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#57: The Case of the
Jaded Joker
Original Airdate: 02/21/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Frankie Laine, the singer of TV theme songs ("Rawhide"), made his acting debut in this story. He plays Danny Ross, a funny man with an unfunny problem. His agent, Charlie Goff, double-crossed him, and told the network that the comedian wasn't right for a big project that Danny had developed. Danny is mad and goes to Perry for help, accompanied by long-time friend Freddie Green. But since Danny had only an oral agreement with Goff, Perry has a tough job ahead of him. It becomes even tougher when Goff is found murdered.

The evidence points toward Danny's friend Freddie Green. Perry agrees to defend Green, but must get into jive and beatnik lingo to understand the clues that lead him to a bohemian club called the Purple Wall, and to the killer. Continuing with the musical theme of the plot, jazz musician and bandleader Bobby Troup also appears in this episode.

Credits Edit

Cast

Frankie Laine as Danny Ross
Bobby Troup as Buzzie
Walter Burke as Freddie Green
Tom Drake as Cleve Niles
Mary LaRoche as Lisa Hiller
Martha Vickers as Sheila Hayes
Harry Jackson as Charles Goff
S. John Launer as Judge
Jon Lormer as Coroner

Trivia Edit

CARS: No cars. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Anomaly: Mary LaRoche, listed as Lisa (as in Lisa Kudrow) Hiller, is called Liza (as in Liza Minnelli) throughout the show. [D. A. Supernaw]

The book, Legal Medicine, Pathology and Toxicology, by Gonzales, Vance, Helpern and Umberger, that is discussed in court was indeed an authorative textbook on the subject at the time. Helpern was a friend of ESG. Submitted by daveb, date unknown.

+Martha Vickers (Who played Carmen Sternwood in the classic Bogart film "The Big Sleep", was one of Mickey Rooney's wives, and died much too early at age 46) makes her only Perry Mason appearance in this episode. Submitted by PaulDrade33.

About half way into the episode Paul reports that Buzzie was with a "weird looking chick" named Sheila Hayes who drives a 1958 300 SLR that costs $13,000. That same Mercedes in nice shape would be over $400,000 today. Posted by Eric Cooper 23 December 2009

Comments Edit

When Tragg first encounters the bohemian jazz piano player, he dips his finger into the ashtray and smells it. Then the piano player offers Tragg a drag on his cigarette, which Tragg also smells without taking a puff. In this 1959 episode, what does Tragg expect to find in the ashtray and cigarette?

I'd say Lt. Tragg was testing for marijuana. While it's not clear that Tragg actually picks it up, it's clear he threw a butt back into the ashtray. So rather than smelling his fingers, we're supposed to think he's smelling a butt. This probably explains the subsequent interaction between Tragg and the appropriately named "Buzzie" as in "stoned." Note Tragg says "I thought I smelled 'tea.'" Tea would be "beat" for "marijuana." "Shamus" would, of course, be "detective/cop." billp 1/31/09.

Buzzie is, of course, Bobby Troup. Troup was a man of parts - composer, musician etc. There was the "Bobby Troup Trio." He composed the hit song, "Route 66." Watch and listen here. Although I didn't care for the show, I remember him as "Dr. Joe Early" on the tv show "Emergency." billp 1/31/09.

There's some great dialogue in this episode, e.g, Perry asks: "What's the 'Purple Wall?'" Paul answers: "It's a 'beat' joint - no liquor, no life, no laughs. Just sitting around hating yourself." billp 1/31/09.

I always liked "Frankie Laine" and who could forget "Rawhide?!" Listen here. Course this reminds me of another great Western and it's theme song, "The Rifleman." What great themes tv had in those days! It may sound nostalgic, but it's accurate to say that tv generally was far superior to the junk it is today. That covers the full spectrum -drama, comedy, news etc. Tv is really dumbed down today. I guess it's the times we live in. billp 1/31/09.

The whole image of being "born again and square" and "stuffed into the knee-hole of the desk" is great! Generally, tv shows and movies that are "too contemporary" or "topical" don't age well. This is true of many tv shows, especially those from the 70s on. This was when "message" tv/movies started in earnest. There are many problems with this. The least being it tends to quickly "date" the series or movie. Generally, Perry Mason tended to focus on more basic or archetypal motivations. These tend to be timeless. The late 50s/early 60s fashions are also classic. They look good in any era. So, as a rule, Perry Mason doesn't really appear dated. Only in the last years of the series when it started to get more "topical" in story and "look and feel" does it start to feel "dated." The instant episode exhibits a bit of this problem with the "beat" context, but because the story, dialogue and acting are strong, it still comes off pretty well. billp 1/31/09.

Both "Jaded Joker" and the following episode "Caretaker's Cat" open with a piano tune. In Jaded Joker, Bobby Troup seems to be improvising. In Caretaker's Cat, Judy Lewis is playing a finished composition. I may have a tin ear, but it seems to me both these tunes are very similar. I'm guessing they are the same tune. Agree or disagree? billp 2/22/09.

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