Show178
Location: Episode opens on The Theme Building at LAX at Los Angeles International Airport and is an example of the Mid-Century modern-influenced design school known as “Googie” or “Populuxe.” The landmark was completed in August 1961 at a cost of $2.2 million. The Jetson-like Encounter Restaurant has a space age interior. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 10 June 10. Some pictures here.
Sightings: At the airport, “Miss Carmody” converses with another traveller in the lobby during the opening scene. She must be keeping tabs on the sculptor, because she later appears in the courtoom gallery, along with Pencil Mustache Man and Little Old Lady #1. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011. More here.
Uncredited Actors: In the opening scene, Bert Stevens hurries by in the background of airport lobby—more than once. He strolls by as the camera first starts panning across the lobby, and he welks by again as the scene closes. See also item below (2 additional appearances in the same scene). Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.
+ That might be Robert Wegner playing the guard sitting in the background while Perry gives John the grim facts of life. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.
+As Burger objects in court, we find Robert Wegner as the door bailiff. Submitted by BigBill767, 6/20/2016.
Continuity: In the first scene, unbilled actor Bert Stevens (see above) walks behind O’Malley & his friend as they chat and leaves the room. Then we cut to John Kenyon approaching, and magically Bert Stevens is scurrying behind him from the other direction, same hat, coat, and valise. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.
Character Names: The credits omit some complete names of characters as revealed during the episode, to wit: Daniel Patrick O’Malley, Kenneth L. Hudson, Jr. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.
+ Actor George Kennedy played a character named George and actor John Larkin played a character named John. Added by H. Mason 2/10/15
+ In the courtroom, while questioning Charles Welsh for the second time, Perry refers to Theba as "Theba Grammas", even though Cleo Grammas was known not to be Theba's mother. jfh 10Feb2023
The music playing on the hi-fi while Kenyon tries to catch Theba alone at the house is (I believe) Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers,” from The Nutcracker Suite. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.
In notes made almost twenty years ago, I have this as Ray Collins’ final appearance in the series. By my count, he was the investigating officer in 120 episodes, 105 by himself and 15 partnering with Wesley Lau’s Lt. Anderson. Submitted by FredK, 7 April 2011.
+ I have to edit my own post here. This was Collins’ final appearance as the solo police investigator. His last team appearance with Lau was in episode 196. Submitted by FredK, 7 April 2011.
Willis Bouchey was a Judge in 23 Perrys from 1960-66 & 1 Ironside (uncredited) [IMDb]. Mike Bedard, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday 2015.
+ Bouchey was my favorite Perry Mason judge. I always thought that he looked like President Eisenhower. Submitted by Paul's Operative. 5/4/2024.
Location: Various scenes outside sculptor's studio were shot at Gulls Way in Malibu which is now owned by Dick Clark and can be rented for weddings. Submitted by Eric Cooper 27 June 11.
CARS. (1) George Spangler unloads Kenyon's gear from a 1955 Chevrolet Nomad station wagon, medium-color w/white roof. Nomad was part of Chevy's top-of-the-line BelAir series: see Chevy badge and "BelAir"script aft of the gas-filler hatch.
- (2) Ken Judson's white TRIUMPH TR4, black top down, wire wheels, Lic No GJV 638 black-plate. Perry reads "Kenneth L. Judson Jr" aloud from the registration at Pacifica parking lot. More on TRIUMPH cars in Comments section.
- (3) Roger Correll's medium color 1963 Buick Wildcat Convertible, white top down, Black-Plate Lic No QCV 014. Note how the Wildcat's grill, side trim and taillights differ from LeSabre & Electra. Wildcat was introduced for the 1963 model-year as part of the Invicta series and completely replaced Invicta for 1964.
- (4) Perry's NEW 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Sunliner (black, top down) appears at the dive site (18:48), Kenyon's place (20:04) and the Pacifica parking lot (Screen Right, 20:19) where it appears to have the new Black-Plate.
- (5) 1963 Ford Galaxie 4-Door Sedan POLICE B&W, at dive site and Kenyon's place.
Background Cars. In the opening shot, approaching the LA airport “Theme Building”:
- (a) a 1957 Plymouth Savoy 4-Door Sedan, '56-pattern yellow-plate. Exact-same shot appeared in preceding episode (same man & woman are on other side of road).
At PACIFICA MOTOR HOTEL parking lot (20:14), from Right→Left are Perry's Car(4) &:
- (b) a medium color 1960 Ford Galaxie sedan or hardtop w/ a dark licence plate.
- (c) a medium color 1963 Buick Wildcat Convertible, white top UP. Apparently it's not representing Correll's car here but observe that the Black-Plate looks like "QCV 014".
Except on Car(a), no '56-pattern yellow-plates remain. Added by Gary Woloski, 9/28/13.
Thanks: I want to thank Gary W for his very interesting and very observant comments on cars, and also on locations, especially the shot of the "Theme Building" that appears in two successive episodes.--Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 14 December 2013.
End Notes If you're like me, you sometimes use the photo/bio links to play a quick game of "wonder if he/she is still around?" It's an honest inquiry with the more obscure players - and a comforting confirmation with the more well known - as the number of "survivors", for want of a better term, slowly grows smaller. In some cases, when the answer to the question turns out to be "no", it becomes apparent that the actor has passed on between a previous showing of their episode and the current one; I don't recall, however , there ever being until now an instance of an actor dying coincident with his episode being shown: George Kennedy who actually died Sunday, but whose death was announced Tuesday may be the first...always a go-getter in his roles, he similarly took no chances with whether/not MeTV would break ranks to show an episode in his honor. Submitted by Notcom, 030216.
General's Cousin: Marianna Hill (Theba) is the cousin of General Norman Schwarzkopf of Gulf War 1 fame. Submitted by BigBill767, 6/20/2016.
This is the second of two PM appearances for Faith Domergue, who supposedly became a favorite of Howard Hughes when he met her at a party on his yacht...MikeM. 12/6/2016
This is the only PM appearance for Marianna Hill, who shows an IMDb credit for "Chief Zabu" in 2016...MikeM. 3/14/2017
Crew/equipment visible: In the opening shot of the airport the shadow of the camera and cameraman or director can be seen on the road. The shadow of a boom mike can be seen on the TR4 sports car that Perry and Paul are inspecting. Submitted by Kilo 10/29/2017.
This is the only PM writing credit for Robert Presnell Sr. and , according to IMDb, was the last credit of his long career. Robert Presnell Sr. passed in Burbank CA in 1969...MikeM. 4/3/2018
It's for you, Mr. Mason: Mason takes a call from Paul while he is in Welch's office. Submitted by catyron, May 15th, 2018