Dennis the Menace
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. 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 business machine salesman George Wilson. Dennis worshiped Mr. Wilson, but he usually 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 Tommy, Margaret, and Seymour. During the final year of the show, Mr. Wilson's brother, John, moved in after George and Martha left the neighborhood (due to the death of Joseph Kearns). The live-action "Dennis the Menace" ran for years in syndication; an animated series showed up in the 1980s.
- 1959-1963
- 4 seasons
- CBS
- Comedy, Family
- TV-G
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. 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 business machine salesman George Wilson. Dennis worshiped Mr. Wilson, but he usually 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 Tommy, Margaret, and Seymour. During the final year of the show, Mr. Wilson's brother, John, moved in after George and Martha left the neighborhood (due to the death of Joseph Kearns). The live-action "Dennis the Menace" ran for years in syndication; an animated series showed up in the 1980s.
Season 2 Episode Guide
38 Episodes 1960 - 1961
Episode 1
Out of Retirement
Sun, Oct 2, 1960 25 mins
Mr. Wilson's former employers offer him an executive position at his old company, but it will require him to relocate to Pittsburgh, PA. Dennis doesn't want him to go, but when Mr. Wilson decides to take the job, Dennis blames himself and runs away from home.
Episode 2
Dennis and the Wedding
Sun, Oct 9, 1960 25 mins
Mr. Wilson is nervous about hosting his niece's upcoming wedding, especially with Dennis as the ringbearer.
Episode 3
Dennis and the Radio Set
Sun, Oct 16, 1960 25 mins
While watching an auction from the sidewalk, Dennis causes Mr Wilson to raise his hand when an old-fashioned radio is being auctioned. George has to pay for it since it appeared to be a bid. Turns out the radio has a hidden stack of money.
Episode 4
Dennis and the Ham-pher
Sun, Oct 23, 1960 25 mins
One of Dennis' friends gives him a pet in a cage that he says is a hamster. The animal escapes from the cage, and everyone finds out it is really a gopher when Mr Wilson's yard is nearly destroyed.
Episode 5
The Stock Certificate
Sun, Oct 30, 1960 25 mins
Trying to be helpful, Dennis throws Mr. Wilson's old telephone book into the recycling truck. Mr. Wilson had stashed a $500 stock certificate in that phone book. Wilson and Henry Mitchell go on a hectic search for the discarded phone book.
Episode 6
Man of the House
Sun, Nov 6, 1960 25 mins
With his father away on a business trip and his mother sick in bed with a cold, Dennis has to be the "man of the house". This includes doing laundry with Margaret's help, and arranging a dinner party with his friends in connection with a sales pitch.
Episode 7
The Rock Collection
Sun, Nov 13, 1960 25 mins
To shoo Dennis away, Wilson suggests he starts rock collecting, even offering a contest for him and the other boys for the best collection. At the same time, he's trying to sell a scruffy real estate lot nearby. Dennis's father innocently spreads some valueless Gold Ore samples on the property for Dennis to find for his collection, but potential buyers think it might be actual Gold.
Episode 8
Henry and Togetherness
Sun, Nov 20, 1960 25 mins
Henry has plans to play golf, which means Dennis has free time which he wants to spend with George. George convinces Henry to not play golf, hoping it means Henry will spend time with Dennis.
Episode 9
Paint-Up, Clean-Up Week
Sun, Nov 27, 1960 30 mins
The town holds a Paint-up, Clean-up Week campaign, and everyone spruces up their place. Dennis gets into the act with paint from Mr Wilson to paint his red wagon. Dennis paints the wagon and the street corner. Mr Wilson gets blamed.
Episode 10
Dennis Learns to Whistle
Sun, Dec 4, 1960 30 mins
Both Dennis and Mr. Wilson are ashamed that they have never learned to whistle, and try everything they can think of, including eating very sour cherries, to be able to do so.
Episode 11
The Raffle Ticket
Sun, Dec 18, 1960 30 mins
Mr Wilson's lodge is raising money by selling raffle tickets to win a car. Dennis buys a ticket because he thinks his mother should get a car.
