What state did Leave it to Beaver take place in? - Page 12 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Topcatto · 02-20-2026, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

another LITB dead lead from the writers LOL

When Wally is trying to pawn off Alba to Lumpy, Wally Mentions that Lumpy played at the band state finals in Madison (but Lumpy had swollen glands and couldn't go - LOL)

What states have a Madison ? Hmmm ...

Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital...

He also said they played for the governor.

Sgt. Saunders · 02-20-2026, 05:00 PM

In one episode, Richard Rickover tells Beaver that he can’t go home until he sees a car with New Jersey plates (which he eventually does). I guess there could be drivers from NJ in Oregon or Washington, but I don’t think there’d be too many of them in the Pacific Northwest.

CosmicCharlie · 02-20-2026, 06:09 PM

I just read this entire thread - fun stuff

Here are some sensible comments

Jerry Mathers has said none of them knew.

Jerry Mathers would just tell us the same thing as in one of the earlier posts, that they purposely didn't specify it.

Jerry once said that in one episode they purposely scrambled the names of cities/mileages at the bus station/train station so that some avid fan couldn't try to figure it out.

I believe that the actual location was suppressed intentionally to give the show an "everywhere USA" appeal.

Ultimately LITB takes place in a state of mind.

It's an unsolvable riddle. Different clues point in different directions. The writers of LITB wanted to create an archetypal place that anyone could relate to.

It's A STATE OF MIND

stevea · 02-20-2026, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

I just read this entire thread - fun stuff

Here are some sensible comments

Jerry Mathers has said none of them knew.

Jerry Mathers would just tell us the same thing as in one of the earlier posts, that they purposely didn't specify it.

Jerry once said that in one episode they purposely scrambled the names of cities/mileages at the bus station/train station so that some avid fan couldn't try to figure it out.

I believe that the actual location was suppressed intentionally to give the show an "everywhere USA" appeal.

Ultimately LITB takes place in a state of mind.

It's an unsolvable riddle. Different clues point in different directions. The writers of LITB wanted to create an archetypal place that anyone could relate to.

It's A STATE OF MIND

Yes, this is the answer. I was looking early in this thread just now (posts from 26 years ago), and several mentioned Ohio--it makes sense until you think of other statements that would blow the theory away (such as the twenty miles to the ocean reference).

There was a thread about this on the old TV Land boards, too.

Other sitcoms from the era did the same thing. Some, like Dennis the Menace and Hazel, never even mentioned a town name.

MichaelMartinD · 02-21-2026, 09:06 AM

Whenever the name "Mayfield" occurs, say, on an envelope or letter, it just says "Mayfield, USA" or simply "Mayfield."

It's a state of mind - I couldn't agree more!

Dude111 · 02-21-2026, 10:51 AM

Whats the big secret with what state they are in??

Whats the name of the school they goto? We might be able to find it that way!!

CosmicCharlie · 02-21-2026, 11:24 AM

State of Confusion

stevea · 02-21-2026, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

Whats the big secret with what state they are in??

Whats the name oif the school they goto? We might be able to find it that way!!

Grant Avenue School wouldn't tell one anything.

Instead of a secret, I guess I'd call it an unknown.

CosmicCharlie · 02-21-2026, 11:40 AM

There are 131 schools in the USA with the word grant in the name.
https://www.tfdsupplies.com/blogs/sc...-united-states

Dude111 · 02-21-2026, 05:59 PM

Hmmmm I guess Stevie is right,that wont tell us jack!!

cd637299 · 03-02-2026, 12:49 PM

Mayfield is a hop, skip, and a jump from Hooterville….

The sitcom Benson had a clever angle. Benson worked for the governor of a state that was never mentioned. So much dialogue kept saying things like “As the governor of this state…..”

cd

stevea · 03-02-2026, 11:42 PM

Yeah, I forgot about Benson being in "parts unknown."

Dude111 · 03-03-2026, 01:37 AM

I wonder why its such a big secret what state they are in??

What state does Beaver live in?? That might tell us

stevea · 03-03-2026, 07:47 AM

I'm guessing Jerry Mathers, who would now be in his upper 70s, lives in the L. A. area.

02-20-2026, 06:09 PM	#168
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,419	It's A STATE OF MIND I just read this entire thread - fun stuff Here are some sensible comments Jerry Mathers has said none of them knew. Jerry Mathers would just tell us the same thing as in one of the earlier posts, that they purposely didn't specify it. Jerry once said that in one episode they purposely scrambled the names of cities/mileages at the bus station/train station so that some avid fan couldn't try to figure it out. I believe that the actual location was suppressed intentionally to give the show an "everywhere USA" appeal. Ultimately LITB takes place in a state of mind. It's an unsolvable riddle. Different clues point in different directions. The writers of LITB wanted to create an archetypal place that anyone could relate to. It's A STATE OF MIND

02-21-2026, 10:51 AM	#171
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,490	Whats the big secret with what state they are in?? Whats the name of the school they goto? We might be able to find it that way!!
	Last edited by Dude111; 02-21-2026 at 05:57 PM.

02-20-2026, 05:00 PM	#167
Sgt. Saunders Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 27, 2021 Location: The Garden State Posts: 540	In one episode, Richard Rickover tells Beaver that he can’t go home until he sees a car with New Jersey plates (which he eventually does). I guess there could be drivers from NJ in Oregon or Washington, but I don’t think there’d be too many of them in the Pacific Northwest.

02-21-2026, 09:06 AM	#170
MichaelMartinD Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 23, 2013 Posts: 574	Whenever the name "Mayfield" occurs, say, on an envelope or letter, it just says "Mayfield, USA" or simply "Mayfield." It's a state of mind - I couldn't agree more!

02-21-2026, 11:24 AM	#172
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,419	State of Confusion

02-21-2026, 11:40 AM	#174
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,419	There are 131 schools in the USA with the word grant in the name. https://www.tfdsupplies.com/blogs/sc...-united-states

02-21-2026, 05:59 PM	#175
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,490	Hmmmm I guess Stevie is right,that wont tell us jack!!

03-02-2026, 12:49 PM	#176
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 844	Mayfield is a hop, skip, and a jump from Hooterville…. The sitcom Benson had a clever angle. Benson worked for the governor of a state that was never mentioned. So much dialogue kept saying things like “As the governor of this state…..” cd

03-02-2026, 11:42 PM	#177
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,262	Yeah, I forgot about Benson being in "parts unknown."

03-03-2026, 01:37 AM	#178
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,490	I wonder why its such a big secret what state they are in?? What state does Beaver live in?? That might tell us

03-03-2026, 07:47 AM	#179
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,262	I'm guessing Jerry Mathers, who would now be in his upper 70s, lives in the L. A. area.