| Plenty of Judges but
No Jury The picture of Perry
Mason pleading his case to a panel of amazed jurors is a
false one. True, each episode in some way involved a
homicide, and most were resolved in court. But, contrary
to popular belief, Perry argued most of his TV court
cases in preliminary or "evidentiary" hearings,
not jury trials. This was especially so after the first
season. The reason? Economics, mostly. CBS knew that
besides enhancing Perry's reputation, it could also save
money not have to pay twelve extras to play jurors in
every episode.
Just about every show had a judge,
though. Nearly fifty actors (and two actresses) portrayed
judges during the show's nine seasons. Actor S. John
Launer was seen most often (thirty-three episodes), but
Kenneth MacDonald is probably the most recognizable.
MacDonald, who appeared in thirty-two episodes, is
perhaps better know for the parts he played in The
Three Stooges films. Stooge-o-philes will remember
him as Ichabod Slipp, Dapper the gangster, and a host of
other slimy characters. Grandon Rhodes, the judge in the
first Mason episode, starred in fifteen more. Other
actors frequently seen playing judges on the show include
Willis Bouchey (twenty-two episodes); Morris Ankrum
(twenty-two episodes); John Gallaudet (sixteen episodes)
and Richard Gaines (thirteen episodes). Lillian Bronson
appeared three times as a female judge; Fay Roope
appeared in two shows. Only about a dozen episodes, for
various reasons, featured no judges at all.
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