Topper was one of TV’s first supernatural comedies and focused on the uptight Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) is the vice president of a bank, married to sweet Henrietta (Lee Patrick).

The Topper’s reside 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), 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 Kerby’s try to bring some excitement and joy into the life of stodgy and conservative Topper. The ghosts cause strange (but usually crazy and funny) events to happen, which an embarrassed Cosmo has to try to explain to others baffled—and even frightened—by them.