I find this episode missing a Big Part of Real Life 1960's ...

At Wally's party they get the record player working, and they (16 & 17 year olds) are all dressed to the 9's and dancing to some string(s) orchestra music ...

Didn't the writers know about Rock n Roll, Elvis, Chuck Berry, or Motown ... ? SO many cool groups back then !

This episode would have been SO Much Better with a taste of the young people's music that was just breaking on AM radio & 45's back then.

Was the show THAT Conservative ?

Dudley playing Jerry Lee Lewis would have made this episode ROCK with the younger viewers ! I think they miss a good chance ...

The show runners and writers were "greatest generation" people. So this was the teen world they wanted to see, not the real one. It's unfortunate, and we see it in other episodes, too.

The actors were there to act out the script--I'd bet the teen actors had their opinions.

As Arthur Spooner said to Spence on King of Queens, "this place is squaresville".

Beaver had 45's but Wally is listening to LP's 33 1/3 (see photo)

How many shows back then were playing real life big name performers\music in their episodes?

Patty Duke Show had many ... maybe the most (?)

Rick Nelson on Ozzie and Harriet; James Darren, Lesley Gore, Shelley Fabares on Donna Reed.

We had a few misc. performances by Chad and Jeremy, and Boyce and Hart. The Monkees. These were later 60s.

Rick Nelson on Ozzie and Harriet; James Darren, Lesley Gore, Shelley Fabares on Donna Reed.

We had a few misc. performances by Chad and Jeremy, and Boyce and Hart. The Monkees. These were later 60s.

Boyce and Hart.
Sidney Thomas "Tommy" Boyce (September 29, 1939 – November 23, 1994) and Bobby Hart (born Robert Luke Harshman; February 18, 1939) were a prolific American duo of singer-songwriters. In addition to three top-40 hits as artists, the duo is well known for its songwriting for The Monkees.

Boyce and Hart were on Bewitched, performing the song Serena supposedly wrote. It's not too bad, esp. compared with that horrible Davy Jones song on Brady Bunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hydnv1XSBA

Jeremy Clyde was on My Three Sons in season 8. I think they both were on an I Dream of Jeannie episode.

The Dudley episode is sort of interesting to see Jimmy Hawkins in an unusual role.

Just wanted to mention that from more of a folk genre, My Three Sons had Jackie DeShannon sing in an early 1967 episode (Season 7)-- pre-dating the Jeremy Clyde appearance by about 11 months. I might also mention that Peter, Paul & Mary appeared in a 1964 Jack Benny show.

I'm a fan of Jack Benny Show and in that episode Mary is very pretty !
That show has many funny scenes as well ...

This is pretty conservative.

The Original Stroll - February 1958

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrGLNtZ0rEg

In elementary school (early 60's) we had the traveling square dance teacher visit each month (?) Mrs Griffith ?

We would square dance with the same dismal expressions of those kids, having to actually touch a girls hand (OMG) !

I cannot remember ANY of the dances we did, and we did learn plenty ... (seems those files have been corrupted) lol

This is the kind of thing that should have been playing at Christine Staples' party. Then have the record player malfunction and Dudley could play the piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdSGjmhtaL0

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8dEn6qCecg

wow - the times sure have changed - even by 1967 +- so different when I see those "At The Hop " lol good stuff

Even At the Hop is a little out of date by 1960/61, but it's a little better than teenagers doing dances their parents would do.

In "Wally's Election" Ward asks Wally if he's going to run in the school election. Wally replies "that kind of junk is for the swingers". So LITB adressed there's wilder interests teens were into. Wally no way talked down about the other side that weren't square like the writers have him. But, I sense he wasn't interested, or curios about how they lived. He was so busy, and happy with his own life.

Just watched "Wally and Dudley". Squaresville. Kids listening to, and dancing to their parents era of music? Dudley is a huge exaggeration. But, so are most LITB characters. Wally shows a lot of class helping his mom's friend's kid. Eddie & Lumpy's dates are way to pretty for them. Stinker episode's one good point is it's strong anti-bullying message.

Also there were some pretty good one-liners in this one. "Who died?" from Beaver, when he first saw nerd Dudley. And some good writing for Eddie, as usual.

Just watched "Wally and Dudley". Squaresville. Kids listening to, and dancing to their parents era of music? Dudley is a huge exaggeration. But, so are most LITB characters. Wally shows a lot of class helping his mom's friend's kid. Eddie & Lumpy's dates are way to pretty for them. Stinker episode's one good point is it's strong anti-bullying message.

I agree about the Squaresville aspect in regards to their formal wear for the party and the fuddy-duddy music. I also very much concur that Eddie and Lumpy's dates seem a very unlikely match with them.

I like this episode though. Quite often I can enjoy an episode because I'm laughing at the people/situations ( as stated above ) rather than with them. Mocking can be fun too.

I agree about the Squaresville aspect in regards to their formal wear for the party and the fuddy-duddy music. I also very much concur that Eddie and Lumpy's dates seem a very unlikely match with them.

I like this episode though. Quite often I can enjoy an episode because I'm laughing at the people/situations ( as stated above ) rather than with them. Mocking can be fun too.

