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#77: The Case of the
Bartered Bikini
Original Airdate: 12/05/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
A great beginning, and a portrayal of the fifties fashion scene. Pirating, not on the high seas but for bathing suit designs, sets the theme of one of the most "pop" episodes of the Mason series.

Wally Dunbar seeks Perry's help in securing ownership of his new summer line of swimwear. But the sketches are stolen, and worse yet, chief designer Rick Stassi is murdered. Dunbar's girlfriend goes to trial on suspicion of both crimes. Stassi had been blackmailing Kitty and the police think that is motive enough. Because Paul searched Kitty's car at one point, he makes an unusual appearance on the witness stand during the trial. Through it all, Dunbar stands by Kitty Wynne's side and even Perry is seen with a comforting arm around her during a trial break.

We get a look at just how faithful Della can be. She's seen sleeping on the office couch, waiting for Perry to return and do some late night work on the case.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE BARTERED BIKINI
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Miller
Teleplay by Jackson Gillis
Story by Jerome Ross and Jackson Gillis
Herbert Hirschman | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Seeleg Lester | Associate Producer, Story Consultant
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Arthur Marks | 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

John Lupton as Wally Dunbar
June Vincent as Madge Wainwright
Rita Lynn as Lisa Ferrand
Terry Huntingdon as Kitty Wynne
Paul Langton as Simon Atley
Stephen Bekassy as Rick Stassi
John Anderson as Bud Ferrand
Victor Rodman as Watchman
Herbert Patterson as Macready
Richard Gaines as Judge
Maura McGiveney as Yvonne
Robert Bice as Drake's Operative
William Idelson as Police Technician
Pitt Herbert as Doctor
George E. Stone as Court Clerk
Don Anderson as Attorney

Crew

Art Seid, A.C.E. | Assistant to the Producer
Production Supervisor … Dewey Starkey
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … William Zacha, Evelyn Carruth
Swim Sutis by Rose Marie Reid
Set Decoration … Charles Q. Vassar
Sound Effects Editor … Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Music Editor … Gene Feldman
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … M. E. M. Gibsone

A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

William Idelson, better known as Billy Idelson, makes his first of three appearances here on Perry playing the police technician. Way back in the 1930s Billy Idelson was well known for playing Rush on the radio day time serial Vic and Sade. He then quit show business for a brief period before becoming a television writer. He was a prolific writer, penning scripts for amoung others, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Twilight Zone, M*A*S*H, The Odd Couple and The Bob Newhart Show. His best know acting gig was as Herman Glimscher on the Dick Van Dyke Show. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 19 August 2009.

Anomaly: Although just listed in the credits as “Macready,” Herbert Patterson’s character is Sergeant Macready. Submitted by gracep, 9/15/2010.

Sightings: We catch a glimpse or two (but only just) of Little Old Lady in a Hat and the Quiet Old Man (#1) among the courtroom spectators. Read more about them and other regulars here, and maybe help us find more. Submitted by gracep 9/17/2010, updated 2/4/2011.
+“Miss Carmody” is seated next to Simon Atley in the courtroom gallery. Is she portraying “Mrs. Atley”? You decide. Submitted by alan_sings, 3 Oct 2010.

Location: About 14 minutes in Paul checks out an Automobile Registration for Kitty Wynne. Often the registration addresses are inside jokes by the writers that list the address of the studio. This address 1226 N. Hayworth is for an apartment building in West Hollywood that I assume had some connection to a writer or actor. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 3 February 2011.

Goof: On the first day of the trial, Bud Ferrand (played by John Anderson) is wearing a BOW TIE. But, during the rest of trial scenes, and when he testifies, he is seen wearing a regular four-in-hand tie. On the second day of the trial, he is back wearing the bow tie. Obviously, when they edited this episode they mixed up the trial scenes. Via email from Alan Beck, posted by daveb, 7/24/2011.

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