I know they go over to other people's gatherings, but I do not remember them being the host.

All I remember is June having "the girls" over to lunch when Beaver had Stanley the monkey--a slew of extras who had no lines. She opened the dining room doors to reveal her food layout and Stanley swinging on the chandelier.

I guess they went elsewhere all other times, to give the boys a better chance to get in trouble.

^^^
Oh, that is right. I forgot about the luncheon.

Could Ward of had the guys (no wives) over to play cards? Friends (non Fred) are mentioned but rarely seen.The thread got me thinking how Ward's routine is kind of cookie cutter for a personable, bright, gregarious guy. Right home after golf on a Saturday. For what? To read the paper and hear June whine? I always thought it was unrealistic how little time Ward spent with just his guy buddies. Or is Ward just sort of a prop to bounce the boys problems, adventures, and thoughts off of?

Most evenings they were both sitting on the couch reading a book or the newspaper, waiting for one of the boys to come down and present a problem.

There was one time they were in the den watching a movie on TV, and he fell asleep. But for both of them, separately, all we normally heard about was him playing golf or having to work on Saturday. For her she met a friend for lunch and had Ward deal with Beaver's latest school problem (the monster sweatshirt).

What a life. The only thing they do is try to fix the problems of the boys they created. Don't create the boys and you will not have the problems.

When I saw that LITB episode, where Ward comes home after a hard day at work, and while schmoozing with June in the kitchen, he then gets a cold glass of milk (MILK!!!), instead of a cold Bud or even a bottle of Coca-Cola, I just knew that Ward was about as “exciting” and “adventuresome” as, say, Orville Redenbacker or the late Willard Scott!

I mean, how many American dads come home from work and enjoy a cold glass of milk? Heck, even octogenarians (and older) in retirement communities across America probably don’t drink milk, especially on a hot summer day.

Ward must have been really “popular” with his fellow Sea-Bees during Ward’s US Navy service during World War II. While the vast majority of young American men were, no doubt,
“sowing their oats” in either the Pacific or Europe during that global conflict, Ward was
probably still reading “Boys’ Life Magazine” and “The Hardy Boys” books when he wasn’t busy erecting Quonset huts and clearing palm trees to make room for new airstrips with his fellow sailors.

I don’t want to say that Ward was a square and extremely hidebound, but Ward probably thought that a glass of Dr. Pepper was equivalent to a “good, stiff belt.” Yes, while Ward would look forward to enjoying a cool Shirley Temple drink with June out on the Cleaver family patio, dipsomaniacal house
painter Andy Hadlock probably enjoyed downing a couple of gin-and-tonics with Marlene Holmes and the rest of the gang at that downtown Mayfield gin mill.

I don’t want to say that Ward was a square and extremely hidebound... downing a couple of gin-and-tonics with Marlene Holmes and the rest of the gang at that downtown Mayfield gin mill.

I'll say he was square. He sure was, but after raising my son and divorcing his dad, I will take a square any day of the week if I had a do over.

Isn't it implied that Ward was quite the ladies man with many ex girlfriends brought up from the past. He perks up noticeably and goes over Wally's dates with a fine toothed comb when they visit the Cleaver house. As Wally doesn't take after the old man not to be interested in them that way.

Who's Ward's secretary? Googling it it says Grace? Do we ever see her? Is she a babe? I vaguely remember her shown once.

Isn't it implied that Ward was quite the ladies man with many ex girlfriends brought up from the past. He perks up noticeably and goes over Wally's dates with a fine toothed comb when they visit the Cleaver house. As Wally doesn't take after the old man not to be interested in them that way.

Who's Ward's secretary? Googling it it says Grace? Do we ever see her? Is she a babe? I vaguely remember her shown once.

I just remember him telling her (on the phone) to get June's birthday present or something. And, yes, it was Grace he was talking to.

And, re a previous post, I can't imagine any guy coming home and pouring a cold glass of milk.

They had Fred and his wife over to play bridge on the episode where Lumpy was picking on Beaver and Wally when they walked home from school.

When I saw that LITB episode, where Ward comes home after a hard day at work, and while schmoozing with June in the kitchen, he then gets a cold glass of milk (MILK!!!)

I generally think people knitpick this show to death, but all the milk drinking is the one thing on the show that irritates me.

I generally think people knitpick this show to death, but all the milk drinking is the one thing on the show that irritates me.

The breast milk of a cow designed for her calf. Maybe someone on the show had stock in a dairy or creamery?

I mean, how many American dads come home from work and enjoy a cold glass of milk?

Me. I drink beer, but not every night, and definitely not right when I get home from work. And I rarely drink pop anymore.

Cold glass of milk is excellent in the summer, not every day when I get home, but when I do, it hits the spot.

I generally think people knitpick this show to death, but all the milk drinking is the one thing on the show that irritates me.

That's true, but most of us are big fans.

Kids drank a lot of milk back then, but I doubt as much as Wally and Beaver.

The only other time I remember Ward and June "entertaining" was when Aunt Martha and that other woman dropped over.

The other woman was Aunt Martha's friend Mrs. Hathaway.

Remember, this show was produced in the 1950s and the production team wanted to show a truly wholesome American family. An idealized version. Frankly, I like it. Ward was a great father and husband. He did what a lot of fathers did back then and even now. He went to work, had some time off to enjoy his hobbies and spent the rest of the time with his family. Nothing wrong with being a home-body. Not everyone buys into the narrative the media feeds us that we have to be constantly active, doing things, pleasing ourselves. Ward and June did what many parents nowadays need to do. Once you have children, they should come first. Ward and June enjoyed life as parents. They did take their family on picnics and to other social events. I applaud them and wish more parents now acted like they did.

Me. I drink beer, but not every night, and definitely not right when I get home from work. And I rarely drink pop anymore.

Cold glass of milk is excellent in the summer, not every day when I get home, but when I do, it hits the spot.

I noticed that you called a soft drink, “pop.” When I went to undergraduate school in the mid-west, everyone there also called Coca-Cola or Pepsi, “pop.”

On the East coast, people refer to a soft drink, as “soda.” Similarly, when I referred to a pizza as a “pie,” the Mid-Westerners didn’t know what I was referring to.

It’s interesting how Americans have different names for the same thing in various parts of the country.

Maybe the residents of Mayfield, USA had different names for common everyday items, than the residents in Mayberry, NC had?

I noticed that you called a soft drink, “pop.” When I went to undergraduate school in the mid-west, everyone there also called Coca-Cola or Pepsi, “pop.”

On the East coast, people refer to a soft drink, as “soda.” Similarly, when I referred to a pizza as a “pie,” the Mid-Westerners didn’t know what I was referring to.

It’s interesting how Americans have different names for the same thing in various parts of the country.

Maybe the residents of Mayfield, USA had different names for common everyday items, than the residents in Mayberry, NC had?

Yes, I'm from south New Jersey originally, and no one says pop for soda there, but here in Indiana, everybody says it.

There are interesting differences in pronunciation, too. For example, Hoosiers add an r to wash, and Philadelphians call their NFL team the Iggles.

Yes, I'm from south New Jersey originally, and no one says pop for soda there, but here in Indiana, everybody says it.

There are interesting differences in pronunciation, too. For example, Hoosiers add an r to wash, and Philadelphians call their NFL team the Iggles.

I have cousins who live in Vineland, NJ; they are fans of the Philadelphia professional sports teams: the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers as opposed to the rest of the Garden State, where everyone roots for the NYC teams.

And, the southern New Jerseyans’ accents are different from the New Jerseyans in both the central part of the state and the northern part of NJ. (Think Tony and Carmella Soprano of North Caldwell, NJ.)

The fans throughout the Garden State are very passionate about their respective area sports teams. The Philadelphia fans, in particular, are very involved and vocal in following their teams. I remember being at a Phillies game at the old Veterans Stadium, where the Cincinnati Red starting pitcher struck out the great Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt
to end a Phillies threat. The Philadelphia fans, obviously upset with Mike Schmidt’s failure to get a clutch hit, let Schmidt have it with a chorus of boos. Some guy sitting next to me said, “These Phillies fans would even boo Mother Teresa if she struck out with the bases loaded.” Ouch!

It’s too bad that we never saw Ward, Wally, Beaver and the boys’ friends rooting for and discussing their favorite baseball team and players; it might have given us a clue to as to Mayfield’s actual location in the country.

