September 21, 1957…’Perry Mason’ Debuts On CBS
September 21, 1957…’Perry Mason’ Debuts On CBS
I have two rare videos to share with you on ‘Perry Mason’.
The first one (linked above) is Raymond Burr’s screentest for the lead role. This looks like a video tape, but could be a kinescope which was most likely shot at the CBS Television City.
Next up is a rare interview with Raymond Burr on the set, conducted by the well known Scottish born, Canadian journalist Jack Webster in 1963 when the show was in it’s seventh season. The original series would run for nine seasons and ended in 1966 after 271 episodes…one of which was shot in color. “Tale Of The Twice Told Twist” was the color episode and aired near the last of the final season in February of 1966. I think CBS ordered it as it considered extending the show for another few seasons.
The first ever episode of ‘Perry Mason’ that aired 57 years ago today was “The Case Of The Wrestles Redhead”.
To this day, ‘Perry Mason’ is still one of my all-time favorite shows. It was smart and well done. To me, the only thing that dates the show is the lack of cell phones…how many times could Perry and Paul have saved the day earlier by not having to stop at pay phone or call Della for messages? Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Seemingly born to play ‘Perry Mason’, Raymond Burr did have to test for the role. The woman playing ‘Della Street’ is a bit too provocative for the character…
Ah, memories of my local TV past. I had the honor of dubbing almost all of the 271 episodes of this show from 1″ to DVCPro – including the lone color eipsode and what appeared to be a master dub from 1964 – network commercials included.
One of my college instructors was the Art Director for the show…Charles Q. Vassar.
Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to meet Barbara Hale during a film noir festival in Palm Springs. At 93, she’s as alert and vital as can be. We asked lots of questions about the series, but couldn’t remember all the studios she filmed the series in. She lives with a relative nearby.
“Della” looks a lot like the actress that played Wilbur Post’s wife on Mr. Ed. I think she was in a few episodes of Perry Mason as well.
On radio, Perry Mason was a serial, when it was brought to TV, CBS decided to make it a weekly hour-long series. However, with a few changes, the radio serial moved to TV as “The Edge of Night.”
In the movies, a few Perry Mason movies were made in the ’30s with Warren William as Mason. Paul Drake became a comic character “Soapy” Drake.
It’s reported that Burr actually auditioned first for the role of Hamilton Burger, with William Talman as Perry Mason.. And that Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of the characters, asked them to switch roles.
Pretty good script…raunchy even.