Topper

That phrase was how the introduction described Marion Kirby, wife of George Kirby. The Kirbys', along with the ever faithful alcoholic St. Bernard dog Neil, were killed in an avalanche but returned to their home to playfully haunt the current occupants, Cosmo and Henrietta Topper.

However only Cosmo Topper could see and hear them. The ever formal Cosmo and Henrietta ( Leo G. Carroll and Lee Patrick ). Talk about contrasts.

Born in 1947, I am giving away my age of course; but I never missed an episode. In fact I cherished them. Who could not be drawn to the antics of George and Marion. What 8 year old male couldn't be totally absorbed by Marion Kirby. Knowing they were husband and wife in real life made the attraction to their characters even more pronounced.

Where are these episodes ? Probably the powers that be have long concluded that the show would be boring by today's standards. Not so says I !!

Thorne Smith wrote a lot of racily humorous books, most of them justly forgotten, but now and then he hit on a worthwhile theme. The Topper books were about how after a short and frivolously wasted life, a young couple returns from the dead to implore a Thurberesque little man to live life to the fullest. Because it's a terribly serious situation that applies to us all, it's a wonderful basis for humor. Oh, and because the young female is safely dead, she can indulge in racier behavior than was often seen on 1950s television.

The TV remake with Jack Warden was less successful, largely because its Topper was at the pinnacle of the business world and thus less obviously in need of any ectoplasmic helpers.

Well, it might have been that I was so young, but I enjoyed this TV show enormously. My guess is that it was because it was so different from typical TV fare of then and even now.

It relied on word play and clever dialog instead of idiotic situations and slapstick for its kick which is, I suppose, why I enjoyed it as a child. I've grown up to be a writer. For a shock, check out the writing credits for these shows and you'll see a *very* familiar name. I once, a few years ago, caught a re-run as a New Year's Day festival on a local TV channel and can report that it, unlike almost all shows from any era, holds up very well. Highly enjoyable if you can find it.

I came across a DVD of four episodes from this fifties show for $7.95. I had almost forgotten this show and how I enjoyed it as a kid when it was in syndication for a brief time back in the mid to late sixties. Leo G. Carroll in the title roll is a perfect foil for the fun-loving spirits of George and Marion Kirby. And speaking of spirits, I think Neal was the only alcoholic dog in history. He sure did love his booze. I've heard of dogs liking beer, but I've never known them to put away a whole case after drinking half a canteen full of gin. That was a hoot! (Love 'ya, Neal, you big dumb mutt!!!). It was his fondness of the drink that got George and Marion killed in the first place. I guess some dogs just never learn.

This show is a forgotten classic, and well worth its weight in gold. You hardly ever see or hear of it any more, and that's too bad. Wish they would put it on Nick at Night or TVLand. Wouldn't mind a few more DVD's either. Great show.

I remember well watching reruns of this series in the Fifties; incredibly, it still shows up in late-night reruns on broadcast TV even today. The special effects were pretty good for 1953, and now they're merely quaint. But the pleasant and good-natured charm of this story about the stodgy banker and the two friendly ghosts of the young marrieds who used to live in his house and were killed by an avalanche is just wonderful. The ghosts alternately help and drive crazy Topper - but they mean well. The chemistry is excellent, helped by Sterling and Jeffreys being married. Anne Jeffreys turned up in the last few years on some shows. . . and must have been drinking a youth serum! Still lovely.