I've been to Phillies games at the even-older Connie Mack Stadium when I was a kid. Very old, but a beautiful playing field.

Back in those days they loved to boo Richie Allen, who had a habit of striking out in clutch situations.

Of course in South Jersey we had no accents, but those Philly people (like my dad), with their Iggles, appriciate, lenth, etc.

Ward and Beaver went to a baseball game--we saw none of it, but they discussed the legendary Mayfield football player, baseball player, and beauty parlor owner Mule Saunders after the game.

I've been to Phillies games at the even-older Connie Mack Stadium when I was a kid. Very old, but a beautiful playing field.

Back in those days they loved to boo Richie Allen, who had a habit of striking out in clutch situations.

Of course in South Jersey we had no accents, but those Philly people (like my dad), with their Iggles, appriciate, lenth, etc.

Ward and Beaver went to a baseball game--we saw none of it, but they discussed the legendary Mayfield football player, baseball player
, and beauty parlor owner Mule Saunders after the game.

It’s too bad we never saw which minor league teams Ward and Beaver went to see play. If the LITB writers had specifically mentioned the teams, such as the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Toledo Mud Hens (Max Klinger’s favorite hometown team) or the Trenton Thunder, we might have gotten a clue as to just where the Cleaver family lived.

And, even that LITB episode, where Beaver, Allen and the all-too-annoying Gilbert Bates called long-distance to speak with Los Angeles pitcher Don Drysdale, we still really cannot eliminate California as the Cleavers’ home state because the boys might have been calling from another part of the large Golden State.

The late Richie Allen, what a great hitter, he was! In “Ball Four,” the late Jim Bouton wrote that he hoped Richie (later Dick) Allen would be traded to Bouton’s team, the Houston Astros, in 1969. In fact, I remember a Phillies/Mets game at Shea Stadium in 1969, where a disgruntled Richie Allen left the team in a huff to protest his low salary (several years before Major League Baseball had free agency).

Anyway, at the end of the game, the late, great NY Mets announcer Lindsey Nelson said, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and good evening Richie Allen, wherever YOU are!”

And, the southern New Jerseyans’ accents are different from the New Jerseyans in both the central part of the state and the northern part of NJ. (Think Tony and Carmella Soprano of North Caldwell, NJ.)

The Central New Jersey accent used to be much closer to a South Jersey/Philadelphia accent, but I've noticed it becoming much more North Jersey/New York-sounding over the last generation. I surmise this is a result of New Yorkers and North Jersey people moving to Central Jersey.

It’s too bad that we never saw Ward, Wally, Beaver and the boys’ friends rooting for and discussing their favorite baseball team and players; it might have given us a clue to as to Mayfield’s actual location in the country.

The writers deliberately avoided mentioning anything that would be specific to a region or state. If the Cleaver's ever mentioned sports teams, you can bet the writers would have ensured that they were fictional.

The Central New Jersey accent used to be much closer to a South Jersey/Philadelphia accent, but I've noticed it becoming much more North Jersey/New York-sounding over the last generation. I surmise this is a result of New Yorkers and North Jersey people moving to Central Jersey.



The writers deliberately avoided mentioning anything that would be specific to a region or state. If the Cleaver's ever mentioned sports teams, you can bet the writers would have ensured that they were fictional.

Oh, yeah, 50 years ago, the longtime residents of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, whould referto the summer people from northern NJ and NYC as “bennies,” for the train tickets that read Bergen, Essex and New York.

Today, there are literally hundreds of thousands of people from northern NJ and New York State, who populate these two beautiful counties of the Garden State. And, there are dozens of superb Italian-American restaurants in towns like Red Bank, Sea Bright, Sea Girt and Point Pleasant. Mangia and Bon Appetito! In fact, I’m typing this thread from the beautiful beach at Sandy Hook, NJ right now.

Yes, the LITB writers did seem to always refrain from making any regional or sports team references. Although, the always self-effacing Fred Rutherford once wore a NY Yankees baseball cap at a Rutherford/Cleaver family picnic. That must have slipped by Messrs. Mosher and Connelly.

These "bennies" probably never made it to South Jersey. Flat terrain, lots of sandy "soil", and the legendary Jersey Devil in the pine barrens.

