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Blackstone the Magic Detective

The Hero used his knowledge of Illusions to prove that Mysteries were not magic. Follow Blackstone, Rhoda, and John's tales of adventure and how magic saved the day.

Blackstone Magic Detective

55 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 11 hours, 1873 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
11 Audio CDs


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"Organ Murder"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Mystery-trick show (1948-49)

Blackstone the MagicianAs much as skeptics would like to believe that "there ain't no such thing as Magic", we prefer to believe that there are, indeed, things in this world that simply are beyond explanation. Whether we choose to call these phenomena "Supernatural", "Works of Heaven", or simply "Mysteries That Have Yet to Be Solved" is beyond the scope of this forum. However, we would like to point out that every example of what is called "stage magic" is merely a demonstration of Illusion.

Many stage magicians try to convince their audience that the magic is, in fact, a demonstration of supernatural powers. More ethical showmen acknowledge that they deal in illusions with their show's attraction being the "how did he do that?" factor. A few illusionists, notably Harry Houdini, went to great lengths to debunk the claims of supposed "supernaturalists" (while jealously safeguarding the secrets of their own illusions).

The notion of a "magical detective" who solves crimes where the crook uses illusions should be familiar to Saturday Morning cartoon aficionados, especially fans of Hanna-Barbara's Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? However, the Scooby Gang was hardly the first crime-fighter to engage in this sort of hijinks. An example from the Golden Age of Radio is Blackstone, the Magic Detective.

Blackstone the magician advertisementThe program, which debuted on Mutual in October 1948, was based on the Blackstone, Master Magician comic book series by E.C. Stoner, one of the earliest African-American comic book artists and the creator of the iconic Planters "Mr. Peanut" mascot. Stoner's comic was based on the real magician, Harry Blackstone Sr. Blackstone was born in Chicago in 1885, and took his magic act from vaudeville to headlining his own traveling show. Considered one of "the last of the breed", Blackstone usually performed in a white tie and tails with several male and female assistants. Between tours, he lived on "Blackstone Island" near Colon, Michigan, where he opened a factory making cheap magical tricks with a partner, Australian magician Percy Abbott.

On the radio, Blackstone was played by Ed Jerome, whose character traveled with his assistant and sidekick Rhoda played by Fran Carlon, who got her start in radio doing commercial spots on Amos 'n' Andy. Rounding out Blackstone's "Scooby gang" was John, played by Ted Osborne. John's role was to express doubt and fright when the story needed them.

Blackstone the magician advertisement

The typical Sunday afternoon 15-minute broadcast would have Blackstone and Rhoda telling a story to John or one of the announcers where they would arrive at a mysterious location, discover some sort of frightening phenomenon which was upsetting the residents, and Blackstone figuring out what was causing the mystery. Of course, he would never come right out and tell everyone what the solution was, rather he would use his own powers of illusion to expose that week's bad guy.

One of the fun elements of the program was when Blackstone would perform a trick just before the last commercial break. Of course, illusions on the radio are notoriously unimpressive, but after the sponsor's message, Blackstone would reveal how the trick was done so that the audience could do it for their friends.

Harry Blackstone Sr. eventually moved to Los Angeles where he became a regular at the Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Ave in Hollywood. Blackstone passed away in November 1965, he was 80.

"I hope you all enjoyed that trick. And now this is Blackstone saying Good Magic and Good Bye."

For more magic shows, please see: Mandrake the MagicianChandu the MagicianMagic Collectionand Dunninger the Mentalist.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    14
    12     2


    COMMENTS

    Loved the collection.

