nostalgia

11 of our favorite teachers from '50s and '60s television

Let's put an apple on the desks of Miss Brooks, Miss Crump, Mr. Peepers and more.

Aug 3, 2016, 12:00PM By MeTV Staff

We all had our favorite teachers growing up, the ones who made us see the world in a new way and learn to love learning.

Of course, some of those teachers were entirely fictional because television created dozens of ideal educators. After all, sitcom kids like Opie, Beaver, Dobie and Patty had to go to school.

The peaceful, picture-perfect world of 1950s and 1960s TV gave us some wonderful teacher characters. After all, this was the era of putting apples on desks. Let's take a look at some of the great, midcentury role models from the small screen.

Miss Crabtree, 'The Little Rascals'

Adams Street Grammar School

Hearing a name like Crabtree, one might expect a bitter disciplinarian. At least that's what the Little Rascals believed when they first heard about the replacement for their beloved Miss McGillicuddy. The scamps tried to sabotage Miss Crabtree's debut with mice and sneezing powder. Turns out, she was an angelic charmer. Jean Marlowe was a central character in the 1930 Our Gang films Teacher's Pet and School's Out. A new generation of children would fall in love with her thanks to reruns of The Little Rascals in the 1950s.

Image: School's Out / Wikimedia Commons

Connie Brooks, 'Our Miss Brooks'

Madison High School
English

Sharp, funny and warm, Miss Brooks was a dream teacher. Eve Arden first played the role on radio — a role which was purportedly offered to Lucille Ball. Smart and big-hearted, Arden was one of the earliest depictions of a working woman in a lead role on a sitcom. It's no wonder she would be cast as the principal in the nostalgic Grease. She deserved the raise.

Robinson J. Peepers, 'Mister Peepers'

Jefferson City Junior High
Science

This charming sitcom is too overlooked. Wally Cox played the klutzy, adorably dorky Peepers to perfection. His demure science teacher made the ideal — erm — odd couple with Tony Randall's swaggering Mr. Weskit. Cox would later go on to provide the voice of Underdog. He always was a great underdog.

Image: The Everett Collection

Harvey Weskit, 'Mister Peepers'

Jefferson City Junior High
History

Randall earned a Best Series Supporting Actor Emmy nomination in 1954 for his work as this cool, confident and cocksure teacher on Mister Peepers. Women mailed Mr. Weskit loads of love letters, and it was easy to see why.

Image: The Everett Collection

John Novak, 'Mr. Novak'

Jefferson High School
English

The Dr. Kildare of the academic world, the handsome James Franciscus was rather studly for an educator. His optimistic but tough English teacher strove to improve the lives of his Los Angeleno students. He was the embodiment of early-'60s idealism.

Image: The Everett Collection

Leander Pomfritt, 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'

Central High School
English and Science

The late William Schallert crafted many memorable characters on television. This early role often gets overshadowed by some of his later work. Mr. Pomfritt had the typical stern exterior and golden heart of onscreen male teachers. He could ride Dobie and Maynard one minute, and give them valuable advice the next. Plus, his surname makes us think of french fries.

Helen Crump, 'The Andy Griffith Show'

Mayberry Elementary School

When Opie first tells dad about his new teacher, he refers to her as "old lady Crump." That's how the world looks through the eyes of a child. But how far from the truth that was. Is it any wonder Andy fell in love with her? Opie quickly came around to her, too. Smart, strong and kind — there was no better match in Mayberry for Sheriff Taylor, and the two would eventually tie the knot.

Miss Canfield, 'Leave It to Beaver'

Grant Avenue Grammar School
Second Grade

Beaver had a habit of developing crushes on his teachers. His first infatuation was with Miss Canfield, though he had a boyish way of showing it when he put springing snake in her desk. She always had firm control of her class, but was understanding and compassionate.

Image: NBCUniversal Television Distribution/ Wikimedia Commons

Alice Landers, 'Leave It to Beaver'

Grant Avenue Grammar School
Third Grade

The Beav quickly got over the departure of Miss Canfield. That was thanks to the charming Miss Landers (they were always "Miss," weren't they?) played by Sue Randall.

Image: NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Andre Malon, 'The Patty Duke Show'

Brooklyn Heights High School
French

Andre Malon, the continental professeur, had a brief life on The Patty Duke Show, appearing only in the first episode, but what an impression he made. Just look at those lovey-dovey eyes on Patty. The debonair Jean-Pierre Aumont played the substitute French teacher who puts a spell on the sitcom star.

Pete Dixon, 'Room 222'

Walt Whitman High School
History

By the end of 1960s, television shows began to shift focus from idyllic suburbia to urban realism. Set in Los Angeles, the pioneering Room 222 depicted the local education system from top to bottom. Pete Dixon, the lead played by Lloyd Haynes, preached tolerance as the students grappled with issues of the era, from war to sexuality. Mr. Dixon was a role model anyone could look up to.

Image: The Everett Collection