Boston Blackie| Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Mystery Dramas cover art

Boston Blackie| Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Mystery Dramas

Boston Blackie| Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Mystery Dramas

By: Adam Graham
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About this listen

 Boston Blackie was created by writer Jack Boyle as a jewel thief and safecracker with a heart of gold. The character was featured in nine silent films. In 1941, Blackie returned to film in the era of talkies.

Much like the Saint, the character reformed from a thief into a detective. Blackie was always Inspector Farraday’s prime suspect in any major crime. The films were very popular with fourteen films made starring Chester Morris.

Morris brought Blackie to the radio in a summer replacement radio series for NBC in 1944. Then in 1945, first-run syndication king Frederick Ziv created a new series starring Broadway Actor Richard Kollmar as Blackie and featuring the best talent in New York radio.

The series was the most successful first-run syndication program of its era, producing 288 episodes of which at least 190 are in circulation.Ziv took the series to television in 1951 for two syndicated series featuring Kent Taylor as Blackie.

Throughout his many iterations in the 1940s, Blackie remained a clever crime-solver whose past gave him a slight edge and made him a bit of a lovable rogue who fought on the side of the angels. He was the type of guy you wanted in your corner when the chips were down. “Enemy to those who make him an enemy. Friend to those who have no friend.”

Host Adam Graham presents every circulating old time radio episode of Boston Blackie with episodes starring Chester Morris and later Richard Kollmar.

This was originally presented as part of the Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio podcast.
Copyright Adam Graham Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • Boston Blackie: The Cy Gardner Murder

    Boston Blackie: The Cy Gardner Murder
    Mar 22 2018
    Original Release Date: March 22, 2018

    A man calls Blackie for help and tells him to take a bus to the country. On the bus, a woman with a gun forces Blackie off the bus.

    Original Air Date: April 1, 1946

    Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Give us a call 208-991-4783

    Become one of our friends on Facebook.

    Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Boston Blackie: Blackie Framed for Horse Room Thefts

    Boston Blackie: Blackie Framed for Horse Room Thefts
    Mar 15 2018
    Original Release Date: March 15, 2018

    A man decides to commit a series of robberies of horse racing betting rooms and frame Boston Blackie for it.

    Original Air Date: March 25, 1947

    Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Give us a call 208-991-4783

    Become one of our friends on Facebook.

    Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Boston Blackie: The ‘Sam Fisher' Murder

    Boston Blackie: The ‘Sam Fisher' Murder
    Jan 9 2026
    Original Release Date: March 8, 2018

    One of the city’s best-dressed men doesn’t remember his past and then turns to Blackie for help. He takes a cab after meeting with Blackie and the cabbie turns up dead.

    Original Air Date: March 18, 1947

    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    Give us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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