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This episode is an early one using twoMason standby ploys; he toys with a witness’smemory by presenting plausible alternativesand he stages a demonstration in court thatisn’t what it seems to be (but then he neversaid it was anything more than it is, thusmaking the whole thing morally ethical).4.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Drowning DuckOriginal Airdate: October 12, 1957Directed by William D. RussellTeleplay by Al C. WardRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Carol Kelly. Lois ReedNoland Leary.Judge MeehamVictor Sutherland.Clyde WatersCarolyn Craig . Helen WatersDon Beddoe .George NorrisPaula Winslow .Martha NorrisGary Vinson . Marv AdamsGarry Landers . Donald BriggsOlive Blakeney . Mrs. AdamsRusty Lane .Chief GlassTom London. CabbiePhillip Tonge . CortlandJoseph Forte . Dr. CreelHelen Hatch . SecretaryClifford Botelho. PedroPerry and Paul must solve an 18-year-oldmurder case to keep Perry's client out ofprison.Donald Briggs tells Mrs. Adams she mustpay 5,000 for him to keep quiet about herson's father, a convicted murderer. MarvAdams is engaged to the daughter of aprominent citizen and their wedding planswon't survive the scandal. Clyde Waters asksPerry to go to Logan City where JudgeMeeham gives him the trial transcript. Hesays justice was done. There was amysterious "Miss X" involved, whose namewas never revealed. Meeham makes it clearhe doesn't welcome his curiosity.As he tries to leave town, Martha Norrissends word by the local cop that he wants tosee Perry. She says the man Ben Devereauxkilled was her first husband, David Latwell.She wants it left alone. At a barbecue on theWaters' dairy farm for their employees,chemistry major Marv wows the local kids witha drowning duck trick (he uses a chemical totake all the oil out of the duck's feathers). Pauland Perry go to see Briggs. A tired blonde atthe motel tells them someone picked him up.They break and enter, find old newspaper clipsand a funny odor.and Briggs' body, murderedby an interesting combination of chemicals.Miss X is Lois Reed and she was supposedto marry Devereaux's partner, David Latwell,and they shared a desk, which is why herphoto and letters were in the desk, supposedto be Devereaux'. Latwell was also married.Marv Adams' mother dies. Mrs. Norris wassupposedly incapacitated with a sprainedankle when her husband was killed. But Perryunearths a photo of Mrs. Norris was standingat a stock auction that same night. Briggsfigured this out too, and was blackmailing Mrs.Norris. She killed her husband over Ms. Reedand Briggs because of what he found out.‘Logan City’ is a studio backlot, westernstreet. Note the gloriously streamlined busnext to the taxicab, which looks like a 1941Series C33 Chrysler Crown Imperial 8passenger sedan. Many pre-war vehicleswere still on the streets at the time, especiallycabs, panel trucks, ambulances and policevehicles. Not everyone was seduced by finsor could afford the latest models. This was ageneration who had experienced both thedepression and a war. They didn’t get rid ofsomething that still ran easily.5.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Sulky GirlOriginal Airdate: October 19, 1957Directed by Christian NybyTeleplay by Harold SwantonRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Olive Sturgis . Fran CelaneWilliam Schallert.GravesLillian Brondon.ClaraRobert Griffin .CrinstonBrian Hutton. Rod GleasonRaymond Greenleaf . NortonHoward Wendell . Judge PurleyPaul Bryar. Sgt. WilburFrank Wilcox . Judge MarkhamBob Kline . Officer DelaneyLarry Thor .Police SurgeonJack Gargan .Court ClerkDick Winslow. ReporterFran Celane has a rip-roaring fight with heruncle Edward, then bursts into Perry's officeand announces: "I'm being cheated out of afortune." She wants him to break a 1 milliontrust set up by her father, who died two yearsago. The property was left to Edward Nortonas absolute trustee. Edward is not onlywithholding the money, he's forbidden her tomarry until she's 25 (she's now 23).Five years ago, she ran off with a bellhop toMiami. Paul observes, "she's a veryexpensive delinquent." The boyfriend isRodney Gleason, an artist. He's pragmaticand realistic. He's also the bellhop she ranaway with. During that week five years ago,they got married. They've tried to stay apart,but failed. Now they can't wait--she'spregnant. Perry finds Uncle Edward asobstreperous as Fran does. Rod is outsidethe mansion as Arthur Crinston, Norton'sattorney, arrives for a late appointment.Shortly thereafter, Norton calls the cops,

