Who Knew? Two Stunners From ‘Perry Mason’
Picture Parade #2…Who Knew? Two Stunners From ‘Perry Mason’
Yes, it’s true. Hamilton Burger actually beat Perry Mason. Over the course of the nine year run of the show, it happened twice. While checking my facts, I came across this second stunner from the Associated Press.
“Williiam Talman was one of several arrested at a Hollywood party. Not only were drugs found in the house, but according to the raiding police officers, everyone including Talman was nude.” -Associated Press
Sheriff’s deputies, suspicious of marijuana use, raided a party on March 13, 1960, in a private home in Beverly Hills at which Talman was a guest. All were arrested for possession of marijuana (which was later dropped) and lewd vagrancy, but municipal judge Adolph Alexander dismissed the lewd vagrancy charges against Talman and the others on June 17 for lack of proof.
Despite this Talman was fired by CBS which refused to give a reason. Talman was later rehired after ‘Perry Mason’ producer Gail Patrick Jackson made a request to CBS following a massive letter-writing campaign by viewers. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
loved Perry Mason show
Oooh Juicy! I’d heard back then that he was off the show because of his ravaging lung/throat cancer.
I always wondered how Burger could keep his job since he was so inept.
Thank you, Bobby – you won an argument for me on this one. Mason lost one case. My brother owes me now!! 🙂
Ironically, the press back then would report this story while never mentioning that Raymond Burr was gay.
I sawon these episode only once in my youth and was shocked silly. I remember the Talman “Stop Smoking” PSA and was also shocked that he said that he had Lung Cancer in the PSA. Such a thing was barely mentioned it the Midwest in those days.. Clearly a man who lived large. I raise my tainted glass in his memory…
I’ve read that there were people skinny dipping in the house’s pool, but the police charged everyone at the party with every infraction because… – hey? – why not? (Imagine! Marijuana! Nudity! Heaven’s sake!) Talman just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Raymond Burr organized the letter writing campaign himself. CBS wouldn’t have dared fire Perry Mason from the Perry Mason Show.
And you thought only Keith Richards had that much fun!
…does anyone recall a PSA Talman did about the dangers of smoking ? ..he was diagnosed with lung cancer, he did the anti-smoking PSA, then he passed on weeks after, at the age of 53 ! ..The Smithsonian Channel has a documentary about The Doors, and in the docu is shown a clip from the movie The Hitch-Hiker where Talman was the villain.
Do we really want to think about William Talman… nude?
The “Confidential” tabloid magazine likely ran its next edition with a “Burger and a Hot Dog” headline. 😉