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 Vanishing Brooch
While attempting to get his watch repaired, the jewelers ask Blackstone to solve a rash of robberies that are leaving their own detectives baffled. Could one of the store's oldest and best customers be to blame?
After another mystery is solved by magic, Blackstone teaches a strange little card trick with a singing revelation. Originally broadcast 09/04/1949
- Crimes on a Merry Go Round
The police are convinced that a "dope ring" is somehow centered around a merry go round. Can Blackstone prove the connection between the dope ring and brass rings?
Then, Blackstone teaches you Gravity Defied, an easy way to animate a larger coin. Originally broadcast 09/11/1949
- The Magic Writing
Several prominent men ask for Blackstone's help when long destroyed letters begin to turn up again in the hands of blackmailers! Can the Magic Detective figure out how papers that have been burnt are returning to the material world?
Blackstone then shows Rhoda and Alan how to make smudges from a burnt match magically travel from the back of his hand to the palm. Originally broadcast 09/18/1949
- The Mark of Crime
An ancient Egyptian coin carries the glyph for thief on its face, supposedly as a charm to keep it from being stolen. When someone tries to steal Mr. Havelock's coin collection, Blackstone uses this very coin to foil their plans!
This episode ends with a novel card reveal using a simple deck and silk. Originally broadcast 10/09/1949
- The Creeping Death
A radio announcement alerts Blackstone to the sudden death of a friend he had eaten lunch with earlier that very day! Because they had discussed his friend's perfect health, Blackstone refuses to believe a heart attack is to blame and suspects murder.
The end of this episode is missing, so you may never learn the secret of the Floating Sugar Cube! Originally broadcast 10/16/1949
- The Gory Goldfish
This is the last Blackstone episode known to still exist. In it, Blackstone helps the dean of a local university who is being plagued by cannibal college students...who say they learned their ghoulish habits from Blackstone!
After teaching the audience the secrets of goldfish eating, Blackstone teaches you how to make a half dollar disappear from under a silk, even if when a volunteer keeps you from sleeving it! Originally broadcast 03/26/1950
There is one additional episode "The Shark Island Story" for which I have no information when it was aired.
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.