Perry Mason Theme

[01JollyRancher01]

This theme was named " Park Avenue Beat " written for the show by Fred Steiner and

Richard Shores. And William Hopper was the son of Hedda Hopper, a noted Hollywood gossip columnist at the time.

[snoops71]

Awesome theme, very dramatic. Sort of scary, too :)

[fromthesidelines]

This opening title is from "The Case of the Barefaced Witness" [March 18, 1961], an original teleplay by Robert C. Dennis, featuring Enid James, Russ Conway, Adam West, Joesphine Hutchinson and Paul Fix as guest stars. Fred Steiner wrote the theme...

[pixiepancake]

Barbara Hale was one cool chick! Also, I liked the way the characters all showed each other respect; there was no yelling, name calling, etc.

[raymondlwyatt]

OMFG... it scared the crap out of me when I was little too. I thought I was the only one. hahahhahahhahahhahahhahha

[crescentmooncomics]

LOL! THe Dark Shadows opening scared me!

[top40lives]

William Hopper wasn't Dennis Hopper's father...He WAS, however, the father of William Katt ("The Greatest American Hero"), who played Paul Drake, Jr. in the Perry Mason TV movies in the 80's and 90's. Yes, these were the scariest opening titles, much scarier than the ones with Perry looking in his files and getting the s**t eating grin. Even scarier: The closing CBS slide with the eye wallpaper and the statue of justice, which they did for all their dramas, I think, in the early 60s.

[KCOliver1960]

@top40lives Wrong. Willaim Hopper was the son of then gossip queen Hedda Hopper. Barbara Hale (Della Street) is the real life mother of the Greatest American Hero. Katt was just playing the character of Drake's son.

[ftsjr]

The best lawyer TV show EVER. I still enjoy watching the episodes, whenever some channel runs them. Before Perry Mason, Raymond Burr played nothing but bad guys.

[spceman]

Wow...so glad to know i wasn't the only kid scared witless by this music!

[retroman84]

First the model then live action turning him into a animated still inside of lady justice's sword how scary can it be?

[MrDavidKenney]

When I was a little kid, My Mother used to see this beginning of Perry Masen and she would sigh, and say,,,,Oooooh, He can put his shoes under her beed ANYTIME.

[kondo337]

Me too,I always changed the channel and would laugh at myself.It seemed that something bad was going to happen.Da da da da da da da daa da da,Ish

[jmm1233]

so very noir

[spanishlake]

Whenever I picture what a lawyer should look like, I always think of Raymond Burr as Perry Mason.

[pbanta62]

When I was a kid and my parents turned this show on, I used to run for my bed and hide under the covers, afraid if I didn't before the whole blind justice "monster" appeared on the screen it would see me and "get me"! Consequently, my parents loved this show because they could count on it getting me to bed on time at least once a week. :D

[Ahmedabdelreheem]

it may sound as a silly or strange question; but what does this music mean? Purely...what could be its aim or main feelings ?

[karolynruffin1]

@Ahmedabdelreheem I think the aim is to make you feel the drama. The gunshot... the woman crying "but I didn't kill him, I tell you, I didn't!"... the mounting evidence against her in the case...and at the end the leading away of the real culprit, Mr. quiet nice guy, who was not so nice after all, but someone given to vengeance, usually in the mishandling of a business related deal. I never thought the music was scary, until now. I guess it could have been, for a kid.

[loves2shred]

What an interesting time to be alive. Everything was so genuine and fresh. Things are so stale now. Now its all about Facebook, apps and 3d movies. All cool, mind you, but where does it stop???

[PupuTheClown]

,,to much instant access, kids no longer buy records, tapes, and now CDs for music, which are way better in quality (except tapes) but no more album cover art, just something instant and quick, just implant a chip in your brain with millions of worthless songs, and don't just play them there, download everything into your brain in a millisecond from the chip when you want to experience it, then your bored and on to the next thing,,,,,death ?,,,lol

[JubalCalif]

This intro number to "Perry Mason" (which ran on the CBS TV network from 1957 to 1966) is my favorite televison theme song. Raymond Burr was one of my favorite actors...and "Perry Mason" is my favorite TV show of all time. THANK YOU very much for posting this...brings back LOTS of wonderful memories!!! :)

[TheButterflygarden]

Love Perry Mason!!!!!  Love the Perry Mason theme song!!!! Thank you Raymond:):)

[soulbrotha63]

This theme music used to scare the crap outta me when I was kid! I hated it at the time. And for some reason it seemed to be LOUDER than any other tv show theme. I used to scramble to either turn it down, change the channel or get the hell out of the room!

[narutofightindreamer]

Yeah the same here. This particular opening with the cardboard cutout Judge and Lawyer really used to freak me out as well too.

[dearmalika]

Me gustan los libros de Erley Stanley Gardner y la serie !

[estelle715]

One of the best written series of all time!

[ALEXMAX52]

che ricordi in bianco e neroì

[seeingthesigns]

The Blues Brothers did a funny satire of this song on their second album, 'Made in America'.

Dan Aykroyd did the vocals.

[brianboitano]

Holy shit this is epic.

[wigglywoman]

I like to know how many times Lt Tragg was sued for arresting the wrong people?They never did followup shows on that.The man was so old if he tried to get into a fight with a young guy he would be dead.

[wigglywoman]

I bet if he was for real Governor Mark Sanford will definetly be needing his services for the mess he is in with his wife.

[jemjean]

My father loved this show. He'd watch reruns in the 80s, when he came home for lunch. It's a nice memory for me. But I always thought it was too hammy. Raymond Burr was impressive though.

[jstagrl22]

LOL! My Grandpa watched this show every single day at lunchtime also. Its the only reason I even know what it is. I used think it was so funny when I was a kid, how dated it was you know? But now I kind of miss it. :-)

[jemjean]

Don't worry. It will be back on some retro station some day.

[diapertom2001]

I like this opening the best, But it scared to death as a kid!!

[pbanta62]

Tell me about it! When I heard this theme on the tv in the front room, I hid under the covers afraid I'd die if I heard the whole thing. Not only that, the "blind justice" characature at the then end of the credits looked like a damned ghost and I had nightmares about the "Perry Mason Monster" coming after me!

[diapertom2001]

Yea it was scary to me.

Although I never thought there was a Perry Mason Monster, Maybe I should have!!

[dirtyguitarplayer610]

I was scared of the opening also.Guess I wasn't alone!!!!!!!!!

[dannysallstarjoint]

When I heard the theme play on the t.v., it was more scary than Twilight Zone. And, Twilight Zone was scary enough.

[TheZ58]

@diapertom2001 ...good to know I wasn't the only one this theme and images scared to death as little boy! I used to cover my eyes...

[diapertom2001]

I like this opening the best, Although when I was a kid this intro used to scare me to death!!

[brianstillwater]

He was gay

[inkey2]

to brianstillwater: yes, that is true he was gay. I have not read the latest book about him but I plan to, I am a big Perry Mason fan. I really loved detective "Paul Drakes" life style....always with a cigarette and always wearing a loud checked suit. Trivia: Paul Dake (william hopper) is the father of :Dennis Hopper of "blue Velvet & easy rider" fame.

[orsetto1985]

eccezionale... un bellissimo telefilm... purtroppo tende a finire nel dimenticatoio