Perry Mason is possibly at once the most memorable central character in the 20th Century American Detective Story and at the same time being the number one source of misinformation concerning the Nature of both Lawyers and the Legal Racket, er-uh I meant the "Law Profession." Yet like a Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan or Dick Tracy even; Mr. Mason and company have taken on an aura of their being real, live persons.
When the series hit the airwaves on CBS in Fall of 1957, this writer was 11 tears old, was more interested in Baseball, Batman Comics and pleasing my 6th Grade Teacher, Sister Mary Euphemia, C.S.C. in our daily confrontations at St. Theodore Grade School in Chicago. Perry Mason was indeed an unknown commodity to this and most other grade schoolers. But that would soon change, for the series hit the ground running and barely slowed down during its 9 season run on the "Tiffany Network".
PERRY MASON (Paisano Prod/CBS TV,1957-66) was a quality piece of work in every respect. From its low key opening showing Perry and the regulars caught up in a very important moment in some trial; the very distinctive theme starts slowly with just 3 measly, little notes; before building up to a crescendo by the time opening credits end and the title of today's story is shown. For example, it might be something like "The Case of the Fifth Sixth Grader."
Before too long, PERRY MASON was truly a hot item. Being shown on CBS in the earlier portion of the evening; it was deemed fit for family viewing. Indeed it did seem to attract and hold onto a great cross section of viewers from grade schoolers up to their parents and even their parents! Why even the Good Sisters over at St. Theodore's Convent confessed (not in the little box) to having a Jones for Perry's weekly episodes.
Starting with Miss Barbara Hale (Perry's Confidential Secretary, Della Street) had some big parts in some RKO Features; but in spite of her good, really good looks and high level of acting ability; she never quite broke into the ranks of the "Movie Stars." Next, we had Perry's Private Detective Associate, Paul Drake as interpreted by William Hopper, who definitely came by his acting talents naturally. Lt. Arthur Tragg was the usual Homicide Defective in Perry Mason Novels and his part was given over to Ray Collins. Mr. Collins, who was already 70 years of age the year that PERRY MASON premiered, was a fine stage actor of much and wide-spread experience. Ray came to Hollywood as a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre players. He portrayed the crooked Political Boss of the Tammany Hall-like political machine and Governor of New York, Jim W. Geddes in that RKO potboiler called CITIZEN KANE (1941). Ever hear of it, Schultz?
AND now for (Boos & Hisses!!) the "Villain" of the show in the District Attorney, Hamilton Burger; we proudly present William Talman. He came to the TV Screen following some excellent work in Film Noir such as THE ARMORED CAR ROBBERY (RKO Radio Pictures, 1950), THE HITCH-HIKER (The Filmmakers/RKO Radio, 1953) and CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS (Republic Pictures Corp., 1953). He appeared in many weekly anthologies and then landed this weekly D.A. gig. But it was not easy in becoming Hamilton Burger (get it, Schultz, "HAMBURGER"!); for the producers wanted another actor in that role. And that actor's name was (drum roll!!) ..None other than ..Raymond Burr! Raymond Burr?
Yes, it's true. The producers wanted to cast Mr. Burr as the crotchety yet capable District Attorney; yet it was Ray's desire to be Perry. In order to gain consideration, the rather heavy-set actor trained and dieted his way down to a slimmer look and was successful. But he to get too thin as the character was not too slender of a guy himself.
The creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, who himself was an Attorney-at-Law (We won't hold that against you, Erle!), had described Perry Mason as "a Big Man; but not the Bigness of a fat man; but rather a Bigness of Strength." Incidentally. Mr. Garner no doubt put a lot of himself into the Character as that "Bigness of Strength" phrase certainly fit Erle quite well.
This wasn't the first try to bring Perry to life. Warner Brothers made 6 Perry Mason "B" Movies in the 1930's. Being about an hour long and designed to be exhibited on the lower half of a Double Feature; four starred Warren William as Perry, while Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods each assayed the role once.
Several years after the series ended we saw the rise of THE NEW PERRY MASON (20th Century-Fox/CBS TV, 1973-74) with Monte Markham as a very fit, but not so big of a Barrister. It fell by the wayside after only one season. But the Masonic Forces weren't through yet.
In 1985-93 we saw the likes of 30 2 Hour Long Made-for-TV PERRY MASON Movies again starring the surviving members of the original TV Cast, Miss Hale & Mr. Burr along with Barbara's real life Son, William Katt (Father=Bill Williams) as Private Investigator Paul Drake, Jr.
IN addition to the original novels, Movies & TV; Perry Mason Adventures also appeared on his own Radio Show, in Comic Books and in a short running Newspaper Comic Strip.
