Gee whiz, the Beav(er Cleaver) raises money for St. Bernadette

[Omaha Steve]

I was going to go. Then I was offered overtime at work on the afternoon shift. I took the $.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100915/NEWS2001/709159800/1120#gee-whiz-the-beav-raises-money-for-st-bernadette

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20100915&Category=NEWS2001&ArtNo=709159800&Ref=AR&Profile=1089&maxw=600&maxh=400
Jerry Mathers, star of the '50s sitcom “Leave It to Beaver,” signs an autograph for Mary Sue Mixan at Gross Catholic High School Sept. 10. Mixan won two raffle prizes — a box set of the entire run of “Leave It to Beaver” and a framed family photo from the show — at the fundraiser for St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Bellevue.


By Scott Stewart Leader Staff Writer

Jerry Mathers' favorite episode of “Leave It to Beaver” was “Wally, the Lifeguard” in season four, in which the Beaver takes his friends to see his brother as a lifeguard — only to find Wally peddling hot dogs instead.

Mathers, the child star of the iconic ‘50s sitcom, told a crowd at Gross Catholic High School Friday night that it was his favorite episode because he and Tony Dow, who played Wally, were allowed to fish during the show's production. At the time, Universal Studios had a huge lake on the lot where “Leave It to Beaver” was filming, and Mathers caught “the biggest bluegill that's ever been pulled out of that lake.”

St. Bernadette Catholic Church featured Mathers at a fundraiser Friday to collect money for purchasing new windows for the church. Mathers was the guest of honor at a dinner at St. Bernadette, fielded questions from the audience and the Rev. Alfred Salanitro at Gross and signed autographs for fans spanning three generations.

About 225 people attended the Q-and-A session, Salanitro said. About 100 attended the dinner.

Mathers' remarks focused on his experiences as an actor, including working for director Alfred Hitchcock on “The Trouble with Harry.” He also discussed his life since the show, which included serving in the Air National Guard in the late '60s and earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Unlike many child actors, Mathers said he received the money he earned from “Leave It to Beaver,” which his parents saved for him until he turned 18. He used the money — he earned $500 a week as the Beav — to pay for college and set himself up financially.

FULL story at link.

[Ken Burch]

1. For a second there, I thought you meant the Beav was raising funds for Bernadette Devlin

...I'm not sure Ward would be ok with that!