When exactly did the transition of "Mr. Wilsons" happen? Gale Gordon is listed as appearing in 44 episodes of DTM. I always thought he was just in season 4, but apparently he comes along sometime in season 3. When did Joseph Kearns pass away? Was he ill prior to his death, but expected to return? Was Gorden just filling in before he became a permanant cast member?

Joseph Kearns passed away suddenly during the 3rd season of "Dennis". I believe his cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage. His last episode was the 100th entry of the series titled "The Man Next Door". Sylvia Field stayed on for a few more episodes but Sara Seegar eventually replaced her. I don't know if Sylvia Field left the series on her own, or if the producers chose to replace her. Gale Gordon looked a lot like the Mr. Wilson in the Dennis comics, but Joseph Kearns and Jay North had better chemistry together in the TV show. When Joseph Kearns passed on, the show was lacking without him. The final season with Gale Gordon wasn't that good. Also in that final season, Jay North no longer wore the overalls. I guess maybe the producers thought Jay had outgrown the overalls at that point.

In the Dennis comic books, Dennis has a pet dog named Ruff, a white, long haired mongrel. Dennis and his dog have some very funny adventures together in those comic books. In the TV show, Dennis doesn't have a dog but Mr. Wilson does, the dog's name is Fremont. Maybe the producers of the TV show thought Dennis having a dog wouldn't work very well, so the majority of episodes have Dennis getting involved in something with Mr. Wilson. While the TV series has some merit, it seems pale in comparison to the zaniness of the Dennis comics. So therefore, I think the comic books are funnier.

That was going to be my next question, how it happened that the Mr. Wilson of the comics, looked like the second Mr Wilson, Gale Gordon, rather then the first? There wasn't 2 Mr. Wilsons in the comic strip too were there? :confused:

As far as Sylvia Field staying on, that wouldn't have made sense, since Gale Gordon was playing John Wilson, her brother-in-law, rather than her husband. I wonder how they explained George Wilson's disappearence, since they never refered to "death" on sit-coms in those days, and why John Wilson moved in with Martha, before HIS wife later joined him.

I'm not sure if Gale Gordon was originally considered for the role of Mr. Wilson. It's possible the role went to Joseph Kearns because of the good chemistry he had with Jay North. The Mr. Wilson of the comic books was always the same, a balding, rotund fellow with a mustache.

In the first episode after Joseph Kearns' passing, I believe Mrs. Wilson tells Dennis that Mr. Wilson is away on a trip. Then a few episodes later, John Wilson (Gale Gordon) appears and as far as I know there was no mention of George Wilson from that point forward.

Kind of similar to the Mrs. Kravitz replacement (Bewitched), except in order to keep George Tobias (as Mr. Kravitz), they had to replace the actress that played the character, rather than replace the character with a sister.

As far as Sylvia Field staying on, that wouldn't have made sense, since Gale Gordon was playing John Wilson, her brother-in-law, rather than her husband. I wonder how they explained George Wilson's disappearence, since they never refered to "death" on sit-coms in those days, and why John Wilson moved in with Martha, before HIS wife later joined him.
Like on Mr. Ed, there was no mention of Roger's passing when Larry Keating died in the middle of the production of the Leo Durocher ep.

...Joesph Kearns died in March 1962, shortly before production of season three ended. Producer James Fonda decided to "temporarily" replace him with Gale Gordon as "John Wilson", George's brother, who was staying at the Wilson's with Martha while George was "away" (there had to be a "Mr. Wilson" present in each episode). When season four began in the fall of 1962, Fonda decided to keep Gale Gordon in the cast- so it was explained in the initial episode that George and Martha, in taking an extended vacation, had "temporarily" turned their house over to John and his wife, Eloise [thus eliminating Sylvia Truex, and bringing in Sara Seegar as "the new Mrs. Wilson"].


:tv:

Kind of similar to the Mrs. Kravitz replacement (Bewitched), except in order to keep George Tobias (as Mr. Kravitz), they had to replace the actress that played the character, rather than replace the character with a sister.

Bewitched actually did both, as Mary Grace Canfield, who was also playing Ralph Monroe on Green Acres about this time, played Abner's sister, Miss Harriet Kravitz, for three episodes late in Season 2. Starting in Season 3, Sandra Gould took over as Mrs. Gladys Kravitz.

Bewitched actually did both, as Mary Grace Canfield, who was also playing Ralph Monroe on Green Acres about this time, played Abner's sister, Miss Harriet Kravitz, for three episodes late in Season 2. Starting in Season 3, Sandra Gould took over as Mrs. Gladys Kravitz.
Yeah, I thought about that. Funny thing, in 2 episodes of Dennis the Menace season 1, Sylvia Field (Mrs. Wilson) is missing but George's sister (Miss Wilson) is staying with him. (This was a different sister from the school teacher sister).

...Joesph Kearns died in March 1962, shortly before production of season three ended. Producer James Fonda decided to "temporarily" replace him with Gale Gordon as "John Wilson", George's brother, who was staying at the Wilson's with Martha while George was "away" (there had to be a "Mr. Wilson" present in each episode). When season four began in the fall of 1962, Fonda decided to keep Gale Gordon in the cast- so it was explained in the initial episode that George and Martha, in taking an extended vacation, had "temporarily" turned their house over to John and his wife, Eloise [thus eliminating Sylvia Truex, and bringing in Sara Seegar as "the new Mrs. Wilson"].

