Topper History - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

sbowling · 01-06-2003, 05:17 PM

I used to watch this show as a young kid. I think that the younger couple and the dog (the ghosts) were killed in a skiing accident, and came back to their home where the older couple was now living. Topper could see the ghosts, who were always getting involved somehow with the Toppers' lifestyle. The St Bernard dog was a lush, even as a ghost, and drank martinis from a glass on the floor. The show had the same tempo and flavor as the Burns$Allen show. Mrs. Topper was a ditzy lady, too. Mr. Topper was formal and proper.

Wasn;t there an old Hollywood movie with this plot?

treky · 04-16-2003, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sbowling
I used to watch this show as a young kid. I think that the younger couple and the dog (the ghosts) were killed in a skiing accident, and came back to their home where the older couple was now living. Topper could see the ghosts, who were always getting involved somehow with the Toppers' lifestyle. The St Bernard dog was a lush, even as a ghost, and drank martinis from a glass on the floor. The show had the same tempo and flavor as the Burns$Allen show. Mrs. Topper was a ditzy lady, too. Mr. Topper was formal and proper.

Wasn;t there an old Hollywood movie with this plot?

yes, in fact, the show was based on the movie (I think there were 2 "Topper" movies) and it had the same characters! ABC remade the movie in 1979 or 80 as a TV movie.

*ShortCake* · 08-04-2003, 03:10 PM

Yes there was two Topper movies one starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennet.. and anohter one called Topper Returns with some actors/actresses that I cannot remember the names of at the moment. The movies are very good.. and they come as a double feature on the same disk..

. You should check them out! I didnt know there was a Topper show. I must get the dvd!

Mr. Television · 08-04-2003, 03:18 PM

I wish somebody would rerun this show. It's one of the few sitcoms I haven't seen.

treky · 08-04-2003, 04:06 PM

yes, I wish someone would show it. I vaguely remember seeing an episode years ago somewhere, when I was around 10 or something, around 66 or 67.

*ShortCake* · 08-04-2003, 10:38 PM

I would love to see it! Topper and Topper returns are such fun movies!!! I wish they made another one. I am glad to know that there is a show about it. Gosh, Operation Petticoat was also a tv show.. which was a Cary Grant movie too at first. I havent seen that show either!!! Must have been funny though!

treky · 08-05-2003, 01:39 AM

maybe you can find ssome episodes of it on VHS or DVD, but I doubt it. Since it's not being rerun (as far as I know) it probably wasn't very popular.
Like I said before though, the first movie was remade by ABC as a TV movie in 79 or 80, so that's probably availible on tape.

*ShortCake* · 08-05-2003, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by treky
maybe you can find ssome episodes of it on VHS or DVD, but I doubt it. Since it's not being rerun (as far as I know) it probably wasn't very popular.
Like I said before though, the first movie was remade by ABC as a TV movie in 79 or 80, so that's probably availible on tape.

erghh why did they remake it? bah. I have the original movie with Cary Grant and Constance Bennet on DVD also I have Topper Returns.. I could watch this movie at least ten times in a row..!

BrandonS · 08-05-2003, 10:57 AM

I used to watch this show all the time. I think this was around 1960, and it was probably in reruns. I thought it was a great show and very funny, at least that's a small child's opinion. Leo G. Carroll did great in Roland Young's role (the actor who was Topper in the movie).

hamot · 03-20-2004, 04:49 PM

Just a point (perhaps interesting), Anne Jeffreys and Robert Sterling (George and Marian Kerby) were on an episode of Murder, She Wrote (in the 90s). I caught that episode on A&E the other day.

The dog (Neil the St. Bernard) must have weighed nearly 200 pounds.

treky · 03-20-2004, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CelineFan
I would love to see it! Topper and Topper returns are such fun movies!!! I wish they made another one. I am glad to know that there is a show about it. Gosh, Operation Petticoat was also a tv show.. which was a Cary Grant movie too at first. I havent seen that show either!!! Must have been funny though!

sorry to dissapoint you, but the "Operation Petticoat" TV show wasn't that great. I remember seeing it when it was first on, about 1977 or 78. The movie's much better.

Just a little trivia about it. That movie was the first picture that Tony Curtis made after his marragie to Janet Leigh. And, his daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, was one of the stars of the show.

tvguide79 · 03-12-2005, 06:26 PM

I own all 4 Topper movies and 3 episodes of the tv series that I purchased on dvd at the dollar store of all places -- anyway I would like more.

The movies are as follows:

#1 Topper
#2 Topper Takes A Trip
#3 Topper Returns
#4 Topper ( Tv Remake w/ Kate Jackson and Rue Mclanahan)

If anyone wants to trade for eps let me know

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-10-2006, 04:33 PM

...wss produced by John W. Loveton & Bernard L. Schubert (who also produced "MR. & MRS. NORTH" and later went bankrupt), sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. {Camel cigarettes} on CBS (Fridays, 8:30-9pm[et]), and lasted 78 episodes (1953-'55). The "architect" of the TV version was George Oppenheimer (he created Neil and the other characters outside of the original ones by Thorne Smith), who wrote the majority of the scripts [with a young newcomer named Stephen Sondheim during the first season] along with Phil Rapp {"THE BICKERSONS"}.

Any other questions?

vedastone · 05-05-2006, 09:19 PM

Yes, I have a question: Do you know why the series ended? [Was it bad ratings, did one or more of the stars quit, was it the finances of the producers, or some other reason?]

