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Uncredited Actors: Erle Stanley Gardner appears uncredited as the second judge in this episode. He was remembered in this role in an Associated Press wire-photo distributed with his obituary. Submitted by Thom Smith, N8DXR, 8/22/2004.
+ In what could sum up his career on the Mason series, Don Anderson appears as an extra/stuntman in a police uniform participating in the gun battle in which Barry is killed. Submitted by FredK, 28 Nov 2010.
Actor Mark Roberts apparently wanted to be in the final episode even without a part. He is at the table to the left of where Barbara Hale is being a southern belle.
Producers Art Seid and Gail Patrick Jackson are the two at the bar discussing not wanting to go up against Bonanza. DaveH
Denver Pyle was both a defendant and a victim in this episode. See the Statistics page for more info about defendants, murderers and victims. Submitted by daveb, date unknown.
Four members of the cast appear in the last episode, just as they had appeared in the first episode. Barbara Hale, Raymond Burr, William Hopper, and Lee Miller. Although Miller was not billed in the first episode, TCOT Restless Redhead, he appeared on screen several times, both as a policeman and as a spectator at the trial. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 4 October 2009.
+ What about William Talman? Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 6/29/12.
++ Indeed! Saving his best histrionics for last, Hamilton Burger blows a gasket in this episode, shouting at a witness and calling Perry a "shyster." His last act is to treat the gang to dinner at Clay's Grill, where presumably he ordered crow. Submitted by francis, 5/10/14.
When Denver Pyle is placed under arrest for murder he is shown being driven away in a police car, yet he is not in handcuffs as can be seen by the fact he is resting his arm on the car window ledge. Submitted by Craig, 2/3/2010
+ In my opinion, the mustache that Denver Pyle wears in this episode is laughable. I can't imagine it looked any better in 1966. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 4/11/18.
+ + I like that mustache a lot. Submitted by catyron, August 19th, 2018
Sightings: “Miss Carmody” is seated in two places in the gallery at once! She is clearly visible on the left end of the first row on the prosecution side during a wide view of the prosecution table. Moments later, she is on the defense side behind Leif Early during a closeup. Submitted by alan_sings, 3 Oct 2010.
+ She’s not the only favorite to return for the last episode. Quiet Old Man #1 appears in the courtroom gallery, between Burger and Mason as they face off early in the first evidentiary hearing. In the second hearing, he returns along with Pencil Mustache Man. Read more about these and other favorite frequent faces on the “Who Is That?” page. Submitted by gracenote, 6/17/2011.
+++ For those interested, our "Miss Carmody" can be spotted in several scenes in the very fun Audie Murphy, western The Guns of Fort Petticoat. When the women storm the Court-Martial at the end of the movie, she is very noticeable stood by the door. Tragg 12th November 2022.
++ The young brunette occasionally in the last few seasons make an appearance in the last court gallery. Submitted by Perry Baby 2/8/14
+++ I've just finished watching all the shows in the last couple of seasons. In this episode, and in quite a few preceding, we have not seen DG#1. I wonder if he split with the producers during the last season over creative differences. JohnK, 27 February 2018.
Crew Members as Characters: It is pretty obvious that most of the extras in the courtroom gallery and in the bar scene where various uncredited actors delivered lines were from the cast. One set up in the bar references not doing a series opposite of Bonanza ... the time slot Perry Mason had. Submitted by Perry Baby 2/8/14
+ Lt. Steve Drum (Richard Anderson) apparently interviews 3 actual long-time PM crew members in 1 scene. They include Irving Pringle (Makeup), Annabelle (Hair Styling) and ?? ("I work with Irving"). Kudos deserved for putting them (and apparently many others) on camera in the last PM episode!! ... Bob 61571, 19 April 2018
++ The deep-voiced man referred to as Phil, the director, is not credited. Could he in fact be one of the real directors on the series? Submitted by gracenote, 6/17/2011.
+++ The "director" called "Phil" was Assistant Prop Man John Ferry, according to Jim Davidson's "Who's Who in the Final Fade-Out" page, available online with photos...MikeM. 4/19/2018
++++ In fact, if you go to Who's Who in The Final Fadeout you will find that most of the people Drumm interviews were actual crew members. You can also see who appears as extras in other scenes. Fascinating stuff! Submitted by JazzBaby, 6/29/2019.