claiming his niece has threatened his life. Thecops send a car. Crinston comes out and getsin the car with the judge who dropped him,listening to the fight. Norton yells about somepapers. He sends Donald Graves (hissecretary) with them to get it. As they pullaround the circular driveway, Graves seessomeone in Norton's office threatening him.They go back and find the man dead. Andthey catch Rod running from the house.Note the rattan barstool in Rod's apartment. Rattan was not only inexpensive at thetime, but very popular, as were all the tropicallooks. Many people did their dens or rumpusrooms over into "Hawaii" rooms, with rattan,fishnets, tapa cloth and plastic leis.Parker Center, shown as the location ofTragg's office, is still the L.A.P.D.headquarters. It was brand new when thisepisode was filmed. It was named after thechief of police when constructed.Paul notes that Walter Winchell, famousNew York gossip columnist, used to use theline "they're just good friends" when writingabout a new couple-about-town who wereobviously anything but. The line wasimmortalized in Cole Porter's musical SilkStockings, where Janis Paige--playing a filmstar--says it numerous times at a pressconference about every man she's askedabout, including Tolstoy.Fran drives a white '57 Chrysler ImperialCrown convertible; the Judge a '57 blackLincoln Premiere Landau; and Paul, a '57Thunderbird (license No. LTZ 413)At the time, it hadn’t been too many yearssince California (and other populous states)had switched to three letter/three numberlicense plates. These were seen as the idealsolution, offering maximum combinations withthe fewest possible offensive words whichcould come up (and which were eliminatedfrom the sequences). In recent yearsCalifornia has had to switch to 7-letter/numberplates.Note the very plain courtroom. Evidently,the much more elaborate one had not yetbeen built. With ratings comes money and asthe show became more popular, they couldspend more money per episode.The court proceedings here are apreliminary hearing. California law provides adefendant may be indicted by a preliminaryhearing or by grand jury indictment. Thosewho watched the O. J. Simpson preliminaryhearing will remember that a citizen's right to aspeedy trial states that the state has sixty daysto begin court hearings. Unless requested, itusually takes much longer as the investigationis rarely completed at that point.6."Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Silent Partner"Original Airdate: October 26, 1957Directed by Christian NybyTeleplay by Donald S. SanfordRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Peggy Maley. Lola FloreyDan Seymour.Harry MarlowAnne Barton. Mildred KimberMark Roberts. Bob KimberCyril Delevanti .TullochMichael Emmet. Sam LynkJoe Abdullah. Mack FriedHenry Hunter . Dr. RubinDawn Richard . Ginger KayJimmy McCallion .Veteran ReporterAt Orchids Unlimited, owner MildredKimber admires Mr. Tulloch's new orchid whenone Harry Marlow shows up. He's anobnoxious ex-con who doesn't talk, hethreatens. He is determined to be her silentpartner. He insults her husband, and sheslaps him. Mildred collapses (she's been ill)and asks for a pill. Later, Marlow plays highstakes poker with Bob Kimber in Sam Lynk's

office at the Club Eldorado. He loses verybig. 37,000. His check is not accepted. Heshows them 100 shares of Orchids Unlimited.He and Marlow scuffle and Lynk throws themout. Marlow asks Lynk for the stock, he sayshe'll need 10,000 more in cash. Mildrednurses her drunk husband and finds out thestock is gone.She calls Perry, desperation in her voice.He's swamped and makes an appointment forthe next morning. Mildred goes to Lynk'soffice. He's not there. Lola Florey, Lynk's"hostess," follows her. Marlow made a dealwith Lynk to fleece Bob in a crooked pokergame. She'll give her one of Sam's markeddecks. If she tells the story around, he'sruined. She can't do without two things-chocolates by Andre and Sam Lynk. Mildredasks her to tell Perry the story. Lola agrees.Lola leaves the club when someone delivers abox of chocolates by Andre. She eats one,goes out, and Tulloch watches her go to hercar. She calls Perry, saying the candy ispoisoned. She's fading fast.was more expensive and most shows andfilms shot day for night (shooting in daylightthen ‘stopping down’ the camera to darken thepicture), but the Mason show had a noir lookwhich suited it, and night shooting allowedthem to cheat on locations or the backlot—thesets didn’t have to be so fancy or as complete.He calls Tragg and when they get there,she's still alive.just barely. Perry and Dellago to see Mildred, who's a wreck, but sayseverything's "solved." She's got a gun hermink coat pocket. She also says she neverheard of Lola Florey.Perry goes to Lynk's and the house hasbeen