The Original Bad Boy

Paramount Pictures scored a mega-hit last year with its big-screen version of the 1960s camp TV series “The Addams Family.” Now, “Home Alone” producer-writer John Hughes and Warner Bros. are hoping to make box-office magic with their upcoming feature version of another popular ‘60s TV comedy series, “Dennis the Menace.”

“Dennis the Menace,” which airs in reruns on Nickelodeon, was based on Hank Ketchum’s popular comic strip of the same name. Dennis Mitchell was an obnoxious troublemaker who loved his slingshot and his dog, Freemont. He made Eddie on “Leave It to Beaver” look like the epitome of charm and grace. But Dennis really wasn’t a bad kid. It just seemed that every time he tried to help anyone, he made a mess of things.

CBS’ version of “Dennis the Menace” premiered Oct. 5, 1959. Young Jay North was perfect as Dennis--right down to his cowlick. Dennis’ long-suffering parents Henry (Herbert Anderson) and Alice (Gloria Henry) both had the patience of Job, and somehow managed to put up with his shenanigans. However, that wasn’t the case with Dennis’ neighbor in suburban Hillsdale, the grouchy George Wilson (Joseph Kearns). Though Dennis was especially fond of Mr. Wilson, he only managed to make life worse for him and his wife, Martha (Sylvia Field).

Kearns died during the 1961-62 season and Gale Gordon, Mr. Mooney of “The Lucy Show,” came on board near the end of the season as Mr. Wilson’s brother, John, who was visiting Mrs. Wilson. In the fall of 1962, Gordon returned with a wife, Eloise (Sara Seeger), and no mention was made of George and Martha.

Mary Wickes (“Sister Act”), Willard Waterman, Jeannie Russell and Irene Tedrow were also featured in the cast.

Dennis also guest-starred on another popular series of the day, “The Donna Reed Show.” In that episode, which also pops up on Nickelodeon, Dennis decides to help Donna paint the Stones’ house.

During its second season, “Dennis” reached No. 11 in the ratings, but the comedy fell out of the top 25 in its fourth and final season. NBC aired reruns on Saturday mornings from October, 1963 through September, 1965. “Dennis” has been seen in syndication ever since.

A poorly received syndicated TV movie was made in 1987 starring Victor DeMattia and William Windom and an animated version aired on CBS’ morning lineup in the late ‘80s.

North later starred in the 1965 film “Zebra in the Kitchen” and in the short-lived 1967-68 action-adventure series “Maya.”

“Dennis the Menace” airs weekdays at 7:30 a.m. on XETV; weekdays at 8:30 a.m. and Saturdays at noon on Nickelodeon