Beaver's Other Connotation - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stevearino · 10-04-2021, 08:13 PM

Hello Everyone,

I was just thinking of something funny, yet true: that the word "Beaver" is slang for "Vagina."

I wonder if Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher (the producer/creators of "Leave It To Beaver" and later "The Munsters") knew that "Beaver" was slang for "Vagina" when they pitched the show to execs at the CBS Television Network.

As I'm sure you know, after CBS cancelled it in early 1958, ABC picked up the series at the start of its 2nd season, airing it for the rest of its run til 1963.

You gotta wonder how things would have been 6 1/2 decades ago if the networks let a '50s sitcom with a title like "Leave It To Beaver" on the airwaves IF the networks knew that the term "Beaver" was slang for "Vagina."

Instead of saying "And Jerry Mathers as The Beaver" in the Opening Credits, the announcer at the end of such credits COULD HAVE said "And Jerry Mathers as Vagina."

I'm sure instead of being called "Beaver" by his parents and teen brother Wally, Ward and Wally at different times could have said "Hey Vagina" when addressing the title character played by Jerry Mathers.

On a related note: imagine how different "Leave It To Beaver" would be if the Eddie Haskell character had started calling everyone "Penis" on the show.

LOL!!!

vitoscotti · 10-04-2021, 09:03 PM

And playing the part of Ward Cleaver is Peter O'Toole.

stevea · 10-05-2021, 07:00 AM

How far back does this slang reference go? Connelly and Mosher were of the boomers' parents generation, called the greatest generation. Most of these people are deceased, so we can't just ask one.

Torgo · 10-05-2021, 07:15 AM

https://english.stackexchange.com/qu...ed-with-vagina

Chocolate Moose · 10-05-2021, 10:56 AM

ooooooof

stevea · 10-05-2021, 01:07 PM

Based on the link above, evidently the reference goes way back to the 1920s in British usage. I guess it's an open question how well-known it was in this country. From Wikipedia:
In a 2006 interview, Jerry Mathers stated that series creator Joe Connelly had a shipmate in the U.S. Merchant Marine named Beaver and simply liked the name

I'm going to change this thread title. Strictly a judgment call.

vitoscotti · 10-05-2021, 01:12 PM

I stumbled on this song (look at the year) years ago. Love it for it's guitar solos. An all-time favorite of mine.

In high school I had a job in retail. A real comical manager would walk the store. He called his walks the title on the song.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_kt_ouBPU

SarahBellum · 10-05-2021, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I'm going to change this thread title.

Thank you.

Tankeryanker · 10-05-2021, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

In a 2006 interview, Jerry Mathers stated that series creator Joe Connelly had a shipmate in the U.S. Merchant Marine named Beaver and simply liked the name

I never thought beaver sounded anything like Theodore.

SarahBellum · 10-05-2021, 01:33 PM

I think it was because of his beaver-like teeth.

Tankeryanker · 10-05-2021, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

I think it was because of his beaver-like teeth.

https://www.history-a2z.com/a-blast-...cts/50/?xcmg=1
It came out in the "Family Scrapbook" finale. Beaver asked his mom why they call him "Beaver" instead of his actual name, Theodore. Mrs. Cleaver explained that when Wally was young couldn't pronounce his baby brother's name, and it sounded like Beaver instead of Theodore, so they just left it

GentlemanJim · 10-05-2021, 04:42 PM

I recall several instances where June stated "Ward, don't you think you were a little rough on the Beaver last night?" that always made me wonder.

stevea · 10-05-2021, 06:16 PM

She stuck something in the explanation about Wally saying something like Tweeder which they gradually morphed into Beaver.

If I was Ward I would have said to Wally, just call him Ted or Teddy.

The Family Scrapbook explanation kinda goes along with something Beaver said to Miss Canfield in Beaver Gets 'Spelled, where she asked him (about the name Beaver):

Is that your given name?

