Blackstone the Magic Detective

Mystery-trick show (1948-49)

As 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.

The 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.

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 Magician, Chandu the Magician, Magic Collection, and Dunninger the Mentalist.