I'm about midway through season 3. Ward is an interesting guy. It's rare LITB goes into a lot of detail about the adults past. Some bits about Ward & June are brought up. More Ward than June.

Raised on a farm.
His father wasn't a great communicator, or ultra understanding.
He's Ward Jr. Not called Jr as an adult
Went to college
Played basketball in college
Implied he was quite the ladies man
Was in the Seabees
Involved in construction design in the Seabees
June used her feminine wiles to hook him.
Appears to be mid level management at his firm the way he scolded fellow worker Charlie.
He & Fred at the same level at the firm working side-by-side. Though Fred is never hinted at being management.
Has liquor and smokes in house but never seen indulging.
Likes to hunt and fish.

Did I miss anything?

Ward once claimed that on the last day of each schoolyear, all the kids in his rural school would take their shoes off and leave them there until they returned in the fall- which Wally seemed to want to do but June stiffly told him 'don't YOU do it'. While I'm sure the shoes would stayed untouched, it's hard to believe that they'd have fitted all the returning students' feet that had grown each summer .

I thought it was the pot roast that secured Ward, not June's wiles.

Ward was slightly higher up at work than Fred, since once June remarked he had a corner office while Fred didn't. Maybe Ward was a 1-B manager and Fred was a 1-C.

Early on Ward had a noticeable temper, but at the same time reluctantly and regretfully admitted his mistakes (as in Beaver Runs Away). Later the temper was on display less, and he was more formal, and less fallible than in the early episodes.

In a short-running gag, he had a propensity to start off what would seem to be long stories, to June, and while his back was turned, she exited.

Interesting for a show that has a lot of inconsistency in continuity how impeccable they are with Ward's past. Even with different writers, where the past is changed, or forgotten, Ward's past stays the same.

Good point--nearly all the inconsistencies are with kids/teens.

Maybe Connelly and Mosher gave the writers bio info. on both (patterned after a real person).

We know he doesn't own an expansive leisure wardrobe, frequently requiring him to wear his business suits on weekends and late into the eveningshttps://i.imgur.com/I5fxh0v.gif

Good point--nearly all the inconsistencies are with kids/teens.

Maybe Connelly and Mosher gave the writers bio info. on both (patterned after a real person).
Had to. The writers seemed clueless to kids cast continuity. Ward represented a lot of good aspects of life, America, doing the right thing, clean living. His inner strength was the rock of the show. They felt his character's continuity was essential to the message being sent through the show. A complex man, yet loving life's simple pleasures. They didn't want to tarnish the Ward character, for all good and strength he represented.

Probably one of the most glaring inconsistencies is coming up in a few weeks on MeTV. Beaver thinks he is going to babysit Chuckie Murdock and it turns out to be Chuckie's sister, Pat. When Beaver arrives, Chuckie and Beaver don't know each other. Huh? What about the new shoes episode, and the episode with the frogs? Surely the actors knew how wrong this was, but they were probably to act their parts and keep their mouths shut. But what about sitting around at the run-through? I'd think the star could speak up then.

The whole episode isn't plausible anyway. Of course sitcom scripts often rely on strange coincidences, but this one is a bridge too far.

My next episode is "Beaver and Andy". Checking the episode out who's playing Andy? Wendell Holmes. Earlier was Beaver's teacher Mr Willet. Then later Mr Blair. Bizarre, but it all works.

It does work. Andy Hadlock is probably his most interesting portrayal. Really a good actor.

It does work. Andy Hadlock is probably his most interesting portrayal. Really a good actor.
Wendell Holmes portrayal of Andy was truly brilliant acting. Made me think LITB doesn't exactly lend itself to be the best platform to view an actor's true talent. Let face it no one will confuse Tony Dow with Laurence Olivier. I think Hugh Beaumont, and Richard Deacon could of nailed an Andy.like part if they took it on.

you forgot that Ward got his A$$ whipped from his dad !

Beaver (to Ward): Oh, that's right, you had a hittin' father, didn't ya?

Ward sounds like an abused child by today's standards.

you forgot that Ward got his A$$ whipped from his dad !

Seems like Ward's the only father on the show that doesn't hit his kids.

I remember way back I crossed paths with a guy I worked with, his wife, and their kid at a grocery checkout lane. The kid misbehaved, and the kid blurts out "don't beat me". Kids say strange things. But, it was very uncomfortable.

Ward goes to little of Wally's sporting events he participated in. Occasionally, but not many. Also he doesn't appear to coach any of his boys little league baseball teams. He comes home from work at a reasonable hour, and has weekends off. And it seems the boys dont care he's not there watching their games. Seems unrealistic for a father and boys who have such a good relationship as they do. But I vaguely remember Ward saying he didn't want to be an overbearing parent.