Episode 12
The Christmas Horse
Sun, Dec 25, 1960 30 mins
Dennis is sure that he's going to get a horse for Christmas, even though his parents repeatedly tell him that he isn't (and Mr. Wilson would be sure to object). Then Dennis hears that another boy in the neighborhood has gotten a pony -- and he heads there to claim it, certain that Santa must have delivered it to the wrong house.
Episode 13
Dennis' Allowance
Sun, Jan 1, 1961 30 mins
Dennis wants more money to buy things he wants, so he asks for his father for an allowance. His father agrees, as long as he works for his money. Giving Dennis money without his help seems cheaper in the long run.
Episode 14
Dennis' Penny Collection
Sun, Jan 8, 1961 30 mins
Mr Wilson comes up with another plan to keep Dennis in his own house and away from Mr Wilson. He shows Dennis how to collect money, but Dennis only bothers everyone for pennies and causes Mr Wilson to get arrested.
Episode 15
Dennis, the Campaign Manager
Sun, Jan 15, 1961 30 mins
Dennis convinces Mr Wilson to run for park commissioner.
Episode 16
Miss Cathcart's Friend
Sun, Jan 22, 1961 30 mins
After hearing talk that Miss Cathcart could use a "best friend", Dennis adopts a lost dog from the pound for her. But when the dog's gentlemanly owner shows up at her door to claim the dog, Miss Cathcart thinks he is the "best friend" Dennis told her to expect.
Episode 17
Pythias Was a Piker
Sun, Jan 29, 1961 30 mins
To prove to Mrs. Elkins that he doesn't hate children, Mr. Wilson goes to great lengths to be kind to Dennis --and hopefully, he will be chosen as the subject of Dennis's publicly-read essay, "My Best Friend".
Episode 18
Dennis and the Saxophone
Sun, Feb 5, 1961 30 mins
Tommy does not want his saxophone anymore, so Dennis decides he wants to buy it. Mr Wilson finds out when Dennis asks his father for the money, and tries to talk Henry out of buying it.
Episode 19
Wilson Sleeps Over
Sun, Feb 12, 1961 30 mins
While their house is being fumigated, the Wilsons sleep over at the Mitchells'. When Dennis learns that Mr. Wilson has been known to walk in his sleep, he invites all his friends over to see it.
Episode 20
Dennis' Birthday
Sun, Feb 19, 1961 30 mins
Dennis wants Mr. Wilson to perform as a magician at Dennis's birthday party. Mr. Wilson is reluctant to do so, until he learns that actress Spring Byington will also be a guest at the party, and Mr. Wilson would like her to be a guest star in his lodge's stage show, as well.
Episode 21
Dennis Goes to Camp
Sun, Feb 26, 1961 30 mins
Mr. Wilson is eager for Dennis to go to summer camp. And when Henry is unexpectedly unable to take Dennis and several of Dennis's friends to visit the camp, Mr. Wilson is happy to step in, and takes them there himself.
Episode 22
Dennis' Tool Chest
Sun, Mar 5, 1961 30 mins
Mr. Wilson has his car trunk open to use the car jack to change a flat tire. While no one is looking Miss Cathcart's cat jumps in and then Dennis closes the trunk.
Episode 23
The Going Away Gift
Sun, Mar 12, 1961 30 mins
Alice plans a visit to her parent's home for a few days. Dennis buys her a gift for her trip and hides it in Mr Wilson's home. Mrs Wilson finds the gift and thinks it is for her.
Episode 24
Dennis and the Fishing Rod
Sun, Mar 19, 1961 30 mins
Dennis wants to get his father a fishing rod for a gift. When he counts the money in a piggy bank, it is not nearly enough. Dennis finds a $50 Confederate bill in the papers from his grandmother and tries to use that.
Episode 25
Dennis and the Good Example
Sun, Mar 26, 1961 30 mins
Dennis sees a mynah bird he wants in a store. The store owner stays he can have the bird free if he buys the bird cage. Dennis talks to his father, and he promises to be good and study for school if his dad gets him a bird cage as an award.
