Alfred Hitchcock Presents1955

[introduction]

Alfred Hitchcock:
[in a library] Good evening. I understand it is fashionable to introduce television plays from a library. And so, I thought I would preface tonight's play, "The Cream of the Jest" in this way. [camera pulls back to reveal that he's in a public library with other patrons] "The Cream of the Jest" is a play about the theatrical business. [patrons shush him; he continues, whispering] And it has as its central character a fading actor named Charles Hanover Gresham. Our play will... [patrons shush him again; he continues quickly] Our play begins in just one moment!