Possibly it would muddy up the scripts, and complicate things too much. The writers like to have Ward reading the newspaper, and June crocheting discussing family life.

Yes, Ward has weekends off--except when the script needs him to work on Saturday. Like when Beaver "flatted" the tire on the car on a Saturday (using Beaver's writing style). Or when Gilbert's father was to take Beaver and his friends camping, Ward happened to be working.

In "Beaver the Hypnotist" Ward waits for an important call from the home office on a Saturday. That's really silly.

In "Beaver the Hypnotist" Ward waits for an important call from the home office on a Saturday. That's really silly.

Is that the episode that June tells the boy to Quiet Down because Dad is "WAITING" for an important phone call ... DUH

Puzzling what Ward does for a living. An engineer in the Seabees. So he must have pursued education in that field. But his office doesn't give any clues to him being an engineer. No tools of the trade. Just a generic office. His only tools seen are pencil and paper. He did mention to June that his firm wants women's shopping habits studied. All he and Fred talk about work-wise are reports. I don't remember any actual project he was on.

In some publications and/or articles it's been written what he does, but on the show the only clue is the women's shopping habits remark.

As much as people want to figure out what Ward does and where Mayfield is, we just don't know.

wiki -
Ward is a farmer's son and hails from Shaker Heights, an actual location in Ohio, which also has a suburb called Mayfield. Ward attended a preparatory school, is a veteran of World War II (having served as a surveyor in the Seabees), a state college graduate (majoring in philosophy),[2] and member of a fraternity, a responsible white collar professional, and an upstanding citizen. Ward met his future wife, June Evelyn Bronson, when they were teens. The two dated and went to state college together. They married and became the parents of two sons, Wally and Theodore (the Beaver).

Fandom -
Work life

Ward is an archetypal white collar, briefcase-toting professional of the 1950s. He wears a business suit, works in an office with a view of a metropolitan area, has a secretary named Grace, leaves home early in the morning and returns in the early evening. He works for a "big company" with main offices in New York City; more specifically, it was revealed in Season 3, Episode 19 that Ward works for a trust company under Mr. Anderson. He drives to work in his Plymouth unless June needs the car during the day for a specific errand. He is home on weekends for golfing at a local country club. Occasionally, Ward is required to do some office work at home. In one early episode, for example, he works at home on a women's marketing survey. His co-worker is Fred Rutherford, a smug, pompous man who refers to the workplace as "the salt mine."

wiki -
Ward is a farmer's son and hails from Shaker Heights, an actual location in Ohio, which also has a suburb called Mayfield.

That's a cleverly worded sentence. Technically all three thoughts are true separately, but dialog in other episodes makes clear they aren't in Ohio.

Why Mr. Cleaver Resented the Show

Hugh Beaumont was a deeply religious man and obtained his Master of Theology degree from USC in 1946. He only turned to acting after he was assigned as pastor to a community that couldn't afford to pay him. To supplement his income, he first did ads and serials on radio. When he made the transition to television, he was usually cast as the "bad guy"� until Leave It to Beaver came along. Beaumont was always professional on the set and friendly to the kids, but he harbored a deep sadness that he blamed on the show. He lived with his family part of the year in Minnesota, and he usually drove his crew to L.A. when it was time to work. However, because filming on Beaver began rather abruptly after the pilot sold, Beaumont had to fly to California, leaving his son Hunter to drive Beaumont's wife and her mother out west. Hunter lost control of the car along the way, and Beaumont's mother-in-law was killed in the crash.

Fandom -
Work life

Ward is an archetypal white collar, briefcase-toting professional of the 1950s. He wears a business suit, works in an office with a view of a metropolitan area, has a secretary named Grace, leaves home early in the morning and returns in the early evening. He works for a "big company" with main offices in New York City; more specifically, it was revealed in Season 3, Episode 19 that Ward works for a trust company under Mr. Anderson. He drives to work in his Plymouth unless June needs the car during the day for a specific errand. He is home on weekends for golfing at a local country club. Occasionally, Ward is required to do some office work at home. In one early episode, for example, he works at home on a women's marketing survey. His co-worker is Fred Rutherford, a smug, pompous man who refers to the workplace as "the salt mine."

Here's the line from S3Ep19, Wally's Election:

(Fred is about to leave after dropping in to return a file of Ward's from work)

Fred, to Ward: Well, I've got to scoot. Gwendolyn and I are having dinner with the Andersons. He's president of the trust company. Had his eye on me for a long time.

The supposed revelation on the fandom site is bogus.

Thx - love it when we (you) know more than the average ____ !

No, it's we. We're all fans. I had to put on the DVD to figure it out.

Interesting Fred implies he would be willing to move with Anderson at the trust company if given a good offer. But it appears to be a totally different field than what Ward and Fred are employed in. Show's how solid Ward is at their company. Must be making a better buck than Fred. Also shows a tremendous respect knucklehead Fred shows for Ward privileging him to pretty secret stuff about Fred's career possibilities.

maybe the guys in the salt mine are loyal to their co-workers and NOT their boss's

Why Mr. Cleaver Resented the Show

Hugh Beaumont was a deeply religious man and obtained his Master of Theology degree from USC in 1946. He only turned to acting after he was assigned as pastor to a community that couldn't afford to pay him. To supplement his income, he first did ads and serials on radio. When he made the transition to television, he was usually cast as the "bad guy"� until Leave It to Beaver came along. Beaumont was always professional on the set and friendly to the kids, but he harbored a deep sadness that he blamed on the show. He lived with his family part of the year in Minnesota, and he usually drove his crew to L.A. when it was time to work. However, because filming on Beaver began rather abruptly after the pilot sold, Beaumont had to fly to California, leaving his son Hunter to drive Beaumont's wife and her mother out west. Hunter lost control of the car along the way, and Beaumont's mother-in-law was killed in the crash.

This is probably from that Fandom site, too, and I think I've heard about the accident story. From what I remember it occurred in 1960, after the filming of the third season was over. There were some on-location shots in the Beaver's football team episode, with Ward watching the game. Sometimes they speak the dialog on location without mikes, and the actors dub (lip sync) the lines later--that was the case with this scene. Due to this (or possibly some other) accident Beaumont had left before being able to dub the dialog, so the voice we hear in that scene is another actor.

The timelines of this incident don't match up with the Fandom article, so either the details are wrong on Fandom, or it's a different incident.

source:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/21210/6-things-you-didnt-know-about-leave-it-beaver

I recall an episode where June mentioned to Ward that he was home "early" from work, and his explanation was that he "had to look at a property, nearby".

That would seem to suggest he potentially worked in real estate, or insurance, possibly banking, or one of the building trades. With landscaping being a distant possibility.

His surveying experience in the military would have given him familiarity working with deeds and titles. Which when coupled with his professional demeanor and attire, might indicate he worked for a title insurance outfit, or perhaps a mortgage broker. 60 years later, had he survived, he might have found himself bartering collateralized mortgage obligations

His surveying experience in the military would have given him familiarity working with deeds and titles. Which when coupled with his professional demeanor and attire, might indicate he worked for a title insurance outfit, or perhaps a mortgage broker. 60 years later, had he survived, he might have found himself bartering collateralized mortgage obligations

Reminds me of Monty Python's "one of the crossbeams has gone eskew on treadle".

Ward's cars:

Among the cars Ward drives are a 1957 Ford Fairlane in the first season, and 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963 Plymouth Furys in subsequent seasons, all of them four-door hardtops.

Ward measured his long childhood walks, mostly to school twenty miles thru six feet of snow, with his trusty pedometer.

He kept all his Seabees engineering paraphernalia in a trunk, with June's picture on the inside of the lid.

He was handy around the house, and could fix lamp cords, cabinet doors that wouldn't stay closed, burned out basement light bulbs, and stopped up sinks.

He sometimes fell asleep during movies in the evening, and woke up to give details to June, only to have her inform him that was the commercial.

He had a quick temper when Beaver was young, which morphed into lectures and advice in the den as Beaver got older. He insisted on answers to his questions which could be answered "yes" or "no" by the boys, be followed by "sir" as a sign of respect.

He frequently told long-winded stories about his childhood, which family members sometimes walked out on, when his back was turned.

Ward measured his long childhood walks, mostly to school twenty miles thru six feet of snow, with his trusty pedometer.

He kept all his Seabees engineering paraphernalia in a trunk, with June's picture on the inside of the lid.

He was handy around the house, and could fix lamp cords, cabinet doors that wouldn't stay closed, burned out basement light bulbs, and stopped up sinks.

He sometimes fell asleep during movies in the evening, and woke up to give details to June, only to have her inform him that was the commercial.

He had a quick temper when Beaver was young, which morphed into lectures and advice in the den as Beaver got older. He insisted on answers to his questions which could be answered "yes" or "no" by the boys, be followed by "sir" as a sign of respect.

He frequently told long-winded stories about his childhood, which family members sometimes walked out on, when his back was turned.

Had a secretive grin on his face when old girlfriends, or pretty ladies were brought up. Then, would catch himself, compose himself, and cleverly sidestep any discussion of his single love life (especially with June). We guys can all relate to that great grin. My dad never said it. But, I'm sure he caught Ward's grin.

