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#178: The Case of the
Greek Goddess
Original Airdate: 04/18/63

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
John Larkin, the actor who was the voice of Perry Mason on the original radio show, plays sculptor John Kenyon in this episode. Kenyon is a middle-aged man acting like a teenager. Senility? No, more like midlife crisis. John has fallen for a Greek goddess—his young Greek model, Theba—and makes a statue of her to show his affection.

The statue ends up at the bottom of the ocean when John realizes that Theba’s mother, Cleo, will not allow the shy girl to marry him and that Theba is spending time with a man her own age.

Cleo is mysteriously murdered soon afterward, and John is spotted throwing what looks like a woman’s body off a cliff. Can Perry get John out of what comes next? Academy Award winner George Kennedy also stars.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE GREEK GODDESS
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Teleplay by Arthur Orloff, Robert Presnell, Sr., & Maurice Zimm
Story by Robert Presnell, Sr.
Arthur Marks | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Jackson Gillis | Associate Producer
Samuel Newman | Story Consultant

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

Cast

John Larkin as John Kenyon
John Anderson as Dan O’Malley
Mariana Hill as Theba
George Kennedy as George Spangler
Faith Domergue as Cleo Grammas
Robert Harland as Ken Judson
Russell Arms as Roger Correll
Tol Avery as Charles L. Welsh
Willis Bouchey as Judge
William Hughes as Policeman
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Uncredited Actors
Bert Stevens as Airport Extra
Robert Wegner(?) as Guard in Jail

Crew

“Perry Mason”
Director of Photography … Robert G. Hager
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Ed McDermott, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Sandy Grace
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Cosmo Genovese
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company

Perry Mason
Produced by the CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions

Trivia Edit

Location: Episode opens on The Theme Building at LAX at Los Angeles International Airport and is an example of the Mid-Century modern-influenced design school known as “Googie” or “Populuxe.” The landmark was completed in August 1961 at a cost of $2.2 million. The Jetson-like Encounter Restaurant has a space age interior. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 10 June 10. Some pictures here.

Sightings: At the airport, “Miss Carmody” converses with another traveller in the lobby during the opening scene. She must be keeping tabs on the sculptor, because she later appears in the courtoom gallery, along with Pencil Mustache Man and Little Old Lady #1. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011. More here.

Uncredited Actors: In the opening scene, Bert Stevens hurries by in the background of airport lobby—more than once. He strolls by as the camera first starts panning across the lobby, and he welks by again as the scene closes. See also item below (2 additional appearances in the same scene). Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011. + That might be Robert Wegner playing the guard sitting in the background while Perry gives John the grim facts of life. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.

Continuity: In the first scene, unbilled actor Bert Stevens (see above) walks behind O’Malley & his friend as they chat and leaves the room. Then we cut to John Kenyon approaching, and magically Bert Stevens is scurrying behind him from the other direction, same hat, coat, and valise. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.

Character Names: The credits omit some complete names of characters as revealed during the episode, to wit: Daniel Patrick O’Malley, Kenneth L. Hudson, Jr. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.

The music playing on the hi-fi while Kenyon tries to catch Theba alone at the house is (I believe) Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers,” from The Nutcracker Suite. Submitted by gracenote, 2/3/2011.

In notes made almost twenty years ago, I have this as Ray Collins’ final appearance in the series. By my count, he was the investigating officer in 120 episodes, 105 by himself and 15 partnering with Wesley Lau’s Lt. Anderson. Submitted by FredK, 7 April 2011.
+ I have to edit my own post here. This was Collins’ final appearance as the solo police investigator. His last team appearance with Lau was in episode 196. Submitted by FredK, 7 April 2011.

Location: Various scenes outside sculptor's studio were shot at Gulls Way in Malibu which is now owned by Dick Clark and can be rented for weddings. Submitted by Eric Cooper 27 June 11.

Ken's Car: Kenneth L. Judson Jr's sports car, appearing briefly in two early scenes, is a Triumph TR4, 1961-65. TR4 was in the middle of the Triumph "TR Series" which started with 1953's TR2 and continued through the TR3, TR4, TR4A, TR5 to the TR6 (produced to 1976). These cars were designed for simplicity, low cost, ruggedness and reliability - which made them popular with weekend racing enthusiasts. Well over a quarter-million TR2s to TR6s were produced. TRs and MG cars were main competitors for the lower-price sports car market. Triumph followed the TR6 with the completely redesigned TR7 and TR8 (produced to 1981) and folded in 1984 . (Ken's full name read by Perry from the veh regn when he & Paul track the car down) Submitted by Gary Woloski, 22 Nov 2011.

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