TV networks in the 50s had the weirdest rules. Married couples needed separate beds. Elvis could only be filmed from the waist up. And toilets? Pure scandal. The network censors nearly had heart attacks when a simple story threatened to expose America to the horror of bathroom furniture. But which show finally dared to break television's porcelain ceiling?
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The answer is: "Leave It to Beaver"
The "Leave It to Beaver" writers just wanted to tell a story about two kids hiding an alligator in their toilet tank. The CBS censors reacted like they'd suggested broadcasting live footage from a strip club at noon. In fact, the toilet tank drama caused such a stir that "Captain Jack" got bumped from being the series premiere episode.
The fight between writers and censors dragged on for days. The censors suggested every possible hiding spot in a suburban home except the toilet. Behind a couch? In the garage? Under a bed? But the writers knew none of those made sense for their story. They finally wore the censors down, but had to follow bizarre rules: the toilet could appear on screen only if the tank lid stayed firmly closed and the bowl remained completely hidden from view. God forbid Americans learn what lurked behind their bathroom doors.
The episode finally aired with its partial porcelain shots, and somehow civilization survived. No children were corrupted. No viewers fainted at the sight of bathroom furniture. The only lasting damage was to the censors' dignity. But that didn't stop them from protecting America from the menace of toilet scenes for years to come.
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