Changes

It has become an icon of stable family life in a [[nuclear family]] (comprising only the parents and their children) and moral decision-making in a world of small human foibles and no great issues.

It has become an icon of stable family life in a [[nuclear family]] (comprising only the parents and their children) and moral decision-making in a world of small human foibles and no great issues.

The plot revolved around the life of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers (born 1948), a curious and frequently naïve pre-adolescent boy living in an upscale, middle-class neighborhood in the innocent years of the 1950s. His teen-age brother, Wally, was played by Tony Dow, his father, Ward, by Hugh Beaumont (1909-1982), and his mother, June, by Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010). Eddie Haskell, portrayed by Ken Osmond (1943-2020), was the two-faced teenage conniver who turns choirboy whenever he is in the presence of adults. Television writer Joe Connelly (1918-2003) was the main creator; his 8-year-old son was the inspiration for Beaver, and his 14-year-old son was the model for Wally.  The producer was [[Harry S. Ackerman]].  

The plot revolved around the life of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers (born 1948), a curious and frequently naïve pre-adolescent boy living in an upscale, middle-class neighborhood in the innocent years of the 1950s. The setting is the fictitious town of Mayfield, state not identified. The Beaver's teen-age brother, Wally, was played by Tony Dow; his father, Ward, by Hugh Beaumont (1909-1982), and his mother, June, by Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010). Eddie Haskell, portrayed by Ken Osmond (1943-2020), was the two-faced teenage conniver who turns choirboy whenever he is in the presence of adults. Television writer Joe Connelly (1918-2003) was the main creator; his 8-year-old son was the inspiration for Beaver, and his 14-year-old son was the model for Wally.  The producer was [[Harry S. Ackerman]].  

In its "Golden Age," television served as a kind of social training film; sitcoms like  ''Leave It to Beaver,'' ''[[The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet]],'' ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]'' and ''[[Father Knows Best]],'' were all prime-time staples that taught Americans newly arrived in the suburbs from city tenements how to act middle-class.   

In its "Golden Age," television served as a kind of social training film; sitcoms like  ''Leave It to Beaver,'' ''[[The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet]],'' ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]'' and ''[[Father Knows Best]],'' were all prime-time staples that taught Americans newly arrived in the suburbs from city tenements how to act middle-class.