Barbara Hale (Della) as the blond? In the bar scene, there is blond (obvious wig) female and sunglasses with a silly southern accent who makes a comment and then turns and kisses the man next to her. She looks like Barbara Hale with a wig on. I watched the DVD several times and pretty sure..submitted by Perry Baby 2/15/17
+ And I believe that's the only time Della has ever been kissed. Kilo 5/22/2020.
+ And the man she kisses appears to be Arthur Marks, one of the producers and quite often the director of Perry Mason episodes. Submitted by Kenmore 7/06/2021.
The glorious Estelle Winwood, who died at 101, was both the oldest credited actress (at 96), and the oldest member of the Screen Actors Guild. DOD 4/20/18
Perhaps fittingly, the first trial judge is played by Kenneth MacDonald who has the distinction of being the only actor, outside the main cast, to appear with billing in all nine seasons of the Mason series. In addition, he was the judge in the second series episode, TCOT Sleepwalker's Niece. While my favorite judge actor S. John Launer eked out a narrow 33 to 32 victory in the Judge Episode count, Mr. Launer did not appear until the second season, TCOT Curious Bride (#44). [unsigned, undated]
James Stacy makes his second appearance (and of course his last) on Perry playing one of the vilest, most despicable, characters ever. Maybe Mr. Stacy was not acting, because several years later James Stacy was sent to a state prison in California for 6 years after being convicted of molesting an 11 year old girl. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 4 March 2014.
+Since, as Perry would say, you've 'opened the door' to Stacy's personal life here, it's worth noting that in 1973 he was struck by a drunk driver while riding a motorcycle and lost his left arm and leg. The molestation conviction occurred in 1996. ckb 29 Oct 2020
+ I have heard that Stacy's character was based on Robert Conrad (was the name Conrad a coincidence?) The Wild Wild West had just finished its first season at the time this episode aired and since both series were CBS owned perhaps Robert Conrad's behavior filtered over to the PM set. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 4/11/18.
I can believe it. Stacy not only greatly resembles Conrad - a bit short, dark, athletic build - he seems to channel Conrad’s mannerisms and somewhat belligerent attitude. DOD 05/28/21
License plate hanging in prop room: CA CJF 925...MikeM. 7/7/2016
Pinky Rings: Paul Drake, Ham Burger, Jackson Sidemark, Andy Rubin...Perry none?...MikeM. 7/7/2016
+ I think Paul has worn a pinky ring for the entire PM series. Perry wore one for most of the series, but not for some of the final episodes. Ham Burger did not wear one for most of the series, but did for some of the last episodes. Della wore one from time to time...MikeM. 4/19/2018
Perhaps Barbara Hale and Ernest Frankel are watching this episode tonight on MeTV. Thanks to all the wonderful people who gave us this classy series which has stood the test of time....MikeM. 7/7/2016
+ Barbara Hale sadly passed in January 2017, but writer/producer Ernest Frankel is still with us, according to IMDb...MikeM. 4/19/2018
Director Jesse Hibbs directed 45 episodes of PM, 28 episodes of "The FBI", and 20 episodes of "Gunsmoke". Hibbs was mostly known for directing fifties/sixties TV westerns, but also directed some movies. The Normal, Illinois native first found fame as a USC football All-American tackle in 1927, 1928. John Wayne and Ward Bond were football teammates. Hibbs played for USC when "It Girl" Clara Bow's fandom inspired wild rumors (now debunked) about Bow and members of the football team ... Bob61571, 10 April 2018
Dick Clark made his only PM appearance in this episode. Clark was known as the TV host of "American Bandstand", TV game show host of "The $10,000 Pyramid", and TV show producer/entrepreneur. His "good guy" public persona was in conflict with his reputation in the business. From a 1986 People magazine interview: "Friends call Clark a “perfectionist;” abraded acquaintances are often less flattering. All agree, Clark included, that he has a deserved reputation as a demanding taskmaster with an ego-shriveling temper." ... Bob 61571, 19 April 2018
The street entrance to the studio lot is the actual well-used address of 1416 No. La Brea. You can verify this on Google street view by matching the iron gates, the post and finial at the corner of the guard house, and other features. It is most noticeable when Perry and Paul drive onto the lot to speak with Pete Desmond. ...Chuck_H, May 14, 2020
Following a conversation between Barry Conrad (James Stacy) and Jackson Sidemark (Denver Pyle), Andy Rubin (Gerald Mohr) and Conrad walk away from Sidemark. Rubin uses the yiddish word for trouble, "tsuris." Otto Gervaert, 5/28/21.