:tv:

This is largely true, but not entirely. It was never explained where George and Martha went, only that they had moved permanently. John and Eloise closed on the house one week before the events of the Season 4 pilot take place, according to the script.
(I always thought viewers were supposed to assume George stayed "back east" when he settled the family estate mentioned late in season 3, and that Martha simply joined him. John liked living in Dennis' town/city so much that he stayed, and eventually Eloise joined him.)
Martha was never mentioned after the pilot, and George wasn't mentioned by name after that point, only as "the other Mr. Wilson" in the second episode and as "my brother" by John in the seventh episode.
To another earlier point, George was mentioned at least once in every Season 3 episode after his death except for "Club Initiation."
BTW, Season 4 episodes are airing on Antenna TV beginning today.

This is largely true, but not entirely. It was never explained where George and Martha went, only that they had moved permanently. John and Eloise closed on the house one week before the events of the Season 4 pilot take place, according to the script.
(I always thought viewers were supposed to assume George stayed "back east" when he settled the family estate mentioned late in season 3, and that Martha simply joined him. John liked living in Dennis' town/city so much that he stayed, and eventually Eloise joined him.)
Martha was never mentioned after the pilot, and George wasn't mentioned by name after that point, only as "the other Mr. Wilson" in the second episode and as "my brother" by John in the seventh episode.
To another earlier point, George was mentioned at least once in every Season 3 episode after his death except for "Club Initiation."
BTW, Season 4 episodes are airing on Antenna TV beginning today.


I just caught the season 4 eps today. The one where Dennis is passing out flyers for Mrs. Elkins' campaign and the children's court ep. I kinda disagree with Retrofan4ever's comment about Joseph Kearns and Jay having better chemistry and season 4 not being the best. I love season 4 and though Gale Gordon was terrific in the role as John Wilson and had a great bond with Jay North. I loved how John would handle Mrs. Elkins and Sgt Mooney. I liked and disliked Mrs. Elkins and did not care for Sgt Mooney smirking and finding a reason to fine both Wilson brothers for something ridiculous. Season four is my favorite. :)

I never understood why it was "the second" Mr. Wilson (Gale Gordon) who resembled the comic-strip Mr. Wilson. Joseph Kearns doesn't look anything like him!

I just caught the season 4 eps today. The one where Dennis is passing out flyers for Mrs. Elkins' campaign and the children's court ep. I kinda disagree with Retrofan4ever's comment about Joseph Kearns and Jay having better chemistry and season 4 not being the best. I love season 4 and though Gale Gordon was terrific in the role as John Wilson and had a great bond with Jay North. I loved how John would handle Mrs. Elkins and Sgt Mooney. I liked and disliked Mrs. Elkins and did not care for Sgt Mooney smirking and finding a reason to fine both Wilson brothers for something ridiculous. Season four is my favorite. :)

I like Gale Gordon. On their own, some of the fourth-season episodes are pretty funny. I just think they pale in comparison to the other three seasons. And I never really liked Eloise. Sara Seegar showed exactly how much Sylvia Field as Martha meant to the series.

Kind of similar to the Mrs. Kravitz replacement (Bewitched), except in order to keep George Tobias (as Mr. Kravitz), they had to replace the actress that played the character, rather than replace the character with a sister.

They had Mrs. Kravitz *cough* "visiting" her sister or some relative for months while Abner's sister was the housesitter. That was okay by TV execs since it's a brother & sister living together temporarily. George kept his job unlike poor Sylvia (who I preferred btw).

I like Gale Gordon. On their own, some of the fourth-season episodes are pretty funny. I just think they pale in comparison to the other three seasons. And I never really liked Eloise. Sara Seegar showed exactly how much Sylvia Field as Martha meant to the series.

Never liked Sara Seegers as Mrs .Wilson. She seems kind of distant and bit aloof when surrounded by Dennis or his friends. Sylvia brought warmth and a grandmotherly charm to Martha. I always think of her baking cookies and having glasses of milk ready for the visiting kids.

I wonder if the producers intentionally wrote Eloise as being so different than her sister-in-law. Whereas Martha tried to make life easier for everyone else, Eloise seemed to go out of her way to antagonize John.

Bumping this to the top, Season 4 cycled back to Season 1 yesterday on Antenna TV. For some reason, Antenna skipped the first two episodes ... or at the least the order as televised (not filmed), so it went from "Aunt Emma Visits the Wilsons" to "Fishing Trip," skipping "Dennis Goes to the Movies" and "Dennis and the Signpost."
(Fine with me ... I am not a huge fan of the pilot episode for whatever reason.)

I was looking forward to that episode number two with that open house sign. That one cracks me up. It has been since I was watching it as a kid on Nickelodeon.

I love the signpost episode (the dress Eve Purcell wears gives the episode a real 50s feel as well!). I can't figure out why they would skip episodes 1 and 2. Oddly enough, they are back on schedule with respect to having shown two Valentine's Day episodes on Friday, pre-empting the episodes that usually would have run.

Season 4 has been showing the past few weeks on Antenna TV, and watching these episodes I humored myself wondering what the interaction would be like between George and John, and what the transition episode that never took place would have been like. I can almost see both sets of the Wilsons at a going away party for George and Martha/welcome party for John and Eloise, with the Mitchells, Miss Cathcart, Krinkie, Quigley and tons of other townspeople there. I wonder if Mrs. Elkins would have been invited ... :)

Never liked Sara Seegers as Mrs .Wilson. She seems kind of distant and bit aloof when surrounded by Dennis or his friends. Sylvia brought warmth and a grandmotherly charm to Martha. I always think of her baking cookies and having glasses of milk ready for the visiting kids.


Martha was really a sweetheart. Such a grandmotherly type lady! :)