NOTE: * In 1968, William Talman, realizing that he was dying of Lung Cancer due to his excessive cigarette smoking, filmed a very touching Public Service Anti-Smoking Message in which he laments having to leave his family so prematurely. At its end, the title card states the date of Mr. Talman's death at age 53.
When the series hit the airwaves on CBS in Fall of 1957, this writer was 11 tears old, was more interested in Baseball, Batman Comics and pleasing my 6th Grade Teacher, Sister Mary Euphemia, C.S.C. in our daily confrontations at St. Theodore Grade School in Chicago. Perry Mason was indeed an unknown commodity to this and most other grade schoolers. But that would soon change, for the series hit the ground running and barely slowed down during its 9 season run on the "Tiffany Network".
PERRY MASON (Paisano Prod/CBS TV,1957-66) was a quality piece of work in every respect. From its low key opening showing Perry and the regulars caught up in a very important moment in some trial; the very distinctive theme starts slowly with just 3 measly, little notes; before building up to a crescendo by the time opening credits end and the title of today's story is shown. For example, it might be something like "The Case of the Fifth Sixth Grader."
Before too long, PERRY MASON was truly a hot item. Being shown on CBS in the earlier portion of the evening; it was deemed fit for family viewing. Indeed it did seem to attract and hold onto a great cross section of viewers from grade schoolers up to their parents and even their parents! Why even the Good Sisters over at St. Theodore's Convent confessed (not in the little box) to having a Jones for Perry's weekly episodes.
Starting with Miss Barbara Hale (Perry's Confidential Secretary, Della Street) had some big parts in some RKO Features; but in spite of her good, really good looks and high level of acting ability; she never quite broke into the ranks of the "Movie Stars." Next, we had Perry's Private Detective Associate, Paul Drake as interpreted by William Hopper, who definitely came by his acting talents naturally. Lt. Arthur Tragg was the usual Homicide Defective in Perry Mason Novels and his part was given over to Ray Collins. Mr. Collins, who was already 70 years of age the year that PERRY MASON premiered, was a fine stage actor of much and wide-spread experience. Ray came to Hollywood as a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre players. He portrayed the crooked Political Boss of the Tammany Hall-like political machine and Governor of New York, Jim W. Geddes in that RKO potboiler called CITIZEN KANE (1941). Ever hear of it, Schultz?
AND now for (Boos & Hisses!!) the "Villain" of the show in the District Attorney, Hamilton Burger; we proudly present William Talman. He came to the TV Screen following some excellent work in Film Noir such as THE ARMORED CAR ROBBERY (RKO Radio Pictures, 1950), THE HITCH-HIKER (The Filmmakers/RKO Radio, 1953) and CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS (Republic Pictures Corp., 1953). He appeared in many weekly anthologies and then landed this weekly D.A. gig. But it was not easy in becoming Hamilton Burger (get it, Schultz, "HAMBURGER"!); for the producers wanted another actor in that role. And that actor's name was (drum roll!!) ..None other than ..Raymond Burr! Raymond Burr?
Yes, it's true. The producers wanted to cast Mr. Burr as the crotchety yet capable District Attorney; yet it was Ray's desire to be Perry. In order to gain consideration, the rather heavy-set actor trained and dieted his way down to a slimmer look and was successful. But he to get too thin as the character was not too slender of a guy himself.
The creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, who himself was an Attorney-at-Law (We won't hold that against you, Erle!), had described Perry Mason as "a Big Man; but not the Bigness of a fat man; but rather a Bigness of Strength." Incidentally. Mr. Garner no doubt put a lot of himself into the Character as that "Bigness of Strength" phrase certainly fit Erle quite well.
This wasn't the first try to bring Perry to life. Warner Brothers made 6 Perry Mason "B" Movies in the 1930's. Being about an hour long and designed to be exhibited on the lower half of a Double Feature; four starred Warren William as Perry, while Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods each assayed the role once.
Several years after the series ended we saw the rise of THE NEW PERRY MASON (20th Century-Fox/CBS TV, 1973-74) with Monte Markham as a very fit, but not so big of a Barrister. It fell by the wayside after only one season. But the Masonic Forces weren't through yet.
In 1985-93 we saw the likes of 30 2 Hour Long Made-for-TV PERRY MASON Movies again starring the surviving members of the original TV Cast, Miss Hale & Mr. Burr along with Barbara's real life Son, William Katt (Father=Bill Williams) as Private Investigator Paul Drake, Jr.
IN addition to the original novels, Movies & TV; Perry Mason Adventures also appeared on his own Radio Show, in Comic Books and in a short running Newspaper Comic Strip.
NOTE: * In 1968, William Talman, realizing that he was dying of Lung Cancer due to his excessive cigarette smoking, filmed a very touching Public Service Anti-Smoking Message in which he laments having to leave his family so prematurely. At its end, the title card states the date of Mr. Talman's death at age 53.