The Jack Benny Program (1962)

In our previous posts on The Jack Benny Program, we've noted how Benny has been credited with influencing modern comedy and helping create the sit-com format. One academic who has written extensively on Benny's earlier days in radio is Kathryn Fuller-Seeley, who describes in her article "How Jack Benny and Harry Conn Stumbled Onto the Formula for Situation Comedy" in a 2017 edition of Humanities, the magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities, that Benny and Conn were forced to come up with something to fill radio air time after Benny was hired to host The Canada Dry Program but felt he had run through his entire vaudeville stand-up repertoire after only two episodes. Benny then hired Conn, an experienced vaudeville joke writer for Mae West and many others, and the two began expanding the non-musical portion of the program to include sketches outside the studio, such as one set in the soda fountain located in the radio building lobby, with the sketch including other cast members as characters in the comedy routine. And thus the formula was born, though, of course, it was expanded, adapted, and otherwise shaped over the next several years that also included changing sponsors, networks, and cast members. Benny recruited his wife, billed as Mary Livingstone, to fill in one evening when the script ran short, and the audience response was so positive that she became a permanent cast member. Announcer Don Wilson joined the radio program in 1934, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson was added as Benny's valet in 1937, and tenor vocalist Dennis Day replaced Kenny Baker in 1939. Orchestra leader Phil Harris was also a regular on the radio program beginning in 1936 but did not make the transition to the TV version of the program as did the other characters. 

Given the show's origins in seemingly always in need of additional material to fill air time, it is not surprising that this deficit also became a regular part of the formula in recycling scripts from previous seasons as the show went on for over 20 years on radio and 15 seasons on television. Initially, the TV program aired only every other week until Season 11 in 1960 when it switched to a weekly formula, but even then it produced only 26-27 episodes per season instead of the then-customary 39. And still these 26-27 episodes often borrowed heavily from previous seasons. For the Season 12 episodes that aired in 1962, "Jack Gets a Passport" (January 21, 1962), "How Jack Met Rochester" (January 28, 1962), "Police Station Show" (February 4, 1962), "Ghost Town Western" (February 11, 1962), and "Modern Prison Sketch" (April 15, 1962) all borrow from previous seasons' episodes. But with the "Police Station Show" episode, recycled from "Jack's Maxwell Is Stolen" (November 18, 1956), the writers reworked a few elements of the show to make it funnier. In the earlier version, Benny comes out and does a standard monologue with several jokes about his cheapness before getting an urgent call from Rochester that his Maxwell automobile has been stolen. In the revised 1962 version the episode begins at rehearsal, not the actual aired version of the show, and Jack is late, so Fred the director has his new stand-in, played by Charles Cantor, begin the show. When Benny eventually shows up, he can't believe the smaller, mealy-mouthed Cantor is supposed to represent him, and when he begins doing his monologue, Cantor returns to give him advice on how to do Benny more accurately. Though the 1962 version does omit a humorous musical number by the Sportsmen Quartet in which they are still in the process of getting dressed while singing their number because they did not anticipate Benny leaving the show abruptly to go down to the Beverly Hills Police Station to report his stolen car, the scene featuring the police dispatchers at the police station is upgraded from having one of them entertaining the patrol car officers by playing Elvis Presley records to having dispatcher Corey be a top-notch Irish tenor who croons "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen." Given that the rest of the police station sketch is almost identical in both versions, Benny was perhaps counting on his audience not remembering an episode that aired 6 years earlier, particularly in an era without youtube or DVDs, but even so, reworking a previous episode and passing it off as new is yet another example of how the program exploded the artificial facade that typical television tries to maintain.