Yes, I've said many times we can pick these episodes apart, but there's so much good writing and funny jokes/situations, we like the episodes anyway!

An example I've used too many times is Beaver the Bunny, where Lumpy had some one-liners when Beaver came downstairs in the bunny suit, that really saved the episode!

Wally & Eddie are just fine with those babes. Esp. considering some of the ugliest jerks in the world often have good looking girls adoring them. If those bums can have good looking girls Eddie & Lumpy deserve even better.

Eddie's date Christine. I rest my case.

https://deadorkicking.com/wp-content/uploads/featured-img/m/marta-kristen.jpg

Last night on
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1962
The Door Without a Key featured Jimmy Hawkins as a motorcycle tough guy and also had
a very young Bill Mumy as a co-star and Claude Rains

good episode

Jimmy Hawkins (Dudley) and wife Lara Parker (Dark Shadows 1966) married since 1985.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/98/9d/94/989d94066527f8c98adff791da6ddf0a.jpg

Dudley has a cute little grin

Last night on
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1962
The Door Without a Key featured Jimmy Hawkins as a motorcycle tough guy and also had
a very young Bill Mumy as a co-star and Claude Rains

good episode
Yes just saw it. Very good. Less than a year after the Dudley episode. What a frightening motorcycle gang.

Wow, Dudley struck it big marrying Angelique the witch from Dark Shadows! Which just proves my point from earlier, even the dumbest looking guys can get knock out girls, in fact from what I've seen the best looking guys usually wind up with dogs. Go figure.

I recently watched the Annie Oakley TV series on DVD and Jimmy Hawkins has a regular role in that playing Annie's brother. He usually winds up in trouble and Annie has to save him, but he could ride a horse really well, esp. considering he was just a little kid when he was in Annie Oakley.

Wow, Dudley struck it big marrying Angelique the witch from Dark Shadows! Which just proves my point from earlier, even the dumbest looking guys can get knock out girls, in fact from what I've seen the best looking guys usually wind up with dogs. Go figure.

Wow, I never knew Dudley (or Scotty) was married to Angelique! She was the main reason I watched Dark Shadows...

Wally And Dudley is one of my favorite episodes, too bad Duds wasn't in more episodes, he was always one of my faves of the one-time guesters.

Yes, I've said many times we can pick these episodes apart, but there's so much good writing and funny jokes/situations, we like the episodes anyway!

An example I've used too many times is Beaver the Bunny, where Lumpy had some one-liners when Beaver came downstairs in the bunny suit, that really saved the episode!

Agreed, Beav The Bunny is my least favorite but I still watch it for Lump's dialogue.

Starting from the very 1st episode I'm up to the end of season 4 (145 episodes).
I grade each episode from 3 to 10. A good episode is 6 or higher. 5 or lower are bad.

9 & 10 (classic episodes) - 62
6,7,8 (good to very good) - 58
3,4,5 (bad) -25

^What season are the majority of each category (classic, etc.) in (if it's not too much trouble)?

^What season are the majority of each category (classic, etc.) in (if it's not too much trouble)?
Pretty spread out. Season 1 has least classic. I noticed clunkers just pop up in the midst of great ones. The longest 10 streak is 9 (S3 Ep39- S4 Ep8). 9-10 streak 13 (S3 Ep 5-17). Longest 5 below streak 5 (S1 Ep31-35).

I think season 1 is my least favorite; the standout episode in that season (for me) is Beaver Runs Away. I have watched all the DVD episodes but I generally watch MeTV daily, and when season 1 comes on, I turn over to TAGS on local TV (where they're just about to start on the color seasons). When the color episode is insufferable (like the dairy delivery horse that wouldn't eat) I go back to Beaver!

On LITB, without picking out specific episodes I generally most enjoy season 3.

On LITB, without picking out specific episodes I generally most enjoy season 3.

Seasons 2 and 3 were the strongest. Season 1 was still warm-up but still had some very worthwhile episodes, Season 4 was OK to good, Season 5 showed signs of decline, but Season 6 recovered for a strong finish to the series.

The Cleavers are terrific. But how many big laughs do they generate? For me most of my big laughs come from the supporting cast. The Cleavers are like the warmup act for the big standup act. (Eddie, Lumpy, Fred, Larry, Mrs Mondello, Judy, and many others.) I noticed too Ward & June look down their noses at a lot of fellow Mayfieldites. They've always got a snide remark about somebody when they're alone together.

Seasons 2 and 3 were the strongest. Season 1 was still warm-up but still had some very worthwhile episodes, Season 4 was OK to good, Season 5 showed signs of decline, but Season 6 recovered for a strong finish to the series.

I agree, except I think a gradual downward slide began sometime later in season 4.

And yes, they recovered well for season 6, updating the music and generally bringing a more modern "vibe" to the show.

I agree, except I think a gradual downward slide began sometime later in season 4.

I agree with that. Season 4 is oddly inconsistent. There are some downright classic episodes in it, some of my favorites, like "Wally and Dudley" and "Uncle Billy" and of course "In the Soup." On the other hand there were also some duds, and Beaver was already showing signs of awkwardness toward the end of the season.

