It’s a sad day in Arizona. One of the true greats of Phoenix television has died. Bill Thomson, better known as Wallace of The Wallace & Ladmo show has passed the age of 82. He had been in the hospital for the last several days and died Wednesday.
For kids that grew up in Arizona, The Wallace & Ladmo Show was as important as eating. The show was aired live out of KPHO TV 5 every afternoon at 4pm, For a kid, there was nothing more urgent then getting home from school in time to catch the show. The Wallace character first debuted on The Gold Dust Charlie Show in April of 1954. When Gold Dust Charlie retired, Bill Thompson was offered his own show as the TV station had just bought a cartoon package and needed somebody to host the cartoons. In January 1955 “It’s Wallace?” premiered on Phoenix television and aired continuously to December 29th, 1989.
Throughout the years, The Wallace & Ladmo Show remained an important icon for all the kids that grew up with it, and they too continued to watch the show with their own children.
There were the live stage shows at Legend City and all over Arizona and Saturday morning stage shows with a movie at the Bethany, Fox and Christown theaters in Phoenix. There was The Wallace & Ladmo Drive-in’s, the music of Hub Capp & the Wheels, The Ladmo Trio & Commodore Condello’s Salt River Navy Band, and of course all the great characters and comedy the show provided with Wallace, Ladmo & Pat McMahon.
I think the best part for Wallace, was that even though the show ended in 1989, his fans never let him forget how much of a difference he made in their lives!
Join Radio Free Phoenix today at 3am & 10am today (July 24th) for a musical tribute to Wallace by Andy Olson. Also later today, Liz Boyle will have her own tribute to the man who inspired generations of kids!
Photo courtesy of David Culling
So Long Wall-Boy!
For more on The Wallace & Ladmo Show – see below
For more images, go HERE
Me and my sisters was on That show Wallace and Lad Mo We got a lad Mo BagI wish I had pictures Of that was greatest day of my life My name is michelle elaine cook my address was 3548 w pierce Phoenix az 85009 it was in the 70s maybe 76 That show was my heroes every one of them And I love the cartoons
2024
Still miss Wallace & Ladmo. And LEGEND CITY!!! 5TH Largest city & no amusement park?