South Jersey had some nice beaches though. Going down to the shore was about an hour drive for us. Longer on the weekend, due to bumper to bumper traffic on route 72, I think due to backups at a light where it crosses U. S. 9 at Manahawkin.

A 1962 nor'easter devastated Long Beach Island, and I'd guess super storm Sandy did, too.

I do remember Ward once made a comment about the ocean being 20 miles away. But when the older boys accompanied Eddie to see Captain Drake about his summer fishing job, it didn't seem that it was that far. There are plenty of discrepancies like that on the show, just so people couldn't really identify Mayfield's location.

These "bennies" probably never made it to South Jersey. Flat terrain, lots of sandy "soil", and the legendary Jersey Devil in the pine barrens.

South Jersey had some nice beaches though. Going down to the shore was about an hour drive for us. Longer on the weekend, due to bumper to bumper traffic on route 72, I think due to backups at a light where it crosses U. S. 9 at Manahawkin.

A 1962 nor'easter devastated Long Beach Island, and I'd guess super storm Sandy did, too.

I do remember Ward once made a comment about the ocean being 20 miles away. But when the older boys accompanied Eddie to see Captain Drake about his summer fishing job, it didn't seem that it was that far. There are plenty of discrepancies like that on the show, just so people couldn't really identify Mayfield's location.

The beaches are beautiful in southern NJ. Cape May is a great shore destination as are Wildwood and Ocean City. The people in Cape May refer to their beach as the “other NJ shore.” You’ve probably seen the famous Lucy-the-Elephant structure in Margate, NJ, just below Atlantic City.

As to the infamous Jersey Devil, that mythical (?) creature is said to prowl in the Pineys, along the Mullica River, which you cross on a bridge on the Garden State Parkway, and near the famous Smithville Inn, on the way to the casinos in AC.

I’ll bet that Beaver Larry Mondello, Richard Rickover and Gilbert Bates would have been intrigued, if not also extremely frightened, by the legend of the Leeds Point Devil. It’s too bad that David Chase did not incorporate the Jersey Devil into that classic episode of “The Sopranos,” where Paulie Walnuts and Christopher Moltisaniti get lost in the Pine Barrens, while “taking care” of an uncooperative Russian mobster.

By the way, I wonder what Ward and June would have thought about such contemporary tv shows as “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad”? I don’t think Aunt Martha would have cared for these hard-hitting shows, but I suspect that the irrepressible Uncle Billy would have been a huge fan of both of those shows.

Boston 1960's

Always Tonic and Never Soda or Pop or Soda Pop -- Now Soda

Always a Sub or Submarine Sandwich or a Sandwich on a Spukki -- Never A Hoagie or Grindger THEN and still NOW Never

Pizza is Pizza - Never Pizza Pie

Boston 1960's

Always Tonic and Never Soda or Pop or Soda Pop -- Now Soda

Always a Sub or Submarine Sandwich or a Sandwich on a Spukki -- Never A Hoagie or Grindger THEN and still NOW Never

Pizza is Pizza - Never Pizza Pie

In Indiana and in South Jersey, it's pizza, no pie.

Also in South Jersey, we did/they undoubtedly still do get Philly cheesesteaks, Tastykakes, and hard rolls. I miss them all, particularly the cheesesteaks. They try to do them around here, but it's not the same. (But ugh to scrapple--for those who don't know, you don't want to know!)

Beaver would hate scrapple as much as he hated Brussels sprouts.

I dont drink alcohol and we dont buy soday for the home

I drink milk or water/seltzer at home lol

Sorry if that makes me 'square.'

GIven Ward was a professional, and the time period, it would be more realistic for Ward to come home and have a Scotch or something like that. Per Capita drinking was higher than then now. He would drink liquor and probably not much beer (which was more working class) or wine (which had not become as much of a thing then for men).

But of course, the show was aimed at giving good lessons to kids. and for me, it did.

But of course, the show was aimed at giving good lessons to kids. and for me, it did.

You put your finger on an excellent point that many people often miss. The show was trying to give a good example, not function as a realistic documentary of life at that period. That's what we mean when we say it was idealized to a degree (in a good way). It was realistic where it needed to be, but it was ultimately showing us how life SHOULD or COULD be.

Yes, it's a timeless morality play.

Good examples which applied then, still apply today, and will continue to apply.