Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Beaver's Accordion (1960) User Reviews

Beaver Seizes a Cultural Opportunity

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 9/10 · 6 March 2016]

"Beaver's Accordion," like "In the Soup," is one of those episodes that are memorable in large part because of the originality and wackiness of the concept. In the case of "In the Soup," we have the sight of Beaver trapped inside a billboard "soup bowl." Here, we have the sight (and sound) of an accordion tumbling down the Cleaver stairway in full view of Mr. Franklin, the accordion company man to whom Ward had just flatly denied ever buying such an instrument.

The whole affair started when Beaver read an ad in the mail for a free-trial accordion. It was one of those huckster deals that the skeptical Ward habitually discards. Beaver, however, can't resist the prospect of trying out the shiny squeeze-box and orders it without his parents' permission. He'll send it back before the trial period ends, and nobody will be the wiser; or so he thinks! Eddie Haskell adds fuel to the fire by telling Beaver that Ward discarded the ad because he wants to stunt Beaver's musical career.

When Beaver gets in trouble with his parents, Ward sternly tells him that this is "just about the worst thing you've ever done." But in the end Ward goes easy on Beaver because he remembers a time when he too, as a child, squandered his money on a useless trinket.

Mr. Franklin is portrayed by fussy, fastidious John Hoyt, who was also the suit salesman in the second season episode "Wally's New Suit." There he was much more sympathetic; here he is all snark and condescension, a well-bred huckster of the first order. American business is often far from squeaky clean on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER.

"Beaver's Accordion" is a favorite episode of many fans and takes its place among the memorable episodes of the series.

Beaver and the sales pitch

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 18 May 2024]

A circular comes in the mail advertising a free five day trial for a 280 dollar accordion. Ward understands from the sales pitch that the company wants 280 dollars, not to give somebody the "cultural opportunity" mentioned in the letter. He pitches it into a box full of other things to be thrown away. Beaver finds the ad and takes it upstairs to read and ponder it.

Eddie Haskell comes into the room to wait for Wally - he's taking a shower - and gives Beaver the business. Eddie tells Beaver that he's destined for great things with his accordion - his own band, the Ed Sullivan Show, a high salary - and that Beaver's dad is afraid that he'll be forgotten by Beaver and his newfound fame. Beaver buys this spiel and writes the company for the five day trial.

But when Beaver goes to return the accordion before the five day period is up, he needs over six dollars for the shipping which neither he nor Wally has, so he decides to store the accordion in a seldom used hall closet until he can come up with the shipping costs. Expensive complications ensue.

Once again Eddie gives Beaver bad advice. You'd think he'd learn. There's a fun bit of business with Ward and Wally painting their picnic tables gray and June saying she thought they looked better green. Wally tells June that Beaver is sloppy because he's a little kid, then leaves behind a giant paint hand-print on the refrigerator. Ward tries on an old hat from his younger years, and it looks like something he would have worn during his earlier film noir years. Perhaps it was.

This episode is about ID theft.

[PWNYCNY · 10/10 · 10 August 2018]

Great episode. Thoughtful story. Strong acting. Ward receives a flyer for a $270 accordion; he tosses it into the garbage can. Beaver finds the flyer. Now he wants the accordion. Beaver talks to Eddie Haskell who encourages Beaver to order the accordion; it has a five-day free trail period, so if he doesn't want it he can return it. No problem (so far). So, without asking permission from his parents, Beaver mails the order and shortly after receives a box containing the accordion. Beaver cannot play the accordion and now wants to return it. He goes to the post office to ship the accordion, but can't afford the ten-dollar postage. Beaver asks Wally for help Wally can't help him. Beaver and Wally decide to hide the accordion in a closet. In the meantime, a man from the accordion company visits the home and speaks with Ward. The man demands payment of $270 for accordion and shows ward the paperwork proving that he ordered the product. Ward, of course, is put off by the man and is about to throw him out when June goes upstairs to fetch something from the closet and down the stairs comes the accordion. Ward is now totally confused. However, Beaver admits that he ordered the accordion. Ward is angry but controls his temper. He arrives at an agreement with the accordion company. He will not pay for the accordion but will pay for the cost of repairs, which totals $43.

This episode shows the havoc that can occur when one party makes a purchase and another party is stuck with the bill. In this episode Beaver steals his father's identity to make a purchase. The salesman demands payment from Ward, not Beaver. Being 11 years old, Beaver cannot be held responsible for his actions, and indeed did not act out of malice. Yet, through his irresponsible conduct, he put his father in a bad spot. If this episode was set today, the damage Beaver could have caused could have been exponentially greater.

A gem after 4 clunkers

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 2 June 2021]

S4 E13 "Beavers Accordion" is a mail order rehash that works. Absolutely brilliant. Superb writing. Huge laughs throughout. Supporting actor John Hoyt shows his comedic talent. The accordion bouncing downs the stairs is one of LITB best bits. These writers have such talent sometimes though they seem satisfied to coast.

