On September 21, 1957, Perry Mason premiered on CBS, beginning a television run that would make it one of the most enduring legal dramas in American broadcasting. Adapted from Erle Stanley Gardner’s immensely popular detective novels, the series followed a brilliant Los Angeles defense attorney who took on seemingly impossible criminal cases—most often involving clients accused of murder.
Raymond Burr starred in the iconic title role, joined by Barbara Hale as Perry Mason’s loyal secretary, Della Street, and William Hopper as private investigator Paul Drake. The program quickly became a prime-time success, combining mystery plotting, investigative work, and courtroom drama in a formula that audiences embraced.
A typical episode began with a crime and a collection of plausible suspects, then built toward Mason’s methodical defense of an apparently doomed client. While Drake uncovered crucial evidence outside the courtroom, Mason used careful questioning and dramatic cross-examination to expose contradictions in testimony—often leading to the identification of the actual culprit.
The original CBS series ran for nine seasons, from 1957 to 1966, and produced 271 episodes. Its memorable theme music, distinctive opening titles, and Raymond Burr’s composed portrayal of Mason helped establish a model for the television legal drama. Decades later, the series remains a major part of television history and a lasting symbol of the classic courtroom mystery.
The September 21 premiere marked an important moment in the expansion of postwar television, demonstrating the popularity of intelligent, recurring mystery stories built around a compelling central character and a reliable dramatic structure.
