The BEST episodes of Dennis the Menace season 1
Every episode of Dennis the Menace season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dennis the Menace season 1!
This situation comedy series follows the lives of the Mitchell family, Henry, Alice, and their only child Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor George Wilson, a retired salesman, or, later, with George's brother John, a writer. Dennis is basically a good, well-intentioned boy who always tries to help people, but who winds up making situations worse – often at Mr. Wilson's expense.
#1 - The Fishing Trip
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/1959
Mr. Wilson and Dennis' father plan a secret early-morning fishing trip without Dennis, but he suspects something is afoot due to various clues they leave. Their sleep the night before is disrupted by Dennis' restless curiosity.
#2 - Dennis Goes to the Movies
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/1959
Dennis successfully eludes a babysitter and sneaks out of the house to go to a cowboy movie that his parents are also attending.
#3 - Dennis' Garden
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/1959
Dennis mistakes Mr. Wilson's dahlia bulbs for sweet potatoes, and, after his bedtime, he switches the sweet potatoes for dahlia bulbs.
#4 - The New Neighbors
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/1959
Dennis helps Mr. Wilson sell a neighbor's house.
#5 - Grandpa and Miss Cathcart
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1959
Dennis tries to fix up his Grandpa Perkins with Miss Cathcart and other ladies in the neighborhood.
#6 - Dennis Sells Bottles
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/1959
Dennis thinks his father is broke, so he sells bottles in an attempt to make some extra money while informing the neighborhood of the Mitchells' dire straits.
#7 - Dennis and the Signpost
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/1959
Dennis and Tommy fix a fallen street signpost but fail to notice they've put it up with the street names facing in the wrong direction.
#8 - Tenting Tonight
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/1959
Mr. Wilson returns from a camping trip, inspiring Dennis and Tommy to camp out in the backyard. That night, Mr. Wilson mistakenly thinks the circus train has crashed and the animals have escaped, but the noises are only the Mitchells' neighbor playing a sound-effects record.
#9 - Dennis' Tree House
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/10/1960
Mr. Wilson attempts to teach Dennis about bird watching. Dennis takes care of a sick bird, which proves to be the first of its species ever found in their region, prompting a visit by an excited bird club official.
#10 - Innocents in Space
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/1959
Mr. Wilson thinks he has discovered a space satellite when in reality it is Dennis shooting glow-in-the-dark ping-pong balls out of his blaster gun.
#11 - Mr. Wilson's Award
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/1959
Henry tells Dennis that he and the family are moving to New York in order to keep Mr. Wilson in town for an award he is to receive. Dennis then informs the neighborhood of their supposed move.
#12 - Dennis and the Bike
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/1960
When his parents won't buy him his own bicycle, Dennis attempts various ways to get one on his own, including guessing beans in a glass bowl.
#13 - Dennis Becomes a Baby Sitter
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/1/1960
Dennis winds up babysitting a little boy who is a guest of the Wilsons after his father and Mr. Wilson mistakenly both cancel their respective sitters.
#14 - The Party Line
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/15/1960
The Driscolls are new neighbors, but problems arise as their phone is on a shared line with the Mitchells. Henry gets angry at Mr. Driscoll for monopolizing the line, not realizing that Dennis and his friends actually were the ones using it, and furthermore that Mr. Driscoll is a valued client of Henry's company.
#15 - Alice's Birthday
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/24/1960
Henry will be out of town for Alice's birthday, so he gives Dennis some money to buy her a present. Dennis's antics cause mayhem and damage in the variety store.
#16 - Dennis and the Bees
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/17/1960
Dennis and Tommy learn that local handyman Opie Swanson might have to move because his bees can't find honey. The boys move Mr. Wilson's indoor flowers outside to attract the bees, and Dennis sprays them with perfume, causing great confusion.
#17 - Dennis and the Open House
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/7/1960
Dennis' house is mistaken for a nearby open house that is up for sale, thus attracting a crowd of strangers into what the Mitchells had intended as a small party for friends.
#18 - Dennis Creates a Hero
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/20/1960
Dennis asks a reporter to write a story about his dad with hopes of getting his picture in the paper.
#19 - Dennis and the TV Set
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/13/1960
Dennis goes to any length to get his own TV. Meanwhile, Mr. Wilson gets a remote control for his, which Dennis takes advantage of.
#20 - Dennis and the Dog
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1960
Dennis cares for a dog named Charlie who wins a prize from the art club for his painting.
#21 - Dennis and the Duck
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/14/1960
Dennis gets a pet duck that causes havoc in the neighborhood.
#22 - The Christmas Story (aka Dennis & Christmas)
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/20/1959
Dennis is going crazy trying to find his gifts, which include a new sled.
#23 - Dennis Runs Away
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/29/1960
Dennis has nobody to play with after Joey goes home. Since nobody can drive him, he decides to walk to his grandfather's house but is stopped by the police. At the police station, he refuses to tell his name, is given ice cream, and causes further havoc including putting cement in Mr. Wilson's bowling ball and accidentally handcuffing an officer.
#24 - Mr. Wilson's Sister
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/6/1960
Dennis meets Mr. Wilson's sister, Helen who reads the book Treasure Island to Dennis and his friends, and they become fascinated with buried treasure. Mr. Wilson draws a treasure map to trick the boys into tilling his garden plot.
#25 - Dennis Haunts a House
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/3/1960
Mr. Wilson becomes suspicious when he hears noises caused by Dennis and his friends, who have set up their clubhouse in a crawl space underneath his house.