Talk:Perry Mason (1957 TV series)

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Why isn't the star listed?

I was curious why Raymond Burr isn't listed in the first section as the star of this show. It seems pretty relavent to me... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.76.128.71 (talk) 19:14, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Quite right, and I've made that addition. This article was recently split off from a long article called Perry Mason and I think when it was part of the longer article, it would have been unnecessary to repeat that information, which I hope explains it to your satisfaction. Accounting4Taste 21:15, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Reason for cancellation of series

We have sound testimony that when the series was cancelled, it was one of the most popular programs on television, and years later, when station managers were asked what they wanted, the commonest answer was ten more years of Perry Mason. I wonder why the series was cancelled. I think both William Hopper and William Talman died about a year later, of lingering diseases; perhaps both were too weak to go on. J S Ayer (talk) 02:26, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

• The original Perry Mason TV show had 9 long years on TV but it was on TV for maybe 1 year too long. It wasn't in the top 30 watched shows in its final 2 years. So, it was past its peak when the show was cancelled. Perhaps it should have been cancelled in 1965 at the latest. 8 years for a TV show is a great run too. It won its top prizes for Burr in 1959 and 1961. Anyway, that's just my thought. Yes Hopper and Talman died a year after the show was cancelled--so it was probably a good raeson to cancel it in 1966 but seriously it should have been cancelled by 1965. At least we got to see Perry Mason again in the 1980's to the 1990's. Regards, --Leoboudv (talk) 05:52, 17 April 2012 (UTC)

Was Burr ever replaced?

¶ I recall some episodes of the original series where, for some reason, Perry Mason himself couldn't handle a case and another lawyer -- played by an actor I didn't recognize who seemed to be channeling all of Burr's speeches and mannerisms -- appeared in court. (I also recall some eps where a different prosecutor filled in and seemed to be a lost twin to Wm. Talman.) There were a few episodes in which Raymond Burr literally phoned it in, appearing to be giving his team advice by phone from some distant location. Perhaps someone with a better memory can elucidate on that? And then, of course, in the last year of the TV movies, after Burr's death, Hal Holbrook and Paul Sorvino played entirely different persons, standing in Perry Mason's place, winning cases with the help of Perry Mason's assistants. Sussmanbern (talk) 19:21, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Burr missed some episodes in which special guest stars filled in for him. See the sixth bullet point under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Perry_Mason_episodes#Comments_on_notable_episodes.Television fan (talk) 20:30, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

As of January 2015 it is now the tenth bullet point.__209.179.125.81 (talk) 16:25, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

RE: this spared the company the expense of twelve extras in a jury box

Can someone give a source for this info? I am currently watching Perry Mason episodes, and many times the courtroom is full of people. Those are all extras--maybe 20 or 30 extras. Seems like some could have been moved to the jury box. They probably could have spent one day shooting a ton of various jury box shots--swapping out extras and changing costumes--and use those generic shots throughout the series. A more logical explanation (and this is only a guess) is that murder/homicide trials don't usually happen right away--they make take several weeks to get onto the court schedule--there are many people who have to fit the trial into their calendar--attorneys, police officers, etc. These preliminary hearings however can take place sooner and really only try to establish if there should be a trial. Perry and Paul can't run back to the scene of the crime if the trial is held weeks or months later. Just a guess. Yelocab (talk) 20:26, 30 April 2010 (UTC)yelocab

It was in either Raymond Burr: A Film, Radio and Television Biography by Ona L. Hill, McFarland, 1999, or The Perry Mason TV Show Book, by Brian Kelleher and Diana Merrill, St. Martins, 1987. I no longer have a copy of the first, and read a library copy of the other, but it is expressly stated in at least one of them, if not both. The other extras you describe would be needed anyway, so that's no objection. --Tbrittreid (talk) 21:11, 30 April 2010 (UTC)

One specific citation is found at this link; hope this helps. I've added it to the body of the article. Accounting4Taste:talk 21:22, 30 April 2010 (UTC)

Setting

The Los Angeles Hall of Justice is a location mentioned, and in parentheses someone has added that it is being converted to condominiums, though no citation listed. Elsewhere in Wikipedia, and in a Los Angeles Times article of November 2010, it said that there are plans to restore the building for government offices. Which is correct? 75.171.12.244 (talk) 12:02, 17 December 2011 (UTC)

TV Movie and Novel Connected?

