Della Street
Encyclopedia
Della Street was the fictional secretary of Perry Mason
in the long-running series of novels, films, and radio and television programs featuring the fictional defense attorney created by Erle Stanley Gardner
.
, The Case of the Velvet Claws, written in the early days of the Great Depression
it is revealed that Della Street came from a wealthy, or at least well-to-do, family that was wiped out by the stock market crash of 1929, forcing Della to get a job as a secretary. Of course, by the time of the TV series in the 1950s and 1960s, this would have not fit well with the age of the characters as then portrayed. According to The Case Of The Caretaker's Cat, she is approximately fifteen years younger than Perry Mason.
A character named Della Street first appeared Gardner's unpublished novel Reasonable Doubt, where she was a secretary, but not the secretary of the lawyer, Ed Stark. Gardner described her this way: "Della Street ..... Secretary, twenty-seven, quiet, fast as hell on her feet, had been places. Worked in a carnival or side show, knows all the lines, hard-boiled exterior, quietly efficient, puzzled over the lawyer, chestnut hair, trim figure, some lines on her face, a hint of weariness at the corners of her eyes." See Secrets of the World's Best Selling Writer, p. 178. When Gardner submitted Reasonable Doubt to William Morrow, an editor suggested that "Della Street is a better character than the secretary." Gardner took this suggestion when he rewrote Reasonable Doubt as The Case of the Velvet Claws and made Della Street Perry Mason's secretary. In the published novel, the carnival or side show was jettisoned, and Street came from a more respectable background. This is a good example of the difference between the pulp writing and slick writing of the 1930s. See Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason, p. 102.
In 1950 Gardner published a short story "The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts" under the pseudonym Della Street. See "Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason" p. 331.
There are several instances of sexual tension between Mason and Street in the Gardner novels; multiple glances, kisses, etc. There were also several proposals of marriage, all of which Della turned down because she wanted to be a part of Mason's life and she knew that meant being a part of his work.
, the creator of Perry Mason
in a series of novels, was a very prolific author, who employed three secretaries simultaneously, all sisters, to keep up with his output. One of them he eventually married, after his first wife -- from whom he was separated for 30 years -- died. This was Jean Gardner, born Agnes Helene Walter. People who knew her believed she was the inspiration for Della Street, though neither she nor Erle Stanley Gardner himself admitted it. Mrs. Gardner said she thought he put several women together to create the character.
On television, Della Street was played by Barbara Hale
, in the series
and the made-for-TV movies. She was played by Sharon Acker
in the short-lived revival series, The New Adventures of Perry Mason starring Monte Markham
as Mason. However, Gertrude Warner was the first actress to portray Street, albeit on the radio series
, followed by Joan Alexander
and Palmolive's
"Madge", Jan Miner
. The character portrayed in the radio series was reworked into Sara Lane on the daytime show Edge of Night which was to be the daytime Perry Mason
, until Gardner pulled his support of the project.
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
in the long-running series of novels, films, and radio and television programs featuring the fictional defense attorney created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J...
.
Description
In the very first Perry Mason novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, The Case of the Velvet Claws, written in the early days of the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
it is revealed that Della Street came from a wealthy, or at least well-to-do, family that was wiped out by the stock market crash of 1929, forcing Della to get a job as a secretary. Of course, by the time of the TV series in the 1950s and 1960s, this would have not fit well with the age of the characters as then portrayed. According to The Case Of The Caretaker's Cat, she is approximately fifteen years younger than Perry Mason.
A character named Della Street first appeared Gardner's unpublished novel Reasonable Doubt, where she was a secretary, but not the secretary of the lawyer, Ed Stark. Gardner described her this way: "Della Street ..... Secretary, twenty-seven, quiet, fast as hell on her feet, had been places. Worked in a carnival or side show, knows all the lines, hard-boiled exterior, quietly efficient, puzzled over the lawyer, chestnut hair, trim figure, some lines on her face, a hint of weariness at the corners of her eyes." See Secrets of the World's Best Selling Writer, p. 178. When Gardner submitted Reasonable Doubt to William Morrow, an editor suggested that "Della Street is a better character than the secretary." Gardner took this suggestion when he rewrote Reasonable Doubt as The Case of the Velvet Claws and made Della Street Perry Mason's secretary. In the published novel, the carnival or side show was jettisoned, and Street came from a more respectable background. This is a good example of the difference between the pulp writing and slick writing of the 1930s. See Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason, p. 102.
In 1950 Gardner published a short story "The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts" under the pseudonym Della Street. See "Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason" p. 331.
There are several instances of sexual tension between Mason and Street in the Gardner novels; multiple glances, kisses, etc. There were also several proposals of marriage, all of which Della turned down because she wanted to be a part of Mason's life and she knew that meant being a part of his work.
Adaptations
Erle Stanley GardnerErle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J...
, the creator of Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
in a series of novels, was a very prolific author, who employed three secretaries simultaneously, all sisters, to keep up with his output. One of them he eventually married, after his first wife -- from whom he was separated for 30 years -- died. This was Jean Gardner, born Agnes Helene Walter. People who knew her believed she was the inspiration for Della Street, though neither she nor Erle Stanley Gardner himself admitted it. Mrs. Gardner said she thought he put several women together to create the character.
On television, Della Street was played by Barbara Hale
Barbara Hale
Barbara Hale is an American actress best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on more than 250 episodes of the long-running Perry Mason television series and later reprising the role in dozens of made-for-TV movies....
, in the series
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
and the made-for-TV movies. She was played by Sharon Acker
Sharon Acker
Sharon Acker is a film, stage and television actress.Acker began her acting career in theater, and made her film debut when she recreated her stage role in Lucky Jim . Her first American film appearance was in the Lee Marvin action film, Point Blank .-Movies:*Lucky Jim .....
in the short-lived revival series, The New Adventures of Perry Mason starring Monte Markham
Monte Markham
Monte Markham is an American actor. During his career, Markham has appeared in film, in television, and on Broadway.Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, the son of Millie Content and Jesse Edward Markham, Sr., who was a merchant.Of his television roles, Markham is perhaps most famous for...
as Mason. However, Gertrude Warner was the first actress to portray Street, albeit on the radio series
Perry Mason (radio)
The radio criminal serial Perry Mason, based on the novels of Erle Stanley Gardner, was broadcast on CBS Radio from 1943-1955. The series was adapted into Edge of Night which ran on television for an additional 30 years.-Adapting Perry Mason to other media:...
, followed by Joan Alexander
Joan Alexander
Joan Alexander was an American actress known for her role as Lois Lane on radio's The Adventures of Superman from the early 1940s to 1951.-Early life and career:...
and Palmolive's
Palmolive
Palmolive may refer to:* Palmolive , a brand of soap made by the Colgate-Palmolive company* Palmolive or Paloma Romero , Spanish-born drummer...
"Madge", Jan Miner
Jan Miner
Jan Miner was an American actress best known for her iconic role as the manicurist Madge in a 27-year series of television commercials for Palmolive dish-washing detergent....
. The character portrayed in the radio series was reworked into Sara Lane on the daytime show Edge of Night which was to be the daytime Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, until Gardner pulled his support of the project.