Topper is an American fantasy sitcom television series based on the 1937 film Topper, which was based on two novels Topper and Topper Takes a Trip by Thorne Smith. The series was broadcast on CBS from October 9, 1953, to July 15, 1955, and stars Leo G. Carroll in the title role. It finished at #24 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1954–1955 season.[1] Topper also earned an Emmy nomination for Best Situation Comedy in 1954.[2]
| Topper | |
|---|---|
 Alpha Video's DVD | |
| Genre | Fantasy sitcom |
| Based on | Topper by Thorne Smith |
| Written by | Robert Riley Crutcher Stanley Davis Donn Mullally George Oppenheimer Elon Packard Norman Paul Joel Rapp Stephen Sondheim Robert Thomsen |
| Directed by | Richard L. Bare Leslie Goodwins James V. Kern Lew Landers Paul Landres Leslie H. Martinson Philip Rapp |
| Starring | Anne Jeffreys Robert Sterling Leo G. Carroll Lee Patrick |
| Theme music composer | Roy Ingraham Charles Koff Edward Paul |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 78 |
| Production | |
| Producers | John W. Loveton Bernard L. Schubert |
| Production locations | Hal Roach Studios, Culver City, Calif. |
| Cinematography | Gert Andersen Kenneth Peach William P. Whitley |
| Editors | Nick DeMaggio Chuck Gladden |
| Running time | 24 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | October 9, 1953 – July 15, 1955 |
Synopsis
editSophisticated but stuffy Cosmo Topper (Carroll) is the vice president of City Bank, married to sweet but rather clueless Henrietta (Lee Patrick). They live in a Los Angeles house they bought from the estate of a young couple, George and Marion Kerby (real life husband and wife Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys). The Kerbys died while skiing when they were buried by an avalanche. A St. Bernard dog, Neil, who attempted to rescue them also died with them. Topper discovers his new home is haunted by the ghosts of the former occupants as well as Neil. Strangely, he is the only one able to see or hear them. Neil, the St. Bernard, loves martinis and a running gag is the invisible dog lapping up the drink.
The Kerbys try to bring some excitement and joy into the life of stodgy and conservative Topper. The ghosts cause strange (but humorous) events to happen, which an embarrassed Cosmo has to try to explain to others baffled – and even frightened – by them.
Cast
editMain
edit- Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby
- Robert Sterling as George Kerby
- Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper
- Lee Patrick as Henrietta Topper
- Buck as Neil
Recurring
edit- Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler, President of City Bank
- Kathleen Freeman as Katie (season 1)
- Edna Skinner as Maggie (season 2)
Production
edit
The Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim wrote eleven episodes for Topper's first season with George Oppenheimer. The show's producer was John W. Loveton, with his agent, Bernard L. Schubert, credited as co-producer.[citation needed]
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's Camel cigarettes was the show's sponsor; the Kerbys were seen smoking in every episode, as required by Reynolds; the actors, along with Carroll, also appeared in integrated commercials promoting the product at the end of the show, as well as announcing where free cartons of Camels were being sent to various military bases and veterans hospitals each week.[citation needed] ABC aired repeats of these episodes in 1956.[3]
There were at least three forms of the opening announcement: "Camel – America's first choice among cigarettes – presents Topper. Starring – as Marion Kerby, the loveliest ghost in town – Anne Jeffreys. As George Kerby, the liveliest ghost in town – Robert Sterling. And Leo G. Carroll as Topper [a dog bark is heard]. Oh, yes, and ahh... the deadliest ghost, Neil".[citation needed]
In another opening, the announcer adds, "And there are only three people in the world who can see or hear them – you and I... and Cosmo Topper".[citation needed]
When Topper was shown in repeats, Anne Jeffreys was introduced as "the ghostess with the mostest"; Robert Sterling as "that most sporty spirit", and Leo G. Carroll as "host to said ghosts".[citation needed]
Episodes
