Show76
Character Names: Alex Gerry, listed as Hale, is called Elliot Hale. Submitted by David Virrill, 10/17/2003.
+ On the other hand, Conners’ first name appears as “Rip” in the credits, although no one ever calls him anything but “Conners” in the episode. Ed Zoerner, 3/28/2011.
++ Presuming that the nameplate on the door is accurate, the judge's name is "Thomas J. Hood" (Superior Court Dept. 102). One might presume further that this is the judge's name every time S. John Launer portrays him. Was his name mentioned or indicated on any other episode? Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 6/16/13.
+++ Yes. In episode 53 TCOT Glittering Goldfish the same name was on the courtroom door and S. John Launer was the judge. There was very little continuity in the series so the judges as well as other actors usually played different roles each time they appeared in a story. Submitted by H. Mason 10/25/14
++++ Actually, IMHO, the judges are more likely to be playing the same judge; it would certainly be more realistic. Judges are a fixed quantity in the court system and hear multiple cases over the course of time, with attorneys showing up in front of them more than once. OLEF641. 1/11/21
Assuming shows were aired in order they were filmed, actress June Dayton's husband Dean Harens was at the studio the week before filming the Paul Drake's Dilemma episode. DLH 8/21/20
Goof: When Bunny Lee identifies the Quarter Noble coin at the police station, she mentions that it has a hole bored through it. However, when Burger shows the coin to the witness Hale during the trial, we see no hole in the coin at all! Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 2/26/2010.
+ The first time we see the Quarter Noble at Vanaman’s house, there is no hole visible either. Vanaman also mentions to Perry that he had a jeweler drill a hole through it. Submitted by gracenote, 9/5/2011.
That's right kids! Mr. Noble is Neil Hamilton, better known as Commissioner Gordon in the campy 1960s Batman series! Holy Grecian Formula, his hair sure is dark here! Submitted by gracep, 9/14/2010.
Sightings: Several regulars make an appearance. The Little Old Lady in a Hat and the Quiet Old Man (#1) both sit quietly in the backgrounds of close-ups of the characters in today’s play. The Lady changes seats (and maybe some of her costume, too) after the recess. Read more about the recurring courtroom spectators here. Submitted by gracep, 9/14/2010.
+ “Miss Carmody” can be seen walking past the outside of the record store just as Della is coming in. She can also be seen in the back row of the courtroom gallery, prosecution side. Submitted by alan_sings, 3 Oct 2010.
++ The Thin Man appears as the reporter with Bunny Lee in the Police Property Room when she claims the quarter noble. Submitted by alan_sings, 9 Oct 2010.
Continuity Error: An old man seated on the far side of the gallery (prosecutor’s side) appears throughout most of the hearing. Then his seat is suddenly empty in a long shot of Burger objecting to Mason’s request to play part of the audiotape in question. Then in another shot he reappears! Submitted by gracep, 9/14/2010.
+ That may have been the "technician" who played the tape for Mason. Although he disappears too quickly after Mason asks for the tape to be played again, this would explain why he was no longer in his seat and returned later. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 6/16/13.
Location: About 12 minutes in, above the door on the exterior of the police station, I can read what looks like “Div. 5.” That would be the Airport Police near LAX. I don’t know where the building was. There is a bit of a street sign visible, but I can’t make it out on my ancient TV. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 3 February 2011.
+ Off the DVD on a computer display, the number looks like 6 to me and the street sign is still illegible. Additional research shows this to be the old Hollywood Police Station which was demolished long ago I think. I found a press photo of the place on eBay from 1934. In the picture, the “Div.” number over the door is mostly hidden, but it’s the same building. An article in the 10/13/1949 issue of the San Rafael Daily Independent Journal says that the station is just a few blocks from the Mandel shoe store, the scene of a robbery and gun battle, on Hollywood Boulevard. Submitted by daveb, 2/4/2011.
++ As also noted below under "Cars", the street sign reads "DeLongpre". That building is indeed long gone, but the police are still there in a newer building. OLEF641 2/25/22
More Mysterious Record Stores: The Vine Record Shop set from episode 15 makes another appearance, this time as the HiFi Roundelay Shop. Just like the Vine, this mysterious store sells nothing by Columbia Records product. Sightings: Still More Sing Along with Mitch, CL 1283, Roy Hamilton -- With All My Love, BN 518. CBS is promoting its record company subsidiaries' wares.
CARS. (1) Paul drives his black 1958 Thunderbird Convertible, Lic No PXY 260 to POLICE STATION DIV 6, the "Hollywood Police Station", De Longpre at Wilcox. The linked page indicates that the station was not demolished before Feb 75 (see Location entry above).
- (2) Bunny Lee arrives at "La Belle Apartments" in a 1959 Ford Custom 300 4-Door Sedan TAXI. The same car appears in Episodes 70 & 79 (rates are painted on the door).
Background Cars. Approaching the DIV 6 station, Paul passes several parked 55-58 Chevys, in-amongst which is parked
- (a) a dark color '51 or 1952 Kaiser Virginian 4-Door Sedan. More Kaisers here.
- (b) At DIV 6 Paul parks behind a medium-color '58 or 1959 Volkswagen Beetle.
Added by Gary Woloski, 8/7/12.
The Case of the Changing Headlines Part 2: Just as in the previous episode (Paul Drake's Dilemma) we had an apartment desk attendant take a newspaper to a tenant and the paper changed. On the ground floor Mr. Hale had a copy of the Los Angeles Star-News with the headline HUNG JURY IN BALFOUR CASE from episode 41 TCOT Lucky Loser. When he got upstairs the paper had a headline with the words CITY COUNCIL VOTES. When he entered the apartment the Paper seemed to be the future paper from this story about the murder of Sylvia Welles. Submitted by H. Mason 9/29/14 - Revised 10/25/14
Della's impersonation: Miss Street went to the Hi-Fi Roundelay Shop and let Mr. Conners think she was Mrs. Petrie. Submitted by H. Mason 10/25/14
Phone numbers: The number at the Petrie house (HOllywood 2-0799) had one number different from Della's (HOllywood 2-1799). Submitted by H. Mason 10/25/14
As in the previous episode, Perry interviews his client at Lt. Arthur Tragg's Homicide office...MikeM. 7/15/2016
This is the only PM appearance for Asa Maynor, who was married to Edd "Kookie" Byrnes...MikeM. 10/21/2016
This is Herbert Hirschman's only PM directing credit. He had 28 PM producing credits, including this episode...MikeM. 7/21/2017
Close parking! When Paul pulls up in front of the police station to go to the lost & found desk to claim the coin, he sure seems to park close to the VW Bug in front of him! Hope if anyone parked behind him they left extra room. Submitted by SheilaF 1/27/2022