Filmed in 1977 as a series pilot, it was put on the shelf for two years. In the interim its star, Thayer David, died. The film finally aired December 18, 1979, as a midnight movie.
There is a reference to Sherlock Holmes and a possible relation to Nero Wolfe, even to the point of an oil portrait of Basil Rathbone as Sherlock hanging on the wall.
Mrs. Bruner says she bought 10,000 copies of a book and sent them to people. Assuming she was not exaggerating, this was a very expensive act. Assuming a hardcover book - likely for the book she sent - at a cover price of $9 to $13 in 1977 when this was filmed, she spent between $90,000 and $130,0000 just for the books. Adjusted for inflation, in 2023 that would be between $440,000 and $630,000.
Both Thayer David (Nero Wolfe) and David Hurst (Fritz Benner) appeared on Dark Shadows (1966). David played a total of seven characters, including Matthew Morgan # 2, Ben Stokes, Professor Timothy Elliot Stokes and Count Petofi. Hurst played Justin Collins in the final story line of the series.