The Older Adults of "Dennis the Menace" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Steve E · 08-21-2011, 04:42 PM

I love how the world of Dennis the Menace is populated by a wide array of older characters...with many of them being on the "downside" of 50.

Some of Dennis' "elder" friends:

Mr. & Mrs. Wilson
Miss Cathcart
Mrs. Elkins
Mrs. Schooner
Mr. Dorfman
Mr. Finch
Mr. Krinkie
Mr. Merrivale
Mr. Quigley
Mr. Timberlake
Opie Swanson
Sgt. Mooney
Uncle Ned

Dennis interacted more with adults than he did kids...and the show was richer for it.A lot of memorable character actors added greatly to the show,and their interactions with Dennis (as well as Tommy,Margaret,and the comically priceless Seymour) were intregal to the young & old outlook of the program.

Mr.& Mrs. Wilson,of course,were crucial to the show,and many other older characters made multiple appearances during the course of the series.

Does anyone have any favorites of the older friends of Dennis?

dakert · 08-22-2011, 12:02 AM

Mr & Mrs Wilson goes without saying but I also liked Miss Cathcart and Sgt Mooney with a dash of Mr Quigley

Mr. & Mrs. Wilson
Miss Cathcart
Mrs. Elkins
Mrs. Schooner
Mr. Dorfman
Mr. Finch
Mr. Krinkie
Mr. Merrivale
Mr. Quigley
Mr. Timberlake
Opie Swanson
Sgt. Mooney
Uncle Ned

Dennis interacted more with adults than he did kids...and the show was richer for it.A lot of memorable character actors added greatly to the show,and their interactions with Dennis (as well as Tommy,Margaret,and the comically priceless Seymour) were intregal to the young & old outlook of the program.

Mr.& Mrs. Wilson,of course,were crucial to the show,and many other older characters made multiple appearances during the course of the series.

Does anyone have any favorites of the older friends of Dennis?[/QUOTE]

McGillicuddy · 08-25-2011, 06:48 AM

Another one, Grandmother Mitchell, came for an extensive stay to take care of Dennis and Henry while Alice was away. I believe Gloria Henry got pregnant during season 2, and wasn't able to work.

Jack Gomez · 08-25-2011, 12:34 PM

That's one of my favorite parts about the show is the older actors. Such a great array of townsfolks, played by great actors.

I'd also add Mrs. Holland to the list. She was played by Helen Kleeb better known for her role on The Waltons as Mamie Baldwin, one of the bootlegging sisters. Mrs. Holland only appeared in about four episodes. She was one of those neighbor ladies who would always get angry at Mr. Wilson. She might not be as remembered as the others, but I liked her.

1960'sTVfan · 08-26-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Another one, Grandmother Mitchell, came for an extensive stay to take care of Dennis and Henry while Alice was away. I believe Gloria Henry got pregnant during season 2, and wasn't able to work.

Yes, I saw on TV today the episode where Alice prepares to "go out of town" temporarily. It was amusing to watch the episode and see the great lengths they took to hide Gloria Henry's pregnancy.

Coffeecup · 08-28-2011, 11:50 AM

This is probably the first show I remember seeing as a child. Can't say whether it was in rerun form in later years but in time wise production of the show was the first I saw. I haven't seen the show in decades.

schmave · 10-25-2013, 02:51 PM

Probably Miss Cathcart and, in the later seasons, Sgt. Mooney. George Cisar was hilarious. The second episode of the fourth season, where Miss Cathcart and Miss Tarbell are competing for the affections of a supposedly single John Wilson, is the funniest episode by far of that season, IMO.
Opie Swanson's wife stole the show in the first-season episode about the open house. "Opie used to be in the Navy!" LOL

biffbronson · 10-25-2013, 08:14 PM

Whenever I see George Cisar, I think of his early Petticoat Junction episode with the mosquito repellant. A funny actor for sure.

Joseph Kearns of course deserves special recognition for his efforts on this series -- and it's especially impressive in light of the fact that he was playing a character significantly older than his "real-life" age.

gonzo40 · 10-25-2013, 09:03 PM

They were all great but Miss Cathcart still get's me laughing real hard, even after watching them over and over... Of course the Wilson's, The Mitchell's, Mrs. Elkins, Mrs. Schooner, Sgt. Mooney and that crazy TV repairman and Mr. Dorfman that was always hiding from Miss Cathcart.... Great cast, although some of the characters could have been used more..... Don't forget dumb Margaret......