Episode 26
Dennis' Obligation
Sun, Apr 2, 1961 30 mins
Alice is still visiting with her parents. Dennis' teacher asks students to take home the school pets over the weekend while the heat is off at school. Dennis brings home chicken eggs, but then the electricity goes off in the Mitchell home.
Episode 27
The Dog Trainer
Sun, Apr 9, 1961 30 mins
Mr Wilson decides to teach his dog Fremont a few commands. Dennis asks if he can help train Fremont, and Mr Wilson allows him to do all the training. After the dog is trained, Fremont only responds to Dennis and not to Mr Wilson.
Episode 28
Woodman, Spare That Tree
Sun, Apr 16, 1961 30 mins
Dennis feeds crows in the backyard, causing noise while Mr. Wilson is on the phone trying to argue for keeping an old tree from being chopped down. One of the crows grabs a hundred dollar bill from Mr. Wilson's hand flies off to the old tree.
Episode 29
The Boy Wonder
Sun, Apr 23, 1961 30 mins
Mr. Wilson's attempts to build a backyard barbecue are stymied by his teenage helper's playing loud music and by a search for Dennis's wandering pet turtle.
Episode 30
The Soapbox Derby
Sun, Apr 30, 1961 30 mins
Dennis decides to enter a soapbox derby, after being taunted by a neighbor boy and his father. Mr. Wilson and Henry Mitchell help build the race car. A last second change is made, and the winner of the derby is a surprise to everyone.
Episode 31
Dennis and the Camera
Sun, May 7, 1961 30 mins
A fellow-garden-club member asks George to take a picture of a special delicate plant that only blooms at night. George is ready with his camera, but falls asleep before the flower blooms. Dennis asks Mr Wilson to be the Scout Den Mother.
Episode 32
Dennis and the Miracle Plant Food
Sun, May 14, 1961 30 mins
Mr Wilson has been trying to improve the growth of a plant in his garden without success. Dennis accidentally steps on the plant and does not tell Mr Wilson. Dennis replaces the plant with the same plant, but a larger one.
Episode 33
Dennis' Newspaper
Sun, May 21, 1961 30 mins
Dennis and Tommy have started their own newspaper, "The Mr. Wilson News", in which they write about Mr. Wilson's daily activities. But when they overhear him playfully telling Mrs. Wilson that he'd give $20 for a raccoon coat like the one he had in college, the boys tell Mr. Krinke, who in turn prints this information in the local newspaper. In no time, the Wilson household is overflowing with raccoon coats from sellers from all over town.
Episode 34
Mr. Wilson's Paradise
Sun, May 28, 1961 30 mins
After helping Dennis research a school report about an island off the coast of Mexico --"the Isle of Happiness"-- Mr. Wilson decides he and his wife should spend a year there. But they quickly change their minds when they see how the schoolteacher who will rent their home while they're away plans to change the house; and then learn that their niece, Georgianna, is going to have a baby.
Episode 35
The Fortune Cookie
Sun, Jun 4, 1961 30 mins
The Mitchell's and Wilson's celebrate George's good fortune in a sale of a coin collection. They each open a fortune cookie, and George's seems to indicate a bad day. Dennis is determined to protect him from harm.
Episode 36
The Pioneers
Sun, Jun 11, 1961 30 mins
Mr. Wilson, Dennis and his father try to prove they can survive three days in the wilderness, armed only with a knife, an ax, and a fishing rod - plus a tempting large basket of food, which is only supposed to be for Dennis.
Episode 37
Father's Day for Mr. Wilson
Sun, Jun 18, 1961 30 mins
After celebrating Father's Day with his father, Dennis decides Mr Wilson needs his own Father's Day. Dennis manages to do everything to have George enjoy his day. Luckily, one of Dennis' gifts helps George win a lawsuit.
Episode 38
Dennis and the Picnic
Sun, Jun 25, 1961 30 mins
Henry finds a large envelope in the gutter outside his house and is surprised to find it is full of money. Henry asks George to go with him to the police to turn it in. The money is counterfeit. The families go on a picnic together.