<< Cowardly Lion | Episodes | Violent Vest >>

#118: The Case of the
Torrid Tapestry
Original Airdate: 04/22/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Claude Demay was sent up for six years for starting a fire in a warehouse containing the valuable Nathan Claver art collection. Demay was framed, and devises a plan to expose the real criminal, Leonard Voss. He tediously weaves a perfect imitation of a Panamaker tapestry supposedly lost in the fire.

When he's out of jail, Demay goes to Voss and barters his tapestry for an original Tao Kwan Budah. This statue will prove that the collection was not destroyed in the fire and expose Voss.

Before the appointment for the trade takes place, Voss is murdered and Demay is sent back to jail for another crime he did not commit.

Old-time film star Conrad Nagel performs in this episode.

Credits Edit

Cast

Conrad Nagel as Nathan Claver
Paula Raymond as Brenda Larkin
Robert H. Harris as Claude Demay
Lillian Buyeff as Sarah Demay
John Holland as Leonard Voss
Ray Kellogg as Jim Hazlett
Kenneth R. MacDonald as Judge
Percy Helton as Pawnbroker
Syd Saylor as Watchman
John Graham as Lawrence
Lloyd Nelson as Clerk
Louis Serrano as Officer

Trivia Edit

The card at the pawn shop shows Sarah Demay's apartment number as 204. When we arrive at her place, we find that she's moved to #203. See here. Submitted by daveb, date unknown.

This episode revolves around a Pannemaker arras depicting Theseus and the Minotaur. There actually were a couple famous 16th century Flemish weavers named Pieter and Willem Pannemaker. The Flemish city of Arras was a great center of tapestry production. Arras' tapestries were so highly regarded that the name Arras became synonymous with tapestry. So when they say "Pannemaker arras" they are saying "Pannemaker tapestry." I imagine an actual Pannemaker tapestry would be quite valuable. While it's certainly possible the Pannemakers could have wove a tapestry on the subject of Theseus and the Minotaur, I am not aware of any. If someone knows of such a tapestry, especially if it resembles the one in this episode, I'd certainly be interested in hearing about it here. Submitted by billp. 13 December 2009.

Comments Edit

<< Cowardly Lion | Episodes | Violent Vest >>