In fact, repetition is one of the key components of the Benny comic formula, along with humiliation. Not only are Benny's character flaws of cheapness, vanity, and horrible violin playing worked into every episode, but the same joke or sight gag is repeated multiple times throughout each episode. In "Ghost Town Western" Benny's character The Cactus Kid has a six gun that shoots crooked, which has him shooting the wrong man earlier in the sketch but ultimately saves him in the end. In "Jack Is a Violin Teacher" (April 8, 1962) Jack's imaginary wife Mabel reads off a list of clients for whom she cleans houses on each day of the week when the mother of one of Jack's pupils tries to hire her. When Mabel later complains that she never gets to go out, Benny recites the same list for her, saying she gets to go see Mrs. Johnson on Monday, etc. After Mabel leaves him and his violin students abandon him as well, Benny shows up at the home of Mrs. Johnson on a Monday dressed in Mabel's cleaning outfit. And in the "Phil Silvers Show" episode (October 9, 1962) the young Silvers shows up at Benny's doorstep looking to break into show business with a note pinned to his jacket from Benny's Aunt Sude asking him to help out the son of her best friend. During the remainder of the episode, whenever Benny gets fed up with Silvers' laziness and is about to throw him out, Silvers produces another handwritten note from Aunt Sude causing him to reconsider on her behalf. 

This formula of repetition and humiliation is the blueprint used many years later by Larry David on Seinfeld and even more so on Curb Your Enthusiasm on which David plays an unflattering version of himself much like Benny's character on The Jack Benny Program. Reviewer Philip Weiss made the connection between David and Benny in his 2002 column in The Observer "Who's Master Now?", noting not only the theme of humiliation but the use of real-world celebrities in dishing out the main character's penance. The repetition component is also a key part of David's humor in an episode such as "Krayzee-Eyez Killa" in which the primary plot revolves around Larry striking up a friendship with the titular rapper who also happens to be his wife's friend Wanda Sykes' fiance, but the subplot revolves around a hideous plaid jacket that Larry needs to retrieve to do some retakes for a movie he is making with Martin Scorsese. After Larry's wife Cheryl donates the jacket to a charity, not realizing it is part of Larry's movie wardrobe, Larry spends the rest of the episode trying to find another copy but being thwarted at every turn. He returns to the clothing store where the original was purchased to find they have one more jacket left but then offends the store clerk by insisting on refolding a sweater the wrong way so that the clerk refuses to sell him the jacket. He then finds that Krazee-Eyez Killa has a copy and even gets him to give it to Larry, but when Killa finds that Larry told Wanda that Killa has been cheating on her and calls off the engagement, Killa goes to Larry's house and demands he give the jacket back upon threat of physical violence. When Larry shows up the next day for the movie retake and confesses that he did not bring the jacket back because Cheryl donated it, the wardrobe supervisor reveals she has a backup copy, meaning that all his efforts to secure a replacement were unnecessary (it should be noted that Benny tangles with a wardrobe supervisor in the 1962 episode "Jack Is a Violin Teacher"). The episode also has Larry beginning the plot by stomping on bubblewrap, which comes back to haunt him later, and repeatedly choking on a pubic hair stuck in his throat at the most inopportune times, a motif that actually spans multiple episodes. Weiss notes that Jerry Seinfeld himself cited The Jack Benny Program as an influence on his sit-com, and it is clear that David has continued to mine Benny's comic formula for his own series. Carol Burnett, who stars in the 1962 episode "Jack Plays Tarzan" (November 13, 1962), obviously borrowed heavily from the Benny formula for her long-running variety series, and Steve Martin cites Benny as an influence in his masterclass.com segment "Steve's Comedic Inspirations." Benny's influence continues to be pervasive throughout comedy and television nearly 50 years after his death, all because very early on he learned the value of being able to laugh at himself.

But he also persuaded many of his celebrity guests to join in on the self-mockery, having Raymond Burr attempt stand-up comedy in "Air Force Sketch" (October 16, 1962), having Rock Hudson play a timid harmonica player and Hugh Downs play an overzealous version of himself in "Rock Hudson Show" (February 18, 1962), an episode in which Benny does a hilarious impersonation of Jack Paar, and having Jack Soo play a hip-talking talent agent before doing an absurd impersonation of Ed Sullivan in "Jack Meets a Japanese Agent" (November 27, 1962). Even Bob Hope comes off much funnier playing himself in another recycled episode "The Bob Hope Show" (December 4, 1962) than he does in his own movies and TV appearances. Benny and his writers had a knack for threading the needle between the truly humorous and the painfully cornball. Few comedians then or now have been able to match him.

