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#146: The Case of the
Absent Artist
Original Airdate: 03/17/62

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
An offbeat episode starring Victor Buono as a philosophical deadbeat artist and Zasu Pitts—the silent film star—as Daphne Whilom.

Pete Manders (Wynne Pearce) has his ups and downs. He’s been offered Zingy, a popular comic strip for a song, but finds out the reason the purchase price is so low is to appease him for the loss of his “lovebird,” Leslie, who’s flying the coop. She’s running away with previous Zingy owner, Gabe Philips, a man with two private and separate identities.

When Philips is murdered, Perry visits a hip little artists’ colony in Port Harmony to dig up the dirt on the victim’s alias, Otto Gervaert.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE ABSENT ARTIST
Based upon Characters Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Robert C. Dennis

“Perry Mason”
Art Seid | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Jackson Gillis | Associate Producer
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Samuel Newman | Story Consultant

Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

Zasu Pitts as Daphne Whilom

Mark Roberts {	as Gabe Phillips
	as Otto Gervaert

Richard Erdman as Charles (Monty) Montrose
Victor Buono as Alexander Glovatski
Jay Barney as Harry Clark
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson
Arline Sax as Fiona Cregan
Wynne Pearce as Pete Manders
Pamela Curran as Leslie Lawrence
Carl Don as Myer
Lane Bradford as Arnold Buck
Bill Zuckert as Judge
Barney Phillips as Newburgh
Mabel Rea as Girl
Patrick Waltz as Court Clerk
Wes Bishop as Agnew
Marshall Kent as Man
Ann Staunton as Woman

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Party Guest #1
Bert Stevens as Party Guest #2
Bess Flowers as Party Guest #3
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Crew

Director of Photography … Robert G. Hager
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon Webb
Film Editor … John D. Faure
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Ed McDermott, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … M.E.M. Gibsone
Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company
Titles and Opticals by … Pacific Title

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

The Crying Cherub painting from #89, TCOT Crying Cherub, can be seen in Otto Gervaert’s studio. Submitted by Xanthippe Svanström, 11/30/2004.
+ The Crying Cherub can also be seen in #187, TCOT Reluctant Model, in Goring Gilbert’s studio. Submitted by daveb, 11/22/2007. + Also, seen on Gervaert’s studio wall is the supposed Karl Van Hooten The Purple Woman, from the Case of the same name. Submitted by dwhite, 12/3/2011.

The painting that Otto Gervaert picks up in his studio can also be seen in #187, TCOT Reluctant Model, and #260, TCOT Sausalito Sunrise. See appearances here. Submitted by daveb, 11/22/2007.

Location: In the opening scene, there is a view of a dimly lit building with the words “Merry Go-Round” on it. This is the Looff Hippodrome on the Santa Monica Pier. The La Monica Ballroom at the pier is seen in the background as Paul and Perry drive to Otto’s place. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 3/25/2008. Some pictures and vidcaps here and here.

Location: Otto’s place as seen in 2009 courtesy Eric Cooper, 5/1/2009. See here.

Uncredited Actors: Don Anderson is among the guests at Gabe Phillips’ going-away party. From the number of times he appeared as a party guest, I think we can assume that Anderson owned his own tuxedo. Submitted by FredK, 3 Nov 2010.
+ Bert Stevens and Bess Flowers turn up at the same party. Quite a shindig! Later, Lee Miller appears in several scenes as Sgt. Brice. Submitted by gracenote, 7/19/2011.

Sightings: At least one recurring courtroom spectator made the field trip to Port Harmony to watch Perry Mason in action, namely Distinguished Gentleman #1 despite his busy work schedule. I suppose the others couldn’t make it. Submitted by gracep, 12/22/2010.
+ Besides that, the Gentleman removed his toupee and reprised his role from “TCOT Violent Vest” as the creepy morgue attendant, this time turning up a sheet for identification. Submitted by gracenote, 7/19/2011.
+ At a restaurant, Distinguished Lady #3 drinks and smokes at a table near Perry, Della, Paul. The camera pans by her table just before theirs. Submitted by gracenote, 7/20/2011.

Is this yet another episode without Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg, despite receiving credit in the opening and trailing titles? (Yes.) Submitted by gracep, 1/7/2010.

Don’t Bogart that joint… In the opening sequence while Myer and Glovatski are conversing under the pier, they are sharing what appears to be marijuana joint. Very much in keeping with “artist colony” life style. Weed makes another appearance in Episode 57 “TCOT Jaded Joker.“ While Lt. Tragg questions Buzzie sitting at the piano in Danny Ross’s apartment, Buzzie is kind enough to offer the “Shamus” a toke. Submitted by Mason Jar, 7/25/2011.

Music: Horst Jankowski’s “A Walk In The Black Forest” (see TCOT Missing Melody) is used as background music in the café scene with Perry and Della. Submitted by Mason Jar 7/25/2011.

Gabe’s car, which appears briefly in at least three scenes, is a Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster, a “SuperCar” of its era. Production of the 300SL was 1400 “Gullwing” Coupés 1954-'57 and 1,858 Roadsters 1957-63. The 300SL was the first production car ever with a multi-tube space frame chassis (scroll down to 5th para). This was a very expensive frame/chassis to produce and they didn’t skimp on the rest of the car either! Anyone (i.e., Gabe) driving this car around L.A. in 1962 did it for image. Read more at wikipedia. Submitted by Gary Woloski, 9 October 2011.

Music: There is no formal music credit, indicating that most, if not all, of the score came from CBS stock music. A great moment, however, comes from Phillips return to Part Harmony, having been lured there on the phone. The repeated staccato chords greatly add to the suspense as he approaches the apartment house. Submitted by dwhite, 12/3/2011.

Comments Edit

Zasu Pitts was just delightful. Old silent-film stars have an expressiveness about them that post-talkie actors just cannot seem to emulate. Submitted by gracep 12/22/2010.

“Very well. I repudiate myself!” This quote from Glovatski when he is testifying is one of my favorites from the entire series. It’s great to see Victor Buono (a published poet, by the way) have fun with the dialogue of his character. Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 7/8/2011.
+ You said it! You know you are going to enjoy a TV show when you see Victor Buono on the screen! Submitted by gracenote, 7/19/2011.

This was most interesting to see, not one, but four ‘suspicious’ actors in this show. Mark Roberts, Richard Erdman, Victor Buono, and Arline Sax almost always mean trouble—if they're in anything, they’re either doing dirt or so close to it they’re dusty!! Submitted by MikeReese, 12/1/2011.

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