For more than 35 years, "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" brought laughs to Valley TV screens for decades — and regularly handed out the coveted Ladmo Bag.
As of Wednesday, the city of Phoenix is honoring its origins with a new ceremonial sign for Wallace and Ladmo Way.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and other City Council leaders, who received their very own full-sized Ladmo Bags, were there with the cast and crew gathered to officially unveil it.
“We are back at the KPHO former studio site, where some of the magic happened, but it happened throughout our community,” said Gallego. “And we hope people driving through will remember smiling kids, who learned a lot and who felt deeply connected to a show that was truly one of a kind.”
Gallego officially declared Wednesday "Wallace and Ladmo Day" in the city.
Pat McMahon remembers coming to film near Firth Avenue and McKinley for years — before the light rail ran through the intersection — and says it was a privilege.
“When you work with a couple of people like that in a community like this, who embraced us,” he said of his co-hosts Ladimir "Ladmo" Kwiatkowski and Bill "Wallace" Thompson, whose families attended in their honor. “Because we made them laugh. We made the kids laugh — and their parents laugh, and their grandparents, and, in fact, even some of the people on the crew.”
He called being there this week, where there’s now a new blue sign for Wallace and Ladmo Way, a highlight of his career.
Ventriloquist and writer Dan Horn now runs the show’s fan club, including a Facebook group with thousands of members and a TikTok account posting show clips he’s finding new ways to use. He said gathering with fellow cast and crew for the sign unveiling felt like a reunion.
“It’s just fun,” said Horn, “and I think every once in a while, I think we need to be reminded to just, once in a while, have fun. There doesn’t need to be an ulterior motive.”
Horn said the new sign is a lasting tribute to those who created the show, and to the generations who continue to cherish it along with Kwiatkowski’s and Thompson’s memories.
“It’s about celebrating what they did while they were here — and that’s the focus, we’re still trying to get laughs,” said Horn, turning and eventually pointing up at the giant mural behind us featuring their faces to add, “They’re right up here, still here.”
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