trashed, the phone's off the hook, Lynk'sdead and Mildred's prescription is on the floor.Marlow says he’s not surprised Mrs.Kimber questions his interest in orchids, buthe’s not the first large man to love orchids.Nero Wolfe was famous for it, though he wason the other side of the law.Tragg has a package of Wonder bread inhis bag of groceries. The brand andpackaging were fairly new at the time, thoughit is now a pop culture cliché.Note the box of prescription medicine Perryfinds at Lynk’s. Tablets usually came in thesewhite slide-open cardboard boxes at the time.Bottles were only used for liquids. Theseboxes replaced folded paper, which wascommon earlier in the century.This must be the only episode whereMason threatens Burger with a manslaughtercharge.As will become the norm, there is no trial(hiring 12 extras as jurors is expensive). Theepisode was shot almost entirely at night,another hallmark of the series. Night shooting7.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Angry MournerOriginal Airdate: November 2, 1957Directed by William D. RussellTeleplay by Francis CockrellRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Sylvia Field .Belle AdrianJames Westerfield. Sheriff ElmoreJoan Weldon . Marion KeatsPaul Fix. District Attorney HaleDorothy Adams.Betsy BurrisMalcolm Atterbury. Sam BurrisBarbara Eden . Carla AdrianPeter Nelson. Harvey DelanoEve McVeagh . Nora FlemingAddison Richards .George LansingEric Sinclair.Mark CushingHarry Tyler.Court ClerkWilliam Boyett. Motor CopSomething funny's going on over at MarkCushing's place. The neighbors hear ascream, a shot, breaking glass, then see BelleAdrian in the house with their binoculars. Theycall the sheriff. The next morning, Mrs. Adriancalls on Perry, who's on a fishing holiday.She's in desperate trouble. There's been amurder. Her daughter Carla had dinner withthe victim. Perry says if Carla tells the truth,there should be no problem. But Mrs. Adriansays Cushing had a terrible reputation andshe's worried about the notoriety, The sheriffarrives to see Mrs. Adrian. The thing is, itrained heavily after midnight, and the entire

night's events are revealed in the tracks in theneighborhood, including Belle Adrian'sfootprints from her house to Cushing's andback.Belle Adrian heard a scream, went thereand saw the body, then removed all traces ofher daughter's presence in the house. MarionKeats was in love with Cushing, was insanelyjealous and wanted to catch him red-handed,so she had his housekeeper call her when hehad a date. She's the one who screamed,when she got there and found the body. Theneighbor, Sam Burris, is the murderer. Hetook the gun from Carla's car earlier, waiteduntil she left, shot Cushing, broke some glass,then went home and went to bed. Later, hewoke his wife, telling her he heard a shot andbreaking glass.The establishing shot of the exterior andinterior with log cabin walls and flagstone wascommon at the time for a well-appointed cabinat Big Bear or Arrowhead. Many summercabins still had no electricity, but they wereincreasingly being upgraded and made morehabitable.The portable screen was a fixture of everyhome, either for slides or movies (these are 16mm). The faux rustic furniture with wagonwheels, milk cans and steer horns waspopular even in primary homes.8.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Crimson KissOriginal Airdate: November 9, 1957Directed by Christian NybyTeleplay by Joel Murcott, Walter Doniger andMilton GeigerRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Jean Willes. Anita BonsalSue England. Fay AllisonDouglas Dick .Dane GroverGloria McGhee . Shirley TannerJohn Holland . Carver ClementConnie Cezon.GertieJoi Lansing .Vera PaysonDouglas Evans .Don RalstonFrances Bavier . Louise MarlowJohn Harmon. Lab ManFrank Wilcox . Judge RandolphHoward Culver.Dr. HawleyThe Mandrake Arms apartment building:Dane Grover and Fay Allison are gettingmarried in three days. Fay's roommate Anitais a little upset. She used to date Dane. Anitahas a date with a married roué in the building,and she's home early. Fay's Aunt Louisearrives in the early hours to find both girlsdrugged and out cold. She calls Perry (atClay's Bar and Grill, having his breakfast). Heand Della send a doctor and hurry over. Faywould have died if Louise had come the nextday as she'd planned. Perry knows it was noaccident and searches the apartment. Theyfind keys to two different apartments in thebuilding. They go to #702, where they find theroué dead with a heavily lipsticked kiss markon his forehead. "Someone bid him a fond,but unfriendly farewell." They leave as anothercouple arrive and beat on the door. Perry callsAunt Louise from the lobby and tells her to getthe girls in a sanitarium now. Phillip Walsh isthe name on the mailbox, but the other coupleIDs him as Carver Clement. Tragg is verysuspicious. Fay Allison's clothing is inCarver's apartment.Perry eventually realizes someone inClement's apartment buzzed in the othercouple just before Perry and Della got there,long after Fay and Anita were in a druggedsleep. The woman across the hall, whocomplained every time anyone knocked.Perry gets a lip print from her in court. Theymatch. She loved him, he promised to get adivorce, then left her. She followed him, subletthe apartment across the hall, then found outabout Anita and Clement. Poisoned his drink.Charge dismissed.Perry’s unconventional move of grabbingShirley Tanner and pressing her lips against apiece of paper to tie her to the murder wouldnot only be illegal today, but highly risky in alitigious world. You can’t get DNA from anuncooperative witness, let alone a lip print.9.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Vagabond VixenOriginal Airdate: November 16, 1957Directed by Christian NybyTeleplay by Al C. WardRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:Robert Ellenstein . John AddisonCatherine McLeod .Lorraine FerrellCarol Leigh .Veronica DalePeggy Converse . Myrtle NorthrupJames Anderson .Peter HandsellBarbara Pepper .Mrs. DalePaul Cavanaugh . Edgar FerrellRobert Carson . Sgt. BentPierre Watkin. Judge KeetleyPerry Ivins.Print ManRussell Trent . NeffJack Gargan .Court ClerkLee Miller . Deputy SheriffIt's an odd scene on a dark, seaside road.A man drops a woman off with instructionsand drives away. Shortly, a Hollywoodproducer picks her up and then drives to a

house. He quells her jitters with the offer of amovie deal. Veronica Dale is impressed withthe house, which he says his studio owns anduses for location shoots. Once they're inside,a series of bizarre events begins. Headlights,she hides then exits from the back, then shehears a gunshot. She runs down the road to apay phone and tries to reach Peter Handsell.Another man sees her and she asks for a ride;he agrees. His registration says JohnAddison. Addison is also in the movies andhires Perry to get Veronica out of jail. She wasarrested for vagrancy after he dropperd heroff. Perry is very sweet and she's verygrateful, and he thinks she's headed home toAlbuquerque. But Veronica starts work atAddison's studio the next day and her motherarrives in town, leaving 100 for Perry, as afee for his services. Perry hotfoots it toAddison's office; he hired her, and says PeterHandsell, a scandal magazine writerblackmails Addison to the tune of 10,000.Perry is confronted with a lot of suspects butwhen "everybody with a selfish motive wasruled out, we had to look for someone with anunselfish one." It's Myrtle Northrup, she wastrying to protect Addison. She posed asVeronica's mother so there would be noconnection between the girl and Addison.Perry just might defend Myrtle.after all,Addison came at her with a poker.Ferrell drives a 1957 Lincoln Premiereconvertible coupe.Below is a scene with Perry arriving at ‘FidelityStudios.’ This is really the Desilu Cahuengalot.10.Erle Stanley Gardner'sThe Case of the Runaway CorpseOriginal Airdate: November 23, 1957Directed by Christian NybyTeleplay by Malvin Wald and Jack JacobsProducer Ben BradyExecutive Producer Gail Patrick JacksonAssociate Producer Sam WhiteStory Editor Gene WangRegulars: Burr, Hale, Hopper, Talman, CollinsGuests:June Dayton .Myrna DevenportJames Maloney . Dr. RenaultSarah Selby.Louise AnselAdam Williams .Jason BeckmeyerRebecca Welles . Rita NorgeJohn Stephenson . Ed DavenportMichael Fox . Dr. HoxieWilliam Challee .Mr. MedfordKeith Alan . Officer BoomRobin Morse . Dr. MitchellMartha Wentworth. Motel ManagerJack Kenney.KellyEd Jerome.JudgeJack Harris .Court ClerkThe mortality rate in Myrna Davenport'sfamily is shocking. First her cousin Charlesdies, then her husband Ed has his sandwichesanalyzed and finds arsenic in them. Heaccuses Myrna of trying to kill him and killingher cousin. He's put it all in a letter to be givento the police if he dies. He moves to a motel,where he's immediately falls deathly ill.Myrna's cousin Louise intercepts a call from alocal doctor and takes Myrna and Ed's letter toPerry first. They then go to the motel, whereEd's dying words accuse Myrna of poisoningthe candy in his suitcase. The doctor calls thepolice. Louise calls Perr

an attorney in the Gardner books, who does the grunt work for Perry. A lawyer of Mason’s caliber and reputation would certainly have had either another attorney or experienced paralegal in the office. Della couldn’t do everything! 3. Erle Stanley Gardner's The Case of the Nervous Acc