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#183: The Case of the
Shifty Shoe-Box
Original Airdate: 10/10/63 Revised

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
This episode features Billy Mumy, known to most fans as the know-it-all kid in Lost in Space. Mumy also starred in “Bang, You’re Dead,” one of the most memorable episodes of another classic TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His role in this Mason episode is remarkably similar to his Hitchcock appearance. As eight-year-old Miles Jefferson, Mumy finds a gun belonging to his uncle. He hides it, not knowing it is the key to a homicide case and is the only evidence that can get his Aunt Sylvia freed from a murder charge.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Jackson Gillis
Art Seid | 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

Constance Ford as Sylvia Thompson
Benny Baker as John Flickinger
Billy Mumy as Miles
Denver Pyle as Frank Honer
Joseph Sirola as Bill Sheridan
Ray Teal as Joe Downing
Diane Ladd as Miss Frances
Russ Conway as Deputy Sheriff
Willis Bouchey as Judge
Jim Boles as Night Man
Pat Coghlan as Chuck
Henry Travis as TV Announcer
Lincoln Wilmerton as Deputy No. 2

Uncredited Actors
Chuck Hamilton as Pool Hall Proprietor (from IMDb)
Bill Raisch as Pool Hall Extra (from IMDb)
Robert Wegner Deputy No. 3 (spotted by gracenote, 2/12/2011)

Trivia Edit

Near the beginning, Miles (Billy Mumy) sits down to watch TV. The picture can’t be seen, but we can hear the sound. Recognize the voices? Those are Doc and Matt Dillon. The show is Gunsmoke, another CBS hit series of the time. Submitted by D. A. Supernaw, 7/14/2005.

Billy Mumy makes his only Perry appearance here. In the above summary, Billy Mumy is credited with appearing in a classic Alfred Hitchcock program, “Bang, You’re Dead.” Billy Mumy also starred in one of the all-time classic Twilight Zone episodes “It's a Good Life.” Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.

Diane Ladd makes her only Perry appearance here playing Miss Frances. Diane Ladd was one of the unique alumni of Perry (similar to Robert Redford) who appeared on the show before they became famous. Ms. Ladd was nominated for three Oscars, in 1974 (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore), 1990 (Wild At Heart), and 1991 (Rambling Rose). In all three of these movies she appeared with her daughter, Laura Dern. Sadly there would be no wins for her. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 28 August 2009.

Location: About 45 minutes into the episode, Billy Mumy runs to Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill Street, which still exists and is featured on many episodes. Posted by Eric Cooper, 10 August 2010. Some pictures here.

David Sadowski noted in the Perry_Mason Yahoo! group that this episode was originally aired a week after its scheduled date. Submitted by daveb, 1/16/2011. More information here.

Character Names: The full name of Mumy’s character is Miles Jefferson. Submitted by gracenote, 2/12/2011.

So far, Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) has not appeared this season, despite being credited for this episode and the previous. Submitted by gracenote, 2/12/2011.

Sightings: During the hearing, in a cutaway to Honer, we find a woman who looks like Little Old Lady #2 (if so, then she has stopped dying her hair as dark as before). Also in the courtroom gallery are Little Old Lady #1 and Pencil Mustache Man. Want to know who they are? Submitted by gracenote, 2/12/2011.

Uncredited Actors: Robert Wegner plays the silent police officer who helps break up a fight between Uncle Flick and shifty Sheridan. The IMDb also lists two other uncredited actors as appearing in the pool hall (see Credits, above). Submitted by gracenote, 2/12/2011.

Comments Edit

Those were the days. A small boy could wander into the L.A. County courthouse, break away from a guard, and run into a court room with a shoe box containing a gun. And the “Adult Role Model Award” is a tie between Uncle Flick and Bill Sheridan. Submitted by Mason Jar, 9/23/2011.

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