This jacket was worn by the character Roy L. Gifford, played by actor Joe E. Brown in the 1939 comedy, “Beware Spooks”. The police jacket is made of black wool with a slight peaked lapel, two scalloped upper flaps (with the pockets removed for a subsequent production), two scalloped flaps at lower patch pockets, epaulets with gold buttons, and four gold buttons at the front closure. The original United Costumers label is located inside the collar, which faintly reads “Joe E. Brown”. There is also a “UCI” stamp and the number “71” found inside the left sleeve, along with a Warner Bros scan bar below the inner right sleeve.
Mr. Brown first appears wearing the coat at the wedding ceremony with his bride Betty Lou (Mary Carlisle) inside of the Police Station. After making a fool of the Commissioner by accidentally kissing him and leaving him stuck in a revolving door, he is fired. It breaks Betty Lou’s heart that the Commissioner took away his badge, so Roy confronts him and is reinstated into traffic duty. However, due to his clumsy nature he inadvertently assists a thief in a bank robbery and once again loses his badge after learning that the man was the wanted killer, “Slick Eastman” (Marc Lawrence).
“Beware Spooks!” was directed by Edward Sedgwick, and starred Joe E. Brown, Mary Carlisle, and Marc Lawrence. This comedy tells the story of Roy L. Gifford, a bumbling policeman who chases along an escaped convict through a series of comedic mishaps while in a haunted fun house. The garment is in good vintage condition and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity.
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