Mar 26, 2025 - News

Phoenix to consider ceremonial street renaming for Wallace and Ladmo

Jeremy Duda

A mural on the side of a beige building depicting Arizona children's show characters Wallace, Gerald and Ladmo. — The intersection of 1st Avenue and McKinley Street near the old KPHO studio may soon be ceremonially dubbed "Wallace and Ladmo Way." Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios

Wallace and Ladmo still have a special place in many of our hearts, and the Phoenix City Council is poised to honor them with a ceremonial street sign.

State of play: The council is scheduled to vote at Wednesday's meeting on a proposal to install a ceremonial street sign at the intersection of McKinley Street and 1st Avenue, dubbing it "Wallace and Ladmo Way."

The intersection near the former KPHO studio where "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" started.
A mural of Wallace, Ladmo and their arrogant nemesis Gerald adorns the building, which is now First Studio.

Flashback: The show — originally titled "It's Wallace?" — first aired in 1954.

Cameraperson Ladimir Kwiatkowski joined Bill "Wallace" Thompson shortly after, and Pat McMahon joined the show in 1960, playing a host of characters, perhaps most notably Gerald.
One of the show's most memorable features was when Ladmo Bags, paper sacks of candy and other treats, were doled out to children.

My thought bubble: I was 9 years old when "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" went off the air and was probably from the last generation of Arizonans to grow up watching it. I'm happy to see its memory live on.

Yes, but: Sadly, I never got a Ladmo Bag.

Add Axios on Google

Phoenix to consider ceremonial street renaming for Wallace and Ladmo

More Phoenix stories