Trains.com

Ward Cleaver's occupation revealed!!!

34186 views
21 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: North Central Illinois
  • 1,458 posts
Posted by CBQ_Guy on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 1:20 PM
He spent his days "hanging out" with Ozzie Nelson!

Seriously, I had read he was some sort of ordained minister in "real life".
"Paul [Kossart] - The CB&Q Guy" [In Illinois] ~ Modeling the CB&Q and its fictional 'Illiniwek River-Subdivision-Branch Line' in the 1960's. ~
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 1:13 PM
Trains and Superman.
In the beginning of the black and white episodes they showed the Daylight in steam when the announcer said,"More powerful than a locomotive . When they went to color there was a great color sequence of The Sunset.
Mitch
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 22, 2004 10:59 AM
This has become a very good topic. We forget that classic trains appear in classic TV and it is a cool place to "train spot," even though much of the stock footage is wildly inaccurate and out of place.

Does anyone remember and episode of Lassie where they are reactivating a railline and there is some Ducks or other birds who have nested on the tracks and they fight the railroad company to preserve the birds until the ducks hatch?

I also recall one when there is an old model T railcar that goes out of control?

Anyone remember this, or am I daffy?
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by overall on Sunday, November 21, 2004 3:12 PM
With regard to a railroad scene on the Andy Griffith show. There were two that I recall.One was when Barney returned to Mayberry after being gone off the show for a while. The train he arrived on was a UP streamliner. The markings were very clear. The other was when Andy, Helen, Howard Sprague and Howard Sprague's girlfriend whom he intended to marry were traveling together on a Pullman to New York ( I think) There was a scene in the diner where Andy and Howard order the cheapest thing on the menu.

George
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 20, 2004 1:11 PM
RE: Mayberry.
I believe I saw an episode where BARN,
Was dealing with a HOBO and they did go to a rail yard.
It was a very short scene.
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Over yonder by the roundhouse
  • 1,224 posts
Posted by route_rock on Saturday, November 20, 2004 1:58 AM
I forgot Eddie became a cop!! Petticoat junction ahhh the good old days.I dont think Mayberry had a railroad run through it.Barney would have been out trying to nail the engineer for speeding or whistling too loud

Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 14, 2004 10:43 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by drephpe

Right across the lot from Mayberry.[(-D][:-,]


[;)]

What's with all those "ubiquitous" little towns from '50s and '60s television?

Did Andy of Mayberry ever have a railroad episode? I remember Petti Coat Junction, namely the Railroad that ran right behind Sam Drucker's General store.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 13, 2004 11:55 AM
Right across the lot from Mayberry.[(-D][:-,]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 13, 2004 10:35 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by route_rock

Ok ok I got it. First of all it was a run through Wabash coach on the Daylight the damn conductor just forgot to get off it in Missouri.Second Ward worked at a field office of the AAR or Railroad retirement board(had to be government like posted earlier he was home all the time)And third "Golly mrs Cleaver you look lovely today i was hoping Wally could come out and help me study"Translation"I am just sucking up to you so I can take your two sons and cause all kinds of mayhem and mischief,they get caught EVERY time and I get off scot free and your non the wiser! Eddie Haskill criminal mastermind [^][:D][}:)][}:)]


I don't know about the Wabash conductor, but I agree with your analysis of the AAR field office.

Next logical question...where exactally is Mayfield?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 13, 2004 9:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by route_rock

Ok ok I got it. First of all it was a run through Wabash coach on the Daylight the damn conductor just forgot to get off it in Missouri.Second Ward worked at a field office of the AAR or Railroad retirement board(had to be government like posted earlier he was home all the time)And third "Golly mrs Cleaver you look lovely today i was hoping Wally could come out and help me study"Translation"I am just sucking up to you so I can take your two sons and cause all kinds of mayhem and mischief,they get caught EVERY time and I get off scot free and your non the wiser! Eddie Haskill criminal mastermind [^][:D][}:)][}:)]


Who then quit TV and became a cop![:D]
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Over yonder by the roundhouse
  • 1,224 posts
Posted by route_rock on Saturday, November 13, 2004 4:20 AM
Ok ok I got it. First of all it was a run through Wabash coach on the Daylight the damn conductor just forgot to get off it in Missouri.Second Ward worked at a field office of the AAR or Railroad retirement board(had to be government like posted earlier he was home all the time)And third "Golly mrs Cleaver you look lovely today i was hoping Wally could come out and help me study"Translation"I am just sucking up to you so I can take your two sons and cause all kinds of mayhem and mischief,they get caught EVERY time and I get off scot free and your non the wiser! Eddie Haskill criminal mastermind [^][:D][}:)][}:)]

Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 11, 2004 6:29 AM
Capt'n,
I think there was an East-West Cinema Railroad exchange program. I remember stock shots of Santa Fe trains when the folks were coming into New York.
Mitch
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:20 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

If I remember correctly, Wally and Beaver rode on the Santa Fe, and Ward worked in an office building in downtown, several episodes actually showed him in the office talking to Lumpy Rutherford's dad.


