The Parking Attendants (1963) User Reviews (5)

It had to be Fred, and Thank You Eddie. It's been expensive.

[pensman · 8/10 · 29 May 2017]

Wally has managed to get a job for the weekend, parking cars at a wedding reception. Then Eddie and Lumpy will be helping Wally out, so what could go wrong? First, Lumpy can't help, his license has been suspended, again. So, it's up to Wally and Eddie. Yes, Wally is depending on Eddie.

Fred Rutherford is thrilled he has been invited to the Langley wedding; even more thrilled he got invited and the Cleavers weren't. Things seem to be going well except Eddie is squawking about not getting any tips. Fred Rutherford has arrived, and bends Mr. Langley's ear about how he is waiting to hear from MIT regarding Lumpy, I mean Clarence. Wally makes his biggest mistake, having Eddie park the Rutherford's car. Eddie parks it fine; fine in a no parking tow away zone.

Mr. Langley comes out to bring Wally and Eddie to the back of the house, so the maid can fix them something to eat. While they are eating, Fred Rutherford's car is being toward away. As usual Eddie is trying to impress, this time it's the maid; about how he parked cars for the governor and was promised an elephant by the Indian ambassador.

Fred is leaving when Eddie discovers his mistake. Eddie sees Wally and says he's going home, he didn't want the job in the first place. Lumpy calls; the police called, and they have daddy's car. Fred's car was parked where it shouldn't have been parked. Wally refuses to take the money. Under the circumstances, Wally tells Mr. Langley he should give the money to Mr. Rutherford for the inconvenience. Mr. Langley is impressed with Wally, and that's when Eddie finally pipes in that he and Wallace had come to that decision.

After Mr. Langley leaves, Wally has finally had it. Wally tells Eddie that he is a big, stupid, loudmouth. June wants Ward to speak with Wally; but Ward says Wally has learned enough about responsibility in having to deal with Eddie. Wally certainly doesn't need to hear anything from his father.

One has to feel for Wally in this episode. Come Monday, I am sure things won't be too pleasant for Ward either as Fred won't let go an opportunity to kvetch about Wally, and the superiority of Lumpy had he been parking cars. I recall a weekend a friend of mine got me a job parking cars at a local restaurant. Things went fine, but my buddy had to park all the cars with a standard shift as I hadn't mastered shifts yet.

Wally, independent contractor

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 6 April 2024]

The Langley's daughter is getting married, and Mr. Langley has hired Wally to park the cars when guests arrive for the reception at the Langley home. Ward is concerned because it is a big job for one person plus Wally isn't insured for such a venture. Wally replies that he has asked Eddie Haskell and Lumpy Rutherford to help in return for splitting the 10-dollar fee and that Mr. Langley has said that he would handle the issue of insurance. Lumpy has to drop out because his license has been suspended, but still this job should be OK with two people - Wally and Eddie - working it.

So the big day comes, and it looks like things are going well when Eddie decides to cut some corners and park Mr. Rutherford's car in a parking lot with plenty of spaces rather than on the street. The problem is that it is a private lot, and violators will be towed. It's clearly marked on a sign that Eddie just didn't see. When Fred Rutherford wants to leave and realizes his car has been towed, he gives Wally, Mr. Langley, and Eddie an ear full. Wally feels so bad he says that Mr. Langley should give their pay to Mr. Rutherford to compensate him for their mistake, to which Mr. Langley is really very understanding. What will Ward say when he finds out? Watch and find out.

I wouldn't say Eddie makes this one worth watching, but he does add value to the proceedings as always. At one point Wally and Eddie are told by Mr. Langley to go to the kitchen and let the maid fix them a snack. Eddie then proceeds to tell the maid that he is a pro at parking cars, that he has parked cars for the governor before, and then tells the maid a story about a guy from India who was so impressed by his car parking talents that he tried to give Eddie an elephant. You can tell that the maid knows a teller of tall tales when she sees one.

