Perry Mason (1962)

In his 2005 monograph on Perry Mason in the Wayne State University Press TV Milestones Series, Professor Thomas Leitch explores why America's pre-eminent legal drama was and continues to be so popular when each episode uses virtually the same formula week in and week out. While audiences may think they crave variety in their entertainment, Leitch cites Freud and formula fiction authority John G. Cawelti in claiming, "the fictional genres most likely to appeal longest to popular taste are the most formulaic." Leitch goes on to observe that formula fiction is popular because it allows the reader or viewer to consider chaotic and disturbing events such as murder from the safety of a structure that provides a rational explanation and remedy by story's end. Moreover, the traditional whodunit detective story that forms one leg of the Perry Mason formula provides a brain-teasing parlor game in which the reader/viewer tries to guess who the real killer is before the author reveals him/her. And as we noted in our very first post for this blog, the series also provided a subversive satisfaction in seeing stuffy and arrogant policemen and prosecuting attorneys receive their come-uppance when they are outwitted by Mason's questionable legal tactics and courtroom theatrics. But any formula can become dull if followed for too long, and despite its remarkable run of 9 seasons, Perry Mason was already in decline by 1962, having reached its highest ranking on the Nielsen charts at #5 for the 1961-62 season. It was also losing steam critically as it garnered its last Emmy nomination in 1961, except for a 1966 nomination for audio engineer Herman Lewis. 

Its mantle as the top legal drama on television was being claimed by a new, more realistic series, The Defenders, which debuted in the fall of 1961 and bravely dealt with legal dilemmas and uncomfortable issues such as infanticide in its very first episode. While The Defenders debuted modestly at #26 in its first season, by the 1962-63 season it had surpassed Perry Mason by rising to #18 while Mason dropped to #23. And while Mason clung to a top 30 spot for one more season at #26 in 1963-64 as The Defenders dropped from the rankings, the latter series was still racking up Emmys for Best Drama in 1962, 1963, and 1964 as well as taking home writing and directing Emmys in 1965. By 1962 comedy series were dominating the ratings as 7 of the top 10 shows in 1962-63 were comedies. 

One of the more interesting chapters in Leitch's book observes that Perry Mason's popularity was due not only to its comfortable and predictable formula but also to its utopian view of the American legal system that exists nowhere in the real world. Leitch quotes TV commentator Sam Frank who claims the program misled viewers about the role of a trial lawyer and District Attorney's office, the function of a preliminary hearing vs. a trial, the amount of time between charges being served and the trial taking place, the likelihood that a judge would tolerate Mason's hijinks, and the likelihood that a defense attorney would win every case. Leitch also notes that while the program was still airing, the National Association of County and Prosecuting Attorneys complained that the show was prejudicing juries in favor of defense attorneys and against prosecutors as well as giving the jury the expectation of seeing courtroom confessions, which district attorney W.H. Lewis said in a 1974 TV Guide article that he had never seen in his entire career. The other glaring inaccuracy is that Mason, in combining the roles of lawyer and detective, does not merely establish credible doubt about his client's guilt, which is all that is required for real-life defense attorneys, but he goes beyond that to identify who actually committed the crime of which his client was accused. In fact, Hamilton Burger complains to the judge about this very tactic in "The Case of the Lonely Eloper" (May 26, 1962). However, Leitch argues that this inaccuracy actually comforted audiences used to a real legal system defined by a multitude of shades of gray and prone to miscarriages of justice by presenting an alternate reality in which truth is black and white and Mason's clients are absolutely innocent and always set free. In this way, Perry Mason, like many programs of its era, promotes the status quo by showing that the current legal system produces fair and equitable results, never mind that those results are contingent upon one super-human defense attorney correcting the countless mistakes of the police force and prosecuting attorney's office.

Leitch devotes additional chapters in his book to the way the program contrasted the functioning "family" of Perry Mason, Della Street, Paul Drake, and even to some extent Hamilton Burger and Lt. Tragg versus the dysfunctional families that often precipitated the murder that ensnared Mason's client each week, and the way in which Raymond Burr's embodiment of Mason eventually stole the character and series away from creator Erle Stanley Gardner in the eyes of the public, which explains why subsequent attempts to revive the character with different actors failed, while Burr and Barbara Hale were able to revive their original roles in a successful series of TV movies in the 1990s. Given that HBO is planning to once again resurrect the character in a new miniseries due in June 2020 which takes the Mason character back to his "origins" in 1930s Los Angeles, it will be interesting to see how the Gardner-defined secretive Mason is portrayed. As we noted in our post on the 1961 episodes of Perry Mason, Gardner was not happy with the way Warner Brothers domesticated Mason in a series of feature films in the 1940s--in the novels and Burr's TV series, we see virtually nothing of Mason's private life, and any hint of romance between Mason and Della is fleeting and microscopic at best. The new series, according to HBO's web site, has Mason working as a Philip Marlowe-like down-on-his-luck private investigator who is employed semi-regularly by personal attorney Elias Birchard, much as Mason employs Paul Drake, who, by the way, appears as an LAPD cop with a knack for investigation. In the new miniseries, Drake has a wife and child, while Della Street works for Birchard. Given how much he opposed Warner Brothers' creation of an alternate private life for his hero attorney, it's doubtful Gardner would have approved of this new "origin" world being offered by executive producer Robert Downey, Jr. It sounds as if this new miniseries could be relabeled with the title of one of Mason's 1962 episodes--"The Case of the Tarnished Trademark."

The Actors

For the biographies of Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins, and Wesley Lau, see the 1961 post on Perry Mason.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 5, Episode 16, "The Case of the Shapely Shadow": George N. Neise (Capitan Felipe Arrellanos on Zorro, Dr. Nat Wyndham on Wichita Town, and Colonel Thornton on McKeever & the Colonel) plays real estate company owner Morley Theilman. Elaine Devry (shown on the left, daughter of a Disney animator who was Mickey Rooney's fourth wife) plays his secretary Janice Wainwright. Robert Rockwell (Phillip Boynton on Our Miss Brooks, Sam Logan on The Man From Blackhawk, Tom Bishop on Diff'rent Strokes, and Wally Overmier on Growing Pains) plays his Bakersfield business partner Cole B. Troy.  James T. Callahan (Dr. Yates Atkinson on Dr. Kildare, Danny Adams on Wendy and Me, George Callison on The Governor and J.J., Sgt. Hal Grady on The Runaways, and Walter Powell on Charles in Charge) plays assistant bookkeeper Fred Carlyle. Dorothy Green (Lavinia Tate on Tammy) plays Theilman's ex-wife Carlotta. Ray Hemphill (Virgil T. Gillis on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays her brother Henry Battle. John Dennis (Dutch Schultz on The Lawless Years) plays Las Vegas police detective Lt. Sophia. John Zaremba (Special Agent Jerry Dressler on I Led 3 Lives, Dr. Harold Jensen on Ben Casey, Admiral Hardesy on McHale's Navy, Dr. Raymond Swain on The Time Tunnel, and Dr, Harlem Danvers on Dallas) plays the autopsy surgeon. Hal Smith (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Andy Griffith Show) plays a moulange specialist. Bill McLean (Dave on The Jim Backus Show) plays a newspaper dealer. Ollie O'Toole (Mr. Meeker on Circus Boy) plays a taxi driver. Phil Arnold (Dr. Zerbo on Cowboy G-Men) plays train depot locker attendant Smitty. Willis Bouchey (Mayor Terwilliger on The Great Gildersleeve and Springer on Pete and Gladys) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 17, "The Case of the Captain's Coins": Herbert Rudley (Sam Brennan on The Californians, Lt. Will Gentry on Michael Shayne, General Crone on Mona McCluskey, and Herb Hubbard on The Mothers-in-Law) plays ship-line owner Ben Faraday. Joan Patrick (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1961 post on Dr. Kildare) plays his niece Evelyn. Parley Baer (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) plays his brother Edward. Allison Hayes (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Bat Masterson) plays Edward's secretary Jane Weeks. Jeremy Slate (starred in The Sons of Katie Elder, The Devil's Brigade, and True Grit and played Larry Lahr on The Aquanauts) plays former magazine reporter Philip Andrews. Arthur Franz (starred in Flight to Mars, The Member of the Wedding, and The Caine Mutiny and played Bill Winters on World of Giants and Hugh McLeod on The Nurses) plays Faraday first mate Evans. Jay Novello (Juan Greco on Zorro and Mayor Mario Lugatto on McHale's Navy) plays coin collection owner Nickolas Trevalian. Henry Beckman (Commander Paul Richards on Flash Gordon, Mulligan on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, George Anderson on Peyton Place, Colonel Harrigan on McHale's Navy, Capt. Roland Frances Clancey on Here Come the Brides, Pat Harwell on Funny Face, Harry Mark on Bronk, and Alf Scully on Check It Out) plays Faraday's valet Sidney L. Garth. Lauren Gilbert (appeared in X-15, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and The Fortune Cookie and played John Olcott on Fairmeadows, U.S.A., Tom Craythorne on Love of Life, Harry Lane on The Edge of Night, and Harry Noll on Hazel) plays museum owner Henry Cosgrove. Eddie Quillan (starred in The Grapes of Wrath, Mandarin Mystery, Mutiny on the Bounty, and Hi, Good Lookin'! and played Eddie Edson on Julia and Poco Loco on Hell Town) plays a photographer. Tom Palmer (Doc Stewart on Lawman) plays magazine editor Charles Noymann. Morris Ankrum (starred in Rocketship X-M, Invaders From Mars, Earth vs. The Flying Saucers, and The Giant Claw) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 18, "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark": Karl Swenson (Lars Hanson on Little House on the Prairie) plays Danish furniture maker Axel Norstaad. Dennis Patrick (Paul Stoddard on Dark Shadows and Vaughn Leland on Dallas) plays the buyer of his business Martin Somers. Marie Windsor (starred in Outpost in Morocco, Dakota Lil, Cat-Women of the Moon, Swamp Women, and The Day Mars Invaded Earth) plays children's hospital project manager Edie Morrow. Phillip Terry (appeared in Sweater Girl, The Lost Weekend, and The Leech Woman) plays construction manager Lathan Reed. Osa Massen (appeared in You'll Never Get Rich, Cry of the Werewolf, and Rocketship X-M) plays Norstaad's former office manager Lisa Pedersen. Morgan Woodward (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays her brother Carl. Malcolm Atterbury (starred in I Was a Teenage Werewolf, The Birds, and The Learning Tree and played John Bixby on Wagon Train and Grandfather Aldon on Apple's Way) plays realtor J. Maigret. Francis de Sales (Lt. Bill Weigand on Mr. & Mrs. North, Ralph Dobson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Sheriff Maddox on Two Faces West, and Rusty Lincoln on Days of Our Lives) plays attorney Floyd Chapman. Stafford Repp (shown on the left, played Chief O'Hara on Batman) plays a bartender. William Tracy (Sgt. Dorian "Dodo" Doubleday in 8 feature films and Hotshot Charlie on Terry and the Pirates) plays hotel manager Swetson. Tommy Farrell (Chet Holliday on This Is Alice, Cpl. Thad Carson on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Jay O'Hanlon on Bourbon Street Beet, Riff Ryan on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and Fred on Room for One More) plays a furniture salesman. S. John Launer (Marshall Houts on The Court of Last Resort) plays the judge. Lisa Davis (Hula Hips Jenkins on The George Burns Show) plays a furniture company secretary.

