Perry Mason in Ventura
Did you know Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner used to practice law in Ventura? Gardner had an office in a stately downtown buildiing and walked a couple of blocks to the courthouse to try cases, while writing a few of the earliest tales of the defense lawyer in his office. On my visit to Ventura, I photographed a plaque on that office building, which has been renamed in honor of Gardner.
Perry Mason used to be hugely popular in Gardner's series of 80 (!) novels as well as in movies, radio and the Raymond Burr TV drama. Like a lot of mid-century mystery novelists, Gardner, who died in Temecula in 1970, seems to have faded from public consciousness. I tried reading one of his Masons during my mystery-reading phase of childhood but didn't get far, which was probably my fault, not his.
You can read more about him here.
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A journalist for more than two decades, David Allen has been writing a column for the Daily Bulletin since 1997 and blogging since 2007.He lives in Claremont.
E-mail David here or read columns here.
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I have been reading his series all year! I think I am on book 20 or so. I have also been reading other mid-century mystery writers such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Good Stuff!!!
[You've got good taste, G. -- DA]
Perry Mason was a regular in our home when I was growing up, from black and white to color. I’ve watched some reruns on cable stations and marvel at the mid-century naïveté. Would that the old days were still with us. Crime isn’t even straightforward anymore. Erle Stanley Gardner was another friend of Uncle Stan’s, who was also an attorney. I didn’t know Mr. Gardner practiced in Ventura. Keep reading; it will be worth it. Then catch some memory lane reruns.