What's Wrong with this Picture?
As tiny Cindys, one of our first introductions to blissful boomer living was that huge, ugly box withmoving pictures. Pictures designed to entertain, engage and remind us that we too were part
of the magic called television. Who better that to provide a mirror of all things domestic, beautiful and peaceful .... just like us!
The Cleaver Family
Isn't this the perfect picture? "Leave it To Beaver", was the quintessential TV show about perfect families and all that was to be yours in the future.
Didn't your family resemble the Cleavers in every way? Doesn't it today? Every thing purrr-....fect, purrrr...fectly together, neat, clean, no clutter - immaculate home and yard. Only the rascal Eddie Haskell added a tiny fly of evil into the ointment of domestic family bliss.
According to
Cinderella, "Everyone lived happily ever after".
First Question
But the first question we should have been asking our tiny selves was, who in this picture is Cinderella? June? Wally? The Beav? Hugh Beaumont? They never give us any back story on the Beaumonts. That should've been the first clue something was amiss. Just where did they come from? Who were their people? Were they illegal aliens working under assumed names?They certainly had boring clothes and furniture compared to the Cindy Charming's.
Very suspect.
As told to us in that magical fairytale, Cinderella and Prince Charming lived happily ever after in the royal palace -complete with the royal coach and footmen, glistening, palatial interiors and fabulous gardens. Everything a girl could want - and a husband in tights!
Second Question
What's up with the ride? We never see the Beaumonts going anywhere. How can that be possible? The fanciest car in 1955 was the Cadillac (unless you were in Europe or Hollywood with a Rolls or Bentley). Does this look like the June mobile?
Or this?
Well it's sort of girly.... pinkish...fins like a mermaid (damn, that's another story)
Since I'm off to my second job at the moment, I will leave you with these other dead giveaway questions to ponder....
When does June go grocery shopping? Does she clip coupons?
What does the Cleaver family really eat for dinner? We never really get an idea of their "demographics"..... so do they eat hash? pork chops? mac and cheese? SPAM?
Why the hell doesn't Hugh take June out to dinner? Isn't she special? Doesn't she slave over a hot stove and ironing board all day?
What about the twin beds? Did they ever have "the talk" with the boys?
And lastly... why isn't either Cleaver parent ever shown driving madly to make one of the kid's sporting events, going to school events, picking up the dry cleaning, having road rage or getting mad at the IRS.........
Oh yeah... I forgot "they're purr...fect" just like we were being groomed to be............
Til next time pumpkins......
RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL DINNER ala June
Martinis
Martinis Martinis
Kraft mac & cheese
Meatloaf
Martinis