Season 5, Episode 19, "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost": Mary Murphy (appeared in The Wild One, Beachhead, The Mad Magician, The Desperate Hours, and Junior Bonner) plays amnesiac Eleanor Corbin. Coleen Gray (starred in Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, The Killing, The Vampire, The Leech Woman, and The Phantom Planet and played Muriel Clifford on McCloud) plays her sister Olga. Vinton Hayworth (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Lawman) plays her father Homer. Merry Anders (shown on the right, played Joyce Erwin on The Stu Erwin Show, Val Marlowe on It's Always Jan, Mike McCall on How to Marry a Millionaire, and Policewoman Dorothy Miller on Dragnet 1967) plays her fiance's mother Sadie Hepner. Jeanne Cooper (Grace Douglas on Bracken's World and Katherine Chancellor Murphy on The Young and the Restless) plays Eleanor's former roommate Ethel Belan. Ziva Rodann (appeared in Forty Guns, The Private Lives of Adam and Eve, The Story of Ruth, and College Confidential and played Nefertiti on Batman) plays Douglas Hepner's other fiance Suzanne Granger. Douglas Dick (Carl Herrick on Waterfront) plays apartment complex clerk Walter Richey. Judee Morton (appeared in Zotz! and The Slime People and played Dr. Smithson on General Hospital) plays a shocked young woman in the park. Jon Lormer (Harry Tate on Lawman, Sam Watkins on The Real McCoys, Simon Benjamin on The Young Marrieds, and Judge Irwin A. Chester on Peyton Place) plays the autopsy surgeon Dr. Oberon. Kenneth MacDonald (played Col. Parker on Colt .45 and appeared in several Three Stooges shorts) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 20, "The Case of the Poison Pen-Pal": Kathryn Givney (appeared in My Friend Irma, A Place in the Sun, Three Coins in the Fountain, Daddy Long Legs, and Guys and Dolls and played Grandma Collins on My Three Sons) plays Gregson Cannery owner Wilma Gregson. Douglas Henderson (appeared in King Dinosaur, Invasion of the Saucer Men, The Manchurian Candidate, and The Sandpiper and played Col. James Richmond on The Wild Wild West) plays her son and company president Peter Gregson. Wright King (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Wanted Dead or Alive) plays her other son Lee. Bert Freed (appeared in The Atomic City, The Cobweb, and Paths of Glory and played Rufe Ryker on Shane) plays company general manager Carl Holman. Joan Tompkins (Trudy Wagner on Sam Benedict, Mrs. Brahms on Occasional Wife, and Lorraine Miller on My Three Sons) plays his wife Florence. Dianne Montford (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Assignment: Underwater) plays Lee's daughter's pen pal Jill Thatcher. Patricia Breslin (shown on the left, played Amanda Peoples Miller on The People's Choice, Laura Brooks on Peyton Place, and Meg Bentley on General Hospital) plays Jill's neighbor Karen Ross. Charles Cooper (starred in The Wrong Man and played the sheriff on Father Murphy and Judge Robert Boucher on The Practice) plays Gregson competitor Ben Willoughby. Everett Sloane (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Dick Tracy Show) plays the San Francisco district attorney. Paul Genge (Lt. Burns on 87th Precinct) plays San Francisco police Insp. Wade. Naomi Stevens (Juanita on The Doris Day Show, Mama Rossini on My Three Sons, Rose Montefusco on The Montefuscos, and Sgt. Bella Archer on Vega$) plays the Gregson housekeeper Agnes. John Litel (starred in Back in Circulation, On Trial, Murder in the Blue Room, four Nancy Drew films, and eight Henry Aldrich films and played the Governor on Zorro and Dan Murchison on Stagecoach West) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 21, "The Case of the Mystified Miner": Josephine Hutchinson (appeared in The Story of Louis Pasteur, Son of Frankenstein, Tom Brown's Schooldays, and North by Northwest) plays mining company owner Amelia Corning. Bartlett Robinson (Willard Norton on Wendy and Me and Frank Caldwell on Mona McCluskey) plays LA office manager Endicott Campbell. Pat Thompson (Pat on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) plays his son Carlton. Kathie Browne (shown on the right, played Angie Dow on Hondo and was Darren McGavin's second wife) plays his secretary Susan Fisher. Carlos Rivas (appeared in The King and I, Boy's Town, True Grit, and Topaz and voiced Don Alejandro on The New Adventures of Zorro) plays Corning employee Alfredo Gomez. Stanja Lowe (Mrs. Thomas on Peyton Place) plays his girlfriend Sophia Elliot. Maidie Norman (Lily on The Young Marrieds) plays a hotel maid. Robert Stevenson (bartender Big Ed on Richard Drum and Marshal Hugh Strickland on Stagecoach West) plays fingerprint expert Myrton Abert. John Gallaudet (Chamberlain on Mayor of the Town and Bob Anderson on My Three Sons) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 22, "The Case of the Crippled Cougar": Bill Williams (shown on the left, see the biography section on the 1960 post on Assignment: Underwater) plays oil company owner Mike Preston. John Bryant (Dr. Carl Spaulding on The Virginian) plays bank employee Arnold Keith. John Howard (Dr. Wayne Hudson on Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal, Commander John "Pliny" Hawk on Adventures of the Sea Hawk, Dave Welch on My Three Sons, and Cliff Patterson on Days of Our Lives) plays Keith's father-in-law Hugh Jamison. Noah Keen (Det. Lt. Carl Bone on Arrest and Trial) plays Preston's field foreman Harlow Phipps. Rita Lynn (Ella Russo on The Detectives and Miss Kelly on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) plays Preston's secretary Lydia Reynolds. Simon Scott (John Riggs on Markham, Gen. Bronson on McHale's Navy, Chief Barney Metcalf on Mod Squad, and Arnold Slocum on Trapper John, M.D.) plays Preston's financial officer Elliot Dunbar. Tom Fadden (Duffield on Broken Arrow, Silas Perry on Cimarron City, and Ben Miller on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction) plays an oil field night watchman. Shary Marshall (Linda on Wendy and Me) plays an airline ticket agent. Mort Mills (Marshal Frank Tallman on Man Without a Gun and Sheriff Fred Madden on The Big Valley) plays police Sgt. Ben Landro. Willis Bouchey (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 23, "The Case of the Absent Artist": Victor Buono (appeared in Robin and the 7 Hoods, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and The Silencers and played King Tut on Batman and Dr. Schubert on Man From Atlantis) plays sculptor Alexander Glovatski. Mark Roberts (appeared in Gilda, It's a Wonderful Life, and Onionhead and played Hildy Johnson on Front Page, Bob and Bill Brannagan on The Brothers Brannagan, Spence on Dan August, and Charles Sutton on General Hospital) plays cartoonist Gabe Phillips. Zasu Pitts (shown on the right, starred in Better Times, Greed, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Life With Father and played Elvira Nugent on The Gale Storm Show) plays building manager Phoebe Whilom. Arline Martel (Tiger on Hogan's Heroes and Spock's Vulcan bride on Star Trek) plays artist's girlfriend Fiona Cregan. Richard Erdman (appeared in Objective, Burma!, The Blue Gardenia, and Stalag 17 and played Pete Morrisey on Where's Raymond?, Peter Fairfield III on The Tab Hunter Show, Klugie on Saints and Sinners, and Leonard on Community) plays Phillips' accountant Charles Montrose. Barney Phillips (Sgt. Ed Jacobs on the original Dragnet, Lt. Sam Geller on Johnny Midnight, Lt. Avery on The Brothers Brannagan, Doc Kaiser on 12 O'Clock High, Mike Golden on Dan August, and Fletcher Huff on The Betty White Show) plays newspaper syndicate manager Newburgh. Bill Zuckert (Arthur Bradwell on Mr. Novak and Chief Segal on Captain Nice) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 24, "The Case of the Melancholy Marksman": Paul Richards (appeared in Playgirl and Beneath the Planet of the Apes and played Louis Kassoff on The Lawless Years and Dr. McKinley Thompson on Breaking Point) plays company owner Ted Chase. Mari Blanchard (shown on the left, starred in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars, Destry, Son of Sinbad, and She Devil and played Kathy O'Hara on Klondike) plays his wide Irene. Ann Rutherford (played Polly Benedict in 12 Andy Hardy feature films and starred in The Oregon Trail, A Christmas Carol (1938), Gone With the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, and Orchestra Wives) plays his sister Ellen. Peter Baldwin (appeared in The Girls of Pleasure Island, Stalag 17, The Space Children, and I Married a Monster From Outer Space and directed multiple episodes of Gomer Pyle: USMC, The Andy Griffith Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Sanford and Son, Chico and the Man, and many others) plays sporting goods store owner Tony Benson. William Schallert (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays his employee Len Dykes. Jeff Donnell (Alice on The George Gobel Show, Evelyn Driscoll on Dr. Kildare, and Mrs. Bennett on Julia) plays Sykes' wife Sylvia. Jesse White (appeared in Harvey, Bedtime for Bonzo, The Bad Seed, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and The Reluctant Astronaut and played Mickey Calhoun on Private Secretary, Jesse Leeds on The Danny Thomas Show, and Oscar Pudney on The Ann Sothern Show) plays bar owner Cecil. Cynthia Chenault (appeared in I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Dino, and This Earth is Mine and played Carol Potter on The Tom Ewell Show) plays Irene's paid alibi Mabel Richmond. John Harmon (hotel clerk Eddie Halstead on The Rifleman) plays ballistics expert Charlie. Jon Lormer (see "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays the medical examiner. S. John Launer (see "The Cast of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 25, "The Case of the Angry Astronaut": James Coburn (shown on the near right, starred in The Magnificent Seven, Charade, Our Man Flint, and In Like Flint and played Jeff Durain on Klondike and Gregg Miles on Acapulco) plays aeronautics company head Gen. Addison Brand. John Marley (starred in Cat Ballou, Love Story, and The Godfather) plays project manager Matthew Owen. Robert Bray (Simon Kane on Stagecoach West and Corey Stuart on Lassie) plays test astronaut Mitch Heller. Jeanne Bal (Pat Baker on Love and Marriage and Jean Pagano on Mr. Novak) plays psychologist Dr. Linda Carey. Paula Raymond (appeared in Inside Straight, The Sellout, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and The Human Jungle) plays Brand's secretary Terry Faye. Patricia Donahue (shown on the far right, played Hazel on The Thin Man, Lucy Hamilton on Michael Shayne, and Birdie Wells on General Hospital) plays company owner's widow Bonnie Winslow. Steve Brodie (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays P.R. man Eddie Lewis. Robert Casper (Gerry Girard on Room 222 and Dr. J. Stanley Mattick on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) plays photographer Bruce Young. 