TV Knowledge Fan · 05-08-2006, 02:59 PM

...there were several reasons: one of them was R. J. Reynolds' reluctance to sponsor a full second season in 1954-'55. I believe Procter & Gamble became an "alternate" sponsor by mid-season, but I'm not sure. Apparently, not enough Camel cigarettes were being sold to justify continuing the show...which was a distant second to their Friday night competition, William Bendix's "THE LIFE OF RILEY" on NBC, which was another reason. There may have been other problems as well {I mentioned that Loveton & Schubert, the producers, eventually declared bankruptcy, and the show was folded into Official Films' TV library for years}...Anne Jeffreys might have some answers.

03-20-2004, 04:49 PM	#10
hamot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: Between BUR and VNY south of PAI Posts: 6	Topper cast members Just a point (perhaps interesting), Anne Jeffreys and Robert Sterling (George and Marian Kerby) were on an episode of Murder, She Wrote (in the 90s). I caught that episode on A&E the other day. The dog (Neil the St. Bernard) must have weighed nearly 200 pounds.

03-12-2005, 06:26 PM	#12
tvguide79 Member Forum Cub Join Date: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 2	Topper ( 4 Movies and a series) I own all 4 Topper movies and 3 episodes of the tv series that I purchased on dvd at the dollar store of all places -- anyway I would like more. The movies are as follows: #1 Topper #2 Topper Takes A Trip #3 Topper Returns #4 Topper ( Tv Remake w/ Kate Jackson and Rue Mclanahan) If anyone wants to trade for eps let me know

04-10-2006, 04:33 PM	#13
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	The TV series.... ...wss produced by John W. Loveton & Bernard L. Schubert (who also produced "MR. & MRS. NORTH" and later went bankrupt), sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. {Camel cigarettes} on CBS (Fridays, 8:30-9pm[et]), and lasted 78 episodes (1953-'55). The "architect" of the TV version was George Oppenheimer (he created Neil and the other characters outside of the original ones by Thorne Smith), who wrote the majority of the scripts [with a young newcomer named Stephen Sondheim during the first season] along with Phil Rapp {"THE BICKERSONS"}. Any other questions?

05-08-2006, 02:59 PM	#15
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	well, 'vedastone'... ...there were several reasons: one of them was R. J. Reynolds' reluctance to sponsor a full second season in 1954-'55. I believe Procter & Gamble became an "alternate" sponsor by mid-season, but I'm not sure. Apparently, not enough Camel cigarettes were being sold to justify continuing the show...which was a distant second to their Friday night competition, William Bendix's "THE LIFE OF RILEY" on NBC, which was another reason. There may have been other problems as well {I mentioned that Loveton & Schubert, the producers, eventually declared bankruptcy, and the show was folded into Official Films' TV library for years}...Anne Jeffreys might have some answers.

01-06-2003, 05:17 PM	#1
sbowling Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jan 06, 2003 Posts: 3	Topper History I used to watch this show as a young kid. I think that the younger couple and the dog (the ghosts) were killed in a skiing accident, and came back to their home where the older couple was now living. Topper could see the ghosts, who were always getting involved somehow with the Toppers' lifestyle. The St Bernard dog was a lush, even as a ghost, and drank martinis from a glass on the floor. The show had the same tempo and flavor as the Burns$Allen show. Mrs. Topper was a ditzy lady, too. Mr. Topper was formal and proper. Wasn;t there an old Hollywood movie with this plot?

08-04-2003, 03:10 PM	#3
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	Yes there was two Topper movies one starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennet.. and anohter one called Topper Returns with some actors/actresses that I cannot remember the names of at the moment. The movies are very good.. and they come as a double feature on the same disk.. . You should check them out! I didnt know there was a Topper show. I must get the dvd!
	__________________ Ashley "Nice girls don't throw tree's"- Jo Polniaczek.

08-04-2003, 03:18 PM	#4
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I wish somebody would rerun this show. It's one of the few sitcoms I haven't seen.
	__________________ Sonny

08-04-2003, 04:06 PM	#5
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	yes, I wish someone would show it. I vaguely remember seeing an episode years ago somewhere, when I was around 10 or something, around 66 or 67.

08-04-2003, 10:38 PM	#6
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	I would love to see it! Topper and Topper returns are such fun movies!!! I wish they made another one. I am glad to know that there is a show about it. Gosh, Operation Petticoat was also a tv show.. which was a Cary Grant movie too at first. I havent seen that show either!!! Must have been funny though!

08-05-2003, 01:39 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	maybe you can find ssome episodes of it on VHS or DVD, but I doubt it. Since it's not being rerun (as far as I know) it probably wasn't very popular. Like I said before though, the first movie was remade by ABC as a TV movie in 79 or 80, so that's probably availible on tape.

08-05-2003, 10:57 AM	#9
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	I used to watch this show all the time. I think this was around 1960, and it was probably in reruns. I thought it was a great show and very funny, at least that's a small child's opinion. Leo G. Carroll did great in Roland Young's role (the actor who was Topper in the movie).

05-05-2006, 09:19 PM	#14
vedastone Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2002 Posts: 120	Yes, I have a question: Do you know why the series ended? [Was it bad ratings, did one or more of the stars quit, was it the finances of the producers, or some other reason?]