Call Me Lumpy: My Leave It To Beaver Days and Other Wild Hollywood Life

by Bank Bank

Frank Bank's story is a sometimes wild, sometimes bawdy, often poignant, always funny account of a real-life Louie Louie who led a nation to California-dreamin'.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1997

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book almost defies description. Its the memoir of Frank Bank, who is best known as Lumpy Rutherford on Leave it to Beaver. Despite featuring the tv show in the book's title, there is surprisingly little discussion of making the show itself. While the reader will learn that the cast was made up of great people, that is about as much detail as Frank goes into about the show.

Instead, Frank spends entire chapters talking about his success as a financial planner in Kansas City, his prowess in the professional poker circuit (where he literally won thousands of dollars - not tens of thousands - but thousands of dollars), and personal grudges against Ryan O'Neill and Alfred Hitchcock for sleights that appear more imagined than real. He also "reveals" that he had sex with over one thousand women, and then describes his liasions in such strange, general ways that I was just left shaking my head and asking myself "what is he talking about and why am I reading this?"
In fact, this was my thought throughout the book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

As big of a fan as I am of Leave it to Beaver, I wasn't impressed with this at all. The chapters were way too long and a lot of things were TMI. Almost like a tell all of his women and so forth. I skimmed most of the book and concentrated mostly on the Leave it to Beaver sections. The only parts of this book that I really enjoyed were the wonderful Foreword by Ken Osmond (AKA Eddie Haskell!) and the hilarious way he talked about people like Marlon Brando. Other than that I didn't find much to like. I wish this book had been organized differently with shorter chapters and an index but it's worth a look, especially if you are a fan of Leave it to Beaver

[Tweed Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. It is laid out somewhat in an unorthodox manner but it was not distracting. Who knew what was going on in the life of one of America's most recognizable young TV stars. He played Lumpy on Leave It To Beaver. He apparently lead a life behind the camera that was footloose and all out. He tells of the cars, the women and the people he befriended along the way. Even though he lead a life of party after party he actually turned out to be a pretty normal guy and financial analyst. Through it all he was just a regular guy. This is a fun read...gossipy, trashy and cool too. Get a peek behind the scenes of 'Beaver.' They're all there, Ward, June, Wally, Eddie Haskell, Lumpy and Jerry Mathers as The Beav.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read Frank's book which takes him into his 54th year, I couldn't help but feel we were sitting in one of those retro 50s American diners while he related the story in between burgers, fries and milkshakes. He wasn't the brusque and dumpy Lumpy of Leave It To Beaver, but a very intelligent, clever and lucky man who has seen and done so much and met so many people we've all heard of, but rather than feeling it's all a bit of name-dropping, he presents his story in an unaffected way. Lumpy, you've really had a charmed life.

[Shari Leid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never going to win a literary prize, but it made me nostalgic and love Frank Bank. Love that he has left this legacy...

[Lucinda M. Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lumpy......

If you are a Beaver fan, "Call me Lumpy" is a must read. Fun to read about each of the character's real life. Frank's life is a total opposite of Lumpy's.