Season 5, Episode 26, "The Case of the Borrowed Baby": Sara Taft (Aunt Alex on The Young Marrieds) plays electric car owner's widow Mrs. Carrick. Hugh Marlowe (shown on the left, starred in Twelve O'Clock High, All About Eve, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and played Ellery Queen on Mystery Is My Business and Jim Matthews on Another World) plays her nephew Jarvis Baker. Corey Allen (went on to direct multiple episodes of Dr. Kildare, Police Woman, Dallas, Hunter, and Star Trek: The Next Generation) plays hustler Lester Menke. Gregory Morton (Mr. Wainwright on Peyton Place and Walter Williams on Ben Casey) plays sanitarium manager Paul Hogarthy. Maria Palmer (Mady Stevens on The Young Marrieds) plays his head nurse Florence Wood. Kenneth MacDonald (see "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 27, "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank": Otto Krueger (appeared in Treasure Island, Dracula's Daughter, Saboteur, Murder, My Sweet, and High Noon) plays land development president Gus Dalgran. Jeanette Nolan (starred in Macbeth (1948), The Big Heat, Tribute to a Bad Man, and The Reluctant Astronaut, did voicework for Psycho, The Rescuers, and The Fox and the Hound, and played Annette Devereaux on Hotel de Paree and Holly Grainger on The Virginian) plays his secretary Martha Blair. John Larkin (Frank Dana on The Road of Life, Mike Karr on The Edge of Night, Mark Grainger on Saints and Sinners, Maj. Gen. Wiley Crowe on 12 O'Clock High) plays his business partner Jay Fenton. Don Dubbins (appeared in The Caine Mutiny, Tribute to a Bad Man, From the Earth to the Moon, and The Prize and played William Kennerly, Jr. on Peyton Place) plays Dalgran's nephew Kenneth. Paul Langton (Leslie Harrington on Peyton Place) plays Kenneth's attorney Bertram Telford. William Woodson (was the narrator on Dick Tracy, The Invaders, and Centurions, voiced J. Jonah Jameson on Spider-Man and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,  and played Sgt. Ed Blankey on This Man Dawson) plays psychiatrist Dr. Jackman. Burt Reynolds (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Riverboat) plays Martha Blair's son Chuck. John Hubbard (starred in One Million, B.C., The Mummy's Tomb, and What's Buzzin', Cousin? and played Mr. Brown on The Mickey Rooney Show, Col. U. Charles Barker on Don't Call Me Charlie, and Ted Gaynor on Family Affair) plays U.S. Air Force representative Joseph Tayback. S. John Launer (see "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays the sanity hearing judge. Charles Irving (Admiral Vincent Beckett on The Wackiest Ship in the Army) plays the murder trial judge.

