Just watched a season four episode about Jethro wanting to be an international playboy. Jed mentions that he gives Jethro $1 a week for his allowance.

This seems interesting since they've mentioned several times that Jed has divided his money four ways between them. Granny has made several trips to the bank to get her share of the money. But Jed has to give the bank permission for this, so clearly it's all his, and the others hold their share at his whim.

Probably Jed will not allow Jethro or Elly to take their shares because they lack the maturity to handle it (not sure Granny has the maturity either, but whatever).

Another thing I notice about Jethro this season is that they've increased his appetite to cartoonish levels.

Just watched a season four episode about Jethro wanting to be an international playboy. Jed mentions that he gives Jethro $1 a week for his allowance.

This seems interesting since they've mentioned several times that Jed has divided his money four ways between them. Granny has made several trips to the bank to get her share of the money. But Jed has to give the bank permission for this, so clearly it's all his, and the others hold their share at his whim.

Probably Jed will not allow Jethro or Elly to take their shares because they lack the maturity to handle it (not sure Granny has the maturity either, but whatever).

Another thing I notice about Jethro this season is that they've increased his appetite to cartoonish levels.

I'd say Jed was holding on to Elly's and Jethro's share until maybe they were "grown up" and on their own" or maybe he was planning on willing it to them after he passed away. I guess it's a good thing Jethro did not have free access to his share as he would have probably gone through it in a week with all his schemes lol Granny didn't seem to need Jed's permission to get her share, as she would go to the bank a few times and demand Drysdale give her her share and he would start panicking, usually something would always change her mind though.

And yeah the color episodes is when Jethro started becoming over-the-top

Jethro's meager allowance is just something to find funny in the series. Any consideration of inheritances, trust funds, etc. is reading too much into it. Do you really believe the writers had any of that stuff in mind?

They were going with direct humor, in that Jethro's $1 was an allowance that befit a child, and also another example of Jed not spending his money: he refused to upgrade from the old truck to a limo and continued wearing his old clothes, despite Drysdale's suggestions.

Jethro's meager allowance is just something to find funny in the series. Any consideration of inheritances, trust funds, etc. is reading too much into it. Do you really believe the writers had any of that stuff in mind?

They were going with direct humor, in that Jethro's $1 was an allowance that befit a child, and also another example of Jed not spending his money: he refused to upgrade from the old truck to a limo and continued wearing his old clothes, despite Drysdale's suggestions.
Yeah, these old shows didn't really think things through to the extent modern shows do. If they thought something was funny, they'd throw it in. Especially in a more cartoonish show like this.

I listen to a podcast about The Honeymooners, and they are always pointing out little things in the story that don't make any sense if you think about them, but they put them in anyway, because it was funny, or just to set up a situation.

By the way, in the more recent season five episodes I've been watching, they've changed Jethro's allowance to 50 cents a week! Poor guy can't even get a raise, he gets a decrease.

I do wonder how Jetro was able to get temporary things, the wild jackets, the temperary upgrades for the car. His secret agent gadgets.

I do wonder how Jetro was able to get temporary things, the wild jackets, the temperary upgrades for the car. His secret agent gadgets.


Jethro could have had his own "stash money" that he had access to, for like emergencies or whatever, but still got the allowance for daily living... Of course knowing Jethro, he would get into his stash money often lol