"The Pyramid Swindle" has Dragnet regular Virginia Gregg chewing scenery like a rabid mutt as Bonnie Bates, using a pyramid bunco scheme to solicit members, proposing to those who sign up with her that they will make lots and lots of money. The key to her success at the detriment of others is that those on the bottom end of the pyramid make very little while giving up a lot (you see those who first sign up make the alluring cash increase while others who eventually sign later on do not achieve the same kind of results; the early members reap the immediate dividends while members brought in by members brought in by members earn very little). The one, of course, to wallow in wealth is Bonnie, having learnt the pyramid scheme from her late husband who was a master at swindling the average citizen with a desire to make extra cash. Gregg dresses as Socrates, shakes a tambourine, and chants marketing catch-phrases, capturing her audience, suitable for duping because they completely buy into her hogwash. Most of the episode consists of the trial of Bonnie Bates, with the defense using the strategy of theoretical possibility for increased wealth through the use of the pyramid (Bates' team says everyone who joins as members have a significant chance to turn a sizable profit) while the prosecution seek to unravel the façade of such a fraudulent exercise. While I enjoyed Gregg's flamboyant interpretation of an electrifying pitchwoman, this sure makes those caught under her spell look foolish and stupid. Interesting that her character uses God as a means to further her agenda of swindling folks; perhaps a statement about religious people and the ease for which they can be had?
Review of The Pyramid Swindle