Ward had an Uncle Billy, who was his father's brother. There were other brothers we never "met," and we "knew" Billy from his visits, once in season 4 and again in season 6. Ward could have had a sister named Mary, since Beaver mentioned a gift from "Aunt Mary" on his 12th birthday. Beaver once mentioned Ward had a "hittin' father."

Ward had an Uncle Billy, who was his father's brother. There were other brothers we never "met," and we "knew" Billy from his visits, once in season 4 and again in season 6. Ward could have had a sister named Mary, since Beaver mentioned a gift from "Aunt Mary" on his 12th birthday. Beaver once mentioned Ward had a "hittin' father."

Didn't Ward also mention that his sister hit him a lot?

From "Beaver and Violet". Fred and Ward leaving for the office. Fred says, "we chiefs can't be late. Bad example for the Indians". Ward didn't flinch. Sounds like equal work status. Or, close.

In the episode where Beaver had Wally help write the phony letter from Ward to June when Ward was in the Pacific during The War. Can the rate speciality be seen well to see what it is?

In the episode where Beaver had Wally help write the phony letter from Ward to June when Ward was in the Pacific during The War. Can the rate speciality be seen well to see what it is?

I can't remember if the letter can be seen or not.

The only thing I think I remember in that episode is maybe this is the only time Ward finds something in the boys' trash can--every other time, it's June who's snooping.

That’s right. Ward goes up to the boys’ room looking for his pen and finds the crumpled letter in the basket from Wake Island, as he couldn’t spell Guadalcanal. June was always the snooper. My favorite is when she finds the locket, the wet jeans under the sink and that letter Wally wrote to Kitty. She really had to dig for that. June was an equal opportunity snooper.

That’s right. Ward goes up to the boys’ room looking for his pen and finds the crumpled letter in the basket from Wake Island, as he couldn’t spell Guadalcanal. June was always the snooper. My favorite is when she finds the locket, the wet jeans under the sink and that letter Wally wrote to Kitty. She really had to dig for that. June was an equal opportunity snooper.

(LOL on equal opp. snooper) I'm surprised she didn't go to the basement to find Beaver's boots, in the homemade kayak episode.

That is very unusual that she missed those boots in the basement. Actually I wonder why she didn’t question what was in that box Wally had. How no one knew Beaver and Wally had an alligator in the toilet tank meant June never went in to clean the toilet. Did Minerva only do the wash? Poor Captain Jack would have a time when they flushed the toilet.

June snooped on Ward when he came home with a different tie from when he left. Next time you come home with spots. Boy she was observant.

Hmmm - the alligator was in the toilet tank ? I thought it was the bathtub ... (?)

My mom never snooped - good mom !

Was Snoopy the Dog a snoopy dog ?

More about Ward:

He told June he would read about 8 books a week. He and Abe Lincoln.
His father had a modern milking machine but Ward had to get up early and turn it on.
He spent his money on a bird whistle that was junk and Admiral Byrd’s Tri-motor airplane that was also junk.
His father was too busy living his life to focus on Ward.
He tried cleaning windows for work and put the ladder through a woman’s plate glass window and cost his father money.
He once skipped his Sunday ride with the family to go on the first date with June.
The Sears Catalog was good reading material when Ward was young.
Evelyn Bowderhouse told him he had eyes like Melvyn Douglas.
He had to take Maude Hagerman, a wet blanket, to a prom.
His brother would threaten to beat up his friends if they didn’t pay him.
He gave his mother a cactus lamp with a rattlesnake shade as a birthday present.

The Ward Cleaver Srs. had a Model T Ford.

From one of the episodes today "Lumpy's Car Trouble" the street front of Ward's place of employ was shown, and the street address was 9034.

Hardly an urban center. Building didn't appear to be a high rise, either. Looked more like what you'd find in the core of a suburb.

Someplace a picture of the current real building was posted, but I can't find it.

I'll bet $5 that it wasn't in Ohio...lol!

There is a building at 9034 W Sunset Blvd, west Hollywood that looks like it might have been it, before a cheap remodel.

I'll bet $5 that it wasn't in Ohio...lol!

There is a building at 9034 W Sunset Blvd, west Hollywood that looks like it might have been it, before a cheap remodel.

https://silentlocations.com/2013/08/17/leave-it-to-santa-monica-beaver-and-harold-lloyd/amp/

The remodeled building looks further set back from the street. However, the street could have been narrowed, which has become kind of a thing to do.

It would be interesting to get a late 1950's era city directory and see who all occupied that building. I'll bet there is a common link.