Yes, but what did they do in that office in downtown? They were "suits," I still maintain they worked for the AAR. Although it is probably pure speculation.

Anyone seen that Company film 225,000 Mile Proving Ground?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:18 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

Geepers, Wally. I thunk he worked in an office with Lumpy Rutherford's father or sumtin. He kept his suit jacket on all the time and just looked at papers.
The Beav. (Mitch)

Did you ever see that episode where they went on a train trip and spent their fare on food instead and made up this rediculous lie about Ward falling out of an airplane. It looked like they went Southern Pacific, where ever they went.

Lumpy's dad was also on that train? Hummmm....it might have been some protoptyical field work.


They were just going one stop, to Mayfield. They were on the Daylight alright, but the conductor had a Wabash uniform. Wonder if he was gonna cut a cash fare when Ward sent him the dough.

Wally, "What's there to look at at a train station?"

"Lot's a stuff. Like a fat lady hollerin' at her kid."
Mitch


I get it, the Cleaver boys were on the "Stock Footage & Excess Wardrobe Express." (SF&EW R.R.). As for the conductor...It must have been the "Eastern/Western Railroad Conductor Exchange Program."

What do y'all think would have been a better "ubiquitous" locomotive than the Daylight to have shown?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:00 AM
If I remember correctly, Wally and Beaver rode on the Santa Fe, and Ward worked in an office building in downtown, several episodes actually showed him in the office talking to Lumpy Rutherford's dad.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 10:19 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

Geepers, Wally. I thunk he worked in an office with Lumpy Rutherford's father or sumtin. He kept his suit jacket on all the time and just looked at papers.
The Beav. (Mitch)

Did you ever see that episode where they went on a train trip and spent their fare on food instead and made up this rediculous lie about Ward falling out of an airplane. It looked like they went Southern Pacific, where ever they went.

Lumpy's dad was also on that train? Hummmm....it might have been some protoptyical field work.


They were just going one stop, to Mayfield. They were on the Daylight alright, but the conductor had a Wabash uniform. Wonder if he was gonna cut a cash fare when Ward sent him the dough.

Wally, "What's there to look at at a train station?"

"Lot's a stuff. Like a fat lady hollerin' at her kid."
Mitch
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:32 AM
How about the episode where June gives away Beaver's (Lionel) trains - I think it was to some neighborhood youngsters - after considering he's apparently too 'old' for them?

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:11 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

Geepers, Wally. I thunk he worked in an office with Lumpy Rutherford's father or sumtin. He kept his suit jacket on all the time and just looked at papers.
The Beav. (Mitch)

Did you ever see that episode where they went on a train trip and spent their fare on food instead and made up this rediculous lie about Ward falling out of an airplane. It looked like they went Southern Pacific, where ever they went.

Lumpy's dad was also on that train? Hummmm....it might have been some protoptyical field work.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:07 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by u6729csx

Actually with all the time Ward spent around the house, he must have been collecting unimployment....he had no visible means of support.


He had to do something, I mean to afford all those Beaver bailouts![:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 7:16 AM
Geepers, Wally. I thunk he worked in an office with Lumpy Rutherford's father or sumtin. He kept his suit jacket on all the time and just looked at papers.
The Beav. (Mitch)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 1:13 AM
Actually with all the time Ward spent around the house, he must have been collecting unimployment....he had no visible means of support.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Ward Cleaver's occupation revealed!!!
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 11:17 PM
Greeting Y'all,

Capt Carrales of the Garden Railways forum here. I initially posted this in the Trains forum, but they tend to be very contemporary and I felt that it would be given more attention here!

Being a Microferroquinologist (Large Scale) and denizen of Classic Television, I came across a contoversy! On the Classic Television show Leave it to Beaver, it has been widely debated as to what Ward Cleaver, the father of the show, did for a living.

I finally have an answer that seems made for those if us that enjoy Trains!!!

Last Christmas I was given some Railroad videos, one of them was titled... 225,000-Mile Proving Ground and was Narrated by Hugh Beaumont, the same actor who played Ward Cleaver!

The Beaver's father then...must work for the American Association of Railroads!

Or...

This could all be blarney!!!!

Later all,

Capt Carrales

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter