It's A Small World (the pilot show for Leave It To Beaver) aired 4/23/57 on Heinz Studio '57. The pilot was not seen as a part of the original Leave It To Beaver series.
Jerry Mathers as Beaver, Paul Sullivan as Wally Cleaver
Paul Sullivan (on the right) as Wally Cleaver
Casey Adams as Ward Cleaver
Casey Adams as Ward Cleaver. Casey played Ray Cutler in the Marilyn Monroe 1953 movie classic Niagara.
Harry Shearer, on the right, as Frankie
Harry Shearer (on the right) as Frankie. Harry later became a regular on Saturday Night Live.

According to the book, And Jerry Mathers As The Beaver, Paul Sullivan's heighth had increased too much during the summer to play Wally and the part went to Tony Dow. It was felt Casey Adams was not right for the Ward Cleaver character and Hugh Beaumont got that part. It was felt Harry Shearer was not right for the Eddie Haskell character and the role went to Ken Osmond.

Station WTBS celebrated the 30th anniversary of Leave It To Beaver by showing the pilot for the show It's A Small World on 10/4/87.

Leave It To Beaver Table Of Contents

It's A Small World (Leave It To Beaver Pilot) last updated 12/11/12.