Larry Mondello's strange family life - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

1960'sTVfan · 11-07-2017, 11:41 AM

Aside from Larry, the only other person in his family that is seen is his mother, and she looks old enough to be his grandmother.

Larry's father is often mentioned but is not seen, it seems that he's an absentee father and always away from home due to business reasons.

Larry also has a sister but she isn't seen either, she was subject matter in that episode where Larry and Beaver sneak a peek into Larry's sister's diary, but his sister is not seen in the episode.

Was it not in the Leave It To Beaver budget to hire an actor for the role of Larry's father and an actress for the role of his sister?

Torgo · 11-07-2017, 12:09 PM

We saw Larry's dad once, though briefly in the episode where Beaver dresses like a bird for the school play, he's seen backstage talking to Larry.

There's an older brother who is married and has one child. He lives out of state with his family.

Larry also has a little brother, mentioned I think only in one episode.

I think it's funnier that we only see the mom.

Scrabjan1 · 11-07-2017, 01:14 PM

It was very funny having Mrs. Mondello stating he was always in Cincinnati and why can’t you do these things when your father is home? His sister apparently was homely so they would have had to get someone who was unattractive. They basically said Mary Grace on Andy Griffith was unattractive and made the actress out to be plain. I know they could have used Sheila James who played on Dobey Gillis as Larry’s sister, Shirley.

PracTz · 11-07-2017, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrabjan1

It was very funny having Mrs. Mondello stating he was always in Cincinnati and why can’t you do these things when your father is home? His sister apparently was homely so they would have had to get someone who was unattractive. They basically said Mary Grace on Andy Griffith was unattractive and made the actress out to be plain. I know they could have used Sheila James who played on Dobey Gillis as Larry’s sister, Shirley.

Nah, I mean, yes Zelda was not a conventional beauty but she was brilliant, kind and sympathetic while this unseen character seemed to have no redeeming features- just someone whose existence got Larry into trouble.

Also, it may have been a more interesting twist had it turned out she'd been the 'Marilyn Munster' in her family (which the LITB folks themselves later produced).

Scrabjan1 · 11-07-2017, 01:59 PM

Yeah I would have liked to have seen her at least once but we very rarely saw Beaver at Larry’s House. Oh wait at least 5 times. Gilbert also had a sister as did Richard and Whitey.

Mr B · 11-07-2017, 03:54 PM

I stated this earlier on another thread..... Larry's sister was really his mother,back in the 50's and 60's unwed mothers were completely ostracized . Mrs Mondello was way too old to be Larry's mother especially in the 40's or 50's when women married at a much younger age and were having kids by age 21 or even younger.......Incidentally back in the day I had a cousin who always called her mother her sister

1960'sTVfan · 11-07-2017, 04:48 PM

Since Madge Blake was casted for this show, I think what should have been done is give her the role of Larry's grandmother, and explain in the scripts of the episodes that Larry's parents had passed away tragically in an accident, so he now lives with his grandmother and she's raising him. That would have made more sense because Madge Blake looked obviously too old to be the mom of a young boy. She was age 58 in 1957 when Leave It To Beaver began.

Torgo · 11-07-2017, 04:54 PM

Larry's living with his grandmother after he killed his parents, brothers, and sister. We never see them because they're all in his head. Larry's grandmother is as delusional as Larry and soon begins to believe she is Larry's real mom, and starts imagining all of the family members. Beaver is in cahoots with Larry because Larry is blackmailing Beaver, so Beaver lies to everyone saying he has seen all of the family whenever he goes over to the Mondello's for dinner.

Svenfan1234 · 11-07-2017, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Larry's living with his grandmother after he killed his parents, brothers, and sister. We never see them because they're all in his head. Larry's grandmother is as delusional as Larry and soon begins to believe she is Larry's real mom, and starts imagining all of the family members. Beaver is in cahoots with Larry because Larry is blackmailing Beaver, so Beaver lies to everyone saying he has seen all of the family whenever he goes over to the Mondello's for dinner.

Makes sense.

Coffeecup · 11-07-2017, 05:44 PM

Speaking of Shelia James, I happened to watch Trouble with Father, Stu Irwin's sitcom of the early 1950's and Sheila played the youngest daughter. Interesting to see her before Dobie Gillis.

Bonniegirl · 11-07-2017, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Larry's living with his grandmother after he killed his parents, brothers, and sister. We never see them because they're all in his head. Larry's grandmother is as delusional as Larry and soon begins to believe she is Larry's real mom, and starts imagining all of the family members. Beaver is in cahoots with Larry because Larry is blackmailing Beaver, so Beaver lies to everyone saying he has seen all of the family whenever he goes over to the Mondello's for dinner.

Ah, the good old days!!

The 50's and early 60's were such a wholesome time.... , or so we thought?

stevea · 11-07-2017, 10:38 PM

I remember that other thread about Mrs. Mondello really being his grandmother, and his so-called sister being his real mother. That was fun, but I think a few posters didn't like it.

Seriously, maybe Larry was an "oops" baby (my grandmother had 3 boys, then 10 years later had an oops daughter). Let's say Mrs. Mondello was 55 in 1960, she could have been 45 when she had Larry. Odd, but not unheard of.

Bonniegirl · 11-07-2017, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I remember that other thread about Mrs. Mondello really being his grandmother, and his so-called sister being his real mother. That was fun, but I think a few posters didn't like it.

Seriously, maybe Larry was an "oops" baby (my grandmother had 3 boys, then 10 years later had an oops daughter). Let's say Mrs. Mondello was 55 in 1960, she could have been 45 when she had Larry. Odd, but not unheard of.

