On this day in 1951, by a peculiar quirk of fate, the world got not one, but two Dennis the Menaces. 

Both Dennises were mischievous rascals with slingshots, dogs, and striped outfits, but their personalities were as different as Yorkshire tea and Americano coffee. 

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reflect on why Beano eventually gave Walter the Softy a girlfriend; discuss America’s 1950s obsession with permissive parenting; and speculate on why the US Dennis the Menace had to go on the run from the police…

Further Reading:

‘The Most Unbelievable Comic Ripoff Was a Total Coincidence’ (Screen Rant, 2021): https://screenrant.com/dennis-menace-coincidence-us-uk-ripoff/ 

‘Dennis the Menace at 60’ (BBC, 2011): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12770341 

‘An Insane British-American Coincidence’ (Lost in the Pond, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykOZXhefypw 

This episode first premiered in 2022, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.

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