LEAVE IT TO BEAVER: JUNE'S BIRTHDAY (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about the Cleaver family -- Ward and June and their two sons, Wally and Theodore, known as "the Beaver."

The episode begins the day before June’s birthday. She doesn’t want the family to go to any trouble, but Ward asks the boys to get her something regardless, giving them some money to buy her a gift. Wally and Beaver discuss what to get June, but can’t seem to agree on anything. They argue about what to get and decide to split the money and each buy separate gifts for her to see which one is better.

Wally gets June a wallet with her initials on it. Meanwhile, Beaver heads to the Mondello house to get advice on what to get June. Mrs. Mondello suggests getting her a blouse and Beaver and Larry head into town to get it. They pick one: a gaudy, tacky outfit complete with depictions of the Eiffel Tower.

Everyone gives June their gifts and she seems pleased. She unwraps the blouse and seems genuinely appreciative, but she confides in Ward that she finds it “ghastly.” Meanwhile, Beaver and Wally fight about who got the better present, and Wally maintains that June only said she liked it to avoid hurting his feelings. Beaver asks her to wear it to her women’s club meeting tomorrow, and June reluctantly agrees.

June wears the blouse the next day, but after Beaver and Wally leave Ward advises her to change into something else for the meeting and then change back before Beaver gets back from school, leaving him none the wiser. However, Beaver’s class is brought in to sing at the meeting, and he sees June and is visibly upset. June appears mortified.

Later, June comes back home and confesses what she did to Wally, saying she feels terrible. Beaver arrives soon afterwards, dejected, and heads for his room. June goes to apologize to Beaver, trying to explain why she said what she didn’t really mean. Beaver forgives her. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: December 26, 1959 8:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:29:18
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: B:13544
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1957-1958; ABC - 1958-1963
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV – Commercials – Corn Chex breakfast cereal
  • TV – Commercials – Purina dog food
  • TV – Commercials – Ralston Purina food company
  • TV – Commercials – Rice Chex breakfast cereal

CREDITS

• Joe Connelly … Producer, Created by, Writer
• Bob Mosher … Producer, Created by, Writer
• David Butler … Director
• Barbara Billingsley … Cast, June Cleaver
• Hugh Beaumont … Cast, Ward Cleaver
• Tony Dow … Cast, Wally Cleaver
• Jerry Mathers … Cast, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver
• Rusty Stevens … Cast, Larry Mondello
• Sue Randall … Cast, Miss Landers
• Madge Blake … Cast, Margaret Mondello
• Jeri Weil … Cast, Judy Hensler
• Stanley Fafara … Cast, Hubert "Whitey" Whitney
• Claire Carleton … Cast, Saleslady
• Jean Vander Pyl … Cast, Woman's Club Member