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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

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE JADED JOKER
Based Upon Characters Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by Gerd Oswald
Story by William L. Stuart
Teleplay by Milton Krims
Ben Brady | Producer
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Sam White | Associate Producer

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

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

Uncredited Actors
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
Don Anderson as Bailiff
(two sighted by gracep, 8/20/10)

Crew

Gene Wang | Story Consultant
Production Supervisor … J. Paul Popkin
Story Editor … Alice Young
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.

Art Direction … {	Lyle Wheeler
	Lewis Creber

Editorial Supervision … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Richard W. Farrel
Assistant Director … Morris Harmell
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Richard Hamilton
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … Dick James
Set Decoration … Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Roy Meadows
Script Supervision … William E. Orr

Jaded Joker Theme composed and played by Bobby Troup

Perry Mason
Filmed in Hollywood by TCF Television Productions, Inc.
A CBS Television Network Production

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, who was one of Mickey Rooney's wives, and who died much too early at age 46) makes her only Perry Mason appearance in this episode. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

About halfway 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.
+ Drake does not refer to Hayes as a “weird-looking chick” in this scene, though he does talk about the car. Submitted by gracenote, 8/19/2010.
+ In reviewing the scene at about the 26:30 mark, Drake does say Buzzie was sitting in The Purple Wall with a “weird-looking chick.” Mason then asks who she is and Drake identifies her as “Sheila Hayes.” Submitted by Kenmore, 2/6/2011
+ It might be that some of the discussion was edited out of the syndication print, which is the only version I have had access to, so far, although I no longer have that particular episode. Submitted by gracenote, 2/7/2011.
+ On the Paramount DVD, the "weird looking chick" line is at 28:10 on the VLC player. The line is also present in the Hallmark version of the syndication print. What's missing is the 60-second scene at the Purple Wall where Paul spots Buzzie with the chick. This scene runs from where Perry tells Paul "to check every restaurant, nightclub and bar..." until Paul is back in the office pouring coffee for everybody making his report. Submitted by daveb, 2/7/2011.
+ Having watched a rebroadcast of the episode, I can see the source of the confusion. At about 21 minutes into the syndication print, Paul Drake does speak of the “weird-looking chick” at the Purple Wall, but stops there. Perry asks what is the Purple Wall (see billp’s comment, below). Then a little later Perry asks Paul who Shelia Hayes is, whereupon Paul mentions the car. It was simply a case of not “rewinding” far enough. Submitted by gracenote, 4/11/2011.

Sightings: Little Old Lady in a Hat appears (hazily) in the first courtroom scene on the defendant’s side. Another recurring “guest” is a distinguished woman with long hair and a hat (a.k.a Distinguished Lady #1). Submitted by gracenote, 8/19/2010.
+ Other spectators include “Miss Carmody” and Quiet Old Man #1 (who is seen in an unusual profile view during the exit from the courtroom). And that may be Distinguished Gentleman #1’s distinctive hairline behind the closeup of Sheila Hayes. Is it? Submitted by alan_sings, 16 Oct 2010.

The man playing the coroner is one of the more prolific character actors from classic TV. Submitted by gracep, 19 August 2010.

The statuette that Sheila Hayes taps on Harry Jackson’s desk as she says “that” is of course a miniature reproduction of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker. Submitted by gracenote, 4/11/2011.

Uncredited Actors: Don Anderson is the bailiff guarding the prisoner Green as he speaks to his attorney Perry. Later he turns up in the courtroom, and then escorts the defendant out again. Submitted by gracenote, 4/11/2011.

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? Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

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.” Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

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. Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

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.” Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

I always liked Frankie Laine and who could forget Rawhide?! Listen here. Of course this reminds me of another great Western and its 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. Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

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. Submitted by billp, 1/31/2009.

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? Submitted by billp, 2/22/2009.

Bobby Troup, an accomplished musician and songwriter, looks to be playing the piano pieces in the show; this adds to the authenticity of the episode. All the more’s the shame, then, that toward the end the guitar music is so badly faked by a crazed-looking extra who clearly has no idea how to play. Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 2/21/2011

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