116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Piece of History: Armstrong’s Dennis the Menace window
In December 1962, the corner display windows at the Armstrong’s department store featured an animated scene from Dennis the Menace.
The scene, which advertised the store’s third-floor Toyland, showed Dennis playing with a sled, Tommy riding a rocking horse, Joey pounding a peg set and Margaret pushing a doll buggy.
Henry Mitchell is loaded with packages and holding onto Ruff’s leash, which is wrapped around his legs. Watching over the chaos are Alice Mitchell and grumpy next-door neighbor Mr. Wilson.
At the time, the Dennis the Menace cartoon reached more than 21 million readers.
Upstairs at Toyland, Santa was available for visits from 10 a.m. to noon, 12:30 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Like most Armstrong’s holiday displays, this one was used for only two years before being retired.
Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org
Armstrong's ad, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Dec. 6, 1972 by Gazette Online on Scribd
Armstrong’s department story in December 1962 put an animated Dennis the Menace display in its front windows to advertise its Toyland on the third floor. The display was used two years before being retired. (The History Center)
This ad from Armstrong’s department store appeared in the Dec. 6, 1962, Gazette and shows the large animated Dennis the Menace holiday display set up in the store’s windows.
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