All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.
- The Curse of the Yogi
A yogi's chimes haunt a bank teller into attempting suicide. Luckily Blackstone saves him. But can Blackstone defeat the ghostly yogi?
Then, Blackstone baffles his friends with the Floating Cigarette and teaches you the secret. Originally broadcast 02/06/1949
- The Coin of Cleopatra
A discussion of Blackstone's collection of medals commemorating great magicians leads to the story of how the Magic Detective acquired the mysterious Coin of Cleopatra.
After the mystery is solved, Blackstone then teaches you the Magnetic Matches. Originally broadcast 02/13/1949
- The Hand of Cagliostro
A European count comes to Blackstone when he begins to suspect that a fakir conducting séances in his apartment is up to no good. When Blackstone arrives, it seems that the fakir has had all of the guests bring a box of jewelry. Can Blackstone interrupt the fakir's plans?
Blackstone then teaches the audience how to find two different cards when two different volunteers are each shuffling and handling half a pack of cards. Originally broadcast 02/20/1949
- The Message from Nowhere
Spirit slates first wish Don a happy birthday and lead to a story. While in Hollywood working on a movie, Blackstone runs into Alicia, his old assistant turned movie star, and threatens to kidnap a child star!
Because smoking used to be much more acceptable, Blackstone shows you how to pick a specific brand of cigarette out of several brands mixed together in a bag. Originally broadcast 02/27/1949
- The Riddle of the Red Rose
After Don requests Blackstone grow a mango tree (complete with fruit) magically, Blackstone protests the mangoes do not grow in their climate! He does, however, grow a rose bush before Don's eyes, then changes the color of a bloom and tells how an inventor friend once had the combination to his safe stolen and needed Blackstone to prevent it from being used.
Blackstone teaches you the Mental Card Mystery, a very simple way to get a certain card into your pocket. Originally broadcast 03/06/1949
- The Aztec Fire God
Blackstone tells the story of how he and Rhoda traveled to Mexico and met Quetzl, the Aztec Fire God! Luckily, everyone in Mexico seems to speak English as they prepare their blood sacrifice to Quetzl!
Rhoda helps Blackstone teach you the Black Magic second sight act. Originally broadcast 03/13/1949
Or buy all 56 episodes:
Blackstone Detective.
Listen along to the thrilling adventures of Blackstone, the Magic Detective. Each week he will solve a variety of mysteries with magic. Along with his main assistant, the beautiful Rhoda Brent (voiced by Fran Carlon) and their radio announcers Alan Kent and Don Hancock (or here and there John, played by Ted Osborne, who may be Rhoda's boyfriend) we get to hear thrilling inside stories about the mementos he has collected when solving fantastic crimes or the magic apparatus Blackstone has used to solve them. Then, Blackstone lets us in on the magic we can do at home and "reveal the guarded secrets of the world's greatest living magician!"
The truth is, of course, that they are all simple little tricks, sometimes little more than barbets. In fact, Blackstone is not even the real Blackstone but veteran radio actor Ed Jerome. Many episodes were written by Walter Gibson, though, with Nancy Webb penning the rest. These are great stories for magicians and anyone who appreciates the exciting, if sometimes a bit sensational, storytelling found in old time radio.
At one time, there were as many as 78 episodes. However, about two dozen have been lost over the years. This represents the most complete collection known to exist, minus the so-called Shark Island Story, which is sometimes represented as an episode from an unknown date. It is actually The Voodoo Treasure.
If you like these kinds of stories you might also be interested in The Blackstone Magic Comics which feature also Blackstone using his magic knowledge to defeat the thieves and other criminals.
