That is not how I remember it. I remember it as “looking for Beaver” which, by the way, makes a much better double entendre.
Even as I child, it puzzled me that she sometimes referred to him as “Beaver” and other times as “the Beaver”. She never referred to her older son as “the Wally”. It seems odd that any mother would refer to a son as “the” something. Especially the perfect 50s stereotype mother.
Of course, I only realized what seemed to be going on when I was older. It strikes me now that how she referred to him changed to whichever fit the double entendre best - “hard on the Beaver” versus “looking for Beaver”.
It’s possible that the occasional double entendres were simply the accidental result of hours and hours of dialog involving a character name “Beaver”. What makes me suspect otherwise is the occasional use of the awkward phrase “the Beaver” exactly when it fit the entendre.
It could all be coincidence, I don’t know, but look at the character’s name “Beaver Cleaver”. Think about that, and think about why the writer’s gave him such an odd nickname to begin with.
I was working at a theater in Beverly Hills - and after a show I was told a woman lost a bracelet during the performance and I went down to look. I was in the row and didn’t notice the woman who had walked down the aisle behind me. With amazing luck, I found the bracelet on the floor where she had been sitting and said, 'Found it."
“Oh, thank you so much - it has sentimental value.”
My skin got chills and I felt all warm and fuzzy. I felt like I should be in my pajamas and someone was going to bring me hot chocolate and a cookie.
Without turning around, I knew who it was - it was Beaver’s mom; that wonderful, reassuring, soft voice of Barbara Billingsley.
I didn’t say anything, but probably had a goofy smile on my face as I handed her the bracelet and she smiled and walked away.