Beaver's Dance

(*Ward Cleaver to Beaver quote*) - "That was a really sneaky thing you did today!"

There's no question about it. Beaver Cleaver hates girls. And, so - When he gets a formal invitation to attend the Mayfield Cotillion (for a series of 6 dances) in the Pink Room at the hotel, is it any wonder that he blows his top when his parents insist that he go?

Well, never fear Beaver 'cause your fat & fickle friend, Larry Mondello has got a fool-proof plan that'll excuse the both of you girl-haters from being in attendance.

Anyway - As expected - Things don't quite go as planned for Beaver & Larry. And, before they know it trouble is staring then right in the face (once again).

This story has always fascinated me, sort of a mini fantasy, creative writing by producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher. You often wonder how they came up with various ideas. The cowgirl character is a diamond in the rough.

It all begins the usual way, both Beave and Larry saddled with something they don't want to be a part of. They're enrolled in some fancy dance classes, suits and white gloves are required! As expected, their meet and greet sessions go haywire, and after a few disasterous times, Beave and Larry decide to ditch the next cotillion.

What comes next is the best ever, and all us kids loved it. The guys decide to kill some time, pretending they're at the dance, all the while seeking refuge at a barn? Enter Karen Sue Trent, teen dream cowgirl riding a horse? If that doesn't change the trajectory of one bummer day after another. Watch what happens next. Mini classic defined.

Karen Sue Trent, who appeared in several other shows, was a standout, soon to land the recurring role of Penny. Primed to be a gal pal for Beave, at least he had a little crush on her, but never let it out. She would have made the ideal surfer girl, much like GIDGET, had this show taken place at the beach. Karen stood apart from many other child actresses at the time. She passed in 2022. This episode is a tribute to her.

Sadly, one of the last episodes directed by Bretaigne Windust, acclaimed Broadway director, who later worked at Warner Brothers. He passed suddenly while also directing BACHELOR FATHER.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 21 remastered Universal dvd box set. This box has the best ever color cover of Beave and Wally.

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER was great at capturing the essence of a child's perception of reality. This episode gets at a profound philosophical truth: sometimes the most significant and life-forming experiences we have as children are those that take place outside of the structures and strictures imposed by adults. Try as June and Ward might to make Beaver enjoy the cotillion dance they have been forcing him to go to (along with Larry Mondello), it turns out that a gallop on a horse with a young "cowgirl" is a more revelatory experience for both the boys. Of course, all June and Ward can see is that Beaver and Larry have got themselves filthy, but we know that the boys have experienced something special that will mark them for life. Watch out for some classic Larry Mondello lines in this one.

My parents decided I could be a child star and this was the first show I did. I'm one of the guys with the white gloves. I had a facial tick when I didn't like something and as I got up to dance, the tick showed that I really didn't want to do it (I was only 10). What a surprise when it aired and they gave me canned laughter! The next day everyone at school was asking for my autograph. I'm sure they're probably going for a nickel on Ebay. Nicest person in the cast was Tony Dow, though the others were also happy to sign autographs.....now what did I do with that Hugh Beaumont signature?????????

It is a story that while watching, you think, "They don't make 'em like this anymore!". -and they don't!

Little boys wearing suits with white gloves! Beaver and pal, Larry are forced to attend this ritualistic place from a bygone era. The scenes at dance class are both cute and funny!! The teacher is an older woman who (naturally) ends up getting paired w/ The Beaver.

While eating stale cookies at refreshment time, the boys decide they will never suffer the indignation of attending another class EVER!

The story is well written and directed. The camera pans from one unhappy faced boy to the next, and so on, until finally Larry and then Beaver are shown. Without revealing what happens, it truly is funny in the way that keeps us watching Beaver year after year.

Finally, the boys live up to their handshake and ditch dance class. They run into a tomboy played by Karen Sue Trent. She was a child actress who would eventually have the recurring role as, "Penny", an annoying classmate of Beaver's at Grant Avenue School.

Trent replaced Jeri Weil's "Judy Hensler" character as the annoying female know-it-all classmate.

As is typical in the series, Beaver's parents, particularly Ward, shows love and understanding. He cannot simply let his son get away with ditching the class. Still, Ward sees things from the little boy's perspective and so, tempers justice with mercy, so to speak.