(CBS Primetime, 1957 - 1966; Syndicated; CBS Primetime, 1973 - 1974 [revival with Monte Markham]) [from novels of Erle Stanley Gardner; previously featured in films; and on a radio series on CBS, 1943 - 1955; This legendary black and white crime & punishment series from the fifties had a nine-season run on the CBS TV network, and ran for many years in syndication; Part of its charm was the noir-style of the production, plus the ensemble cast which included Raymond Burr in the lead role as the shrewd Los Angeles lawyer who always got the innocent off and pointed the finger at the true guilty party at the last moment in court; The rest of the brilliantly cast ensemble deserve credit too -- Barbara Hale as Mason's secretary Della Street, William Talman as the no-nonsense D.A. Hamilton Burger who always lost the case against Perry Mason, Ray Collins as the police Lieutenant Tragg, and William Hopper (Hedda Hopper's real-life son) played Paul Drake -- the private investigator often hired by Perry Mason to dig up the last shred of exculpatory evidence. Then in 1973 CBS attempted a revival with Monte Markham in the lead role, which was unable to reproduce the chemistry or success of the old series and was cancelled after a season...]
[original title: "Park Avenue Beat" -- on the original manuscript, verified in correspondence with the composer 1/21/99; "Perry Mason Theme" verified as the THEME in the TV Guide article "When The Melody Lingers On..." May 17, 1958, pp. 22-23; Also verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "Looking For A Lost Chord?" April 28, 1962, pp. 12-13;] Composer: Frederick ("Fred") Steiner (ASCAP) 1978 Publishers: T. B. Harms, Inc. New Account (ASCAP), and April Music, Inc. (ASCAP) 1998 Publishers: Polygram International Publishing (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA; and Aspenfair Music Inc./Special Account (ASCAP), c/o CBS, Inc., of New York, NY. Copyright Date: Oct. 28, 1957; Eu 498 392. Renewal Date: Nov. 25, 1985; RE-266-067. Recordings: LP: "Impact" Buddy Morrow and his Orchestra in arrangements by Ray Martin RCA-Victor LPM/LSP-2042 (1959) CD Re-issue: "Impact" Buddy Morrow and his Orchestra in arrangements by Ray Martin. BMG (Spain) 74321609942 (1998)
[aka: "Perry Mason"] Composer: Earle Hagen (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Earle Harry Hagen] 1978 Publisher: 2002 Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing - Fox Special Acct. c/o Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. of Los Angeles Copyright Date: 1973, Eu 434 307. Renewal Date: Recordings: