Al & Vadis & Hank & Alice

Al Wiseman's first wife, the late Vadis Davis, was kind enough to grant me a series of interviews a number of years ago, providing me with a treasure-trove of information concerning Al's pre-Dennis career. One of the things she mentioned was the friendship between Al and Hank Ketcham during the late 1940's while both were living in Connecticut.

Seems that they would venture into New York City on a regular basis to sell gag cartoons to Manhattan-based magazines. Vadis also told me how both families would often meet up socially.

After speaking with Vadis, I interviewed Hank himself. Asking him about those days in Connecticut, Hank was adamant that he had never even met Al until 1952, when both were living in California and Hank had hired Al to work on Dennis.

Hmmm...


Well anyway, here's a photo that Al's daughter-in-law, Teresa Tersol-Wiseman, sent me in an email:


Yes, this incredibly youthful foursome are Hank, Al, Alice Ketcham and Vadis. And here they are in (more or less) color:


On the back, someone (presumably Vadis) wrote:
"We all lived in Connecticut at this time.
Hank & Alice- Westport, Conn.
Al & Vadis, Merrily & Jan- Ridgefield, Conn.
Alice pregnant w/ Dennis"


According to the stamp on the back, this photo was processed on December 10, 1948.

So it seems that Hank's memory may have been just a little bit faulty on this matter...


[The above photo was previously posted by Teresa Tersol-Wiseman on the Ultimate Dennis the Menace Thread. Check it out!]