Video by Pam Stevenson, Agave Productions Inc., for the Historical League
Bill Thompson arrived in Arizona from New York in 1954 and went to work in the art department at KPHO-TV. One day he volunteered to appear as a clown named “Wallace” on a children’s TV show. A month later, a cameraman, Ladmo Kwiatkowski, joined him and together they created “The Wallace and Ladmo Show.” Although Thompson scripted the shows, hilarity was compounded by improvisations created on the air.
Receiving the highest ratings for its time slot, "The Wallace and Ladmo Show," after thirty-six years, became the longest running children’s television show in history.
Bill Thompson and his wife, Katie, have five children. A Civil War buff, Mr. Thompson participates in reenactments, and collects weapons, uniforms, and books on the subject. Retiring in 1990, after thirty-six years of continual television and appearances, he is now becoming known for his miniature lead toy soldiers, particularly those of the Civil War era.