ACCORDIONINGLY, YOURS!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 12 February 2024]

If you guessed Lawrence Welk as the inspiration for this wild episode, you are correct! Who else would it be? Welk actually re-introduced the accordion on his popular tv show and sales soared around the country at the time.

Lucky(?) Beave enters the picture, who just happens to find an ad in the newspaper for a "free trial" accordion, and so this wild comedy of errors begins. Special thanks to some prodding by wiseguy Eddie Haskell, naturally smart enough to never take his own advice!

If you read between the lines, producers and writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher put some truths into this one, perhaps as a warning to all of kids back in the day --READ THE FINE PRINT. Beave gets a "five day free trial"... but does that include the shipping time?

If it includes shipping, Beave may have only had a one day free trial. How revolting! More over, the accordion costs 270 dollars, about $2700 dollars today. At least Beave got off cheap, because a high end accordion could run as high as 10,000 dollars today!

Next knocking at the door is angry Mr. Franklin (well played by John Hoyt, who we all so love!) from the Music Academy who wants his dough! There's a real good scene where Ward shows his anger (and just like any of our own dads would do), figuring Franklin's some creep -- until the accordion comes bouncing down the stairs!

This one scene, has to be the absolute BEST of all gag scenes in the entire series. Laugh out loud, with the joke on Ward and June! How about that?

Lessons learned for Beave, and thanks to Ward's business saavy, he'll only end up paying for repairs and nothing more. Whew!

Applause for John Hoyt, one of the best ever character actors in movies and tv for decades. Watch his facial expressions as he was a natural. They probably did his scene in one EZ take. If you are a movie buff, you probably remember him best as WWII German officers, which he fit like a glove. His most recent screen credit at the time was the great war film, NEVER SO FEW, starring Frank Sinatra. Watch for it.

Unforgettable fluff that you can't get enough of.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 13 remastered.

One of many funny episodes.

[zippyjet-67666 · 10/10 · 8 February 2024]

Beaver does it again! Without giving away the plot. These elements come together for LMAOF each time I see this episode.

1. Try a $270 accordian sent to your door. By now, pay later.

2. Eddie Haskell referring to Liberace.

3. Beaver procastinates.

4. Post Office Sticker Shock.

5. Snarky accordian salesman /collector.

6. Accordian makes an unplanned appearance.

7. Ward is stuck with a repair bill.

For laughs, I used an inflation calculator.

1960: $270 for new accordian. Today 2024 almost $2900!

Postage to return unwanted accordian: 1960- $10 USD 2024-$106!

Repair the damn thing: 1960-$43 2024-$450! June's reaction priceless. It all comes together. You knew you were in 1960 America when comparing Beaver to Liberace. Must watch episode.

Not in tune on this one

[pensman · 6/10 · 31 March 2017]

Not the first-time Beaver has signed for something and found himself in trouble. It was just a few episodes back that Beaver went to a lawyer to help extract himself from a similar issue; this time it's an accordion.

What amused me at the start was Ward commenting on the flier and how they got letters from people they didn't know trying to sell them something. If he only knew about texts, phishing, and the hundreds of phone solicitations we are bombarded with today.

Anyway, Beaver signs a contract, and the accordion arrives and you can imagine the problem. Beaver is going to be stuck with a bill for $280 which in 1960 was a lot of money considering you could buy a VW Beetle for $1600. I still recall a local dealership offing the Beetle complete with free alternative transportation. You got two (his and hers) matching 10 speed bicycles along with a free roof rack. All for $1600.

Beaver tries to keep his dad out of it and asks for a loan of $7 to mail it back, but no go. Eventually the problem can't be ignored, especially when a representative shows up asking for his money. Then the accordion makes an unexpected appearance. Of course, Ward isn't responsible. Beaver can't legally sign a contract. But he is on the hook for the damages: $40.

All in all, Ward takes this very well. I can only imagine what my father, or any father in the neighborhood, would have done. I had a paper route back then with 140 customers. The paper was 45¢ a week; my cut was 3¢ or $4.20 a week. I had about 20 customers who would tip me a nickel, so $5.20 a week. Do the math for $40.

And at the conclusion of this episode, it's not clear that Beaver has learned his lesson. Ouch.

An Accordion For Beaver

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 28 November 2020]

(*Wally to Beaver quote*) - "You can get lost. That's what you can do."

(*June to Wally quote*) - "Why can't children ever give their parents a straight answer?"

Beaver secretly sends away for a spiffy "Stereophonic" accordion (worth $280). He's not all that interested in playing it. He just thinks it'd be neat to own one.

Mr. Franklin from the Worldwide Music Academy shows up at the Cleaver home expecting to collect the payment for the accordion.

Ward and June are clueless as to what is going on and, then, the cat (accordion) is let out of the bag.