Perry Mason: The case of the silent black judge AKA The case of the skeleton's closet

Perry Mason episodes are revealing

I have been binge-watching episodes of Perry Mason on Freevee television for two weeks and watching at 11:30 PM weeknights on MeTV for the past two years. I am enjoying seeing my favorite actors on the show during their younger years and at times I learn things I did not previously know. Last night I saw the episode titled The case of the skeleton's closet for the first time and was stunned to see the judge was African American.

The next thing I observed was that he did not speak one time during the entire episode. The judge is portrayed by Vince Townsend and can be seen several times in the background as Perry (Raymond Burr) and District Attorney Hamilton Burger (William Talmon) interrogate the various witnesses. There is one scene where the judge is alone on screen for just a few moments in a closeup.

This judge was out of order

On Perry Mason the judges always interact with the lawyers and those who are on the witness stand. They examine the evidence, call for breaks or ask for order in the court. Towsend's character simply watched as Mason and Burger carried on with their duties and it was as if he were not even there.

I don't recall anyone in the courtroom even acknowledging "his honor" and found it odd to not hear a judge at least once banging his gavel or saying "sustained or overruled." Clearly this judge was o ut of order based on others that sat on the bench on the crime drama series.

Art imitates life

There were very few black actors on Perry Mason and most times on 1960s television black people were in servant roles. The episode The case of the skeleton's closest aired on October 2 1963 but Thurgood Marshall did not become the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court as a justice until 1967. Ironically Towsend once was roommates with the late judge Marshall so life imitated the art that played out on television.

This leaves me with questions that may never be answered. Who came up with the idea of a black judge and why did he remain silent? Was he a window dressing to prove the series did not discriminate and was he not given any lines out of fear of haters?

Perry Mason fans may not have been comfortable with a black male in such a position of authority during that era even if it was only TV. Some people might have been offended by Towsend's character ordering Burger and Mason around. There is also a possibility that someone knew Townsend's aspirations and allowed him to play the part that he would one day have in real-time.

Vincent Towsend facts

There is no information online that sheds light on the subject but an article on Reel Rundown by Ronald Franklin on May 29th of this year is where I borrowed the phrase: The case of the silent black judge. Like myself, the author just happened to see the episode of Perry Mason with the African American judge and wrote his article using the alternate title and I am thankful for it.

Vincent Towsend Jr. was born on April 12, 1906, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was also known by Vince Monroe Townsend, Vince Townsend, Vince Monroe Townsend Jr., and Vince M. Townsend Jr. He became the first African-American Attorney in Los Angeles, California, was an Honorable Reverend/Minster at First AME Church, LA and also became a Municipal Court Judge.

The actor's other roles include Never Wave at a WAC (1953), Porgy and Bess (1959), and Weird Science (1985). He passed away on October 16, 1997, at age 91 in Los Angeles, California, Truly Vincent Towsend was an unsung hero and deserves to be recognized for his accomplishments. Kudos for those behind the scenes of Perry Mason for taking a chance during a time when the decision to use a black man could have brought much controversy.

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