Figure 1.-- Jay guest starred in a 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' episode, a popular campy spy action series. The episode was 'The Deadly Toy Affair'. Children were rarely featured in the U.N.C.L.E. episodes, but a reader tells us about one exception. "Last night METV showed a 'Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode with Jay North. Ironically when Jay portrayed Dennis the Menace, he never wore short pants even though he was age appropriate and Kechem's cartoons commonly depicted Dennis wearing short pnts. And the show was done in an era when it would have been correct. Strangely, in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' episode, Jay who is 14 years old is attired in a shorts pants school uniform. Unlike the Dennis series, this was not age appropriate or common in Aschools, at least American schools. Jay portrays a boy genius that TRUSH is after. All his scenes take place at a Swiss boarding school which presumably explains the short pants--giving a European flavor that fits in withthe spy theme.

Jay had many guest roles in major television shows during the 1960s. Jay had trouble finding regular work after the 'Dennis' run, but he made quite a few guest appearnces on mny different series. Given his popularity during nd immditely following the Dennis run, he had many offers. These rapidly fell off soon after the series run was over, especially when he became a teenager and lost the boyish looks that made him so poular as Dennis. We have some information on a few of these appearances. We do not know a great deal about these appearances, but hopefully our HBC readers will recall some of them.

Variety Show (1960/62)

A reader tells us, "I remember seeing a variety show where he and the boy who played his friend Tommy both wore smart looking short pants outfits. I can't remember what show it was but I believe that it must have been around 1960 or 61 during the 'Dennis the Mence' run." Weare not show what their performnce was.

Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-68)

Jay guest starred in a 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' episode, a popular campy spy action series. The episode was 'The Deadly Toy Affair'. Children were rarely featured in the U.N.C.L.E. episodes, but a reader tells us about one exception. "Last night METV showed a 'Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode with Jay North. Ironically when Jay portrayed Dennis the Menace, he never wore short pants even though he was age appropriate and Kechem's cartoons commonly depicted Dennis wearing short pnts. And the show was done in an era when it would have been correct. Strangely, in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' episode, Jay who is 14 years old is attired in a shorts pants school uniform. Unlike the Dennis series, this was not age appropriate or common in Aschools, at least American schools. Jay portrays a boy genius that TRUSH is after. All his scenes take place at a Swiss boarding school which presumably explains the short pants--giving a European flavor that fits in withthe spy theme. His school uniform was more of a British uniform than characteristic of Swiss schools. Neutral Switzerland was a Cold War mecca for spies which presumably why it was chosen for the episode. Surprisingly, Jay does not get mentioned as a co-star even though he was still well known in 1965 when the episode aired. In the school scenes he wears a white shirt, dark shorts, ankle socks, and dark Oxford shoes. IN the last scene he is shown with a blazer jacket, and tie, and peaked cap."

The Lucy Show (1965?)

Jay had a notable guest appearance on The Lucy Show about 1965. He played Mr. Mooney's spoiled nephew on this episode, and Lucy was asked to be his sitter one afternoon. Lucy, if memory serves, had a part-time job in this episode, playing a mechanical butler for a department store window display. She takes a lot of abuse from Jay, but finally takes him over her knee and spanks him at the end of the show.

My Three Sons (1965-66)

Jay played several episodes in 'My Three Sons' when he was about 14-15 years old. He was a friend of Chip. In one episode Chip, Jay, and another boy (played by a child actor with lots of TV and film credits, Charles Herbert), have grown their hair shoulder length. A school prank gone awry convinces Chip it's time to find new friends and to be clipped. Jay, also shorn once again to familiar length, appears on anotherepisode in a fathers vs. sons team academic challenge, much like the old G.E. College Bowl.

Other Variety Shows

Jay also appeared in many variety Shows: George Goble, Milton Berle, Dinah Shore, Eddie Fisher, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. His film T.V. shows were: 'Wanted Dead or Alive', 'Rescue Eight', 'Robert Taylor's Detectives', 'Desilu Playhouse', '77 Sunset Strip', 'Sugarfoot Family Films', Religious Programs, 'General Hospital', and 'Scout's Honor' (T.V. movie). We do not yet have details on these many appearances.

Created: 7:59 PM 6/2/2015
Last updated: 8:00 PM 6/2/2015