Difference between revisions of "Leave It to Beaver"
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The plot revolved around the life of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (played by Jerry Mathers), a pre-adolescent boy living in an upscale, middle-class neighborhood in the innocent years of the 1950s. His teen-age brother, Wally, was played Tony Dow, his father, Ward, by Hugh Beaumont, and his mother, June, by Barbara Billingsley. | The plot revolved around the life of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (played by Jerry Mathers), a pre-adolescent boy living in an upscale, middle-class neighborhood in the innocent years of the 1950s. His teen-age brother, Wally, was played Tony Dow, his father, Ward, by Hugh Beaumont, and his mother, June, by Barbara Billingsley. | ||
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| + | A comparison of how children interact with their brothers and sisters on such 1950's situation comedy television programs as 'Leave It To Beaver' and 'Father Knows Best' with those on such 1980s programs as 'The Cosby Show' and 'Family Ties' found that children interacted more positively in the early period but were important and central - if more conflictual - to the main story action in the 1980s.<ref> Mary Strom Larson, "Sibling Interactions in 1950s Versus 1980s Sitcoms: A Comparison," ''Journalism Quarterly'' 1991 68(3): 381-387 | ||
| + | </ref> | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
| − | * | + | * Mathers, Jerry. ''And Jerry Mathers as "The Beaver,"'' (1998), memoir. |
| + | * Kassel, Michael B. "Mass Culture, History and Memory and the Image of the American Family," PdD dissertation, Michigan State U. 2005 65(9): 3537-A. DA3146050 613p. | ||
| + | ====references==== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
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[[Category:1950s]] | [[Category:1950s]] | ||
[[Category:Television Shows]] | [[Category:Television Shows]] | ||
Revision as of 06:21, August 8, 2009
"Leave It to Beaver" was a popular situation comedy on American television, 1957-63. The weekly program began on CBS on October 4, 1957; the next season it moved to ABC. Syndicated reruns continue late into the night in the 21st century. The 234 half-hour episodes are available on DVD.
It has become an icon of stable family life 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), a pre-adolescent boy living in an upscale, middle-class neighborhood in the innocent years of the 1950s. His teen-age brother, Wally, was played Tony Dow, his father, Ward, by Hugh Beaumont, and his mother, June, by Barbara Billingsley.
A comparison of how children interact with their brothers and sisters on such 1950's situation comedy television programs as 'Leave It To Beaver' and 'Father Knows Best' with those on such 1980s programs as 'The Cosby Show' and 'Family Ties' found that children interacted more positively in the early period but were important and central - if more conflictual - to the main story action in the 1980s.[1]
Further reading
- Mathers, Jerry. And Jerry Mathers as "The Beaver," (1998), memoir.
- Kassel, Michael B. "Mass Culture, History and Memory and the Image of the American Family," PdD dissertation, Michigan State U. 2005 65(9): 3537-A. DA3146050 613p.
references
- ↑ Mary Strom Larson, "Sibling Interactions in 1950s Versus 1980s Sitcoms: A Comparison," Journalism Quarterly 1991 68(3): 381-387