08-21-2011, 04:42 PM	#1
Steve E Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 15	The Older Adults of "Dennis the Menace" I love how the world of Dennis the Menace is populated by a wide array of older characters...with many of them being on the "downside" of 50. Some of Dennis' "elder" friends: Mr. & Mrs. Wilson Miss Cathcart Mrs. Elkins Mrs. Schooner Mr. Dorfman Mr. Finch Mr. Krinkie Mr. Merrivale Mr. Quigley Mr. Timberlake Opie Swanson Sgt. Mooney Uncle Ned Dennis interacted more with adults than he did kids...and the show was richer for it.A lot of memorable character actors added greatly to the show,and their interactions with Dennis (as well as Tommy,Margaret,and the comically priceless Seymour) were intregal to the young & old outlook of the program. Mr.& Mrs. Wilson,of course,were crucial to the show,and many other older characters made multiple appearances during the course of the series. Does anyone have any favorites of the older friends of Dennis?

10-25-2013, 08:14 PM	#8
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,477	Whenever I see George Cisar, I think of his early Petticoat Junction episode with the mosquito repellant. A funny actor for sure. Joseph Kearns of course deserves special recognition for his efforts on this series -- and it's especially impressive in light of the fact that he was playing a character significantly older than his "real-life" age.
	__________________ In memory of lovely Erin Moran 1960-2017 ~ Missing you "For you are beautiful ~ And I have loved you dearly ~ More dearly than the spoken word can tell..." "What's the word?" (Paul Martin) ~~ "I don't want money for nothing." (Timmy Martin) -- Lassie ROCKS! WORD UP "It's just a dugout that my dad built... In case the reds* decide to push the button down..."*

08-22-2011, 12:02 AM	#2
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Mr & Mrs Wilson goes without saying but I also liked Miss Cathcart and Sgt Mooney with a dash of Mr Quigley Mr. & Mrs. Wilson Miss Cathcart Mrs. Elkins Mrs. Schooner Mr. Dorfman Mr. Finch Mr. Krinkie Mr. Merrivale Mr. Quigley Mr. Timberlake Opie Swanson Sgt. Mooney Uncle Ned Dennis interacted more with adults than he did kids...and the show was richer for it.A lot of memorable character actors added greatly to the show,and their interactions with Dennis (as well as Tommy,Margaret,and the comically priceless Seymour) were intregal to the young & old outlook of the program. Mr.& Mrs. Wilson,of course,were crucial to the show,and many other older characters made multiple appearances during the course of the series. Does anyone have any favorites of the older friends of Dennis?[/QUOTE]

08-25-2011, 06:48 AM	#3
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Another one, Grandmother Mitchell, came for an extensive stay to take care of Dennis and Henry while Alice was away. I believe Gloria Henry got pregnant during season 2, and wasn't able to work.

08-25-2011, 12:34 PM	#4
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	That's one of my favorite parts about the show is the older actors. Such a great array of townsfolks, played by great actors. I'd also add Mrs. Holland to the list. She was played by Helen Kleeb better known for her role on The Waltons as Mamie Baldwin, one of the bootlegging sisters. Mrs. Holland only appeared in about four episodes. She was one of those neighbor ladies who would always get angry at Mr. Wilson. She might not be as remembered as the others, but I liked her.

08-28-2011, 11:50 AM	#6
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	This is probably the first show I remember seeing as a child. Can't say whether it was in rerun form in later years but in time wise production of the show was the first I saw. I haven't seen the show in decades.

10-25-2013, 02:51 PM	#7
schmave Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2013 Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio Posts: 653	Probably Miss Cathcart and, in the later seasons, Sgt. Mooney. George Cisar was hilarious. The second episode of the fourth season, where Miss Cathcart and Miss Tarbell are competing for the affections of a supposedly single John Wilson, is the funniest episode by far of that season, IMO. Opie Swanson's wife stole the show in the first-season episode about the open house. "Opie used to be in the Navy!" LOL

10-25-2013, 09:03 PM	#9
gonzo40 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2013 Location: Livonia, Michigan Posts: 112	They were all great but Miss Cathcart still get's me laughing real hard, even after watching them over and over... Of course the Wilson's, The Mitchell's, Mrs. Elkins, Mrs. Schooner, Sgt. Mooney and that crazy TV repairman and Mr. Dorfman that was always hiding from Miss Cathcart.... Great cast, although some of the characters could have been used more..... Don't forget dumb Margaret......