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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.

Comments Edit

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