Episode 8, "The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party," was apparently the only entry to be based on an actual Ellery Queen story. Ellery travels to Long Island for a weekend with Spencer Lockridge (Edward Andrews), who wants to finalize a deal to turn the Queen story "The Adventure of the Alabaster Apple" into a stage play starring his young protégé, Emmy Reinhart (Julie Sommars). Upon arrival, the author finds the entire household doing a rehearsal of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," as a birthday tribute to Spencer's nephew Johnny (George Janek). Emmy comes on to Ellery, in a failed attempt to 'discuss' her part in the upcoming play. Still costumed as The Mad Hatter, Spencer disappears during the night, and everyone fears kidnapping and ransom. Larry Hagman plays the architect, Paul Gardner, who has been having an affair with Spencer's wife, Laura (Rhonda Fleming), apparently with the consent of Mrs. Gardner (Patricia Smith). Laura's mother, Mrs. Leticia Allingham (Carmen Mathews), complains bitterly about Spencer's extravagance with her money. The great Jim Backus plays Howard Biggers, who accompanies Ellery on the train trip, spooking the frightened conductor (Olan Soule) with their talk of murder, and Julius W. Harris ("Live and Let Die") shows up as the fearsome butler Doyle. David Wayne makes only a brief appearance as Inspector Queen, ditto Tom Reese as Sergeant Velie and Nina Roman (unbilled) as secretary Grace. Incidentally, David Wayne himself played The Mad Hatter in four half hour episodes of the 60s BATMAN series.