    Randy Verified Purchase

    Short little adventures, only fifteen minutes long. Some of them are kind of a stretch. They're actually shorter than you think, because each one comes with an intro sequence where a friend asks Blackstone and his assistant about some tchotchke they have or a reference Rhoda makes, which can take a few minutes, and then there's the explanation and the magic trick at the end... Ultimately, the stories, which are always inevitably "another mystery solved by magic," mostly end up being about ten minutes or less. Some of them are predictable, but some of them ain't. The acting's good, the characters seem fun, it's mainly just the shortness of the stories that hurt the series. You get the feeling that the writers were trying hard to come up with unique problems and solutions that could be presented and solved in such a short amount of time. These stories're good if you've got a short trip to the store, or back and forth from work. If you're looking for something heavier to sink your teeth into, look somewhere else, but popcorn plays like this are fantastic if you just want something small to consume.

    Arlo Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    55 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 1873 min
    55 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 11 hours, 1873 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 55 shows – total playtime 11 hours, 31 minutes
    2. Blackstone 480715 00 AUD Riddle Talking Skull.mp3
    3. Blackstone 481003 01 Ghost That Trapped A Killer.mp3
    4. Blackstone 481010 02 Reluctant Buzzsaw.mp3
    5. Blackstone 481017 03 Emerald In Fish Bowl.mp3
    6. Blackstone 481024 04 Maharajahs Gold.mp3
    7. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy.mp3
    8. Blackstone 481107 06 Riddle Of Talking Skull.mp3
    9. Blackstone 481114 07 Whispering Buddah.mp3
    10. Blackstone 481121 08 Organ Murder.mp3
    11. Blackstone 481128 09 Ghost That Wasnt.mp3
    12. Blackstone 481205 10 Icy Touch.mp3
    13. Blackstone 481212 11 Underwater Death.mp3
    14. Blackstone 481219 12 Coins Of Confucius.mp3
    15. Blackstone 481226 13 Murder On Stage.mp3
    16. Blackstone 490102 14 Midway Robberies.mp3
    17. Blackstone 490109 15 Frozen Lady.mp3
    18. Blackstone 490116 16 Hooded Rider.mp3
    19. Blackstone 490123 17 Phantom Intermezzo.mp3
    20. Blackstone 490130 18 Vanishing Pearls.mp3
    21. Blackstone 490206 19 Curse Of Yogi.mp3
    22. Blackstone 490213 20 Coin Of Cleopatra.mp3
    23. Blackstone 490220 21 Hand Of Cagliostro.mp3
    24. Blackstone 490227 22 Message From Nowhere.mp3
    25. Blackstone 490306 23 Riddle Of Red Goose.mp3
    26. Blackstone 490313 24 Aztec Fire God.mp3
    27. Blackstone 490320 25 Missing Palmist.mp3
    28. Blackstone 490327 26 Ladder Of Wealth.mp3
    29. Blackstone 490403 27 Locked Book.mp3
    30. Blackstone 490410 28 Deathless Shots.mp3
    31. Blackstone 490417 29 Riddle Of Eight Ball.mp3
    32. Blackstone 490424 30 Cellini Statuette.mp3
    33. Blackstone 490501 31 Curse Of Kali.mp3
    34. Blackstone 490508 32 Footsteps In Night.mp3
    35. Blackstone 490515 33 Voodoo Treasure.mp3
    36. Blackstone 490522 34 Four Keys To Crime.mp3
    37. Blackstone 490529 35 Knife From Dark.mp3
    38. Blackstone 490605 36 Death In Crystal.mp3
    39. Blackstone 490612 37 Hindu Sword Cabinet.mp3
    40. Blackstone 490619 38 Face Of Death.mp3
    41. Blackstone 490626 39 Voice From Void.mp3
    42. Blackstone 490703 40 Bird Of Doom.mp3
    43. Blackstone 490710 41 Phantom Detective.mp3
    44. Blackstone 490717 42 Riddle Of Seven Zombies.mp3
    45. Blackstone 490724 43 Crime In Stars.mp3
    46. Blackstone 490731 44 Devils Cauldron.mp3
    47. Blackstone 490807 45 Ghost In Crypt.mp3
