Why is "The Clothing Drive" Shown out of Sequence?

[Jack1000]

We know it is one of the weakest episodes of the series. However, it is clearly an early season 6 episode. It runs after Beaver's Graduation has already occurred! Mr. Baily is Beaver's teacher. People may have wondered, "Why is Beaver back in school after having graduated?"

Kudos to Antenna TV, they are running the Clothing Drive at the very beginning of Season 6, where it belongs! Mr. Bailey is also Beaver's teacher when Beaver gets a typewriter-in the "Beaver's Typewriter" episode.

Can anyone confirm the production numbers for "The Clothing Drive" episode. I will research.

Jack

PS. Confirmed production order of The Clothing Drive Episode. It is in season 6, but should have come between Wally's Dinner Date, and Beaver's Autobiography, not just before Family Scrapbook:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/23...-season-3/1080 (scroll down a bit.)

[jrobinson45abc]

I was always curious about this too. Still wondering why the network delayed its airing until right before Family Scrapbook--on June 13, 1963 according to IMDb. Maybe there was a news event, network special or technical glitz earlier in the season.

[Cincy Guy]

Where should this episode have gone in that 1962-63 season (rather than second to last)? In checking the IMBD episode guide for that sixth season, I don't see any breaks in the schedule - such as where a scheduled special network show, etc would have aired.

[jehobden]

"The Clothing Drive" was not scheduled until June 13, 1963, so it was never preempted. Maybe the producers also perceived it as a dog of an episode and dumped it into June as the second-to-last original episode aired. Also it was not chosen as one of the 12 episodes rerun between June 27 and September 12, at least according to TV Guide. As it was stated in "The World According to Beaver" (and TV Guide), "Wally's Practical Joke" (OAD 5/23/63) was the last episode rerun on ABC on September 12, though "Beaver Sees America", OAD 6/6/63, after the graduation episodes, was also rerun over the summer, on September 5. IMO, it is not always best, even if TV Land thought so once upon a time, to rerun episodes in their original airdate order, especially in cases like this one.
There was another problem with continuity with the last episode, "Family Scrapbook", as well. If Beaver and Wally had already graduated, why did Ward state near the end of the show that the boys were glad to be taken away from their homework for a few minutes to view the album? Maybe they really failed and had to go to summer school with Lumpy?

[MickeyMac]

Yet another inconcististancy (or however you spell it) in the series.

[Zinc2]

Yes, overall The Clothing Drive could be considered a weaker episode. But as with even a weak episode, certain gems appear.

The first dinner table scene is a worthy example. The suits need to be retrieved and someone has to do it. June gives Ward a four-point Q & A and Ward realizes he must be the one. Barbara Billingsley does a wonderful job in this well written spot. Hugh Beaumont is choice in his short answers too.

For years we have seen Ward ask the boys to take personal responsibility. Here he practices what he preaches. The scene in the principal's office reminds me of another episode, Beaver's Poem where Ward has to approach Mrs. Rayburn in much the same way. Each time Ward toughs it out and all is well.

It's also fun to see actors appear in Leave It To Beaver before they were more well known. Tim Matheson plays Michael, Beaver's friend. The closing credits list him as Tim Matthieson (which is his real name).

As mentioned by others before, Clothing Drive does feel awkwardly out of sequence because Beaver is back at school. Yet this episode gives us another chance to see Doris Packer's rendition of Mrs. Rayburn. She was at the helm of Grant Avenue School in the very first Leave It To Beaver episode and here she still is at the end of the series.

[Scrabjan1]

As mentioned by others before, Clothing Drive does feel awkwardly out of sequence because Beaver is back at school. Yet this episode gives us another chance to see Doris Packer's rendition of Mrs. Rayburn. She was at the helm of Grant Avenue School in the very first Leave It To Beaver episode and here she still is at the end of the series.

You're right Doris was in the very first episode Beaver is 'spelled and the last one. I always thought it was Whitey who was the longest survivor.

I like how MeTV showed Haunted House and The Hypnotist out of sequence for Halloween. (or maybe it was Voodoo Magic.) I can't watch TV Land now way too many commercials.

[Old mans]

I just saw this episode on MeTV and was totally perplexed. Why were Wally and Beaver still in school? Obviously shown out of sequence. An episode of Wally getting ready for college would have been cool.

Sure gets confusing with Mrs. Rayburn going back and forth from principal to teacher.

Excellent point on "The Scrapbook" episode with Ward saying the boys could use a break from their homework. ????

[Jack1000]

Originally Posted by Old mans

I just saw this episode on MeTV and was totally perplexed. Why were Wally and Beaver still in school? Obviously shown out of sequence. An episode of Wally getting ready for college would have been cool.

Sure gets confusing with Mrs. Rayburn going back and forth from principal to teacher.

Excellent point on "The Scrapbook" episode with Ward saying the boys could use a break from their homework. ????

