The Adventure of Veronica's Veils

Episode 9, "The Adventure of Veronica's Veils," features a special 'cameo appearance' from none other than George Burns, playing big-shot stage producer Sam Packer, whose latest production is a Burlesque revival on Broadway titled "Take It Off!" This entry begins with Packer's funeral, where all of his associates have gathered to view a screening featuring the producer himself, making accusations against everyone and proclaiming that he was murdered, citing various unsuccessful attempts on his life leading up to his demise. Packer also engages Simon Brimmer (John Hillerman) to investigate on his behalf, which annoys Inspector Queen, whose original verdict on the case (natural causes) is later revealed to be cyanide poisoning. Packer points the finger at his wife (Julie Adams), who he believes was having an affair; Risky Ross (Jack Carter), the former Burlesque comic whom the Inspector remembers as a tough kid from his early days on the force; and Gregory Layton (Don Porter), whom Packer accuses of having an affair with the star stripper, Veronica Vale (Barbara Rhoades), whose talent he admires. 83 year old William Demarest, the oldest actor to appear in the series, plays stage director 'Pop' Denny, and Hayden Rorke (I DREAM OF JEANNIE) plays a radio actor on Brimmer's show, revealing the 35-year relationship between 'Pop' and Packer. Derrel Maury ("Massacre at Central High") makes an unbilled appearance as the page boy, while Peter Hobbs, who plays toxicologist Dr. Steiner, would play another 'Medical Examiner' in "The Adventure of the Judas Tree." Always an intelligent actress, lovely Barbara Rhoades is a standout, here cast against type and making it work. There is one modest moment where her character displays dignity in her dressing room, changing behind a screen while Ellery comments on her profession as a stripper: "out there I'm an actress, here I'm a person."

Ignoring this episode's dubious "facts" about cyanide, there's one scene in which burlesque stripper Veronica Vale (Barbara Rhodes) longs for the good old days of 1937 when she was making "two grand a week."

TWO GRAND A WEEK???? As in TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK? That would have meant that she was literally making more than the President of the United States at the time. Yet she seems to have no savings, is neither rich nor famous, and is complaining about working at a crappy show. Where the hell did her "two grand a week" all go??

The short-lived series aired in 1975-76 but it was supposed to have taken place in 1946-47, though you'd hardly know it from the misguided attempts at "historical accuracy."

Whenever silent movies or Vaudeville or Burlesque are recreated by more modern people, they do a shoddy job of it. In this episode an impresario is murdered while trying to revive a burlesque after World War II.

Two characters make this episode. First George Burns, who only appears briefly on film. Then Barbara Rhoades, who made lots of appearances on TV in the 1970s, from "Mannix" to comedies. Here, she plays a stripper and she's delightful as well as lovely to look at.

And who is the suspicious man who keeps trying to buy extra tickets?

The stage show is so bad, this episode is painful to watch. The mystery is no great shakes, either.