The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse

The 15th episode of the first season of Perry Mason was the farewell performance of young Judy Tyler recently of Broadway, Elvis Presley and the Howdy Doody Show. She had one bright promising career and on this Perry Mason episode she showed a lot of verve and style as a Sally Rand like fan dancer.

It would almost seem like he's ambulance chasing but Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale are in fact just driving along and they witness an accident. That leads the whole crew into a story involving a stolen quarter horse, an estranged husband, and two women who look somewhat alike, one of whom is married to the estranged husband and becomes Burr's client and the other is Judy Tyler.

The story is a confused one, but this show breaks the paradigm somewhat in that the real perpetrator isn't discovered at trial. Burr knows who it is, but he lets William Talman figure it out on his own.

For a 9 year old late of the Howdy Doody Show by a few years the death of Princess Summerfallwinterspring was quite the childhood trauma. Judy really steals this Perry Mason show from the rest of the cast.

Oh for the days when fan dancers were the pinnacle of titulation! It really makes for some rather charming exchanges! It also allows one woman to wield short shorts like a weapon!

So obvious, the producers here were trying to keep up with 77 SUNSET STRIP -- lovely women, fast cars, jazzy music and homicide. What a trip.

Written by Stirling Silliphant, creator of NAKED CITY and ROUTE 66, yes, having some dark fun. In a twist of twists, a ranch is robbed by someone on horseback? Not too long after, Perry and Della happen upon a car accident near the ranch, collecting some interesting bits and pieces, like ostrich feathers?

Rather cleverly, Perry places an ad in the local paper concerning the items, and sure enough there are some responders, like the owner of the ranch, Mr. Callender (Hugh Sanders) and a fan dancer? Incidentally, all those concerned think Perry has a horse stashed somewhere? It gets even better when it turns out there's TWO fan dancers, Susan Cummings (as Lois) and Judy Tyler (as Chi Chi), who supposedly look very much alike. Poetic Perry Mason license.

Complicating the camp coincidence, Callender is murdered in a most unsual way -- by Japanese sword -- and the ladies have some questions to answer. Don't miss Chi Chi's leotards(!), and was that done to catch the producers of 77SS off guard? Sure looks that way.

On a tragic note, Judy Tyler and her husband were both killed in a car accident shortly after this episode, ending a promising career. Tyler had just finished appearing with Elvis in JAILHOUSE ROCK, and Presley became so depressed he was hesitant in seeing the film when it was released.

Tyler is complimented by B film actress Susan Cummings. Movie and tv buffs will appreciate Hugh Sanders, often seen on RAWHIDE and the LONE RANGER. Minerva Urecal, soon to co-star in PETER GUNN, plays the landlady, a role she mastered for years.

PS; The password is Palomino. Seconded by Chi Chi.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 15 remastered CBS dvd box set. For ultra fans, all nine seasons are on dvd in a single mega box. Worth the price.

This is a lesser Mason episode where Paul and Perry are driving around when a car tips over when passed by a hot rodding car. This leads to a fan dancer and a valuable horse and a murder. Also a case of mistaken identity. It's a little bit disjointed.

In the first few minutes of this early 'Perry Mason' episode we have some very interesting things happen. We witness a burglary, a shooting, a car wreck, finding a fan-dancer's props and get a man complaining about a horse. We fasten our seat belts cause we know we are in for a wild ride.

But then we slow way down when the story hinges on two beautiful women that look almost alike and have the same occupation. Unless you are keen to the subtle differences in each women it can get confusing. Both women are going by the name Lois Felton- so when someone is talking about Lois- is it the real Lois or the other Lois? At times i was confused to which Lois went to a room at 2am and when the other Lois went at 220am.

The time is critical since Lois's (one of them)ex-husband is found murdered and it seems everyone in the cast went to see the dead guy from about 2am till 245am. And this was again confusing when you have people's testimony in the courtroom scenes.

Even with the lag in the middle of the episode it comes together in the end to make it an enjoyable watch. Along the way we get good banner from Lt Tragg and regular frustration from Hamilton Burger. There is also this one scene when a police detective fails to notify the DA that two line-ups were used. The detective was so embarrassed that he tried to flee the courtroom. That was odd.

Could have been better but it passes the mark.

Note- Last TV show for Judy Tyler. She had died in a car wreck on July 3rd 1957- five months before the episode aired on December 28th.