I started to mention the Three Stooges as well, but Detective Kemper is looking for examples of the gag that occurred up through 1947---and what month in 1947 may be important as well. It seemed to me that the Stooges examples might have been in Shemp episodes that were released post-1947.

Could the bit be included in Hold That Ghost or Ghost Breakers? I know we've all seen this bit in a ton of movies. That's the problem, there's never a cliche around when you need one.

I'm going to keep beating myself up over this one.