    48. Blackstone 490814 46 Accusing Corpse.mp3
    49. Blackstone 490821 47 Death Defying Death.mp3
    50. Blackstone 490828 48 Criminal Who Caught Himself.mp3
    51. Blackstone 490904 49 Vanishing Brooch.mp3
    52. Blackstone 490911 50 Crimes On A Merrygoround.mp3
    53. Blackstone 490918 51 Magic Writing.mp3
    54. Blackstone 491009 54 Mark Of Crime.mp3
    55. Blackstone 491016 55 Creeping Death.mp3
    56. Blackstone 500326 78 Gory Goldfish.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    55 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 1873 min
    55 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    169 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 31 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 55 shows – 169 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 31 minutes
    2. Blackstone 480715 00 AUD Riddle Talking Skull.mp3
    3. Blackstone 481003 01 Ghost That Trapped A Killer.mp3
    4. Blackstone 481010 02 Reluctant Buzzsaw.mp3
    5. Blackstone 481017 03 Emerald In Fish Bowl.mp3
    6. Blackstone 481024 04 Maharajahs Gold.mp3
    7. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy.mp3
    8. Blackstone 481107 06 Riddle Of Talking Skull.mp3
    9. Blackstone 481114 07 Whispering Buddah.mp3
    10. Blackstone 481121 08 Organ Murder.mp3
    11. Blackstone 481128 09 Ghost That Wasnt.mp3
    12. Blackstone 481205 10 Icy Touch.mp3
    13. Blackstone 481212 11 Underwater Death.mp3
    14. Blackstone 481219 12 Coins Of Confucius.mp3
    15. Blackstone 481226 13 Murder On Stage.mp3
    16. Blackstone 490102 14 Midway Robberies.mp3
    17. Blackstone 490109 15 Frozen Lady.mp3
    18. Blackstone 490116 16 Hooded Rider.mp3
    19. Blackstone 490123 17 Phantom Intermezzo.mp3
    20. Blackstone 490130 18 Vanishing Pearls.mp3
    21. Blackstone 490206 19 Curse Of Yogi.mp3
    22. Blackstone 490213 20 Coin Of Cleopatra.mp3
    23. Blackstone 490220 21 Hand Of Cagliostro.mp3
    24. Blackstone 490227 22 Message From Nowhere.mp3
    25. Blackstone 490306 23 Riddle Of Red Goose.mp3
    26. Blackstone 490313 24 Aztec Fire God.mp3
    27. Blackstone 490320 25 Missing Palmist.mp3
    28. Blackstone 490327 26 Ladder Of Wealth.mp3
    29. Blackstone 490403 27 Locked Book.mp3
    30. Blackstone 490410 28 Deathless Shots.mp3
    31. Blackstone 490417 29 Riddle Of Eight Ball.mp3
    32. Blackstone 490424 30 Cellini Statuette.mp3
    33. Blackstone 490501 31 Curse Of Kali.mp3
    34. Blackstone 490508 32 Footsteps In Night.mp3
    35. Blackstone 490515 33 Voodoo Treasure.mp3
    36. Blackstone 490522 34 Four Keys To Crime.mp3
    37. Blackstone 490529 35 Knife From Dark.mp3
    38. Blackstone 490605 36 Death In Crystal.mp3
    39. Blackstone 490612 37 Hindu Sword Cabinet.mp3
    40. Blackstone 490619 38 Face Of Death.mp3
    41. Blackstone 490626 39 Voice From Void.mp3
    42. Blackstone 490703 40 Bird Of Doom.mp3
    43. Blackstone 490710 41 Phantom Detective.mp3
    44. Blackstone 490717 42 Riddle Of Seven Zombies.mp3
    45. Blackstone 490724 43 Crime In Stars.mp3
    46. Blackstone 490731 44 Devils Cauldron.mp3
    47. Blackstone 490807 45 Ghost In Crypt.mp3
    48. Blackstone 490814 46 Accusing Corpse.mp3
    49. Blackstone 490821 47 Death Defying Death.mp3
    50. Blackstone 490828 48 Criminal Who Caught Himself.mp3
    51. Blackstone 490904 49 Vanishing Brooch.mp3
    52. Blackstone 490911 50 Crimes On A Merrygoround.mp3
    53. Blackstone 490918 51 Magic Writing.mp3
    54. Blackstone 491009 54 Mark Of Crime.mp3
    55. Blackstone 491016 55 Creeping Death.mp3
    56. Blackstone 500326 78 Gory Goldfish.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    55 recordings on 11 Audio CDs. Total playtime 11 hours, 31 min
    55 recordings on 11 Audio CDs
    total playtime 11 hours, 31 min