Also note Mr. Langley is supposed to be socially prominent. If so, why is he having this event at his home? Why not have it at the country club where there is professional valet parking? And too bad it was Fred Rutherford who had his car towed, a blowhard, personally uncharitable, and a complete fraud when it comes to representing his son Clarence's prospects and his own attitude toward him. One thing I will say for Clarence/Lumpy - unlike Eddie Haskell he is completely unpretentious.

I really liked these Wally centric shows during the last year or two. They were definitely not cases of "let's throw the supporting cast a bone and let them have the spotlight". Tony Dow was considered quite hotty as he matured and he had the acting chops to match. It's too bad he couldn't really recover from the typecasting in Leave It To Beaver after the show ended.

Suburban Satire

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 10/10 · 1 March 2014]

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER was more than a family sitcom filled with heartwarming lessons about growing up. It also offered droll satire of post-war suburban life, with all of its social pretenses. In "The Parking Attendants," Wally and Eddie get a job parking cars for guests at a wedding in the neighborhood. The episode offers a riot of sophisticated wit, with Fred Rutherford and Eddie socially "on the make" in amusing ways. To add to the social mix, we also have the only black character ever to appear on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, a maid played by Kim Hamilton. This is very much a "Wally and Eddie" episode, with Beaver firmly in the background. "The Parking Attendants" shows that this beloved series was still as strong as ever in its sixth and final season. Not to be missed!

3rd 10* Wally episode in a row

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 26 August 2021]

A masterpiece. Wally put on the spot by Eddie. Major Eddie screw up. Great Fred scenes boasting up Lumpy, belittling Ward, Wally & Eddie. No win situation for car parkers with limited parking. You'd think the high roller would have the event at his country club? We see Kim Hamilton from "Sanford and Son" at 31 years old. Awkward Jerry Mathers seems better suited as a supporting cast member at this point of the series.

WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR CAR KEYS TO EDDIE?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 26 October 2023]

Absolutely outstanding episode, once again another relatable story, this time all about parking cars. This was the dream job of most teen guys, because you got to drive some sleek cars --if y'all knew how to drive!

The big MISTAKE here; it's not driving the cars, it's were to park 'em. Where? Wally, Eddie and Lumpy are parking cars for a neighborhood wedding, but there's only so many spaces available around the block. Of course, you can always park where you're not supposed to --and that includes Fred Rutherford's car --which promptly gets towed!

OMG.

Have to feel sorry for Wally once again, because it's all about the company he keeps. He tries his best, but he's always pulled back by Eddie and his his "bright' ideas. I also agree with the last reviewer, you get so see some hilariously awkward "social" mixing with Mr. Rutherford and Eddie, who in a way are very much alike and deserve everything they get. In fact, when you come down to it, Eddie rather than dopey Lumpy would have made the "perfect" son for Fred Rutherford.

Applause to none other than Earl Bellamy, who directed this one. Earl held an incredible record, directing over 1600 tv shows in his career, such as MY THREE SONS and the MOD SQUAD. He ended his career directing such hits as HART TO HART. More over, he should have written a book as he served as assistant director on many classic films, case in point FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

Best of it all. Special guest star is none other than Dick Simmons, playing the wedding host, Mr. Langley. Dick was a tv star in his own right, playing SERGEANT PRESTON OF THE YUKON in the 50s. I'll bet everybody wanted his autograph. Like, Earl Bellamy, he was also connected to many classic films, such as LADY IN THE LAKE (1946). He plays the wiseguy who punches Robert Montgomery right in the mouth. Ouuch!

Look for beautiful Kim Hamilton playing the maid. True, she was the only black actor to appear on the series, which is kind of a head scratcher because Universal had a long roster of black actors available. Kim began her career as a model and eventually a terrific actress.

Beaver has a smaller role in this one as it's Wally show. Looks to have been filmed around either North Hollywood or Studio City, near Universal as you can tell the tiny streets where parking is a pain. The streets are still there today and even more narrow and crowded.

Trivia note, one of the cars has Ward's license plate WJG 865.

From SEASON 6, EPISODE 17 remastered Universal dvd box set. Only wish this was in color!