As mentioned in the 1960 post for this series, there is a disorganized collection of various episodes from the show's 15 years issued by low-budget outfits like Alpha Video, Passport Video, and Echo Bridge in addition to a 3-disc "Lost Episodes" set released by Shout! Factory. The show is also currently airing on cable channel Antenna TV. From calendar year 1962, there are a total of 19 episodes available on youtube.com, archive.org, or broadcast on Antenna TV.

The Actors

For the biographies for Jack Benny, Eddie Anderson, Don Wilson, Dennis Day, and Frank Nelson, see the 1960 post for The Jack Benny Program. For the biography of Mel Blanc, see the 1960 post for The Flintstones.

Charlie Cantor

Born September 4, 1898 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor broke into radio at age 23 on WHN in New York and went on to have an extremely prolific career as a voice actor. At his peak, he was appearing on up to 40 different shows a week. Though he specialized in comic roles, he also found work playing straight characters and even villains. Appearing on everything from The Shadow and Dick Tracy to The Life of Riley and The Baby Snooks Show, Cantor's most famous roles were as Socrates Mulligan in the Allen's Alley segments of The Fred Allen Show beginning in 1940 and continuing until the series ended in 1949. He played bar patron Clifton Finnegan on Duffy's Tavern beginning in 1941 and appeared in the feature film based on the radio show in his movie debut in 1945. In 1942 he took over the role of Solomon Levy on Abie's Irish Rose but was soon replaced himself by Alan Reed, who would go on to become the voice of Fred Flinstone. Cantor's connection with Jack Benny began when he appeared on three episodes of his radio program as ardent Benny fan Logan Jerkfinkle in 1940. The Continuity Acceptance Department at NBC, however, felt that the word "jerk" was cheap, as reported in the May 8, 1940 edition of Variety, and though the character was scheduled to appear on the show's season finale on June 16, he never actually appeared on the program again. Meanwhile, Cantor continued with his radio work on other programs and made his television debut on a February 25, 1951 episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour. In 1952 he appeared in his second feature film, Stop, You're Killing Me, and in 1954 he made the first of 16 appearances on The Jack Benny Program TV series as a lingerie salesman.

Cantor played a variety of characters on the show, sometimes as himself, as when he played Jack's stand-in when Benny was late for rehearsal on "Police Station Show" (February 4, 1962). Though Cantor's appearances on the program were somewhat sporadic in the 1950s, the bulk of his work came during the show's final years of 1962-65. Meanwhile, he found work on a variety of other TV programs beginning in 1955 on shows such as Where's Raymond?, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Bachelor Father. His only recurring role was playing the character Gimpy on the legal comedy Harrigan and Son, which ran for only a single season of 34 episodes. Cantor appeared as Gimpy in 5 of them. He had guest roles on a number of other shows in the 1960s including The Joey Bishop Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Red Skelton Hour. His last credit came in a late 1965 episode of O.K. Crackerby! and passed away just after his 68th birthday on September 11, 1966.

Dale White

Dale Porter White was born January 13, 1932 in Otto, Wyoming. He grew up in Caspar, Wyoming, where he attended and graduated in 1950 from Natrona High School, also serving as Student Body Secretary and President of the Thespian Club. A lifelong devout Mormon, White attended Brigham Young University and Utah State University before moving to California to study at the Pasadena Playhouse. Though his ambition was to become a director, White was recruited by the producers of The Jack Benny Program to play Don Wilson's son Harlow, a role he appeared in 17 times between 1955 and 1964. He would never again act on television.

