One of the last "Dennis the Menace" episodes to feature Joseph Kearns as "Mr. Wilson" was called "Where There's a Will" (it may have even been Mr. Kearn's last appearance on the program).

What makes this episode particulary ironic, if not eerie, is that the plot deals with Mr. Wilson's death. In the show, Mr. Wilson tells Dennis that in his will, he is leaving Dennis a pocket watch. Shortly after that episode aired, Joseph Kearns died suddenly from a cerebral hemmorage.

Back then, when an actor on a television show passed away, the issue was never dealt with directly. The actor's character didn't die - they simply "moved away" (or in the case of Mr. Wilson, he and his wife left for an around-the-world cruise). Character actor Edward Everett Horton was brought in for a few episodes as "Uncle Ned" to fill the void, after which Gale Gordon was cast as George Wilson's brother, John Wilson.

I'm surprised this bit of irony hasn't been discussed more.

This IS ironic about the last Kearns Dennis the Menace delt with death and the actor died in real life soon after that.

As far as the around the world trip, even though I have all the Dennis' on tape I dont recall that happened.

There is a scene of Dennis and Tommy with the original Mrs. Wilson ( Sylvia Field ) in Quigley's Market talking about Mr. Wilson going "back east" for some reason, I think he was on business as I havent seen that show for awhile. I do think it was in the show about "Stretch" the basketball player, or it may have been about Ned and the garden but I do remember the scene Jay North said that "we'll all miss Mr. Wilson".

Actually Sylvia Field did a few Gale Gordon shows of Dennis.Same thing with Mr. Ed when Larry Keating died, his tv wife staying on board til a new wife comes I remember one in which "John" Wilson ( Gale Gordon ) won I think it was a duck and he wanted to kill it so he can eat it. But the kids and Mrs. Elkins protested it.

Nothing against Gale Gordon but when he came to Dennis the Menace the quality of the show went down. I also could be wrong but I believe thats when Jay North started getting abused on the set by family members, not long after the death of Joe Kearns.

Jay North has said over the years different versions of this , who really knows. I do say this much. I think its a shame this show isnt reruned as much as say Leave it to Beaver. Its a classic !!!

Originally posted by bb
This IS ironic about the last Kearns Dennis the Menace delt with death and the actor died in real life soon after that.

As far as the around the world trip, even though I have all the Dennis' on tape I dont recall that happened.



I seem to recall reading somewhere that the "around the world trip" was used to explain Mr. Wilson's absense, but I could be mistaken about that. Also, now that you mention it, I remember the original Mrs. Wilson appearing in a few of the Gale Gordon episodes.

I agree with you that the show started going downhill after Mr. Kearns passed away. I think part of the reason was the loss of Joseph Kearns, but I also think that Jay North was starting to outgrow the part of Dennis, so I don't think the show would have lasted much longer anyway.

Originally posted by Jimbo

I'm surprised this bit of irony hasn't been discussed more.

I was thinking the same thing. That's why I just brought up a new topic about which "Mr. Wilson" people prefer. I am guessing that most people will say the first. I actually like them both.