Archive includes 7 typed letters signed by Erle Stanley Gardner, plus 1 typescript of a Memo. Each letter is on his personal letterhead, from Rancho del Paisano in Temecula, California. Letters include: 2 pp. letter dated July 12, 1951 about some business he had with Jack Simpson, a British Radio Actor. He speaks at length however, about a TV post-game show appearance by Gail Patrick Jackson, and voices his opinions about technical aspects of the TV production, things that would come into play later when he would form Paisano Productions and produce the TV show Perry Mason. * 2 pp. letter dated July 27, 1951. The letter begins with some business about Perry Mason, then moves on to his point of view about trailer life and ESG's wanderlust. He very often had a wagon of trailers out on the road, filled with typewriters and secretaries, kitchens and living areas. He spent a good amount of time on the road getting away from society and enjoying nature. In this letter he recommends Corney to "drift into Oregon and Washington during the summer." * 1 pp. letter dated July 30, 1951 about several sponsors of the Perry Mason Radio program. At bottom in ink, he writes, "P.S. Thayer says okay - so go ahead," regarding an approval for a sponsor. Thayer Hobson was ESG's representative from Morrow and Co. The company still represents all of ESG's books. * 3 pp. letter addressed to Corney and Gail [Patrick Jackson], actress and wife of Corney, dated December 21, 1953. Probably the most important letter of this group, it shows the trepidation ESG had in trying to find a proper format for the production of Perry Mason for the new medium of TV. The idea of using numerous writers had not been done in any prior productions. The thought of creating one Perry Mason story, each week, for a 29 episode season was just overwhelming, and ESG lays out his concerns. The Proctor & Gamble show was Perry Mason radio show mentioned in pages 2 and 3. * 2 pp. letter dated April 5, 1954 regarding Corney's recent run-in with the LAPD. He also speaks of phone calls (which are recorded, and which he sent to Corney) between ESG and Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek. Gene wanted to get notes about writing for TV and radio shows. ESG was pivotal in Gene's process, and helped transform him from a writer for the LAPD, to a writer for TV. * 1 pp. letter dated April 6, 1954. Attached are 4 typescript copies of letters from ESG to Worthington Miner, plus a copy of Miner's letter to ESG, and a TLs from Paul B. Radin to Cornwell Jackson. The letter to Corney is a short note to read the attached material, which largely pertains to the dealings of pre-production on the Perry Mason TV show. * 2 pp. letter dated July 12, 1954. Attached is a typescript copy of ESG's response to Miss Elizabeth Gyring, plus 4 pp. letter from Elizabeth Gyring to ESG about an opera she created from a Perry Mason book. Also in ESG's letter he writes to Corney, "I'd like to get together with you and I am annoyed that you are keeping your children out of my life," and talks about how his example will serves as what not to do for the kids. * A 2 pp. typescript memo from ESG on onion paper, dated February 6, 1954. Addressed to Willis Kingsley Wing, William Morrow & Company, Thayer Hobson and Company. The memo addresses how he feels about the commission structure in regards to the new TV series, his current radio show, and the proceeds from his book sales and reprints. He also talks about how he has realized that to make a TV show of his high standards, he needs to be very involved in the supervision of all elements. Shortly thereafter he formed Paisano Productions with his partners Cornwell Jackson and wife Gail Patrick Jackson. Gail went on to become Executive Producer, and ESG oversaw the script factory, running a good sized stable of writers.
An important archive of letters from the creator of Perry Mason, Erle Stanley Gardner to his literary agent, friend, and later partner in the television production company, Paisano Productions. The letters, dating from 1951-1954, show the trepidation, preparation, and creative inspiration surrounding the creation of the television show based on Gardner's hit novels about lawyer-detective Perry Mason. The show launched on CBS in 1957. Warner Brothers is currently in the planning stages of adapting Perry Mason into a motion picture starring Robert Downey Jr. Provenance: The Cornwell Jackson Family Estate.