I was wondering if there were guest stars that had better careers than the regulars on the show, but there really was not anyone you would call a guest star like on other shows.

What do you call someone like Gilbert or Larry? Were they considered a regular, but not a main cast?

Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Billy) on 2 episodes if I'm right was a guest star who had a pretty big career. I don't think he got any special billing though.

Jason Robards Sr., after his prime, I imagine (Kite Day)

Ryan O'Neal (Wally Goes Steady)

Ann Jillian (credited as Anne Nauseda), then a child (Wally, the Businessman)

Tim Matheson, then a child (2 later episodes (Tell it to Ella, The Clothing Drive), as Mike Harmon, a friend of Beaver)

Re post 1, Tanker, Rusty Stevens and probably Ken Osmond were under contract after a few appearances and would probably be called regulars. The other friends of Beaver, and Richard Deacon, would be recurring, I'd guess.

Did anyone get a "guest star" billing in the credits I've missed?

I think Edgar Buchanan gets larger letters at least once. But I don't recall "guest star."

How about Don Drysdale playing himself in Long Distance Call. He might have gotten special billing.

James Gleason in an early episode, where he was a street salesman or some such.

Drysdale probably got the larger lettering.

He made the rounds of the 60s shows--I know he was also on Donna Reed.

We also had Sandy Koufax on Dennis the Menace, Duke Snider on Father Knows Best, and Willie Mays on Donna Reed. Strikes me (LOL) Leo Durocher was also on Donna Reed.

Also, Frank Furguson as the hobo in that late episode.

Only "and" and name bigger rarely. Too lazy to " special guest star" on credits?

How about Miss America: Lee Meriwether?

Or, Tommy Ivo? He (later) combined show business with drag racing to the point he was getting paid just to show up and make exhibition runs.

Lee Meriwether - Community Chest
Tommy Ivo - Blind Date Committee and Wally in Drag (joke, there--I don't remember the episode name)

Ivo had several character roles in various shows--In Beaver, he played "the Duke" (Hathaway, I think)

Beverly Washburn Everyone was a guest star. They all had careers they were trying to further

In contrast the Patty Duke Show set just a few years later had some many guest Stars - nearly one per show (?)

Was it the times changed or the show producers indifference or maybe the stars $ fees ?

LITB was a "different" show in many respects. Guest stars were just not an important component of the show, for whatever reason. Maybe having celebrities was not something the show creators wanted to emphasize.

Drysdale probably got the larger lettering.

He made the rounds of the 60s shows--I know he was also on Donna Reed.

We also had Sandy Koufax on Dennis the Menace, Duke Snider on Father Knows Best, and Willie Mays on Donna Reed. Strikes me (LOL) Leo Durocher was also on Donna Reed.

Leo Durocher on Mr. Ed as well.