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 and the Duck
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/14/1960
Dennis gets a pet duck that causes havoc in the neighborhood.
#4 - Miss Cathcart's Sunsuit
Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 6/12/1960
Dennis sells Valentine's Day cards in July to by swim fins, which end up causing a run on Valentine's day cards around the entire neighborhood.
#5 - Dennis and the Swing
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/21/1960
Henry tries to take Alice out on their Anniversary. Meanwhile Dennis tries to build a swing in his yard and ends up chasing a cat up a tree in the process.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - Dennis' Paper Drive
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/10/1960
Mrs. Holland tells Dennis that anyone who collets the most newspapers for a paper drive will win a 1985 silver dollar. Mr. Wilson finds out and wants it for his coin collection.
#11 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#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 - Dennis and the Starlings
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 5/8/1960
Mr. Wilson has a bunch of starlings in his tree and wants to get rid of them. Dennis eventually gets rid of the starlings by putting liver in Mr. Wilson's tree which attracts a lot of cats.
#15 - 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.
#16 - Dennis by Proxy
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/22/1960
After hearing that the city is tearing down Mr. Dorfman's "Postman's Rest" bench in favor of a parking lot, Dennis and Tommy offer him use of their private bench they plan to build.
#17 - 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.
#18 - 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.
#19 - 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.
#20 - Dennis and the Rare Coin
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/1960
Mr. Wilson purchases a rare coin for $250, but Dennis finds it and throws it in a wishing well, which was the town fountain.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Dennis and the Cowboy
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/27/1959
Dennis meets Whip Crawford, his cowboy idol, after Mrs. Webster tells Dennis that Whip will be in the community pageant.
#24 - 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.
#25 - 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.