Season 5, Episode 28, "The Case of the Ancient Romeo": Jeff Morrow (shown on the near left, starred in Sign of the Pagan, This Island Earth, Pardners, and The Giant Claw and played Maj. Bart McClelland n Union Pacific and Dr. Lloyd Axton on The New Temperatures Rising Show) plays former star actor Franz Lachman. Harry Von Zell (the announcer on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and The George Burns Show and played Frank Curtis on Bachelor Father) plays promoter Phil Scharf. Patricia Huston (shown on the far left, played Addy Olson on Days of Our Lives and Hilda Brunschwager on L.A. Law) plays aspiring actress Claire Adams. Antoinette Bower (Fox Devlin on Neon Rider) plays more talented actress Ellen Carson. Rex Reason (starred in This Island Earth, Lady Godiva of Coventry, and The Creature Walks Among Us and played Adam MacLean on Man Without a Gun and Scott Norris on The Roaring '20's) plays Ellen's boyfriend Steve Brock. Robert Cornthwaite (Professor Windish on Get Smart and Howard Buss on Picket Fences) plays theater company manager Carl Bruner. Donald Curtis (appeared in Spellbound, They Were Expendable, It Came From Beneath the Sea, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, and The Ten Commandments and played Adam Conway on Detective's Wife) plays Claire's former boyfriend Amos Martin. Stafford Repp (see "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays a shipping agent. Willis Bouchey (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 29, "The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox": John Lasell (Dr. Peter Guthrie on Dark Shadows) plays TV promoter and producer Charlie Corby. Geraldine Brooks (Lou Carson on Faraday and Company and Angela Dumpling on The Dumplings) plays his secretary Miriam Waters. George Mathews (appeared in Pat and Mike, The Man With the Golden Arm, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and played Chick Rogers on Glynis) plays director Mike Flint. Linden Chiles (Charles Hanson on East Side/West Side, Paul Hunter on James at 16, and Edward Nichols on Santa Barbara) plays aspiring screenwriter Herbert Simms. Dianne Foster (starred in Night Passage, The Last Hurrah, and The Deep Six) plays wealthy financier Nelly Lawton. Ben Cooper (appeared in Johnny Guitar, The Rose Tattoo, and Support Your Local Gunfighter and played Waverly on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and the Director on The Fall Guy) plays her go-between David Crane. Dan Seymour (Ferrari on Casablanca) plays film stock supplier Markett. Ivan Dixon (shown on the right, starred in A Raisin in the Sun, Nothing But a Man, and A Patch of Blue and played Sgt. James Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes) plays pharmaceutical investigator Maurice Parness. Michael Fox (Coroner George McLeod on Burke's Law, Amos Fedders on Falcon Crest, and Saul Feinberg on The Bold and the Beautiful) plays the autopsy surgeon. John Gallaudet (see "The Case of the Mystified Miner" above) plays the judge.

