# Louis Panzer — The Roman Hat Mystery character guide

> Louis Panzer in The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Panzer, Manager Panzer, Mr. Panzer

**First appearance:** 0005-part-one-i-in-which-are-introduced-a-theatre-audience-and-a-corpse

## Snapshot

The Roman Theatre's manager, roused before dawn by the Inspector and visibly thrilled that a murder might sell tickets.

## Who they are

Panzer answers Queen's early call with tremulous eagerness, keys in hand, already calculating how the notoriety might reopen his shuttered show. He is cooperative to a fault, summoning the elderly Mrs. Phillips and unlocking the lobby without protest, his swarthy, excitable manner a comic counterpoint to the grim business inside. He matters because the theatre is both crime scene and livelihood, and his eagerness to cash in on publicity colors every question of who had access and motive.

## Relationships

### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen)

_professional_

Louis Panzer is a detective or police colleague working under Inspector Queen.

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Ellery and Panzer cooperate as part of the police investigation team.

### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen)

_professional_

Louis Panzer is a detective or police colleague working under Inspector Queen.

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Ellery and Panzer cooperate as part of the police investigation team.

### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen)

_professional_

Louis Panzer is a detective or police colleague working under Inspector Queen.

### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen)

_professional_

Ellery and Panzer cooperate as part of the police investigation team.

## In the story

### [Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/lexicon-of-persons-connected-with-the-investigation)

Broadway theatre-manager.

### [I: In Which Are Introduced a Theatre-Audience and a Corpse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-i-in-which-are-introduced-a-theatre-audience-and-a-corpse)

Manager of the Roman Theatre, Panzer assists Velie by stationing ushers at exits and making an announcement to the audience.

### [In Which a “Parson” Comes to Grief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iii-in-which-a-parson-comes-to-grief)

Theatre manager who assists by announcing to the audience and providing information about usher Miller.

### [IV: In Which Many Are Called and Two Are Chosen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iv-in-which-many-are-called-and-two-are-chosen)

Instructed to have cleaning women search the theatre thoroughly for ticket stubs and other items.

### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts Some Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-v-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-some-legal-conversations)

Theatre manager; his office is used for the interviews, and he is summoned to verify the complimentary ticket.

### [The Queens Take Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-vii-the-queens-take-stock)

The theatre manager is ordered by Inspector Queen to shut down the theatre and is assured the closure will be temporary.

### [In Which the Hat Grows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xiv-in-which-the-hat-grows)

Meets the Queens at the theatre, opens it for their search, delivers a parcel from Cronin to the Inspector, and discusses the case with Queen.

### [In Which the Queens Go to the Theatre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvi-in-which-the-queens-go-to-the-theatre)

Seen managing the crowd at the Roman Theatre.

### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts More Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xix-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-more-legal-conversations)

Provides his office for the interviews.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/endnotes)

His map was used as the basis for the frontispiece plan drawn by Ellery Queen.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/louis_panzer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters