This conversation was recorded several weeks ago. I have watched half of it so far and it is great. Jerry Mathers and Stephen Talbot reminisce about the show and about what it was like shooting TV back then.

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

It's nice to see that Stephen has reconciled with LITB and has a positive attitude toward it now, even citing favorite moments from specific episodes. He seems like a great guy, as does Jerry. Also, it is a bit surreal to see "Beaver" and "Gilbert" talking about the pandemic.

I wanted to post this because I think this conversation is something many fans on this board will enjoy seeing.

Thank you. It was very nice to listen too.

Interesting. At least to me, I'd never recognize Steve Talbot now.

Yes, they knew the episodes, but not the names, like Marlene Holmes or Mary Margaret Matthews (yet they sure knew she was played by Lori Martin, and they remembered the porch swing). Talbot also remembered the scene where they were looking into the bar and Gilbert called Marlene a woman of the world.

Tried watching it when the host was talking at the beginning. I'm thinking he's going to kill this. Came back to it. Luckily the host clammed up most of it and let the former castmates talk. It was very enjoyable to hear the guys reminiscing. Really some good insight into the show. The "looping" discussion was new to me. At least how common it was.

I really like Stephen Talbot's father Lyle (Mr Dennison). He's great on Green Acres playing flakey politicians.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wHc0kx8MsXc

Then, some odds and ends about him.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ9OHV7kik0

Yes, I've talked about re-dubbing dialog from on-location scenes; I never knew it was called looping. I never thought about the difficulties of planes and other distractions, and also never thought about the difficulty of keeping it in sync as they're talking. At least they'd have a printed script to read from.

I've said before I think certain scenes on set are looped; for example, the first few scenes of Mathers' dialog in Beaver's Poster sound like they were dubbed later. Just my opinion; could be wrong.

Beav, This is like the Twilight Zone !

From the Youtube Comments -


Frank J. Artino
1 week ago (edited)

Jerry, I lived in NE Ohio' and went to Mayfield High School in Ohio.
I knew the Mosher brothers and renember asking my mom where Leave it to Beaver was filmed. I saw things that happened to me and other kids and wondered how they knew that! When you and the Cleaver family visited Shaker Lakes, Mrs. Landers, etc all familiar names here in Ohio. Now I know why/how! I saw a photograph of you and Tony in a parade on downtown Cleveland too Lol! Best of health, and thanks for a great job entertaining us! You guys are still great!. Take care.

Does anybody else find it odd how amazingly much detail the two remember about LITB? Their minds are quite sharp still. But come on. The assistant director, bit part actors from 60 years ago? I mean it's great. Possibly because it was such a positive life event? Or, they did little tv or movies in comparison to a lot of actors because of choice? Or in JM case stereotyped.

During the Phil Donahue TAGS reunion it was amazing how little the actors remembered. They didn't place as big a point of importance to the show compared to other projects. Maybe not by their words, but by their memories.

JM & ST accounts also reiterate that the LITB child actors weren't abused workload, or by demands. Not without problems though as told be Jeri Weil or Rusty Stevens. I really get the creeps watching Dennis the Menace after Jay North talked about the abuse he endured.

Oddly, no mention was made of Ken Osmond's passing. Still, a wonderful conversation. I'm glad to see they are both doing well.

Now, if only Rusty Stevens could be coaxed to come out and do a similar interview?

The comments by Frank Artino about Ohio were most interesting. I did suspect that the writers used actual place and people names in the show. I mean, how would you just randomly think of a name like "Mondello"?

JM & ST accounts also reiterate that the LITB child actors weren't abused workload, or by demands. Not without problems though as told be Jeri Weil or Rusty Stevens. I really get the creeps watching Dennis the Menace after Jay North talked about the abuse he endured.

I've posted before about Jay North's problems on the show, and how appalling it is. For some reason it never occurred to me until now that his recollections could be slightly wrong or overblown. Jeannie Russell has said she was close to him and never knew anything about it. I think Gloria Henry said she wasn't aware, either. And there are no longer any directly-involved adults around to refute any of it. But it could be as bad as he related--we'll never know.

Jeri Weil has related about taping down problems, I guess not unique to LITB. Probably better for her to have been released from the show. Rusty posts through a moderator on Facebook, some of which is posted on here in another thread; he has a lot of fascinating stories and his memory is also great. I'll find the thread and bump it up.

Thank you for sharing this. Really enjoyed. Nice seeing this reunion, and see Stephen positive about the show.