Season 5, Episode 30, "The Case of the Lonely Eloper": Jana Taylor (appeared in A Cold Wind in August, Hells Angels on Wheels, and Dreamscape and played Angie Costello on General Hospital) plays heiress Merle Telford. John Dall (starred in Rope, Gun Crazy, and Spartacus) plays her uncle Julian Kirk. Jorja Cutright (appeared in Whistle Stop, M, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, and The Revolt of Mamie Stover) plays her guardian Olivia Langley. Paul Tripp (host of children's shows Mr. I. Magination and On the Carousel and co-creator of Tubby the Tuba) plays Olivia's husband Howard. Joan Staley (shown on the left, Playboy Playmate who appeared in Cape Fear, Roustabout, Valley of the Dragons, Johnny Cool, and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and played Tiger on The Lively Ones, Hannah on 77 Sunset Strip, and Roberta Love on Broadside) plays photographer Gina Gilbert. Jack Ging (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Tales of Wells Fargo) plays hustler Danny Pierce. Billy Halop (appeared in Angels With Dirty Faces, They Made Me a Criminal, Tom Brown's School Days, and Sea Raiders and played Bert Munson on All in the Family) plays the Telford chauffeur Corbett. Carol Andreeson (Nurse Millie McLean on Dr. Kildare) plays party attendee Margo Stevens. John Zaremba (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays the autopsy surgeon. Kenneth MacDonald (see "The Cast of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 1, "The Case of the Bogus Books": Adam West (shown on the right, played Det. Sgt. Steve Nelson on The Detectives, Bruce Wayne on Batman, Captain Rick Wright on The Last Precinct, Dr. Noah Goddard on Black Scorpion, and voiced Mayor Adam West on Family Guy) plays folk song researcher Peter Norland. Maurice Manson (Frederick Timberlake on Dennis the Menace, Josh Egan on Hazel, and Hank Pinkham on General Hospital) plays book store owner Joseph Kraft. Woodrow Parfrey (appeared in Planet of the Apes, Dirty Harry, and Papillon and played Holmes on Iron Horse) plays store clerk George Pickson. John Abbott (appeared in The Woman in White, Madame Bovary, The Merry Widow, and Gigi) plays literature professor Carlos Muntz. Allison Hayes (see "The Case of the Captain's Coins" above) plays Kraft's forgery conspirator Pearl Chute. H.M. Wynant (Lt. Bauer on The Young Marrieds, Frosty on Batman, and Ed Chapman on Dallas) plays her associate Gene Torg. Joby Baker (David Lewis on Good Morning, World) plays gambler Kenneth Carter. William Tracy (see "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays a bookstore customer. Michael Fox (see "The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox" above) plays coroner surgeon Dr. Hoxie. Kenneth MacDonald (see "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 2, "The Case of the Capricious Corpse": Jan Shepard (shown on the right, played Nurse Betty on Dr. Christian) plays children's foundation employee Joane Proctor. Lee Farr (Lt. Jim Conway on The Detectives and husband of actor Felicia Farr) plays her boyfriend Nicholas Blake. Jacques Aubuchon (starred in The Silver Chalice, The Big Boodle, and The Love God? and played Chief Urulu on McHale's Navy) plays the foundation owner's nephew George Gage. Evelyn Ward (ex-wife of Jack Cassidy and mother of David Cassidy) plays the owner's nurse Evelyn King. Jean Engstrom (mother of actor Jena Engstrom) plays Joane's sister Claudia Demming. Dennis Rush (Howie Pruitt on The Andy Griffith Show) plays foundation resident Timmy. John Howard (see "The Case of the Crippled Cougar" above) plays the owner's physician Dr. Guy Omstead. Lori March (Jennifer Alden on Three Steps to Heaven, Lenore Bradley on The Brighter Day, Amy Stanton on The Doctors, Valerie Ames on The Secret Storm, Lillian Hayes on Search for Tomorrow, Mrs. Henson on The Edge of Night, Mildred Canfield on Texas, and Barbara Gilbert on Another Life) plays Omstead's wife Olive. John Pickard (Capt. Shank Adams on Boots and Saddles and Sgt. Maj. Murdock on Gunslinger) plays police Det. Boykins. Willis Bouchey (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 3, "The Case of the Playboy Pugilist": Gary Lockwood (shown on the left, starred in Wild in the Country, Splendor in the Grass, and 2001: A Space Odyssey and played Eric Jason on Follow the Sun and Lt. William Rice on The Lieutenant) plays promising boxer Davey Carroll. Robert Amrstrong (starred in King Kong, The Son of Kong, Framed, Dive Bomber, Blood on the Sun, and Mighty Joe Young and played Sheriff Andy Anderson on State Trooper) plays his trainer Jimmy West. Mark Roberts (see "The Case of the Absent Artist" above) plays investor Tod Richards. Dianne Foster (see "The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox" above) plays his wife Lori. Joseph Sirola (Peter Nino on The Brighter Day, Jonathan Kaye on Hawaii Five-O, Dominick on The Magician, Tony Montefusco on The Montefuscos, and Sal Wolf on Wolf) plays sports reporter George Hale. Mort Mills (see "The Case of the Crippled Cougar" above) returns as police Sgt. Ben Landro. Carla Balenda (Patricia Hardy on The Mickey Rooney Show, Betty Leonard on The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu, and Miss Hazllit on Lassie) plays Richards' mistress Kay McKenzie. John Gallaudet (see "The Case of the Mystified Miner" above) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 4, "The Case of the Hateful Hero": Richard Davalos (shown on the right, appeared in East of Eden, I Died a Thousand Times, Cool Hand Luke, and Kelly's Heroes and played Cpl. Jeff Canfield on The Americans) plays Andy Anderson's cousin Jimmy. William Boyett (Sgt. Ken Williams on Highway Patrol and Sgt. MacDonald on Adam-12) plays his patrol partner Otto Norden. Jeanette Nolan (see "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank" above) plays Otto's mother. Mabel Albertson (Mrs. Whiting on Those Whiting Girls, Irene Brady on The Tom Ewell Show, Mrs. Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show, Mildred Hollinger on That Girl, and Phyllis Stephens on Bewitched) plays plastics company president Carrie Wilson. William Phipps (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays her nephew Dwight. Leonard Stone (appeared in The Mugger, The Big Mouth, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Soylent Green and played Doc Joslyn on Camp Runamuck, Packy Moore on General Hospital, and Judge Paul Hansen on L.A. Law) plays plastics company treasurer Jerel Leland. George Ives (Doc on Mister Roberts) plays the police review board chairman. Frank Gerstle (Dick Gird on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays police Det. Steve Toland. Jon Lormer (see "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays the autopsy surgeon. Sue England (Mildred Price on Bracken's World) plays Carrie Wilson's secretary Fleta York. S. John Launer (see "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 5, "The Case of the Dodging Domino": Lloyd Corrigan (starred in A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob, Hitler's Children, Captive Wild Woman, The Bandit of Sherwood Forest, and Son of Paleface and played Papa Dodger on Willy, Wally Dipple on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Ned Buntline on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Uncle Charlie on Happy, and Professor McKillup on Hank) plays apartment complex manager Rudy Mahlsted. Maureen Arthur (appeared in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, How to Commit Marriage, The Love God?, The Love Machine, and Harry and Walter Go to New York and played Dorothy Jackson on Holiday Lodge, Lola on The Red Hand Gang, and Peg on Empire) plays resident's girlfriend Vera Jordan. Ellen Burstyn (shown on the left, starred in For Those Who Think Young, The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and Same Time, Next Year and played Julie Parsons on Iron Horse, Ellen Brewer on The Ellen Burstyn Show, Dolly DeLucca on That's Life, Bishop Beatrice Congreve on The Book of Daniel, Nancy Davis Dutton on Big Love, and Evanka on Louie) plays actress Mona Winthrope. David Hedison (starred in The Fly (1958), The Greatest Story Ever Told, Live and Let Die, and License to Kill and played Victor Sebastian on Five Fingers, Capt. Lee B. Crane on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Roger Langdon on The Colbys, and Arthur Hendricks on The Young and the Restless) plays her husband Damion White. Robert H. Harris (played Jake Goldberg on Molly and Raymond Schindler on The Court of Last Resort) plays her agent Jerry Janda. Jeff Morrow (see "The Case of the Ancient Romeo" above) plays composer Alex Chase. Herbert Rudley (see "The Case of the Captain's Coins" above) plays producer Charles Noyman. Orville Sherman (Mr. Feeney on Buckskin, Wib Smith on Gunsmoke, and Tupper on Daniel Boone) plays theater director Kirkwood. Tom Palmer (see "The Case of the Captain's Coins" above) plays Vera's boyfriend's brother. Rusty Stevens (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Leave It to Beaver) plays a trick-or-treater. Amanda Rudolph (Mama on The Amos 'n' Andy Show and Louise on The Danny Thomas Show) played the White's maid Grace.

