Stuart Palmer's immortal crime-solving school teacher Hildegarde Withers came to the screen courtesy of a series of mysteries from RKO Pictures. Memorably played by character great Edna May Oliver in three features, Hildegarde was ably paired with her flirty foil of Inspector Piper in the person of James Gleason. Gleason would go on to anchor the series, appearing in all six, alongside Helen Broderick for one and Zasu Pitts for the final two.