editSeason 1 (1953–54)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Topper Meets the Ghosts" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer and Philip Rapp | October 9, 1953 | |
|
With Lyle Talbot as Mr. Moulton | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Movers" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer, Stephen Sondheim | October 16, 1953 | |
| 3 | 3 | "Hiring the Maid" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer and Stephen Sondheim | October 23, 1953 | |
|
With Barbara Knudsen as Lola / Kathleen Freeman as Katie | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Hypnotist" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | October 30, 1953 | |
|
With Maude Prickett as Amelia | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Reducing" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | November 6, 1953 | |
|
With Steve Reeves as Joe Manurki | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Spinster" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | November 13, 1953 | |
| 7 | 7 | "Bank Securities" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | November 20, 1953 | |
|
With Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Clancy Cooper as Upperson | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Kid" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | November 27, 1953 | |
| 9 | 9 | "Burglar" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer / Stephen Sondheim and Hendrik Vollaerts / Story by Robert Thomsen | December 4, 1953 | |
|
With Ed Dearing as Chief McGraw / Jess Kirkpatrick as The Burglar | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Uncle Jonathan" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer | December 11, 1953 | |
| 11 | 11 | "The Car Story" | Leslie Goodwins | George Oppenheimer, Philip Rapp, Stephen Sondheim | December 18, 1953 | |
| 12 | 12 | "Christmas Carol" | Paul Landres | George Oppenheimer | December 25, 1953 | |
|
With Kathleen Freeman as Katie / Mary Field as Thelma Gibney / Frank Ferguson as Dr. Lang / uncredited: Billy Chapin as Neighborhood Boy and Tiny Tim in Dream | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Masquerade" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer, Robert Thomsen | January 1, 1954 | |
| 14 | 14 | "Second Honeymoon" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer / Story by Donn Mullally | January 8, 1954 | |
|
With Mary Field as Thelma Gibney / Guy Wilkerson as Luke / Juney Ellis as Miss Loomis | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "The Socialite" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer and Stephen Sondheim | January 15, 1954 | |
|
With Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Vance / John Eldredge as Mr. Vance | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "The Surprise Party" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer | January 22, 1954 | |
| 17 | 17 | "Decorating" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer and Stephen Sondheim | January 29, 1954 | |
| 18 | 18 | "Astrology" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer, Stephen Sondheim | February 5, 1954 | |
| 19 | 19 | "Trip to Lisbon" | Lew Landers | Stephen Sondheim and George Oppenheimer | February 12, 1954 | |
|
With Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Hugh Sanders as Mr. Devon / Angela Greene as Mrs. Devon / Lillian Bronson as Miss Erskine / William Walker as The Porter | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "The Proposal" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer | February 19, 1954 | |
|
With Kathleen Freeman as Katie / James Parnell as The Policeman | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Katie's Nephew" | Unknown | George Oppenheimer | February 26, 1954 | |
| 22 | 22 | "College Reunion" | Lew Landers | Norman Paul | March 5, 1954 | |
| 23 | 23 | "Economy" | Unknown | Unknown | March 12, 1954 | |
| 24 | 24 | "The Diamond Ring" | Leslie Goodwins | Philip Rapp | March 19, 1954 | |
| 25 | 25 | "Topper Runs for Mayor" | Paul Landres | Philip Rapp | March 26, 1954 | |
| 26 | 26 | "The Painting" | Paul Landres | George Oppenheimer | April 2, 1954 | |
|
with Raymond Greenleaf as Dr. Remington / Tom Browne Henry as Mr. Simeon / Steve Darrell as Guard / Robert Pike as Curator | ||||||