Season 6, Episode 6, "The Case of the Double Entry Mind": Stuart Erwin (shown on the right, starred in Men Without Women, Make Me a Star, Women Are Trouble, and The Bride Came C.O.D. and played Stu Erwin on The Stu Erwin Show and Otto King on The Greatest Show on Earth) plays bookkeeper Clem P. Sandover. Paul Tripp (see "The Case of the Lonely Eloper" above) plays accounting firm chairman Steven Banks. Kathleen Hughes (appeared in Mother Is a Freshman, Mr. Belvedere Goes to College, It Came From Outer Space, and Unwed Mother and played Jane Mitchell on Bracken's World) plays his assistant Lita Krail. Virginia Christine (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Tales of Wells Fargo) plays Sandover's wife Beth. Joan Staley (see "The Case of the Lonely Eloper" above) plays secretary Sally Adams. Jack Betts (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Checkmate) plays Sandover's former office mate Enos Watterton. Karl Weber (Arthur Tate on Search for Tomorrow) plays executive Frank Sellers. Richard Reeves (Mr. Murphy on Date With the Angels) plays truck driver Cyrus Potkin. Grandon Rhodes (Mr. Vanderlip on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Dr. Stevens on Lassie, and Dr. J.P. Martin on Bonanza) plays the judge.

Season 6, Episode 7, "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle": Liam Sullivan (Major Mapoy on The Monroes, Dr. Joseph Lerner on The Young and the Restless, and Mr. Willis on Knots Landing) plays wealthy family black sheep Richard Durham. Sean McClory (Jack McGivern on The Californians and Myles Delaney on Bring 'Em Back Alive) plays his friend Harry Fothergill. Ford Rainey (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Window on Main Street) plays Durham's brother Russell. Anna Lee (starred in King Solomon's Mines, How Green Was My Valley, Flying Tigers, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Sound of Music, and In Like Flint and played Lila Quartermaine on General Hospital) plays Russell's wife Crystal. Barbara Parkins (starred in Valley of the Dolls, The Mephisto Waltz, and Puppet on a Chain and played Betty Anderson Harrington on Peyton Place) plays their daughter Paula. George Kane (Link Morrison on Love of Life) plays Paula's boyfriend Gil Simpson. Harvey Korman (shown on the left, played various characters on The Carol Burnett Show, the voice of The Great Gazoo on The Flintstones, Harvey A. Kavanuagh on The Harvey Korman Show, Leo Green on Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills, and Reginald J. Tarkington on The Nutt House) plays bartender George Coleman. Howard Smith (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Hazel) plays oil licensor Frank Warden. Paula Winslowe (Martha Conklin on Our Miss Brooks) plays the night court judge. Charles Irving (see "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank" above) plays the murder trial judge.

Season 6, Episode 8, "The Case of the Stand-In Sister": R.G. Armstrong (Police Capt. McAllister on T.H.E. Cat and Lewis Vendredi on Friday the 13th) plays fisherman John Gregory. Peter Mamakos (Jean Lafitte on The Adventures of Jim Bowie) plays his boat captain Nick Paolo. Susan Seaforth Hayes (shown on the right, played Carol West on The Young Marrieds, Julie Williams on Days of Our Lives, JoAnna Manning on The Young and the Restless, and Patricia Steele on Sunset Beach) plays Gregory's daughter Helen. Peter Whitney (Sergeant Buck Sinclair on The Rough Riders and Lafe Crick on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays mobster Stefan Jahncheck. Parley Baer (see "The Case of the Captain's Coins" above) plays canning company owner David Bickel. Meg Wyllie (Mary Elizabeth Kissell on The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, Doris Roach and Lila Morgan Tolliver Quartermaine on General Hospital, and Aunt Lolly Stemple on Mad About You) plays former private nurse Mrs. Margaret Stone. Steven Geray (appeared in Phantom of the Opera (1943), Spellbound, Gilda, All About Eve, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and played Dr. Herman ver Hagen on The Danny Thomas Show) plays former bank employee Franz Moray. Michael Fox (see "The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox" above) plays the autopsy surgeon. S. John Launer (see "The Cast of the Tarnished Trademark" above) plays the judge. George Selk (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Bonanza) plays a courtroom attendant.

