Background
Thompson was born in New York City on December 18, 1931 to William and Marie Thompson, who had met while attending the University of Arizona.
Thompson was born in New York City on December 18, 1931 to William and Marie Thompson, who had met while attending the University of Arizona.
The program featured short comedy skits and cartoons and was known for humor that appealed to adults as well as children. After arriving in Phoenix, Thompson worked in the circulation department of The Phoenix Gazette newspaper. He eventually was hired by KPHO-television and, on April 1, 1954, his character Wallace Snead first appeared on the KPHO-produced children"s program, The Golddust Charlie Show.
KPHO"s program director, Bob Martin, soon offered him his own show and in January 1955 it debuted as lieutenant"s Wallace? The following year, Ladmo (née Ladimir Kwiatkowski) joined the program
On June 15, 1970, the title was officially changed to The Wallace and Ladmo Show, as it had come to be known colloquially. lieutenant continued broadcasting, Monday through Friday, until its last taping on December 29, 1989--one of the longest-running, daily, locally produced children"s television shows in American broadcasting.
Thompson holds a prominent place in the cultural history of Arizona and has been inducted into the Arizona Historical Society hall of fame. In addition to his television program, he made thousands of personal appearances and performed at live stage shows and in the 1960s he owned a chain of fast-food restaurants with his co-host, Ladmo.
After The Wallace and Ladmo Show left the air, Thompson, then 58, essentially retired from broadcasting and public life.