| 27 | 27 | "Henrietta Sells the House" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | April 9, 1954 | |
|
with Kathleen Freeman as Katie / Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Don Beddoe as Mr. Newby / Katherine Warren as Mrs. Newby / Anthony Sydes as Orville / Isa Ashdown as Arabelle | ||||||
| 28 | 28 | "Legacy" | Paul Landres | Robert Riley Crutcher | April 16, 1954 | |
|
With Kathleen Freeman as Katie / Arthur Space as Mr. Jackson / Douglas Wood as Judge / James Parnell as Delivery Man | ||||||
| 29 | 29 | "Topper Goes to Las Vegas" | Lew Landers | Stanley Davis and Elon Packard | April 23, 1954 | |
|
The episode opens with Topper coming down the stairs of his house, about to leave for work as he, Marion and George are clearly engaged in conversation, but the soundtrack only consists of descriptive narration [by uncredited Sandy Becker]: "This is Cosmo Topper, bank vice-president, loving husband and... no, he's not a magician – George and Marion Kerby are doing that – ghosts – yes, a handsome couple who were swallowed by an avalanche and came back to spread a little joy into a sedate businessman's life... and that's their ghost dog, Neil, the St. Bernard who couldn't save them – that's what you get for drinking on the job, old boy. Aren't they a wonderful bunch? And just think – Topper is the only person in the whole world who can see or hear them – except you and I, of course. Well, it's off to the bank for Topper. What a way to start the day". with Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Paul Bryar as Lafferty / Lee Roberts as Martin / G. Pat Collins as Olaf Larsen / Arthur Lovejoy as Clerk | ||||||
| 30 | 30 | "Topper Goes West" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | April 30, 1954 | |
|
With Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Harry Shannon as Foreman / Frank Sully as Charley / William Cottrell as Van Horn / John Dierkes as Cowboy | ||||||
| 31 | 31 | "Sweepstakes" | Paul Landres | Robert Riley Crutcher | May 7, 1954 | |
|
With Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Charles Lane as Mr. Kittler / Nana Bryant as Woman / Charles Williams as Harlon | ||||||
| 32 | 32 | "The Package" | Paul Landres | Joel Rapp | May 14, 1954 | |
| 33 | 33 | "Neil Disappears" | Unknown | Philip Rapp | May 21, 1954 | |
| 34 | 34 | "The Picnic" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer | May 28, 1954 | |
| 35 | 35 | "The Wedding" | Lew Landers | Robert Riley Crutcher | June 4, 1954 | |
| 36 | 36 | "Preparations for Europe" | James V. Kern | George Oppenheimer, Stephen Sondheim | June 11, 1954 | |
|
The episode opens with Topper, about to leave for work, entering the living room to say goodbye to Henrietta, but the soundtrack only consists of descriptive narration [by uncredited Sandy Becker]: "Morning, Topper! Seen your two ghost friends yet? There they are, folks... George and Marion Kerby... you'd never believe it, but they were swallowed by an avalanche on their fifth wedding anniversary... That's Neil the alcoholic Saint Bernard... he went with them... Ain't love grand? You see, the Kerbys and Neil have come back to spread a little joy into Topper's rather sedate life... and he's the only one who can see or hear them... outside of you and I, naturally. Well, I... I guess Topper's off to the bank. Uh oh... that's a sure sign something's cooking... when a woman gets on the phone, there's no use talking... let's listen... | ||||||
| 37 | 37 | "The Boat" | Richard L. Bare | George Oppenheimer | June 18, 1954 | |
| 38 | 38 | "Theatricals" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer, Stephen Sondheim | June 25, 1954 | |
| 39 | 39 | "George's Old Flame" | Lew Landers | George Oppenheimer and Stephen Sondheim | July 2, 1954 | |
|
with Kathleen Freeman as Katie / Mira McKinney as Mrs. Baskerville / Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler / Frances Rafferty as Ellen Bates / James Seay as Larry Hartford / uncredited (in order of appearance): Lillian Bronson as Miss Erskine / Renny McEvoy as Waiter / Roland Varno as Maitre'd | ||||||
Season 2 (1954–55)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1 | "Topper Tells All" | Philip Rapp | George Oppenheimer, Philip Rapp | October 8, 1954 |
| 41 | 2 | "Topper's Ransom" | Philip Rapp | Robert Riley Crutcher | October 15, 1954 |