    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A001

    1. Blackstone 480715 00 AUD Riddle Talking Skull
    2. Blackstone 481003 01 Ghost That Trapped A Killer
    3. Blackstone 481010 02 Reluctant Buzzsaw
    4. Blackstone 481017 03 Emerald In Fish Bowl
    5. Blackstone 481024 04 Maharajahs Gold

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A002

    1. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy
    2. Blackstone 481107 06 Riddle Of Talking Skull
    3. Blackstone 481114 07 Whispering Buddah
    4. Blackstone 481121 08 Organ Murder
    5. Blackstone 481128 09 Ghost That Wasnt

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A003

    1. Blackstone 481205 10 Icy Touch
    2. Blackstone 481212 11 Underwater Death
    3. Blackstone 481219 12 Coins Of Confucius
    4. Blackstone 481226 13 Murder On Stage
    5. Blackstone 490102 14 Midway Robberies

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A004

    1. Blackstone 490109 15 Frozen Lady
    2. Blackstone 490116 16 Hooded Rider
    3. Blackstone 490123 17 Phantom Intermezzo
    4. Blackstone 490130 18 Vanishing Pearls
    5. Blackstone 490206 19 Curse Of Yogi

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A005

    1. Blackstone 490213 20 Coin Of Cleopatra
    2. Blackstone 490220 21 Hand Of Cagliostro
    3. Blackstone 490227 22 Message From Nowhere
    4. Blackstone 490306 23 Riddle Of Red Goose
    5. Blackstone 490313 24 Aztec Fire God

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A006

    1. Blackstone 490320 25 Missing Palmist
    2. Blackstone 490327 26 Ladder Of Wealth
    3. Blackstone 490403 27 Locked Book
    4. Blackstone 490410 28 Deathless Shots
    5. Blackstone 490417 29 Riddle Of Eight Ball

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A007

    1. Blackstone 490424 30 Cellini Statuette
    2. Blackstone 490501 31 Curse Of Kali
    3. Blackstone 490508 32 Footsteps In Night
    4. Blackstone 490515 33 Voodoo Treasure
    5. Blackstone 490522 34 Four Keys To Crime

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A008

    1. Blackstone 490529 35 Knife From Dark
    2. Blackstone 490605 36 Death In Crystal
    3. Blackstone 490612 37 Hindu Sword Cabinet
    4. Blackstone 490619 38 Face Of Death
    5. Blackstone 490626 39 Voice From Void

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A009

    1. Blackstone 490703 40 Bird Of Doom
    2. Blackstone 490710 41 Phantom Detective
    3. Blackstone 490717 42 Riddle Of Seven Zombies
    4. Blackstone 490724 43 Crime In Stars
    5. Blackstone 490731 44 Devils Cauldron

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A010

    1. Blackstone 490807 45 Ghost In Crypt
    2. Blackstone 490814 46 Accusing Corpse
    3. Blackstone 490821 47 Death Defying Death
    4. Blackstone 490828 48 Criminal Who Caught Himself
    5. Blackstone 490904 49 Vanishing Brooch

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blackstone Magic Detective Disc A011

    1. Blackstone 490911 50 Crimes On A Merrygoround
    2. Blackstone 490918 51 Magic Writing
    3. Blackstone 491009 54 Mark Of Crime
    4. Blackstone 491016 55 Creeping Death
    5. Blackstone 500326 78 Gory Goldfish

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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