"The Visiting Aunts" 60th Anniversary

[MichaelMartinD]

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the classic episode "The Visiting Aunts." Feel free to leave your comments on the episode here.

It strikes me that Wally brought the trouble upon him and Beaver when the Aunts asked the boys if they had any other plans and Wally said no. If he had just come out and told them politely that they had planned to go to the fair, things might have gone differently.

[MMR]

One of my favorite episodes, with a great lecture from Ward.

When we discussed this episode before, I sided with Aunt Martha, on the grounds that family should come first and visiting with relatives should come before going somewhere with your friends. Some of the other posters disagreed.

When Aunt Martha said, ". . . unless they have some place to rush off to. Have you?," Wally had the good sense to give the right answer. If he had said, "Well, gee, Aunt Martha, the two of us were planning to go to the carnival with our friends," that would have led to more trouble, not less, from Ward and June. At least one of them would have said something right there.

[stevea]

June probably would have said, "Now, Wally, you know those were just tentative plans. Tell Aunt Martha how much you'd like to have lunch with her, and that you'd be glad to go to the carnival later."

After Aunt Martha and her friend left, you have the 8 year old acting more mature than the 13 year old. Wally was right when he was apologizing to June, when he said that it was more his fault than Beaver's. That apology would probably not have happened if Ward had not had his talk with the boys.

Along with Beaver Runs Away, this is one of the best early episodes (though mis-titled).

[Scrabjan1]

Yeah I hate the title. Any ideas what it should have been titled? Here are some.

Aunt Martha and the Big Sweater

Tea Sandwiches All Around

What’s The Big Deal

The Carnival or Bust

Broken Promises

The Mis-Directed Ladies

An Afternoon of Boredom

Family First

Yes I think because Aunt Martha didn’t always visit and was June’s dearest relative it was the right thing to do to cancel the carnival and visit with her. You can go to a carnival anytime. I remember throwing a fit because it was July 4th and I wanted to go to the carnival and no one was moving.

[stevea]

I like The Mis-Directed Ladies, but Broken Promises matches up with what they might have used.

Or: Family First, Fun Later

or Garden Grove or Bust

or Indian Caverns and the Mis-Directed Ladies

or Gee, How 'Bout Draggin' The Old Ladies To The Carnival?

or Tea, Crumpets, and Carnivals

or Old Ladies, Chuckwagons, and Doggie Burgers

[Scrabjan1]

I vote for Old Ladies, Chuckwagons, and Doggie Burgers.

[stevea]

OK, here's the revised TV Guide:

8am MeTV Leave It To Beaver - S2, Ep12 (1958) "Old Ladies, Chuckwagons, and Doggie Burgers" - Wally and Beaver are miffed when their trip to the carnival is thwarted by a surprise visit from Aunt Martha (Madge Kennedy) and her friend (irene Tedrow).

[MichaelMartinD]

Some of the funniest parts of the episode:

The two prim, proper ladies sitting there at table while Wally's friends yell playful insults from outside.

Wally suggesting that Aunt Martha and her friend eat at the Chuck Wagon.

Lumpy saying "BIG DEAL!"

Wally putting the coffee in the freezer to cool it down (actually a good idea!)

[Scrabjan1]

I was going to say Wally putting coffee in freezer was funny. I like when Tooey insults Lumpy and when Lumpy is going to sock him Tooey taps his glasses. However not in this episode.

That was a good TV guide synopsis.