Concerning the "Perry Mason" reunion TV Movie "The Case of the Fatal Framing" (1992), I was wondering if it was based on a novel by Fredrick D. Huebner called "Picture Postcard"? Although there are definite differences between the novel and the movie, I've read that book and I remember thinking when the "P.M." movie came out, that it was VERY similar, and in some instances the plotlines are identical! The novel was written in 1990...two years before "Fatal Framing" was made, so it could very well have been the basis of the plot for the "Perry" movie if one of the writers or producers had read it or knew about it. Huebner was, may still be, an attorney and wrote mystery or suspense novels about lawyers and law. It may very well be just coincidence that both the book and the movie are almost alike...but it's one heck of a coincidence. Just wondering if there was a tie-in between the two? If anyone knows, that'd be great! (ViceFan (talk) 03:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC))

MAD magazine

Besides the ‘Perry Masonmint’ reference, there is another reference. At the beginning of another parody, Perry Mason/Raymond Burr is shown being led off in handcuffs, with someone remarking something like. ‘He thought TV lawyers never lost a case!’. Not sure which issue this was, but it is out there for a researcher to add to the article. 88.128.80.172 (talk) 17:11, 18 October 2019 (UTC)

Yes I think it was in Cracked Magaizne I remember seeing it Lt Tragg says We finally got you. Hamilton Burger is overjoyed because with Mason gone He thinks he'll win a case. As a matter of fact he fails so miserably that in comparrison when he lost to Mason he actaully looked good in comparison!There was a parody in either Mad or Cracked magazine in which Mason shows a circus clown a picture of the Clown smiling and then shows the clown was the murderer because clowns are supposed to be sad; the clown admits his crime. The Judge orders the clown in the court to be arrested and Hamilton Burger is nearly arrested. Burger:Not me the clown in the witness box. Mason: Who can tell the Difference? 72.49.135.188 (talk) 13:09, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

Disambiguation link

Shouldn't there be a disambiguation link at the top of the page like other Wikipedia pages?__209.179.1.59 (talk) 02:11, 20 January 2015 (UTC)

Law student?

Wasn't there a young man 'reading law' in Perry's office for a time? Called 'David'? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:CF99:2080:9996:A1A5:EA65:4341 (talk) 22:15, 12 March 2020 (UTC)

The character name is David Gideon as played by Karl Held. IMDB ( https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125998/ ) lists him in 9 episodes as this character starting with "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather" (S04E27) where he is the grandson who expresses interest to read in the Mason law library at the end of the episode. His second episode is "The Case of the Missing Melody" (S05E03) where he meets Perry and Della at a wedding. When Perry asks, Della remembers him as the eager aspiring lawyer who wanted to read in their library. In this episode Perry reviews a brief that David wrote and indicated that he did not have a case and should re-read the example given.Keeline (talk) 02:13, 27 September 2020 (UTC)

Move

Pretty obvious move, now that Perry Mason (miniseries) was renamed Perry Mason (2020 TV series): this show's too old to be the clear primary target of Perry Mason (TV series). Cleaning up now... CapnZapp (talk) 19:48, 26 July 2020 (UTC)

Revival --> Adaptations

This article was written with the assumption it was the main article for Perry Mason television. This is no longer the case. Shortening section to prune duplication with the main overview.

Also, "revival" implies every later show was intended as a direct successor to this show, which we simply can't substantiate. Renaming section to "Adaptations", and therefore including every adaptation. Briefly, that is.

CapnZapp (talk) 06:17, 27 July 2020 (UTC)

To whomever is maintaining this page: Raymond Burr also missed the episode (season 8, episode 16) "The case of the thermal thief". Barry Sullivan substituted for him. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.222.197.234 (talk) 03:45, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Cameo on other TV Shows

On the TV series Maude 3/16 "The Telethon" Maude organizes a telethon which is raising money for no cause at all, as the charity Maude endorsed backed out at the last minute. It is up to Maude to think up a cause or charity while on the air, or else the station pulls the plug. The telethom gives many angry phone calls from "Perry Mason" fans because the Telethon is ruining their chance to see "Perry Mason"; the episode shown was Perry Mason: "The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink" (TV series episode) - This episode is mentioned by name and ultimately preempts Maude's telethon. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.49.135.188 (talk) 13:01, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

The source you've provided for this information is not a reliable source, as it is taken from a site created by user generated content. Similarly, we cannot accept Wikipedia as a source due to WP:CIRCULAR. CommissarDoggo^Talk? 13:35, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

You know between actors Ray Collins and Wesley Lau wore hats when they play the role for lieutenant. Richard Anderson was the only actor to play the role for lieutenant never wore a hat. 2601:18C:8000:AAE0:8C8D:701A:546A:C9B6 (talk) 15:52, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

Actor Kenneth MacDonald play the role for judge for the entire Perry Mason series. Between season 5 episode "The Case of the Borrowed Baby", season 8 episodes "The Case of the Tragic Trophy" and "The Case of the Gambling Lady". MacDonald made three non-speaking appearances. 2601:18C:8000:AAE0:4935:5F41:E5A6:36C8 (talk) 20:18, 11 February 2024 (UTC)

References