THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 30, 2025 Page 3 New mural on the bike path honors the work of Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason “I think crime pays. It keeps coming back, like a bad penny.”Erle Stanley Gardner By Joy Pearson A s you bicycle, run, or walk along the Bike to the Sea bike path, you’re in for a surprise. A new mural celebrating the world-famous Perry Mason author, Malden native-born Erle Stanley Gardner, has been added to two existing murals on the trail near the Main Street intersection. The new mural was unveiled by Malden Arts on May 19 in a celebration of both the mural and the extraordinary person it honors. Malden Arts was formed in 2006 and has made public art its focus since 2016. Board member Sharon Santillo said, “public art is truly uplifting for all in the fense lawyer featured in the early television series of the same name. Dorothy B Hughes, his biographer, said Gardner was “one of the wealthiest mystery writers and most widely-read authors of his time.” His life’s work, as champion of the underdog, also had a significant impact on the U.S. criminal justice system. Erle Stanley Gardner was born in 1889, in Malden, Massachusetts. At age 10, he and his family moved west following his father’s profession of mining engineering. Gardner’s schooling was MURAL | SEE PAGE 14 If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! The Malden Public Library's copy of the "The Court of Last Resort." The library holds copies of many of Gardner's novels. (Photo by Joy Pearson) There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Gardner was born at 5 Dale St. in Malden (pictured, left) He moved to 24 Bowers Ave. (pictured, right), in a home (purportedly built by his grandfather), when he was 3 years old and lived there until he was 10. (Photos courtesy of Neighborhood View) community.” The group commissioned a series of murals throughout the city which feature famous artists and other notable figures who hail from Malden. Past murals have celebrated the work of Ed Emberley, Norman Greenbaum, Frank Stella, Keith Knight and the five Malden Wonder Women. To commission the new mural, Santillo contacted former Malden firefighter Fred Seager, a local artist and co-founder of the Malden Sketch Group in 1995, which is still operating today. Over the years, Seager has painted a series of murals inside Malden’s district firehouses. Seager liked the idea of doing a mural of Gardner and said, “I started looking at some Perry Mason book Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines Erle Stanley Gardner as judge and William Talman as District Attorney, in one of the last Perry Mason’s television shows. (From Pinterest, posted by Jim Davidson) covers” to add “colorful fun along the bike path.”The City of Malden provided funding. In case you wonder who Erle Stanley Gardner was, he is best known as the creator of Perry Mason, a fictional criminal de• P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available
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