ON THE SET OF "PERRY MASON"

A lot of people watched the old "Perry Mason" show, with Raymond Burr, and a lot still do across the globe, watching reruns. When the show first started shooting, they did 39 episodes, per year, l7 more episodes than today's one-hour TV dramas. The budget was $l00,000.00 per show, a lot in those days, (late 50's, early 60's).

Not many of you know that Raymond Burr was first envisioned in the Hamilton Burger role. Burr only agreed to audition for Burger, if he could also audition as Perry Mason. When showing the screen tests, writer of the show, Gardner liked Burr so much that he made sure producers saw Burr's Mason screen test first. Gardner said, "Burr had the authority, this is what I wanted most in my Perry Mason character."

During first two seasons Burr would sleep at the studio. It was easier to sleep on the lot instead of driving one hr. home each night to Malibu, then getting up early next day for another hour drive back to work. Burr would wake up each morning at 3:30AM, make a pot of coffee and study his lines, Mason character was in 90% of each show. The show filmed 6 days a week, 9 months a year, a rough schedule. After the first two seasons, they installed three teleprompters around the courtroom so Raymond could read them, and not have to remember pages and pages of dialogue, during long courtroom scenes.

RAY COLLINS, you might remember played Lt. Arthur Tragg. What most of you don't know is that Collins began the show at age 67.

WILLIAM HOPPER: He played Perry's private dick, Paul Drake. Hopper chased an acting career, but did so half heartedly. "I became an actor because it was the easiest thing to do, but it stunk," said Hopper. Hopper was the son of powerful gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. Hedda had payback in mind when it came time to cast Paul Drake. Hedda had done a lot for Raymond Burr's career, and helped keep Burr's double life, a secret. Burr didn't want people to know he was gay.