| 42 | 3 | "County Fair" | Philip Rapp | Philip Rapp | October 22, 1954 |
| 43 | 4 | "The Seance" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Thomsen | October 29, 1954 |
| 44 | 5 | "Topper Strikes Gold" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | November 5, 1954 |
| 45 | 6 | "The Chess Player" | Unknown | Sig Herzig | November 12, 1954 |
| 46 | 7 | "Topper Goes to Washington" | Leslie Goodwins | Philip Rapp | November 19, 1954 |
| 47 | 8 | "Jury Duty" | Unknown | Robert Riley Crutcher | November 26, 1954 |
| 48 | 9 | "Topper Lives Again" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | December 3, 1954 |
| 49 | 10 | "The Army Game" | Unknown | Donn Mullally | December 10, 1954 |
| 50 | 11 | "Topper's Accident" | Lew Landers | Robert Riley Crutcher | December 17, 1954 |
| 51 | 12 | "Topper's Quiet Christmas" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | December 24, 1954 |
| 52 | 13 | "Topper's Happy New Year" | Lew Landers | Robert Riley Crutcher, Philip Rapp | December 31, 1954 |
| 53 | 14 | "Topper's Deception" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | January 7, 1955 |
| 54 | 15 | "Topper's Guest" | Leslie Goodwins | Stanley Davis, Elon Packard | January 14, 1955 |
| 55 | 16 | "Topper's Rejuvenation" | Lew Landers | Stanley Davis, Elon Packard | January 21, 1955 |
| 56 | 17 | "Topper in Mexico" | Lew Landers | Robert Riley Crutcher | January 28, 1955 |
| 57 | 18 | "Topper Hits the Road" | Leslie Goodwins | Stanley Davis, Elon Packard | February 4, 1955 |
| 58 | 19 | "Topper at the Races" | Lew Landers | Norman Paul | February 11, 1955 |
| 59 | 20 | "Topper's Racket" | Leslie Goodwins | Philip Rapp | February 18, 1955 |
| 60 | 21 | "Topper's Amnesia" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | February 25, 1955 |
| 61 | 22 | "Topper's Arabian Night" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | March 4, 1955 |
| 62 | 23 | "The House Wreckers" | Leslie Goodwins | Philip Rapp | March 11, 1955 |
| 63 | 24 | "Topper Makes a Movie" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | March 18, 1955 |
| 64 | 25 | "King Cosmo the First" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | March 23, 1955 |
| 65 | 26 | "Topper's Double Life" | Unknown | Philip Rapp | March 30, 1955 |
| 66 | 27 | "Topper Fights a Duel" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | April 8, 1955 |
| 67 | 28 | "Topper's Egyptian Deal" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | April 15, 1955 |
| 68 | 29 | "Topper's Uranium Pile" | Leslie Goodwins | Donn Mullally | April 22, 1955 |
| 69 | 30 | "Topper's Spring Cleaning" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | April 29, 1955 |
| 70 | 31 | "Topper Goes to School" | Leslie Goodwins | Philip Rapp | May 6, 1955 |
| 71 | 32 | "The Blood Brother" | Lew Landers | Stanley Davis, Elon Packard | May 13, 1955 |
| 72 | 33 | "Topper's Highland Fling" | Leslie H. Martinson | Robert Riley Crutcher | May 20, 1955 |
| 73 | 34 | "Topper's Desert Island" | Leslie Goodwins | Robert Riley Crutcher | May 27, 1955 |
| 74 | 35 | "The Neighbors" | Leslie Goodwins | George Oppenheimer | June 3, 1955 |
| 75 | 36 | "Topper's Counterfeiters" | Leslie H. Martinson | Robert Riley Crutcher | June 10, 1955 |
| 76 | 37 | "Topper's Insurance Scandal" | Lew Landers | Sig Herzig | June 17, 1955 |
| 77 | 38 | "Topper's Other Job" | Lew Landers | Philip Rapp | June 24, 1955 |
| 78 | 39 | "Topper's Vacation" | Lew Landers | Robert Riley Crutcher | July 15, 1955 |
Broadcast and syndication
editTopper was popular in syndication for more than a decade. Camel commercials and their references were removed but the characters could still be seen smoking them.[citation needed]
Home media
editThere are 11 episodes in the public domain which have been released on DVD but the series has not been given a full release.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "TV Ratings: 1954–1955". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Topper". Television Academy. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Reruns Replace Reruns". Variety. March 28, 1956. p. 28. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
External links
edit- Topper at IMDb
- Topper at epguides.com
- A film clip episode "Henrietta Sells the House" is available for viewing at the Internet Archive