Perry Mason

Perry Mason is a fictional defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner and who was portrayed by Raymond Burr in a television series which ran on CBS from 1957 to 1966. The general plot involves Perry Mason unmasking the actual murderer in a final dramatic courtroom showdown. As such it is a highly unrealistic portrayal of the criminal justice system, and some of the structure of the television show was dictated by the motion picture and television codes of the 1950s which required an ending in which justice was served and in which the police and judicial institutions were not questioned (see Production Code). The theme music, "Park Avenue Beat" by Fred Steiner, is one of television's most recognizable themes. A recurring subplot was the low-key romance between Mason and his private secretary, Della Street, alluded to only in the most discreet way.

Related Topics:
Defense - Attorney - Detective fiction - Erle Stanley Gardner - Raymond Burr - CBS - Murder - Police - Production Code - Theme music - Fred Steiner - Romance - Della Street

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An unsuccessful attempt to recreate the series, named The New Perry Mason, and starring Monte Markham, was made in 1973, but it only lasted one season. Burr came back with a very successful series of Perry Mason TV movies from 1985 through 1993, the last being completed only weeks prior to his death. The last several of these films were set in Denver rather than Mason's traditional locale of Los Angeles; the character had moved there, but the real reason for the change was Denver's considerably lower production costs.

Related Topics:
Monte Markham - 1973 - TV movie - Denver - Los Angeles

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Warren William starred in a series of Perry Mason movies from 1934 through 1936, and Donald Woods starred in the 1937 The Case of the Stuttering Bishop.

Related Topics:
Warren William - Movies - 1934 - 1936 - Donald Woods - 1937

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The character also appeared in radio adaptations, comic books, and a short-lived (October 16, 1950–June 21, 1952) comic strip. He was also the inspiration for The Whole Truth (1986) by James Cummins, a book-length collection of sestinas. The daytime soap opera The Edge of Night was originally meant to be a daytime version of Perry Mason, until Gardner had a falling-out with CBS network officials. He was later mollified enough to allow production of the prime time series to begin.

Related Topics:
Radio - Comic book - October 16 - 1950 - June 21 - 1952 - Comic strip - 1986 - James Cummins - Sestina - Soap opera - The Edge of Night - Prime time

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Other characters in the Perry Mason universe include:

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• Paul Drake - Perry Mason's private investigator (played by William Hopper on the TV series)
• Della Street - Perry Mason's secretary (played by Barbara Hale on the original TV series and the later TV movies)
• Hamilton Burger - District Attorney (played by William Talman on the TV series)
• Lieutenant Arthur Tragg - Police homicide investigator (played by Ray Collins on the TV series)
• Sergeant Holcomb - Policeman often featured in the novels
 
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