The Case of the Mason Marathon

KDOC will pay tribute to the old L.A. law--when the cases were more important than the lawyers’ love life-with a “Perry Mason” marathon on Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

But not only “Perry Mason” fans should stay tuned. There are enough unusual episodes to hold just about anyone’s interest.

“The Case of the Deadly Verdict” (3 p.m.), the only one that Mason lost, is a must-see, of course. (Don’t expect anyone to go to the gas chamber, however.) The other noteworthy episodes include “The Case of the Twice Told Twist” (6 p.m.) from 1966, the only one filmed in color.

Bette Davis is the “guest lawyer” in 1963’s “The Case of Constant Doyle” (2 p.m.), one of four episodes filmed while series star Raymond Burr was ill.

The marathon wraps up with the series’ last episode, “The Case of the Final Fadeout” (7 p.m.), guest starring Dick Clark, from 1966. The murder takes place on the set of a TV series, which gives each member of the production crew an excuse to have a bit part. Even Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner has a role-as the second judge.