Yep!!! Exactly!! I posted this in another thread!

Larry was a change of life baby! Mrs. Mondello was going into menopause when Larry was conceived! Such as myself, if I'm not careful I could be a "Mrs. Mondello" right now!

God forbid!!

But yeah! She was middle aged when Larry was born, and her Husband away on business, her other children grown, at her age she was exasperated raising a little boy!

That was the charm and the reason these two characters (Mrs. Mondello and Larry) were so lovable!

I can relate!! Geez!! If I were to turn up pregnant right now as I'm going through menopause and my two kids I have already are grown and out of the house and if my Hub wasn't home a lot I think I'd be even MORE frantic than poor Mrs. Mondello raising a child at my age!!

How adorable is it that they REALLY did look alike ?

They really do look like Mother and Son even though she is old!

Larry and Mom !! YOU 2 ROCK!!!!

1960'sTVfan · 11-07-2017, 11:58 PM

Madge Blake and Rusty Stevens do sort of resemble each other, but I think she still looks too old to be his mom, grandmother is more like it. After Rusty Stevens left the show, Madge Blake lost her role as well but then she turned up on The Joey Bishop Show and had the role of Joey's mom for the 1st season of that series. Then a few years later she was in Batman with Burt Ward and Adam West.

1960'sTVfan · 11-08-2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Let's say Mrs. Mondello was 55 in 1960, she could have been 45 when she had Larry. Odd, but not unheard of.

If Madge Blake was Rusty Stevens real life mother, she would have been age 49 when giving birth to him. So yes I imagine it would have been possible for her to have a child at that age, despite the fact she looks old enough to be his grandmother.

11-07-2017, 11:41 AM	#1
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,134	Larry Mondello's strange family life Aside from Larry, the only other person in his family that is seen is his mother, and she looks old enough to be his grandmother. Larry's father is often mentioned but is not seen, it seems that he's an absentee father and always away from home due to business reasons. Larry also has a sister but she isn't seen either, she was subject matter in that episode where Larry and Beaver sneak a peek into Larry's sister's diary, but his sister is not seen in the episode. Was it not in the Leave It To Beaver budget to hire an actor for the role of Larry's father and an actress for the role of his sister?

11-07-2017, 12:09 PM	#2
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,041	We saw Larry's dad once, though briefly in the episode where Beaver dresses like a bird for the school play, he's seen backstage talking to Larry. There's an older brother who is married and has one child. He lives out of state with his family. Larry also has a little brother, mentioned I think only in one episode. I think it's funnier that we only see the mom.
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11-07-2017, 01:14 PM	#3
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	It was very funny having Mrs. Mondello stating he was always in Cincinnati and why can’t you do these things when your father is home? His sister apparently was homely so they would have had to get someone who was unattractive. They basically said Mary Grace on Andy Griffith was unattractive and made the actress out to be plain. I know they could have used Sheila James who played on Dobey Gillis as Larry’s sister, Shirley.

11-07-2017, 01:59 PM	#5
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Yeah I would have liked to have seen her at least once but we very rarely saw Beaver at Larry’s House. Oh wait at least 5 times. Gilbert also had a sister as did Richard and Whitey.

11-07-2017, 03:54 PM	#6
Mr B Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 13, 2002 Posts: 136	I stated this earlier on another thread..... Larry's sister was really his mother,back in the 50's and 60's unwed mothers were completely ostracized . Mrs Mondello was way too old to be Larry's mother especially in the 40's or 50's when women married at a much younger age and were having kids by age 21 or even younger.......Incidentally back in the day I had a cousin who always called her mother her sister

11-07-2017, 04:48 PM	#7
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,134	Since Madge Blake was casted for this show, I think what should have been done is give her the role of Larry's grandmother, and explain in the scripts of the episodes that Larry's parents had passed away tragically in an accident, so he now lives with his grandmother and she's raising him. That would have made more sense because Madge Blake looked obviously too old to be the mom of a young boy. She was age 58 in 1957 when Leave It To Beaver began.

11-07-2017, 04:54 PM	#8
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,041	Larry's living with his grandmother after he killed his parents, brothers, and sister. We never see them because they're all in his head. Larry's grandmother is as delusional as Larry and soon begins to believe she is Larry's real mom, and starts imagining all of the family members. Beaver is in cahoots with Larry because Larry is blackmailing Beaver, so Beaver lies to everyone saying he has seen all of the family whenever he goes over to the Mondello's for dinner.

11-07-2017, 05:44 PM	#10
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	Speaking of Shelia James, I happened to watch Trouble with Father, Stu Irwin's sitcom of the early 1950's and Sheila played the youngest daughter. Interesting to see her before Dobie Gillis.

11-07-2017, 10:38 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,949	I remember that other thread about Mrs. Mondello really being his grandmother, and his so-called sister being his real mother. That was fun, but I think a few posters didn't like it. Seriously, maybe Larry was an "oops" baby (my grandmother had 3 boys, then 10 years later had an oops daughter). Let's say Mrs. Mondello was 55 in 1960, she could have been 45 when she had Larry. Odd, but not unheard of.

11-07-2017, 11:58 PM	#14
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,134	Madge Blake and Rusty Stevens do sort of resemble each other, but I think she still looks too old to be his mom, grandmother is more like it. After Rusty Stevens left the show, Madge Blake lost her role as well but then she turned up on The Joey Bishop Show and had the role of Joey's mom for the 1st season of that series. Then a few years later she was in Batman with Burt Ward and Adam West.