The Early Perry Mason Episodes

I remember the later Perry Mason TV Series in which Mr. Mason was accused of engaging in legal trickery and sleight of hand, when sometimes, there did not seem to be much more than some dramatic court activities.

Now having the opportunity to watch the early Perry Mason shows, I understand the history a little better.  Some of the early shows have Mason really engaging in duplicity to try to help his client.  Some of his clients have the potential to be the villain. He and Paul Drake have a social relationship, and go boating, and fishing.  Early on, Mason and Della Street have a more physical and almost intimate relationship: she takes care of him at his apartment when he has a cold; she openly flirts with him; she kisses his cheek; and in general seems to emotionally advance herself to him.  Also, in these early shows, Mason flirts with clients and other women in the show, in a way that does not occur later on, when his behavior is much more "professional."   Paul Drake is still sometimes a rake in the later shows, but Mason and Ms. Street have cleaned up their act to be more professional. 

While I cannot recount the details, the early Perry Mason shows feature a lot of actors who later become well known as TV or movie stars.  It is fun to identify these people in the shows, who receive credit but not "star billing."  There was also a series of shows in which Mason was "away" or "in the hospital" and established stars guested as attorneys helping clients with Mr. Drake and Ms. Street supporting them.  

I do not recall the revived show with a different cast, but I did follow the latter revival of the show with Raymond Burr as Perry Mason, and Barbara Hale as Della Street.  Read the Wikipedia article regarding casting, including Paul Drake Jr., and a later investigator

Perry Mason comes on about 1030 PM and although I should be in bed, watching the show helps me to wind down.  Sometimes, as is true tonight, I have not wound down enough.  So, I stay up too late. But I am glad for the opportunity to watch and learn about the evolution o of this TV show. .