After the program ended, White taught acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and formed his own film company, White Productions, which mostly produced films for corporations and The Church of Latter Day Saints. In 1976 he wrote and directed his first feature-length film Runnin' Free. He also owned two live theaters, the Claremont Playhouse and the Sierra Madre Playhouse. But in 1990 he and his wife moved to Bountiful, Utah to be closer to family. There he and his son Frank bought a motorcycle shop in Centreville, and the two traveled the country to attend motorcycle races that Frank competed in. He died in Pella, Iowa on February 16, 2006 at the age of 74.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 12, Episode 12, "Jack Does Opera": Roberta Peters (shown on the left, world renowned opera soprano awarded the American National Medal of the Arts, appeared in Tonight We Sing and City Hall, and made a record 65 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show) plays herself. Herb Vigran (Judge Brooker on Gunsmoke) plays a press photographer. John Harmon (hotel clerk Eddie Halstead on The Rifleman) plays his assistant.

Season 12, Episode 16, "Police Station Show": Hayden Rorke (starred in Father's Little Dividend, When Worlds Collide, and Pillow Talk and played Steve on Mr. Adams and Eve, Col. Farnsworth on No Time for Sergeants, Dr. Alfred Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie, and Bishop on Dr. Kildare) plays police Sgt. Van Der Meer. Ross Elliott (Lee Baldwin on General Hospital and Sheriff Mark Abbott on The Virginian) plays Jack's director Fred. Joan Benny (Jack Benny's adopted daughter) plays the police station receptionist. Bob Hoy (Joe Butler on The High Chaparral and Cliff on Our House) plays a policeman. Michael Emmet (Cpl. Davis on Boots and Saddles) plays a member of Jack's orchestra.

Season 12, Episode 17, "Ghost Town Western Sketch": Giselle MacKenzie (shown on the right, popular singer, played Katherine Chancellor on The Young and the Restless) plays herself and saloon girl Tess MacKenzie. Will Wright (Ben Weaver on The Andy Griffith Show and Mr. Merrivale on Dennis the Menace) plays a ghost town cafe owner. Irene Tedrow (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Dennis the Menace) plays his wife. Gerald Mohr (narrator on 19 episodes of The Lone Ranger, Christopher Storm on Foreign Intrigue, voice of Mr. Fantastic and Reed Richards on Fantastic 4) plays notorious gunman Tombstone Harry. James Flavin (Lt. Donovan on Man With a Camera and Robert Howard on The Roaring 20's) plays bartender Joe. Benny Rubin (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Dick Tracy Show) plays a drunk.

Season 12, Episode 18, "Rock Hudson Show": Rock Hudson (starred in Magnificent Obsession, Giant, Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, and Ice Station Zebra and played Stewart McMillan on McMillan & Wife, Brian Devlin on The Devlin Connection, and Daniel Reece on Dynasty) plays himself. Hugh Downs (shown on the left, announcer on the Jack Paar Tonight Show and long-time news host on Over Easy, 20/20, Live From Lincoln Center, and Today) plays himself. 

Season 12, Episode 19, "Julie London Show": Julie London (shown on the right, popular singer, starred in Nabonga, The Fat Man, and The George Raft Story and played nurse Dixie McCall on Emergency!) plays herself. Toni Marcus (violinist, composer, and teacher, composed the soundtrack for Summerspell, and performed the violin solo heard in the film An Officer and a Gentleman) plays herself as a 12-year-old autograph seeker. 

Season 12, Episode 20, "Alexander Hamilton Story": Jean Willes (shown on the left, appeared in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Ocean's 11, and Gypsy) plays mimeograph secretary Mamie and Elizabeth Hamilton. Ross Elliott (see "Police Station Show" above) returns as Jack's director Fred. Nancy Kulp (Pamela Livingstone on The Bob Cummings Show, Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies, Mrs. Gruber on The Brian Keith Show, and Mrs. Hopkins on Sanford and Son) plays script supervisor Jeannette. Gail Bonney (Goodwife Martin on Space Patrol and Madeline Schweitzer on December Bride) plays Elizabeth Hamilton's mother. Lester Matthews (Sir Dennis Nayland Smith on The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu and Fleming Pendleton on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays the Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr duel referee. 

Season 12, Episode 23, "Jack Goes Back Into Pictures": Billy Wilder (shown on the far right, Oscar-winning director who directed Ninotchka, Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd., Some Like It Hot, and The Apartment) plays himself. John Harmon (see "Jack Does Opera" above) plays a mailman.