Season 6, Episode 9, "The Case of the Weary Watchdog": Mala Powers (starred in Cyrano de Bergerac, Rose of Cimarron, and Tammy and the Bachelor and played Rebecca Boone on Walt Disney's Daniel Boone and Mona on Hazel) plays Della's friend Janet Brent. Wesley Addy (appeared in Kiss Me Deadly, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, Network, and The Verdict and played Dr. Cooper on Days of Our Lives, William Price Woodward on Ryan's Hope, and Cabot Alden on Loving) plays her husband and art gallery owner Alton Brent. John Dall (see "The Case of the Lonely Eloper" above) plays his top salesman Edward Franklin. Keye Luke (shown on the left, played Lee Chan in 8 Charlie Chan features, appeared in The Green Hornet (1940), Mr. and Mrs. North, and Gremlins, played Kralahome on Anna and the King, Master Po on Kung Fu, The Ancient One on General Hospital, and Sabasan on Sidekicks, and voiced Charlie Chan on The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan and Zoltar, the Great Spirit, and Colonel Cronus on Battle of the Planets) plays restaurant owner C.C. Chang. James Hong (Barry Chan on The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, Frank Chen on Jigsaw John, and Doctor Chen Ling on Dynasty) plays his son Dean. Doris Dowling (starred in The Lost Weekend, The Blue Dahlia, Bitter Rice, and Othello and played Irene Adams on My Living Doll) plays art collector Zaneta Holmes. Robert Carson (Mr. Maddis on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show) plays her husband Galen. Philip Ahn (Master Kan on Kung Fu) plays Chang's friend James Wong. Beulah Quo (appeared in Girls! Girls! Girls!, The Sand Pebbles, and Yes, Giorgio and played Alice Wong on My Three Sons) plays the mother of an art gallery clerk. Kenneth Tobey (starred in The Thing From Another World, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and It Came From Beneath the Sea and played Chuck Martin on Whirlybirds and Russ Conway on I Spy) plays assistant D.A. Alvin. Willis Bouchey (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays the fraud trial judge.

Season 6, Episode 10, "The Case of the Lurid Letter": Mona Freeman (starred in Black Beauty, Mother Wore Tights, Angel Face, and Jumping Jacks) plays high school English teacher Jane Wardman. Edgar Buchanan (shown on the right, played Uncle Joe Carson on The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction, Red Connors on Hopalong Cassidy, Judge Roy Bean on Judge Roy Bean, Doc Burrage on The Rifleman, and J.J. Jackson on Cade's County) plays her attorney Judge Edward Daley. Robert Rockwell (see "The Case of the Shapely Shadow" above) plays high school principal Everett Rixby. Tom Lowell (appeared in The Carpetbaggers, That Darn Cat!, The Gnome-Mobile, and The Boatniks and played Billy Nelson on Combat! and Dr. John Bennett on Days of Our Lives) plays one of Wardman's students Bobby Slater. Ann Doran (Martha Brown on National Velvet, Mrs. Kingston on Longstreet, and Charlotte McHenry on Shirley) plays Bobby's mother Cornelia. Noah Keen (see "The Case of the Crippled Cougar" above) plays Placer Hill physician Dr. Stephen Grant. Kelly Thordsen (Colorado Charlie on Yancy Derringer) plays Placer Hill Sheriff Watson. Elizabeth Harrower (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Dennis the Menace) plays juvenile delinquent's mother Mrs. Mangan. Cheryl Miller (Paula Tracy on Daktari) plays a high school student. Judee Morton (see "The Case of the Glamorous Ghost" above) plays another high school student.

Season 6, Episode 11, "The Case of the Fickle Filly": Joan Freeman (appeared in Come September, Panic in Year Zero!, Roustabout, The Reluctant Astronaut, and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and played Elma Gahrigner/Emma Gahringer in Bus Stop, Dr. Sue Lambert on Lassie, and Barbara Robinson on Code R) plays stable owner's daughter Jennifer Wakely. Strother Martin (shown on the left, appeared in Kiss Me Deadly, The Shaggy Dog, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Cool Hand Luke, True Grit, The Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, and Slap Shot and played Aaron Donager on Hotel de Paree and R.J. Hawkins on Hawkins) plays her father's horse trainer Joe Mead. Bartlett Robinson (see "The Case of the Mystified Miner" above) plays her uncle Emmett Pierson. Jim Davis (Matt Clark on Stories of the Century, Wes Cameron on Rescue 8, Marshal Bill Winter on The Cowboys, and Jock Ewing on Dallas) plays rival horse trainer George Tabor. Bill Quinn (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Rifleman) plays horse racing commissioner H.B. Durell. Mort Mills (see "The Case of the Crippled Cougar" above) returns as Sgt. Ben Landro.

Season 6, Episode 12, "The Case of the Polka Dot Pony": Melinda Casey (Linda Kelly on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and Abby Chapman on Peyton Place) plays airline stewardess Maureen Thomas. Jesse White (shown on the right, see "The Case of the Melancholy Marksman" above) plays camera store owner Burt Renshaw. Vivi Janiss (Myrtle Davis on Father Knows Best) plays his employee Margaret McDonald. Burt Metcalfe (Buckley Dunston on Father of the Bride) plays Maureen's fiance Richard Campion. Doris Packer (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays Richard's mother. Byron Foulger (Mr. Nash on Captain Nice and Wendell Gibbs on Petticoat Junction) plays Maureen's foster father Leverett Thomas. Virginia Field (appeared in Little Lord Fauntleroy, Thank You, Jeeves!, Stage Door Canteen, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) plays wealthy widow Angela Renshaw Fernaldi. Ben Cooper (see "The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox" above) plays her attorney James Grove. Jonathan Hole (Orville Monroe on The Andy Griffith Show) plays orphanage manager Edward Link. Morris Ankrum (see "The Case of the Captain's Coins" above) plays the judge.