Topper Comes to Television
Thorne Smith's lively characters enjoyed an international audience through a trio of popular Topper movies, and gained new fame when CBS Television produced the episodic comedy series, Topper, in 1953. Veteran character actor Leo G. Carroll was cast as the haunted banker, Cosmo Topper, while the mischievous ghosts, George and Marion Kerby, were played with flair by Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys. Rounding out the cast were Lee Patrick as Cosmo's quivery-voiced wife, Henrietta, and dependable character actress Kathleen Freeman as Katie, the maid. Topper still shows up occasionally in late-night reruns. The show's special ghost effects, quaint by modern standards, were state-of-the-art in the 1950s.
The Topper TV Series
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Marion and George Kerby Haunt Cosmo Topper
Topper was a television situation comedy series based on the 1930s film series Topper.
The thrust of the story is that the sophisticated Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) is vice-president of a bank. He is married to the sweet but somewhat dumb Henrietta (Lee Patrick). They live in a house in a Los Angeles suburb that they bought from the estate of a fashionable young couple, George and Marion Kerby (Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys), now-former clients of Topper's bank, who died after being swept away by an avalanche. Their St. Bernard, Neil, who was unable to rescue them, also died with them. Cosmo finds that his house is haunted by their ghosts and that of their alcoholic St. Bernard. Only Cosmo can see or hear them.
The ghosts try to put some excitement and joy into the life of the somewhat stodgy and conservative Cosmo. In action that would anticipate the later series Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, the ghosts would cause strange (but very humorous) events to happen, for which an embarrassed Cosmo would have to create some kind of explanation to others who would be baffled, and often even amusingly frightened, by seeing them.
The show ran on CBS from 1953 to 1955. 78 episodes were produced. Both ABC and NBC later aired repeats of these episodes (ABC in 1955 and NBC in 1956). In later decades Topper would be popular in syndication. Some episodes are available on DVD.
Topper Facts & Trivia
CBS Television
Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys
- Release Date: October 9, 1953 (USA)
- Genres: Fantasy - Comedy
- Emmy Nomination for Best Situation Comedy (1954)
- The show ran for two seasons, during which time 78 episodes were produced.
- Award winning composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim wrote 9 episodes.
- Film Effects of Hollywood created the special ghost effects.
- Leo G. Carroll appeared in more Alfred Hitchcock films (Rebecca, Suspicion, Spellbound, The Paradine Case, Strangers On A Train, and North By Northwest) than any other actor except Hitchcock himself.
- Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys were married in real life.
The Adventures of Topper - Volume One
Available on DVD
The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 1
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
This Critics' Choice DVD compilation includes four classic episodes: "The Proposal," "Henrietta Sells the House," "Topper Goes to Las Vegas," and "George's Old Flame." 1954, B&W, 110 minutes.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Vote For Your Favorite Topper Cast Members
Links Point to the Internet Movie Database
Robert Sterling, Anne Jeffreys, Leo G. Carroll, and Lee Patrick with Neil
#1
Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper
2 points
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Lee Patrick as Henrietta Topper
2 points
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Kathleen Freeman as Katie the Maid
2 points
#4
Buck as Neil
2 points
#5
Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby
1 point
#6
Robert Sterling as George Kerby
1 point
The Adventures of Topper - Volume Two
Available on DVD
The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 2
Amazon Price: $5.98 (as of 10/08/2008)
This Critics' Choice DVD compilation includes four classic episodes: "Second Honeymoon," "Trip to Lisbon," "Topper Goes West," and "Sweepstakes." 1954, B&W, 104 minutes.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Topper Cast Biographies
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Neil, a Martini-Loving St. Bernard
#1
Lee Patrick
2 points
#2
Kathleen Freeman
2 points
#3
Leo G. Carroll
1 point
#4
Anne Jeffreys
1 point
#5
Robert Sterling
1 point
Topper on Squidoo
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Topper Returns
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In the third of producer Hal Roach's Topper comedy films, most of the action takes place in an old, dark mansion, complete with trap doors and secret passageways. Roland Young returns as banker Cosmo Topper, and along with his chauffeur Eddie, offers...
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The Jovial Ghosts: The Misadventures of Topper
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Thorne Smith was one of the most successful authors of American humor in the late 1920s, whose works brought joy to those living in the largely joyless Depression era. He is most famous for Topper, which was immortalized on the silver screen by film...
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Topper: In Development
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Comedian Steve Martin is scheduled to reteam with Bringing Down the House director Adam Shankman for a remake of the supernatural comedy Topper, based on Thorne Smith's novel. The original 1937 film starred Roland Young as Cosmo Topper, a stuffy, hen...
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Topper Takes a Trip
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In the first of two sequels to the original film, wealthy banker Cosmo Topper's life is once again complicated by ghosts. Topper Takes a Trip opens in divorce court, where Clara Topper has accused her husband of infidelity. Topper attempts to explain...
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Topper
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In 1937, film producer Hal Roach was in search of a screwball comedy, and chose to adapt Thorne Smith's racy novel Topper. The resulting film was a huge success with audiences worldwide. Cary Grant and Constance Bennett were cast as George and Marion...
Topper TV Series Marketplace
Your Favorite Topper TV Merchandise
Where else can you watch television shows featuring Camel cigarette ads? The producers were especially proud of the fact that they were providing free smokes to our enlisted men and women overseas. My, how times change!
Anne Jeffreys and Robert Sterling
Vintage Camel Cigarette Advertisement
Welcome, Topper Fans...
Did you learn something new about the Topper TV series?
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KimGiancaterino
Ken, the DVDs are available on any of my six Topper lenses! Posted June 22, 2008 |
How can I find "Topper" DVD's? c38clark@hotmail.com
Posted June 20, 2008
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JustBon-Crochet-Designs
Another great lens, Kim. I'm featuring it on the 100 Best Television Lenses On Squidoo :) 5*s to you! Posted May 02, 2008 |
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Arizona-Snow
Great lens! I love old American sitcoms but we don't get to see many of them here in the UK. Posted May 02, 2008 |
Courtesies
Featured at The 100 Best Television Lenses
Thank you, JustBonCrochetDesigns!
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The 100 Best Television Lenses
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These are the 100 Best Television Lenses on Squidoo, as determined by little ole me - JustBon! Included are lenses on various genres of television, such as TV shows, television actors and actresses, televisions and so much more! I have tried to rev...
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