Boston Blackie

Boston Blackie was a character introduced by Jack Boyle who was featured in a series of mystery films during the silent movie era and in the 1940s. The character appeared in stories in the Redbook and Cosmopolitan magazines. He first appeared in book form in Boston Blackie, published in 1919.

Related Topics:
Jack Boyle - Mystery film - 1940s - Redbook - Cosmopolitan - Magazine - 1919

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The silent film version of Boston Blackie lasted from 1919 until 1927. Over a decade later the screen rights were purchased by Columbia, and a new series ran from 1941 until 1949. The actor Chester Morris played the lead role of Boston Blackie throughout Columbia's run.

Related Topics:
1941 - 1949 - Chester Morris

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Overall the films were considered B-movies and did not receive critical acclaim. The longest of the films ran for just over an hour, and the scripts were deemed poorly conceived. The film's biggest assets were considered to be the lead character, played by Chester Morris, and a solid supporting cast.

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In 1944 a Boston Blackie radio show was played by NBC as a replacement. The series was changed with Richard Kollomar taking the lead role, and over 200 episodes were made between 1944 and 1950. Blackie always seemed to get involved in a mystery and come across a harebrained Police Inspector Faraday. Blackie would always solve the mystery to Faraday's amazement. Initially the relationship between Blackie and Faraday would be one of friction but as the series continued, Faraday seemed to realise Blackie's talents and request assistance. He always was dating Mary Wesley and for the first half of the series, his best pal Shorty would always be on hand. The radio series is well known for it's frequent use of bad puns and word plays by Blackie often to the humourless Faraday.

Related Topics:
1944 - 1950

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Later in 1951 there was a half-hour TV series called The Adventures of Boston Blackie which lasted for 58 episodes. The series continued in re-runs for about a decade thereafter.

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