# Dennis the Menace (American version) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349 "2018-03-10T18:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/1 "2018-03-10T18:15:45Z")
Were the parents of any of Dennis’ friends ever shown in the comic? I have a vague memory of having seen Joey’s mom in a few strips, but I’m not even sure that’s right. Do we know any of their names? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/2 "2018-03-10T18:24:38Z")
There are various adults who are shown, but no recurring adult characters with names except the long-suffering Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/3 "2018-03-10T18:45:05Z")
Henry and Alice Mitchell are the parents, Oliver “swede” Johnson is his grandfather. Or so says Wiki, who also cite: Uncle Fred and Aunt Mollie Uncle Richard and Aunt Ginny Uncle John lives in Florida. The Mitchells visited him once for a vacation. Aunt Betty Aunt Hetty Aunt Sue ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/4 "2018-03-10T20:56:19Z")
Also from Wiki: George and Martha Wilson John Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s brother. Eloise Wilson is John’s wife, Mr. Wilson’s sister-in-law. Earl Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s estranged son. Elena Wilson is Earl’s wife. Winnie Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter and Earl’s daughter. Walter “Walt” Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. Keith Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. Sammy Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. George Wilson, Jr. is Mr. Wilson’s son. Edna Wilson is George Jr.'s wife. Tammy Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s daughter. George Wilson III is Mr. Wilson’s grandson. Will Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson. Helga Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter. Plus friends of Dennis: Tommy Anderson Joey McDonald Margaret Wade Gina Gillotti ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/5 "2018-03-10T21:04:27Z")
Joey’s mother and father were in at least one story, where they celebrated their anniversary. Don’t recall if their names were mentioned, though. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/6 "2018-03-10T21:08:41Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Henry and Alice Mitchell are the parents, Oliver “swede” Johnson is his grandfather. Henry, I believe it was (and not Alice), had an Uncle Ned, an elderly gentleman who was a physical fitness freak. When he came to visit, he had Henry and Mr Wilson running an obstacle course every morning after a cold shower (not together, of course). ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/7 "2018-03-10T21:34:00Z")
Why would they shower _before_ the workout? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/8 "2018-03-11T01:14:17Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Also from Wiki: > > George and Martha Wilson > John Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s brother. > Eloise Wilson is John’s wife, Mr. Wilson’s sister-in-law. > Earl Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s estranged son. > Elena Wilson is Earl’s wife. > Winnie Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter and Earl’s daughter. > Walter “Walt” Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. > Keith Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. > Sammy Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson and Earl’s son. > George Wilson, Jr. is Mr. Wilson’s son. > Edna Wilson is George Jr.'s wife. > Tammy Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s daughter. > George Wilson III is Mr. Wilson’s grandson. > Will Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s grandson. > Helga Wilson is Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter. > > Plus friends of Dennis: > > Tommy Anderson > Joey McDonald > Margaret Wade > Gina Gillotti None of the adults are recurring characters, nor have they been IN the strip in donkeys years. We see DtM’s teacher quite often, and she has no name, either. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/9 "2018-03-11T01:20:54Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Why would they shower _before_ the workout? Yep, as soon as they got out of bed at six o’clock. Hopefully, they took hot showers afterward. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/10 "2018-03-11T01:24:45Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > None of the adults are recurring characters, nor have they been IN the strip in donkeys years. We see DtM’s teacher quite often, and she has no name, either. John and Eloise Wilson did appear in the television show, though. John Wilson’s brother was George, and when Joe Kearns, who played George, died, Gale Gordon replaced him in the series as John, along with Sara Seegar as Eloise. In the storyline, George and Martha had moved and sold John their home. This was so that Dennis would still have a “Mr. Wilson” for a neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-the-menace-american-version/810349/11 "2018-03-11T01:38:06Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Yep, as soon as they got out of bed at six o’clock. Hopefully, they took hot showers afterward. As to why, I guess it would be to get the blood flowing? 😕