Topper (TV series)

Sophisticated 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.

• Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby
• Robert Sterling as George Kerby
• Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper
• Lee Patrick as Henrietta Topper
• Buck as Neil

• Thurston Hall as Mr. Schuyler, President of City Bank
• Kathleen Freeman as Katie (season 1)
• Edna Skinner as Maggie (season 2)

 

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]}

Topper 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]}

There 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]}

• The Adventures of Topper
• Topper (film)
• Topper Takes a Trip
• Topper Returns
• List of ghost films

• Topper at IMDb
• Topper at AllMovie
• Topper at epguides.com
• A film clip episode "Henrietta Sells the House" is available for viewing at the Internet Archive