Season 12, Episode 24, "Jack Is a Violin Teacher": Elvia Allman (Aunt Vera on I Married Joan, Jane on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Cora Dithers on Blondie, Mrs. Montague on The Bob Cummings Show, Elverna Bradshaw on The Beverly Hillbillies, and Selma Plout on Petticoat Junction) plays violin teacher Jack's wife Mabel. Barbara Pepper (Doris Ziffel on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction) plays wardrobe supervisor Maggie. Mary Treen (appeared in Babbitt, A Night at the Ritz, Love Begins at Twenty, and It's a Wonderful Life and played Emily Dodger on Willy and Hilda on The Joey Bishop Show) plays violin student's mother Mrs. Jameson. Herb Vigran (see "Jack Does Opera" above) plays violin student's father Mr. Tinmin. 

Season 12, Episode 25, "Modern Prison Sketch": Mickey Rooney (shown on the far left, starred in Captains Courageous, Boys Town, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Words and Music, Babyface Nelson, and Breakfast at Tiffany's as well as numerous Andy Hardy movies and played Mickey Mulligan on The Mickey Rooney Show, Mickey Grady on Mickey, Oliver Nugent on One of the Boys, Henry Dailey on The New Adventures of the Black Stallion, and Talbut on Kleo the Misfit Unicorn) plays himself and convict Killer Looney. Iris Adrian (appeared in Too Many Blondes, Career Girl, The Paleface, and G.I. Jane and played Dottie on The Ted Knight Show) plays a lunch counter waitress.  Ross Elliott (see "Police Station Show" above) returns as Jack's director Fred.  Alan Carney (played Mike Strager in a series of RKO comedies in the 1940s, appeared in The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Herbie Rides Again, and played Herbie on The Jean Carroll Show) plays counterfeiter Inky Green. Richard Reeves (Mr. Murphy on Date With the Angels) plays convict Muggsy McGurk. Larry J. Blake (played the unnamed jailer on Yancy Derringer and Tom Parnell on Saints and Sinners) plays new convict Stranger.

Season 13, Episode 3, "Phil Silvers Show": Phil Silvers (shown on the right, starred in You're in the Army Now, Top Banana, Lucky Me, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Boatniks, and The Strongest Man in the World and played Msgt. Ernest G. Bilko on The Phil Silvers Show, Harry Grafton on The New Phil Silvers Show, and Shifty Shafer on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays himself. Joe Flynn (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) plays Jack's barber. Gail Bonney (see "Alexander Hamilton Story" above) plays Jack's Aunt Sude.

Season 13, Episode 4, "Air Force Sketch": Raymond Burr (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on Perry Mason) plays himself. Roland Winters (played Charlie Chan in 6 feature films, appeared in Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, Follow the Sun, Cash McCall, and Blue Hawaii, and played J.R. Boone, Sr. in Meet Millie and Leonard J. Costello on My Brother the Angel) plays Air Force Gen. Sneed. Warren Vanders (Chuck Davis on Empire, Ben Crowley on Daniel Boone, and Brant on How the West Was Won) plays an Air Force pilot.

Season 13, Episode 5, "Lawrence Welk Show": Lawrence Welk (shown on the right, world renowned orchestra leader and host of The Lawrence Welk Show) plays himself. Madge Blake (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Real McCoys) plays Pasadena Jack Benny Fan Club President Nara. Jesslyn Fax (appeared in Rear Window, The Music Man, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, and The Love God? and played Angela Devon on Our Miss Brooks and Wilma Fritter on Many Happy Returns) plays her Vice President.

Season 13, Episode 6, "The Story of My Gang Comedy": Darla Hood (played Darla in 49 Our Gang shorts and appeared in Neighborhood House, Born to Sing, and The Bat, and was a regular on The Ken Murray Show) plays herself. Frances Mercer (starred in Crime Ring, Smashing the Rackets, The Mad Miss Manton, and There's Always Tomorrow and played Nurse Ann Talbot on Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal) plays Alfalfa's mother Mrs. Falfa. James Flavin (see "Ghost Town Western Sketch" above) plays a policeman. Benny Rubin (see "Ghost Town Western Sketch" above) plays a barber. 

