Perry Mason (radio)
Encyclopedia
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.
novels convinced Hollywood to try its hand, unsuccessfully, with some motion pictures. However, the Perry Mason radio show stayed on the air for 12 years. The radio series was geared more towards action than courtroom drama.
As Edge of Night (EON), it ran for another 30 years on television, but Gardner disliked the proposed daytime television version due to a lack of his own creative control, ultimately withholding his endorsement of the daytime TV show, forcing the subsequent name change.
and Donald Briggs, before settling on John Larkin
, who played the famous attorney for the remainder of the broadcast, as well as the equivalent character on EON. Della Street, in turn, was portrayed by radio soap queens; Gertrude Warner, Jan Miner
(Palmolive
's "Madge" the Manicurist) and Joan Alexander
(radio's Lois Lane
).
(Cast in order of portrayal)
than the prime time Perry Mason
television show. As many radio serials moved to television, so was to be the destiny of Perry Mason. However, Gardner disagreed with the direction of the new show and pulled his support. The sponsor, Procter & Gamble
hired the writers and staff of the Perry Mason radio series, the show was retooled, and it became The Edge of Night. The characters and setting were renamed. Erle Stanley Gardner eventually aligned himself with the nighttime courtroom drama.
in 1957.
to 1966
. Perry Mason
was played by Raymond Burr
. The title character
is a fictional defense
attorney
who originally appeared in detective fiction
by Erle Stanley Gardner
. The plot is essentially the same in each episode: Mason's client is put on trial for murder
, but Mason is able to establish his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. The murderer nearly always breaks down and confesses to the crime in the courtroom, if not on the witness stand.
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
Perry Mason, based on the novels of 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...
, 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
Gardner's literary success with the Perry MasonPerry 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...
novels convinced Hollywood to try its hand, unsuccessfully, with some motion pictures. However, the Perry Mason radio show stayed on the air for 12 years. The radio series was geared more towards action than courtroom drama.
As Edge of Night (EON), it ran for another 30 years on television, but Gardner disliked the proposed daytime television version due to a lack of his own creative control, ultimately withholding his endorsement of the daytime TV show, forcing the subsequent name change.
Radio cast
The actors portraying Mason switched frequently over the first three years of the show's run, starting with Bartlett Robinson, then followed by Santos OrtegaSantos Ortega
Santos Ortega was an American actor.-Radio:Ortega was active in radio, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe and narrating a popular radio show called Gangbusters as well as Stroke of Fate. Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow...
and Donald Briggs, before settling on John Larkin
John Larkin (radio and television actor)
John Larkin was an American actor whose nearly-30-year career was capped by his 1950s portrayal of two fictional criminal attorneys — Perry Mason on radio and Mike Karr on television daytime drama The Edge of Night...
, who played the famous attorney for the remainder of the broadcast, as well as the equivalent character on EON. Della Street, in turn, was portrayed by radio soap queens; Gertrude Warner, 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....
(Palmolive
Palmolive
Palmolive may refer to:* Palmolive , a brand of soap made by the Colgate-Palmolive company* Palmolive or Paloma Romero , Spanish-born drummer...
's "Madge" the Manicurist) and 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:...
(radio's Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
).
(Cast in order of portrayal)
- Perry MasonPerry MasonPerry 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...
:- Bartlett Robinson,
- Santos OrtegaSantos OrtegaSantos Ortega was an American actor.-Radio:Ortega was active in radio, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe and narrating a popular radio show called Gangbusters as well as Stroke of Fate. Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow...
, - Donald Briggs,
- John LarkinJohn Larkin (radio and television actor)John Larkin was an American actor whose nearly-30-year career was capped by his 1950s portrayal of two fictional criminal attorneys — Perry Mason on radio and Mike Karr on television daytime drama The Edge of Night...
- Paul DrakePaul DrakePaul Drake was the private detective in the Perry Mason series of murder mystery novels by Erle Stanley Gardner. Drake was described as tall and slouching, frequently wearing an expression of droll humor...
:- Matt Crowley,
- Charles WebsterCharles WebsterSir Charles Kingsley Webster KCMG was a British historian and diplomat.He was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby and King's College, Cambridge.-Career:* Professor of Modern History, Liverpool University, 1914–1922...
- Della StreetDella StreetDella 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.-Description:...
:- Gertrude Warner,
- Jan MinerJan MinerJan 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....
, - Joan AlexanderJoan AlexanderJoan 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:...
- Lieutenant Tragg:
- Frank DaneFrank Dane-Selected filmography:* A Daughter of England * Hindle Wakes * The Romance of Lady Hamilton * Lorna Doone * The Black Tulip * Blood Money -External links:...
, - Mandel Kramer
- Frank Dane
Transition to TV
Radio's Mason has more in common, in all but name, with the daytime serial The Edge of NightThe Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
than the prime time 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...
television show. As many radio serials moved to television, so was to be the destiny of Perry Mason. However, Gardner disagreed with the direction of the new show and pulled his support. The sponsor, Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
hired the writers and staff of the Perry Mason radio series, the show was retooled, and it became The Edge of Night. The characters and setting were renamed. Erle Stanley Gardner eventually aligned himself with the nighttime courtroom drama.
The Edge of Night
The show was originally conceived as the daytime television version of Perry Mason. Mason's creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, was to create and write the show, but a last-minute tiff between him and the CBS network caused Gardner to pull his support from the idea. CBS insisted that Mason be given a love interest to placate daytime soap opera audiences, but Gardner flatly refused to take Mason in that direction. Gardner would eventually patch up his differences with CBS and Perry Mason would debut in prime timePrime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
in 1957.
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is an American TV series that ran from 19571957 in television
The year 1957 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1957.-Events:*January 6 – Elvis Presley makes final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show....
to 1966
1966 in television
The year 1966 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1966.For the American TV schedule, see: 1966-67 American network television schedule.-Events:...
. 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...
was played by Raymond Burr
Raymond Burr
Raymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
. The title character
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...
is a fictional defense
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who originally appeared in detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
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...
. The plot is essentially the same in each episode: Mason's client is put on trial for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, but Mason is able to establish his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. The murderer nearly always breaks down and confesses to the crime in the courtroom, if not on the witness stand.
Radio air-times
Further reading
- John DunningJohn Dunning (writer)John Dunning is an American writer of non-fiction and detective fiction. He is known for his reference books on old-time radio and his series of mysteries featuring Denver bookseller and ex-policeman Cliff Janeway.- Life :...
: On the Air. The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 540. ISBN 0-19-507678-8