Shout Factory | 1959 | 800 mins. | NR
Based on the popular comic strip by Hank Ketchum, Dennis the Menace arrived on television screens Oct. 4, 1959, and stayed for 146 episodes over four seasons. This kid was a little devil from the start, wreaking havoc wherever he went. He wasn’t bad just once an episode so he could receive a life lesson for the benefit of the audience; oh no, Dennis Mitchell worked hard at being mischievous. Jay North, who’d just turned eight when the series premiered, brings the character to life.
North’s Dennis was talkative and cute. His voice had the perfect pitch for that grating signature line, “Hell-oooo Mr. Wilson,” aimed several times per episode at his unfortunate neighbor (played with wonderful grumpiness by Joseph Kearns). It’s no wonder the series was warmly received–finishing at Number 16 its first season, climbing to Number 11 for its second, and ending its third-season run at Number 17 before falling out of the Nielsen Top 30. Unfortunately, unlike other contemporary series like Leave It to Beaver, Dennis the Menace was never syndicated, allowing it to lapse into obscurity.
I love the fact that Shout Factory works to bring older shows to the masses. After watching the first season, it’s clear that Dennis the Menace should appeal to old fans, while still offer something for the kids of today. After all, what kid doesn’t enjoy annoying their parents once in awhile?
Like a lot of boys his age, Dennis had boundless energy, but was naïve about the world. My first instinct was to declare him an evil boy. But really, that not it at all. He has enthusiasm and ideas about how to help people, but no idea how to put them into action. As a result, his boundless energy ends up causing everyone more headaches. I was surprised how many times I found myself laughing. This kid really got himself into some predicaments! He got no moral speeches The Mitchells (Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry) usually just throw up their hands and say the equivalent of “boys will be boys,” which allows the viewer to simply enjoy Dennis’ antics.
Each episode concerns Dennis misunderstanding something, trying to help, messing things up, and the parents learning about it and trying to placate the disgruntled parties. But the writing (Hank Ketcham was involved in 88 out of 146 episodes) is so good that we get a dose of nostalgia with a number of unforced laughs. A VERY young Ronnie Howard turns up as one of Dennis’s playmates.
Here’s a rundown on the 32 episodes, which are described on a bi-fold insert, complete with original air dates.
1) “Dennis Goes to the Movies.” Dennis eludes his babysitter to go to the movie that his parents are seeing.
2) “Dennis and the Signpost.” Dennis and Tommy replace a fallen street signpost.
3) “The Fishing Trip.” Henry and George try to go fishing without Dennis.
4) “Grandpa and Miss Cathcart.” Dennis tries to fix up his Grandpa Perkins with Miss Cathcart.
5) “Innocents n Space.” Mr. Wilson thinks he has discovered a space satellite.
6) “Dennis’ Garden.” Dennis mistakenly raises Mr. Wilson’s expensive dahlia bulbs, while Mr. Wilson ends up raising ordinary sweet potatoes.
7) “The New Neighbors.” Dennis helps Mr. Wilson sell a neighbor’s house.
8.) “Tenting Tonight.” When Dennis and Tommy camp out in the backyard, Mr. Wilson suspects wild animals are going to attack them.
9) “Dennis Sells Bottles.” Dennis thinks his dad is broke, so he sells bottles in an attempt to make some extra money.
10) “Mr. Wilson’s Award.” In order to keep Mr. Wilson in town for an award he is due to receive, Dennis is led to believe he and his family are moving to New York.
11) “The Christmas Story.” Dennis goes crazy trying to find his gifts.
12) “Dennis and the Cowboy.” Dennis meets Whip Crawford, his cowboy idol, after Mrs. Webster tells Dennis that Whip will be in the community pageant.
13) “Dennis Haunts a House.” Mr. Wilson becomes suspicious when he hears noises caused by Dennis and his friends, who’ve set up their clubhouse in a crawlspace underneath his house.
14) “Dennis’ Tree House.” Mr. Wilson attempts to teach Dennis about bird-watching, and Dennis takes care of a sick bird.
15) “Dennis and the Rare Coin.” Mr. Wilson purchases a rare coin for $250, but Mrs. Wilson, without realizing it, lets Dennis take it to use in a wishing well.
16) “Dennis and the Bike.” When his parents won’t buy him a bicycle, Dennis attempts to get one on his own.
17) “Dennis and the Open House.” The Mitchells are having an open-house party and are worried that Dennis may, somehow, make trouble.
18) “Dennis and the Duck.” Dennis’ duck causes problems in Mr. Wilson’s garden and Mr. Wilson warns Dennis to keep him out.
19) “Dennis and the Swing.” Henry tries to take Alice out for their anniversary. Meanwhile, Dennis tries to build a swing in his yard and ends up chasing a cat up a tree in the process.
20) “Dennis and the Dog.” Dennis cares for a dog named Charlie who turns out to be quite an artist.
21) “Mr. Wilson’s Sister.” After being read Treasure Island, Dennis and Tommy become fascinated with buried treasure.
22) “Dennis and the TV Set.” Dennis uses his friend’s remote control to operate Mr. Wilson’s television from his house, and Mr. Wilson can’t understand what’s happening.
23) “Dennis Creates a Hero.” Dennis asks a reporter to write a story about his dad with hopes of getting his picture in the paper.
24) “Dennis’ Paper Drive.” Dennis and Tommy collect newspapers for a paper drive that will reward the boy who collects the most with a silver dollar.
25) “Dennis and the Bees.” Dennis and Tommy learn that Opie might have to move because his bees can’t find honey. So the boys move Mr. Wilson’s indoor flowers outside to attract the bees, and Dennis has a plan to attract even more.
26) “Alice’s Birthday.” Henry will be out of town for Alice’s birthday, so he gives Dennis some money and tells him to see that his mother has a nice day.
27) “Dennis Becomes a Baby Sitter.” When Henry and George mistakenly both cancel their respective sitters, Dennis and another young boy are left alone to wreak havoc.
28) “Dennis and the Starlings.” Mr. Wilson has a bunch of starlings in his tree and wants to get rid of them. In his attempt to help out, Dennis only incites a whole new problem.
29) “The Party Line.” The Driscolls are new neighbors, but problems arise because their phone is on the same line as the Mitchells’.
30) “Dennis by Proxy.” After hearing that the city is tearing down Mr. Dorfman’s Postman’s Rest bench in favor of a parking lot, Dennis and Tommy offer him use of their private bench they plan to build.
31) “Dennis Runs Away.” When Dennis has no one to play with, he decides to walk to his grandfather’s house, which is miles away.
32) “Miss Cathcart’s Sunsuit.” Dennis and Tommy try to sell Valentine’s Day cards in July to buy swim fins.
The video is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio, in black and white. The series is more the fifty years old. So it should come as no surprise that it looks a bit rough in spots. There’s a lot of grain and horizontal lines. The later episodes look somewhat better.
We get the following special features: Two conversations with Gloria Henry and Jeannie Russell (who played Margaret, the only girl Dennis talked to) are included, one of them new. A few original promos are also included. But the gem is a bonus episode. Included is “Donna Decorates,” from The Donna Reed Show, in which both Jay North and Joseph Kearns appear as their characters from Dennis the Menace.