It seems that "Clothing Drive" was filmed late in Season five. If not, it should have been. For continuity, this episode should have had season five's opening and closing credits. It should have aired around the time of "Beaver's Typewriter", which makes sense, because Mr. Baily is Beaver's teacher in both episodes. Make it a season five episode, with the proper credits, either just before or after "Beaver's Typewriter." and it makes perfect sense.

I think when the cast rehearsed " The Clothing Drive" it was not regarded highly by cast or crew as a strong episode, and may have been "shelved" for filler, rather than showing a Leave it to Beaver rerun. They filmed enough episodes for season five without it, so it was saved till the end of the series, where it was believed that continuity back than would not be looked at the way it is now.

No explanation for why Mrs. Rayburn went from principal to teacher, back to principal, and sometimes a teacher again. She was principal with Ms. Canfield as Beaver's second grade teacher in Season 1. From Grades 3-5 Ms. Lander's is firmly established as Beaver's teacher. Mrs. Rayburn subs for Ms. Landers when she is sick one episode, and was there only one episode like that or more than one? Actually, I think Mrs. Rayburn subs for Ms. Canfield, but just once. Maybe the producers thought Doris Packer played the roles of both teacher and principal so well they never gave a second thought to the continuity issues. She did a landmark job!

The reasons for the continuity issues are back in the 50's-60's even up to the early 70's, television existed live and for the moment. The producers knew they had a classic series, but did not know that they would be starting a fifty-plus year old fan club of generations of "Beaver" fans and historians! The fact that this series continues to be enjoyed by older and newer generations is a testament to its longevity, brilliant writing, and moral sentiments that are often missing from today's shows.

Jack

[Scrabjan1]

Well said, Jack. I often wondered why Clothing Drive seemed so out of place. I think it's a very weak episode and see why it probably wasn't one they wanted to show. I thought June's hair was much shorter in Clothing Drive like in Season 5. She seemed to have much longer hair in all of Season 6. I think they should have shelved Beaver the Bunny with Clothing Drive.

[Cincy Guy]

It would be interesting to learn the reasons "Clothing Drive" was aired when it was from those who make that decision. My guess is that episode was already on the shelf and they decided at some point to add it in rather than film a newer one. I'm not sure when such a decision had to be made in those days. Obviously, the network had to notify TV Guide plus major market newspapers had to be advised as well. Remember when all of those ran a quick printed synopsis of what each program was going to be about? Even though LITB was on weekly back then, some who faithfully watched the show must have noticed how things had "jumped back".

[Scrabjan1]

They probably had an episode hanging around towards the end of season 6 and thought let's show Clothing Drive instead of trying to write another episode of Beaver getting into trouble. The writers might have been able to pull something out of the air and write another episode for Eddie but then it would start to look like Leave It To Eddie.

Aside from Clothing Drive not being one of the best we do have a very funny exchange between Ward and June about who was responsible for the suits getting donated. June handled herself well. Ward talking to Mrs. Rayburn about the suits reminded me of Ward talking to her about writing that poem for Beaver about The Bear.

[Jack1000]

This is an episode list of all six seasons from Leave it to Beaver: (With production codes- ie. filming sequences.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...eaver_episodes

It's from Wikipedia. Because anyone can edit it, take it with a grain of salt for validity. However, the production codes on the far right for season 6, show that Clothing Drive was seemingly filmed earlier.

Number experts can try to put the production sequences in order. However, it shows that Clothing Drive is out of place, just as we all know.

Jack

[Jack1000]

If you REALLY want the show to follow proper sequencing,

Not only do you put The Clothing Drive in Season 5 or very early in Season 6, but the series last episode should have been "The All Night Party." In the tag, Wally is positioning his diploma on the wall, and doesn't Beaver get concerned about Mayfield High being so big and how he might have all of his classes on different floors? Wally says, "What do you think they are going to do? Have the teachers come to you? What is Beaver's response and last line here? I think he says something funny and can't remember!

Anyway, Family Scrapbook would have worked fine IF:

1.) Both the boys were still in school. (Ward saying get the boys away from their homework to look at the photo album-but they had already graduated!)

and

2.) Not using a photo album at all. As mentioned in the "Show Inconsistencies" thread (I think.) one of posters makes a great point. Who was taking all those pictures for the album? LOL! Especially when Wally gets caught using Ward's razor, shaving!!! LOL!

The episode, "Family Scrapbook", could have had each cast member reflect on a favorite episode in the series! It could have been a special show of sorts, but it would have had to have aired without the photo album and before Wally and Beaver graduating.

Jack

[Cincy Guy]

"Family Scrapbook" seems to me to have been a good way to conclude the series. I assume by that time, it had been determined Season Six (1962-63) would be the final year. Showing photos of events from the past where no one really would have had a camera might seem a little silly, but it does offer one way to look back. I do think the ending of that episode with the toy clown playing the violin was a good choice. It showed that the boys although older and more mature could still find a little laughter in an old toy.

I do have a question about this episode. It was the last show of the season - airing on June 20, 1963. However, there were re-runs of the show that were aired in that time slot up to and including September 12. Was the "Family Scrapbook" episode re-run on the final show on September 12, 1963? If not, which one was?