Back in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s there was a US sitcom named Leave it to Beaver. The Beaver of this show was a young boy named Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers. The show concerned his adventures at school, at home and in his neighbourhood and it portrayed an idealised 1950’s suburban family, much like the families in Father Knows Best and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
This was a time when Leave it to Beaver’s Dad (named Ward and played by Hugh Beaumont) did everything, including relaxing on the weekend, in a coat and tie, and Mum, portrayed by Barbara Billingsley, did the housework in pearls and high heels.
Barbara Billingsley, aged 94, died yesterday at her home in Santa Monica, California from a rheumatoid disease.
