Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington
Seattle, Washington (May 2018)
One of my favorite Old Time Radio series is Boston Blackie. These crime stories always leave the police, especially Police Inspector Farraday, frustrated and befuddled. But to the rescue is Boston Blackie - who always solves the crime and saves the day. Each of episodes starts the same way - with this phrase that says everything you need to know about Boston Blackie:
"Enemy of those who make him an enemy,
friend to those who have no friend."
Remember that phrase! Boston Blackie moves effortlessly on both sides of the law, but is primarily interested in doing what is right. If that means working with the police, then so be it! The character was created by author Jack Boyle, Boston Blackie was a safecracker who served time in prison before turning his attention to making things right. The most well known episodes were syndicated by Frederic W. Ziv to Mutual and other networks after World War II. Staring in the role as Boston Blackie was Richard Kollmar. Mary Wesley (his constant companion) was played by Jan Miner. Maurice Tarplin plays Police Inspector Farraday, who starts off most episodes with the belief that no matter what the crime was, Blackie was involved. Tarplin is also know as the voice of the Mysterious Traveler and The Strange Dr. Weird.
Stolen Rare Book on Boston Blackie (September 3, 1946)
Here are some links to programs relating to Old Time Radio and Boston Blackie:
- Boston Blackie episodes via the Internet Archive
- Boston Blackie on Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
- Boston Blackie from Thrilling Detective site
- Boston Blackie (on The Digital Deli)
- Boston Blackie info (mostly on movies, TV and stories)
- Boston Blackie Novel Audio Book
- Boston Blackie 1919 Novel by James Boyle (via Munseys)
- Boston Blackie scripts from Generic Radio Workshop
Librarians on Old Time Radio
Old Time Radio Links and Older Blog Posts
- All my OTR blog posts
- Corey's African Americans on Old Time Radio Entries
- Corey's American History Entries
- Corey's Baseball Entries
- Corey's Christmas Entries
- Corey's Food Entries
- Corey's Librarian Entries
- Corey's Lighthouse Entries
- Corey's Your World Adventure Awaits Entries - I want to get this going again in 2019
- Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148)
- Old Time Radio Drama (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library
- Digital Deli Online
- Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Site