The Case of the Singing Skirt

Good episode, but not great. Main drawback is that most of the action takes place off-screen and is just explained by dialogue after the fact. What I love most about this episode is the representation of old LA. As of this writing, the Hollywood Center Motel off Sunset Blvd, where Betty holed up, apparently is still standing. Amazing considering what a relic it looked like in 1960.

The peek into gambling in 1960 Rowena, CA, (based on teal-life Gardena) is interesting.

Classic cars in action too.

This story is based on an Erle Stanley Gardner novel and has some nice Perry shenanigans, to Burger's chagrin.

Unfortunately this episode is relatively hard to find because it is one of several not available on Amazon Prime/FreeVee (where I normally watch Perry) nor on Paramount+. I was able to record it off of MeTV on cable.

Aspiring singer Joan O'Brien is the Singing Skirt and the one who needs Perry Mason's help. Even before she's arrested for murder she comes to him seeking help because she witnessed what she thinks might have been a crooked card game in the club she works in as a cigarette girl. The club owner slaps her around to obtain information.

If you remember the classic Bogey/Bacall The Big Sleep and how Bogart came on to Bacall paying off a blackmailer then you have some idea of what the plot is. Instead of a blackmailer a woman is taking her husband to the cleaners courtesy of her boyfriend. It the wife that winds up the corpse.

Remembering The Big Sleep I had this one figured out and that's my rule regarding Perry Mason episodes.

"Get away from me! I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you how I killed her!" Good grief, I thought the writing an dialogue on PM was always quite poor. This epi is a new low! (at least Allison Hayes is here to provide a visual treat).

The usual poor directing , and even Burr's acting is on the ridiculous side here. The confession scene was a good laugh, anyway.

While the main plot of the Singing Skirt is the classic who done it of the Mason series, of which the unwitting exchange of guns is a part, there is also an underlying theme to the story. That theme, in perhaps its simplest terms, is the respect and appreciation of a capable woman. To George Anclitas, owner of the Big Barn Casino, Betty Roberts is a mere cigarette girl to be used and abused by him like a piece of property. This segment first aired in 1960 when women weren't as prevalent in the workplace. However, Betty has two gentlemen coming to her rescue, Perry in defending her against the murder charge and Manning, her boyfriend and husband of the victim, providing her both monetary and moral support in her defense. I might be reading into the plot a little, but I believe Betty is one of those capable people in life, who, when given a little boost, achieve their potential. There is a certain virtue at the end of the segment when Manning and Betty embrace with Perry commenting to Della that he likes everyone to be happy.