View Full Version : What was Ward Cleaver's occupation


TMC
07-23-2023, 07:10 PM
We know that he worked in an office but little was ever revealed beyond that. Although he had many scenes with his coworker Fred Rutherford.

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-819f590c4336ec9f0c7aee6db1d28a80-pjlq

In the Still the Beaver (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086367/) reunion film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Leave_It_to_Beaver#Television_movie_/_repackaged_as_pilot), Beaver goes to Fred Rutherford for a job and gets it. But he asks Fred if he got the job on his own merits, or if it was because Ward had been Fred’s top employee. So Ward worked for Fred.

cd637299
07-24-2023, 07:56 AM
According to a book I once had—I forget the title, but it was an “encyclopedia” of all TV shows that were viewed nationwide—it listed Ward as an accountant. Where that info came from, I don’t know.

cd

biffbronson
07-24-2023, 08:18 AM
Look at how many previous threads have considered Ward's occupation...!! And likely even more:

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=313790&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=56154&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=167694&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=271529&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=43346&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=6691&highlight=engineer
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=6637&highlight=engineer

stevea
07-24-2023, 09:25 AM
He had an engineering background, which was used by the SeaBees during WW 2. He relates this to Beaver in an early episode.

In one episode he refers to marketing surveys, talking to June.

AFAIK no episode mentions accountant.

ThisLittlePiggy
07-24-2023, 01:04 PM
Ward Cleaver might have been a research engineer. They help develop products.

vitoscotti
07-24-2023, 08:36 PM
We know that he worked in an office but little was ever revealed beyond that. Although he had many scenes with his coworker Fred Rutherford.

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-819f590c4336ec9f0c7aee6db1d28a80-pjlq

In the Still the Beaver (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086367/) reunion film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Leave_It_to_Beaver#Television_movie_/_repackaged_as_pilot), Beaver goes to Fred Rutherford for a job and gets it. But he asks Fred if he got the job on his own merits, or if it was because Ward had been Fred’s top employee. So Ward worked for Fred.

I personally don't place any significance on any background information given on reboots, or reunions. It has to be from the original series, or nothing.

cd637299
07-27-2023, 05:45 PM
^ Some reunion movies may wish to “tie up loose ends” and answer trivia questions about an original series—but yes, we aren’t to put stock in them!

cd

Howard
08-06-2023, 06:50 PM
I believe he was an insurance salesman in the office with Fred Rutherford but not 100 per cent sure.

MISST3
08-09-2023, 10:27 PM
I've often heard the writers of the show wanted the characters to be relatable to everybody, so certain details were deliberately left vague and unclear, like Ward's occupation and particularly the state they lived in. We DO know that Ward was a 1950's white-collar, briefcase carrying worker. Ward wore a business suit, worked in an office, worked on business deals, ie, the "Thompson Deal", and had a secretary named Grace, left home early in the morning and returned home, in the early evening. Rarely, worked on the weekends, because on Saturday he usually got in a round of golf, at the Country Club. Occasionally, he did work on weekends, much to his dismay, and frequently, mentioned having a "Hard Day at Work". Ward was handy around the house, esp. fixing small appliances. He grew up on a farm and his father was a strict disciplinarian, who did not hesitate to take Ward to the "Wood Shed".

MISST3
08-09-2023, 11:15 PM
In addition, Ward was comfortable in being the Head of the household, was the sole bread winner for the family. He liked discussing problems in private, with June, (not in front of the boys), and he usually had the last say, with decisions. He helped June with household chores, ie, drying dishes. Even though, June was a housewife and home all day, Ward never had a problem with her having a housekeeper, from time to time, which was progressive thinking on his part, in the 1950's.