Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)Television episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip. |
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Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)Television episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip. |
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| Series cast summary: | |||
| Jay North | ... |
Dennis Mitchell
(146 episodes, 1959-1963)
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Gloria Henry | ... |
Alice Mitchell
(145 episodes, 1959-1963)
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Herbert Anderson | ... |
Henry Mitchell
(144 episodes, 1959-1963)
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Billy Booth | ... |
Tommy Anderson
(110 episodes, 1959-1963)
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Joseph Kearns | ... |
George Wilson
(102 episodes, 1959-1962)
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Sylvia Field | ... |
Martha Wilson
(90 episodes, 1959-1962)
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The live-action adaptation of the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name. Dennis Mitchell was a loveable young boy, dressed in overalls and carrying a slingshot in his pocket. He had but one fault: His penchant for mischief. Everywhere he went, Dennis' wide-eyed curiosity, well-meaning attempts to help out and his simply being a normal, red-blooded American boy growing up always seemed to lead to trouble. Usually on the receiving end was Dennis' next-door neighbor, retired postal carrier George Wilson. Dennis worshiped Mr. Wilson, but the gruff old man overtly displayed a less-than-cordial attitude around the young lad. Mr. Wilson's wife, Martha, adored Dennis and saw him as a surrogate grandson (since the Wilsons never had any children). Dennis' long-suffering parents were Henry (an engineer) and Alice (a stay-at-home mother). Episodes revolved around Dennis' adventures and the trouble that usually followed. Also involved in the fun were Dennis' friends Joey, Tommy and Margaret. ... Written by Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com>
Even when I was a very young child (when this series was still in production,) I wasn't that crazy about this program. I grant that Jay North's Dennis was intended to get on people's nerves, but I don't think that was the intent with regard to the viewers; his shrill delivery always pained me and I couldn't figure out how a kid like that never got whipped.
Admittedly, most of the problems he caused were unintentional; nevertheless, any normal parents would have sat him down and explained that there's such a thing as trying too hard.