Beaver: Yes, my brother given it to me.

vitoscotti · 10-05-2021, 07:43 PM

"Nice Beaver" - The Naked Gun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AvWfbIe4X_4

RetroGuy2000 · 10-05-2021, 07:55 PM

I had a friend in Finland in the 1990s who was familiar with the euphemism "beaver" from The Naked Gun. After she saw that film, she heard of Leave it to Beaver, and wondered, "Why would anyone nickname a kid 'Beaver'"?

10-04-2021, 08:13 PM	#1
stevearino Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 249	Beaver's Other Connotation Hello Everyone, I was just thinking of something funny, yet true: that the word "Beaver" is slang for "Vagina." I wonder if Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher (the producer/creators of "Leave It To Beaver" and later "The Munsters") knew that "Beaver" was slang for "Vagina" when they pitched the show to execs at the CBS Television Network. As I'm sure you know, after CBS cancelled it in early 1958, ABC picked up the series at the start of its 2nd season, airing it for the rest of its run til 1963. You gotta wonder how things would have been 6 1/2 decades ago if the networks let a '50s sitcom with a title like "Leave It To Beaver" on the airwaves IF the networks knew that the term "Beaver" was slang for "Vagina." Instead of saying "And Jerry Mathers as The Beaver" in the Opening Credits, the announcer at the end of such credits COULD HAVE said "And Jerry Mathers as Vagina." I'm sure instead of being called "Beaver" by his parents and teen brother Wally, Ward and Wally at different times could have said "Hey Vagina" when addressing the title character played by Jerry Mathers. On a related note: imagine how different "Leave It To Beaver" would be if the Eddie Haskell character had started calling everyone "Penis" on the show. LOL!!!
	Last edited by stevea; 10-05-2021 at 01:09 PM. Reason: more "tasteful" title

10-05-2021, 07:15 AM	#4
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,037	https://english.stackexchange.com/qu...ed-with-vagina
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10-05-2021, 10:56 AM	#5
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,902	ooooooof
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10-05-2021, 04:42 PM	#12
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I recall several instances where June stated "Ward, don't you think you were a little rough on the Beaver last night?" that always made me wonder.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

10-05-2021, 07:55 PM	#15
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	I had a friend in Finland in the 1990s who was familiar with the euphemism "beaver" from The Naked Gun. After she saw that film, she heard of Leave it to Beaver, and wondered, "Why would anyone nickname a kid 'Beaver'"?
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10-04-2021, 09:03 PM	#2
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	And playing the part of Ward Cleaver is Peter O'Toole.

10-05-2021, 07:00 AM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,900	How far back does this slang reference go? Connelly and Mosher were of the boomers' parents generation, called the greatest generation. Most of these people are deceased, so we can't just ask one.

10-05-2021, 01:07 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,900	Based on the link above, evidently the reference goes way back to the 1920s in British usage. I guess it's an open question how well-known it was in this country. From Wikipedia: In a 2006 interview, Jerry Mathers stated that series creator Joe Connelly had a shipmate in the U.S. Merchant Marine named Beaver and simply liked the name I'm going to change this thread title. Strictly a judgment call.

10-05-2021, 01:12 PM	#7
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	I stumbled on this song (look at the year) years ago. Love it for it's guitar solos. An all-time favorite of mine. In high school I had a job in retail. A real comical manager would walk the store. He called his walks the title on the song. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_kt_ouBPU

10-05-2021, 01:33 PM	#10
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	I think it was because of his beaver-like teeth.

10-05-2021, 06:16 PM	#13
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,900	She stuck something in the explanation about Wally saying something like Tweeder which they gradually morphed into Beaver. If I was Ward I would have said to Wally, just call him Ted or Teddy. The Family Scrapbook explanation kinda goes along with something Beaver said to Miss Canfield in Beaver Gets 'Spelled, where she asked him (about the name Beaver): Is that your given name? Beaver: Yes, my brother given it to me.

10-05-2021, 07:43 PM	#14
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	"Nice Beaver" - The Naked Gun https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AvWfbIe4X_4