(CBS, 1959 - 1963) Character actor Joseph Kearns played Dennis's nemesis Mr. Wilson, until the final season when the role was taken up by Gale Gordon. Based upon the Hank Ketchum cartoon series. This TV series was the first of three, but was the only one which was a live-action series -- the other two were animated. There was also a 1952 novelty song sung by Rosemary Clooney written by Dick Manning and Al Hoffman, and a later feature film scored by Jerry Goldsmith.
[aka: "Dennis the Menace Theme", aka: "Dennis the Menace"] Composers: William G. ("Bill") Loose (ASCAP/BMI) and John Seely (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Seely John Gilfilen]; with lyrics added later by Paul Parnes (ASCAP) 1978 Publishers: Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc. (BMI), and Colgems-EMI Music Co. (ASCAP) 1986 Publishers: Sam Fox Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of Scottsdale, AZ 2002 Publishers: [for current Title, Publisher and Licensing information regarding this THEME... contact Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)] [filed under "Dennis the Menace Theme Music"]: Instrumental Copyright Date: Aug. 24, 1959; EU 590 919. Instrumental Renewal Date: [not found] [filed under "Dennis the Menace"]: Vocal Copyright Date: December 15, 1960; EU 651 080. Vocal Renewal Date: [not found] Recordings: TVT Records, NY