History Series / LeaveItToBeaver

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Ken Osmond was a complete straight arrow in real life, and later became a respected police officer.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece

* DadTheVeteran: In one episode Ward Cleaver mentions being in the Army Air Force.

* BusCrash: In the 1983 made-for-TV movie it's revealed that Ward Cleaver passed away in 1977 at the age of 67.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Julie Foster (one of the girls Wally would be seen dating from time to time) was played by [[TheMickeyMouseClub original Mouseketeer]] Cheryl Holdridge.
** Fred Rutherford is Mel from ''TheDickVanDykeShow''.

* ClipShow: the series finale, TropeMaker

-->(reading a note attached to flowers sent to Ward)
-->June: "Who's Cornelia Rayburn? And when did she see you off your feet?"

* HatesBaths: Both Wally in the Beaver in the early seasons, when they are still preteens. In the very first episode, they fake taking a bath rather than actually take a bath.

-->Guy 1: What is the dirtiest thing ever said on television?
-->Guy 2: I don't know. What ''is'' the dirtiest thing ever said on television?
-->Guy 1: "Ward, I think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night."

* HiddenDepths: In one episode, June reveals that her Aunt has raised her from childhood.

* {{Housewife}}: June Cleaver is the classic/stereotypical embodiment of the '50s version of the trope.

*** June even got to wear slacks in a couple early episodes, but this was eventually nixed by the producers, who felt it too unladylike and/or too sexy for the character.

-->Mr. Willet, here's a list of everyone who talked while you weren't in the room.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In the episode where Beaver and Wally try to raise a baby alligator, Ward and June replace it with a dog that was never seen again.
** Though a later episode does briefly refer to it, noting that Wally and the Beaver weren't attentive enough and they had to get rid of it.

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: In one episode everyone was agast that Beaver was actually selling water to people! Mind you, it wasn't so much that he took advantage of inside knowledge that the water main would be shut off or that he was selling it out of a bucket on his wagon, but mearly the fact that one person could be low enough to sell water to another person! How [[DennisMiller Evian spelled backwards]] of them!

* VerySpecialEpisode: About divorce and alcoholism.

Archetypical [[TheFifties 1950s]] DomCom, slightly unusual in that it focused on the youngest member of the Cleaver family, 8-year-old (at the start) Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. He had an older brother, the JuniorHigh-aged Wally (who is the exact opposite of an EmoTeen). Parents Ward and June rounded out the family group. The series debuted on Creator/{{CBS}} in 1957, then after one season it [[ChannelHop channel hopped]] to Creator/{{ABC}}, where it ran until 1963. TheFilmOfTheSeries was released in 1997 that was somewhat of a present day look at the Cleaver clan, but with more of an AffectionateParody vibe.

** TruthInTelevision: In standard psychology studies, JamesBond is the man most women want to sleep with; Ward Cleaver is the man most want to be married to.

Archetypical [[TheFifties 1950s]] DomCom, slightly unusual in that it focused on the youngest member of the Cleaver family, 8-year-old (at the start) Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. He had an older brother, the JuniorHigh-aged Wally (who is the exact opposite of an EmoTeen). Parents Ward and June rounded out the family group. The series debuted on {{CBS}} in 1957, then after one season it [[ChannelHop channel hopped]] to {{ABC}}, where it ran until 1963. TheFilmOfTheSeries was released in 1997 that was somewhat of a present day look at the Cleaver clan, but with more of an AffectionateParody vibe.

The Beaver was played by Jerry Mathers in the series, and by Cameron Finley in the film. Wally was played by Tony Dow in the series, and by Erik von Detten in the film. Ward was played by Hugh Beaumont in the series, and by Christopher [=McDonald=] in the film. June was played by Barbara Billingsley in the series, and by Janine Turner in the film.

* BlondGuysAreEvil: Eddie Haskell. At least a fifties DomCom teenager type of evil.

* ChronicBackStabbingDisorder: Gilbert. In many episodes, he pressures Beaver into doing something that he knows is either wrong, dangerous or stupid, and sometimes would say that he would do it as well. Then, when Beaver caves and gets into trouble, Gilbert would make fun of him, and yet still claim to be his [[WithFriendsLikeThese 'best friend']]. If it were not for Beaver's innocence and kind nature, Gilbert would not have been so {{EasilyForgiven}}.

** Fred Rutherford is Mel from ''{{The Dick Van Dyke Show}}''.

** In reference to the pearls and heels while doing housework, Barbara Billingsley (may she RIP) stated that she didn't always wear them. She had a hollow in her neck that showed up quite visibly on camera. Even in later appearances/interviews, she can be seen with either a high-collared blouse or a pearl necklace covering it. Same with the heels. She said she sometimes wore flats, but as Dow and Mathers grew, she thought it would be best to maintain a bit of height over them.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In the episode where Beaver and Wally try to raise a baby alligator, Ward and June replace it with a dog that was never seen again.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the first episode we have this exchange:

* ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated: A [[UrbanLegend popularly-spread rumor]] during the '70s and '80s was that Jerry Mathers had been killed in action during the VietnamWar. This rumor persisted even ''after'' the now-adult Mathers appeared on the ''TonightShow'' with Johnny Carson to specifically refute the rumor by showing he was very much alive and was still an active actor. (Not only that, he never served in Vietnam in the first place.)
** Dow and Mathers also appeared briefly on an early episode of SaturdayNightLive. Mathers joked that he himself had started the rumor because he was afraid people were starting to forget about them. Dow responded, "Gee Beav, you big goof. I oughta slug ya!"