The Incredible Jewel Robbery

I came across the posted comments and remember the plot very well from fifty years ago! Harpo has a number of lock-picks and they break into a variety of stores steal the policeman's uniform, lights, wire, hand tools, paint, a ring salami and a bagel. They paint a stolen car to resemble a black-and-white, wiring lights to the roof and using the salami to draw the circular police department logo and the bagel to dot the 'i' in police. Harpo pulls off the robbery, Chico, the cop, arrests him, taking the jewelry as "evidence". They are tripped up when they pull up to another, real cop, who notices that the police department logo is reversed, white on black instead of black on white. This one deserves to be released again.

As I recall, we saw this at our house when it was a re-run. That would be, it was being shown as a part of series TV used as "Summer Replacement" for regular programming, that was on hiatus during Summer.This once was a common practice and indeed some series started life as newly produced material, especially for temporary replacement.

The replacement host for Ronald Reagan (GE Theatre Host) was veteran announcer and voice over man in so many theatrical trailer films (previews of coming attractions), Art Gilmore. There was no mention of this being a part of the anthology of GE Theatre. There was mention of its being one of the most unusual comedies filmed for television; a claim that would prove to be no exaggeration.

It was done as a silent, with musical soundtrack. There were only the two Marx Brothers, Chico and Harpo, given credit in the introduction. There were probably less than 10 people total in the production.

This was available once upon a time for home viewing. That release was done in Super 8mm, Magnetic Sound, a medium which has gone the way of high button shoes and the single wing formation in football. This version is somewhat abridged and doesn't contain the one and only spoken line of the original. (I know, still got a copy!!) Let us hope and pray that a collection of GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATRE comes out in DVD. Remember still,"Progress is our most important product!"

I saw this show when it was first broadcast and never since. But my recollection is that it was performed entirely in pantomime, with no dialog at all until Groucho's quip at the end.