columnist and society man who had a long time personal and professional relationship with his friend. Wonder if in 1962 it was common knowledge he was gay. Anyone know Beebe without looking him up?

I think there was a thread about him before, but I've sure never heard of him. If he had been mentioned back in the day, I would've said, Who's he?

What does it have to do with Lumpy? Did Ward think Lumpy was gay?

I knew the name Lucius Bebe from general exposure back in the day, but couldn't tell you anything about his views, opinions, or personal preferences.

This thread, and one other got me to thinking of how I used to dig up obscure facts .....prior to the internet.

40 years ago you didn't just wake up one morning and ponder "oh. I wonder if the US govt ever conducted germ warfare experiments in the air over the town I was born in?" or "Who was Lucius Bebe, and why does it matter?"

Yet I can remember putting notable effort into trying to make myself well informed. Where did it all come from before it was "just a click away"?

What does it have to do with Lumpy? Did Ward think Lumpy was gay?

Perhaps Ward felt that Lumpy was likely to become the only other person expelled from both Harvard and Yale...LOL

Perhaps Ward felt that Lumpy was likely to become the only other person expelled from both Harvard and Yale...LOL

Did the writers put in some little digs ? just for fun ?

I went to Harvard when I was High School age - took the bus there and bought some weed in Harvard Square ... lol

I guess Ward thought with Lumpy giving a big party he might become a society man like Beebe who at the time was popular. I don’t know Ward mentioned him. June mentioned Elsa Maxwell in another episode who was another society celeb.

He was an American author, gourmand, photographer, railroad historian, journalist and syndicated columnist. I think his weekly columns were well read at the time.

I have many of his railroad history books in my collection.

That being the case I'm not sure why Ward was associating Lumpy with him.

Could it have been a "celebrity" dig? You know, like one of those people famous for being famous?

Could be. It'd help if I remembered the exact context of the comment.

Let me see if I can find the older thread and combine it with this one...

See the old posts from 2017, now at the top. Helps a little...

They think it’s so strange that Lumpy is having a “house” party. Big news that Lumpy is throwing a party but in No Time For Babysitters Wally says he has a date with Susan. June asks him if she’s the one he took to the Rutherford party. So Lumpy did give a party before. Fred thought this would be the social event of the season like the Langley wedding even though he showed slides of him putting chains on his snow tires.

Oh, yeah, and Fred had to needle Ward for not being invited to the Langley affair.

W&J WERE right that Eddie had never stayed all night at the Cleavers'. Which was really strange, considering they had been friends for a long time.