I agree with that. Season 4 is oddly inconsistent. There are some downright classic episodes in it, some of my favorites, like "Wally and Dudley" and "Uncle Billy" and of course "In the Soup." On the other hand there were also some duds, and Beaver was already showing signs of awkwardness toward the end of the season.

I get bugged by inconsistencies, especially really stupid ones. They started out season 4 with Beaver Won't Eat, and right out of the box, they refer to getting a babysitter named Mrs. Bronson. Anyone involved with the show should have known this was June's family name. Also in this season we had the problem of Gilbert's last name crop up. But yes, this season has some classic episodes also--probably the best-known of all 234, In The Soup.

Also I don't think they thought through how to handle Mathers growing up, which is why season 5 slipped a little (like with Beaver the Bunny). They regrouped, probably had a writer meeting, and had some success with doing some Wally and friends scripts, and acknowledged Beaver growing up with, for example, Nobody Loves Me. Yes, he was growing up, but they kept him a little too naive and gullible (the burro episode, Sweatshirt Monsters [great episode, but he's still too naive for his age]).

By season 6 they had their act back together--yes, they reused the Sweatshirt Monsters script (Beaver's Football Award) but as I said before, they updated the music and feel. By now Beaver was a full-fledged teenager, and really showed it, particularly toward the end (Beaver Sees America), where he and Gilbert competed for the affections of Mary Margaret Mathews.

Got to say Season 6 brought in some very good looking girls

Shirley Fletcher, The Paper Boy (as Chrystie Jordan), Carolyn Stewart, Susan Stewart, Shirley with the weird hair, Betsy, Donna Yeager, Marlene Holmes, Cindy Andrews, Melinda Neilson, Kathy Gregory, Mary Margret Matthews

I think Larry (Rusty Stevens) leaving was a huge blow to the show. The period between him leaving and Penny arriving, and Gilbert utilized more was very weak. There were multiple script rehashes, and stinker episodes. The script writers were sinking. They were forced to tinker with Beaver & Wally giving them characteristics that were foreign to the character. But, fresh crisp scripts appeared. Brilliant, supporting cast utilized more.

Re post 41: Chrystie Jordan also played Donna Yeager, and yes, she was a cute girl. I'd like to see her adult picture.

Oh, yes, Mary Margaret (Lori Martin). Wouldn't you have liked being an eighth grader pursued by her? Lori Martin is no longer with us--she died in 2010 at age 62.

Re post 42: Yes!, Rusty Stevens was a huge loss. They tried to bring in a similar character, Harry Harrison, late in season 4. That didn't work.

Re post 41: Chrystie Jordan also played Donna Yeager, and yes, she was a cute girl. I'd like to see her adult picture.

Oh, yes, Mary Margaret (Lori Martin). Wouldn't you have liked being an eighth grader pursued by her? Lori Martin is no longer with us--she died in 2010 at age 62.

Re post 42: Yes!, Rusty Stevens was a huge loss. They tried to bring in a similar character, Harry Harrison, late in season 4. That didn't work.

Could you imagine JM & TD (by what they say now) enjoying your exciting career, having a successful show, and meeting all the starlets rolling in. Just as long as their parents weren't stealing their money, life must of been sweet.

Could you imagine JM & TD (by what they say now) enjoying your exciting career, having a successful show, and meeting all the starlets rolling in. Just as long as their parents weren't stealing their money, life must of been sweet.

I SMILE every time I remember that JM bought a Brand New 1964 GTO when he got his license !!!

Indeed life was good !!

You never hear any of the typical kid star horror stories from JM or TD. So you have to think they didn't have money-grabbing parents.

The script writers were sinking. They were forced to tinker with Beaver & Wally giving them characteristics that were foreign to the character. But, fresh crisp scripts appeared. Brilliant, supporting cast utilized more.

Vito, I'm intrigued by your statement that the writers gave Beaver and Wally characteristics that were foreign to their characters. Can you point to some examples?

Vito, I'm intrigued by your statement that the writers gave Beaver and Wally characteristics that were foreign to their characters. Can you point to some examples?
I noticed shorty after Larry left Wally & Beaver were on-screen together more being more buddy-buddy than usual to fill the void. Wally temporarily lost his common sense and would be more gullible like Beaver. Couple episodes Beaver seemed gloomier. Mostly subtleties. But, they change Wally & Beaver some throughout the series. Responsible to babysit- then irresponsible. Good student- poor student. Wally the ladies man- then nervous with dream girl.

I noticed shorty after Larry left Wally & Beaver were on-screen together more being more buddy-buddy than usual to fill the void. Wally temporarily lost his common sense and would be more gullible like Beaver. Couple episodes Beaver seemed gloomier. Mostly subtleties. But, they change Wally & Beaver some throughout the series. Responsible to babysit- then irresponsible. Good student- poor student. Wally the ladies man- then nervous with dream girl.

Yes, "baby" sitting -- Wally is responsible for Beaver at the beginning of season 3, Beaver Takes a Bath. In the middle of season 6 they were looking for someone to stay with the boys when Uncle Billy came to the door.

Huh?