Season 13, Episode 7, "Jack Plays Tarzan": Carol Burnett (shown on the left, regular cast member on The Garry Moore Show, host of The Carol Burnett Show and Carol and Company, and played Celia Howard on Stanley, Eunice Higgins on Mama's Family, Verla Grubbs on All My Children, and Theresa Stemple on Mad About You) plays herself. Peter Lupus (Willy Armitage on Mission: Impossible) plays Tarzan. Richard Peel (Mr. Withers on Family Affair) plays Jane's father.

Season 13, Episode 9, "Jack Meets a Japanese Agent": Romi Yamada (Japanese popular singer) plays herself. Jack Soo (starred in Flower Drum Song, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, and The Green Berets and played Rockwell Sin on Valentine's Day and Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana  on Barney Miller) plays her agent. Mel Blanc (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Flintstones) plays a microphone boom man. The Rocky Fellers (Filipino-born quintet and Scepter Records recording artists who had a hit with "Killer Joe" in 1963) play themselves.

Season 13, Episode 10, "Bob Hope Show": Bob Hope (shown on the right, legendary comedian who starred in Road to Singapore, Road to Zanzibar, My Favorite Blonde, My Favorite Brunette, The Paleface, and Bachelor in Paradise) plays himself. 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 Make Room for Daddy, and Oscar Pudney on The Ann Sothern Show) plays talent agent Weber. Iris Adrian (see "Modern Prison Sketch" above) plays his secretary. Duke Johnson (juggler who appeared in Swing Fever, Texas Carnival, and Spartacus) plays a juggler. 

Season 13, Episode 11, "Jack Referees a Wrestling Match": Ruth Berle (shown third from left, wife of Milton Berle) plays herself. Anne Douglas (shown fourth from left, wife of Kirk Douglas) plays herself. Eden Hartford (shown second from left, wife of Groucho Marks) plays herself. Evelyn Patrick (shown on the far left, wife of Phil Silvers) plays herself. Maudie Prickett (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Hazel) plays Jack's secretary Miss Gordon. Roy Rowan (announcer on The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, Falcon Crest, and Dallas) plays a photographer. Billy Varga (professional wrestler who won the light heavyweight title in 1941) plays himself. Gene LeBell (professional wrestler and national judo champion) plays himself.

Season 13, Episode 12, "Jack and the Crying Cab Driver": Louis Nye (shown on the right, starred in Sex Kittens Go to College, The Facts of Life, The Stripper, and Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? and played Dr. Delbert Gray on The Ann Sothern Show, Sonny Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies, Harry Karp on Needles and Pins, and Jeff Greene's father on Curb Your Enthusiasm) plays a crying cab driver. Mel Blanc (see "Jack Meets a Japanese Agent" above) plays a Mexican named Sy. Bill Mumy (Will Robinson on Lost in Space, Weaver on Sunshine, and Lennier on Babylon 5) plays a young boy obsessed with weighing himself. Alice Backes (Vickie on Bachelor Father) plays his mother. Hank Brandt (Leonard Waggedorn on Julia, Morgan Hess on Dynasty, and Dr. Aaron Kranzler on Santa Barbara) plays young lover Bill. 

Season 13, Episode 13, "The Story of the New Talent Show": Mel Blanc (see "Jack Meets a Japanese Agent" above) plays animal impressionist Mr. Finque. Bernie Kopell (shown on the left, played Siegfried on Get Smart, Jerry Bauman on That Girl, Louie Palucci on The Doris Day Show, Charlie Miller on Needles and Pins, Alan-a-Dale on When Things Were Rotten, Dr. Adam Bricker on The Love Boat, and voiced Baron von Butcher, Creto, and Wang Fu on Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp) plays marksman Alberto Rinadli. Madge Blake (see "Lawrence Welk Show" above) plays Tillie, President of the Jack Benny Fan Club, Pasadena Chapter. Jesslyn Fax (see "Lawrence Welk Show" above) plays her Vice President Emma.

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.