Episode #1.22: "Dennis and the TV Set" (3/13/1960) was directed by Charles T. Barton, the same man who directed "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948).
The TV series "Dennis the Menace" was a product of Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures. Broadcast on Sunday nights over the CBS television network (1959-63).
Screen Gems/Columbia Pictures did not own any Charlie Chan films, so they would have had to paid a fee for the use of a Charlie Chan clip on their "Dennis" TV series.
In order to avoid paying a fee, Screen Gems/Columbia would have used a clip from their own film library or used a clip from a public domain film. During the 1950s, Columbia produced a number of low-budget horror/sci-fi films. Mostly likely, Screen Gems/Columbia used a "dark and spooky" clip from their own film library.
To me, the TV image reminds me of desert scenes featured in the sci-fi classics "It Came From Outer Space" (1953) and "Tarantula" (1955). Both Universal films have scenes shot in the desert with cactus and big rocks.
Never the less, this is a very nice reference to movie detective Charlie Chan.
Very interesting Steve! Thanks for the info! Most likely it was from one of those horror flicks. I actually don't think I've seen either of those two movies you mentioned, unfortunately.
It reminded me of a scene from Charlie Chan In Rio when Jimmy and the maid are outside dancing and Joanie comes stumbling through the brush, of course I seriously doubt that really is what it is
