Invented the modern legal procedural's comfort contract with the audience.
Why it matters
Episode guide
271 episodes across 9 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.
At a glance
Defense attorney Perry Mason, secretary Della Street, and investigator Paul Drake turn each case into a courtroom thriller with a last-minute reveal. The real killer almost always stands up under Mason’s cross-examination. It’s justice as weekly theater with Raymond Burr’s unflappable center.
Network & studio
- CBS — broadcast network
Why watch now
Ideal comfort procedural: clear stakes, elegant plotting, and the satisfaction of watching the system actually work — for once.
Cultural impact
Perry Mason invented the modern legal procedural’s audience contract: truth will out before the credits. Every network lawyer drama still borrows its courtroom-as-stage energy.
Creators
Erle Stanley Gardner
Key cast
- Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
- Barbara Hale as Della Street
- William Hopper as Paul Drake
- William Talman as Hamilton Burger
- Ray Collins as Lt. Arthur Tragg
Flash facts
- CBS legal drama based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s characters, airing September 21, 1957–May 22, 1966 (9 seasons, 271 episodes).
- Executive produced by Gail Patrick Jackson for Paisano Productions with CBS Television.
- Theme 'Park Avenue Beat' by Fred Steiner became closely associated with the series.
FAQ
Who played Perry Mason in the classic series?
Raymond Burr starred as defense attorney Perry Mason from 1957 to 1966.
What network aired the original series?
CBS carried the original nine-season run.
Who was Della Street?
Barbara Hale played Mason’s confidential legal secretary Della Street.
Cultural eras
Official & further reading
- HBO — Perry Mason (revival hub)
- CBS network
- Wikipedia
- IMDb search
- TMDB search
- YouTube — trailers & clips
External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.
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