The idea of Perry Mason began as a book by Erle Stanley Gardner. The name Perry Mason goes back to Gardner’s childhood, when he used to read the magazine called Youth’s companion, famously known for producing the original Pledge of Alliance.
Copy of the Youth's Companion: Inspiration for Mason
Owned by the Perry Mason Company, he used the magazine owner as an inspiration for his protagonist. Gardner spent more that twenty years practicing law in California and therefore was able to attribute his knowledge to his character. The character first appeared in nearly eighty novels and short stories
The books then turned into a popular TV series that was produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957- to May 1966. The show ran for nine seasons and 271 episodes on CBS. It is known as“televisions most successful and longest running lawyer series”. After cancelation, a radio series was created and then a second spinoff television series was created. The radio series was fifteen minutes long and continued under the name Edge of Night because Gardner did not approve.
Sample from radio show
The series also stared Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, and Ray Collins. Its theme song was Park Avenue Beat. The show was done on location in and around Culver City and a few downtown locales. Examples can including being able to see Los Angeles City Hall and the Hall of Justice.