Sophisticated but stuffy Cosmo Topper is the vice president of City Bank, married to sweet Henrietta. They live in a Los Angeles house they bought from the estate of a young couple, George and Marion Kerby, who died after being swept away by an avalanche. A St. Bernard, Neil, who attempted to rescue them also died with them. Topper discovers his new home is haunted by 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 events to happen, which an embarrassed Cosmo has to try to explain to others baffled—and even frightened—by them.
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. 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. Both ABC and NBC aired repeats of these episodes. 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 . Oh, yes, and ahh... the deadliest ghost, Neil". 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". 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."
Episode list
Season 1: 1953–54
Season 2: 1954–55
Syndication
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. The pilot episode, "Topper Meets the Ghosts", and, Episode 2, "The Movers", were broadcast on the Decades network on August 11, 2018.
Home media
Collections of episodes in the public domain have been released on DVD but the series has not been given a full release.
