Boston Blackie

The transformation of Boston Blackie the jewel thief in the story by Jack Boyle in 1919 and in the early silent films to Boston Blackie the right hand of the law represented by Inspector Farraday in the TV series evolved over a thirty-year period, including fourteen top notch B films starring venerable actor Chester Morris as Blackie. On radio Morris reprised his movie role until it was taken over by Richard Kollmar. Ultimately, the fine actor, Kent Taylor, slipped comfortably into the part for television.

All presentations of Boston Blackie, movies, radio, and TV, were well done by all concerned. The Television version was a popular early entry in detective oriented programs that held sway until demoted by the shoot-em-ups of the mid to late 50's.

There were a few minor character changes: No Runt as in the Chester Morris flicks nor millionaire pal. A steady girlfriend, Mary, now played second lead; plus a pooch, in the manner of Asta, named Whitey was added, leading to a Thin Man persona for the series.

Inspector Faraday came to be portrayed by Frank Orth, a buddy to Blackie, whereas Richard Lane's Faraday of the Morris movies tended to be at best a friendly enemy to him, always suspecting Blackie of being up to no good. Blackie's lifestyle was upgraded somewhat for television with Blackie driving around town in a snazzy convertible.

The stories were tidy, fitting their half hour time slot gracefully with plenty of action. I watched the early episodes as a child and recall them to be as exciting as any on the tube at the time. A colleague of mine told me that she had a tremendous crush on Kent Taylor when she was a little girl. After watching a few of the restored shows, her bubble popped. Kent Taylor seemed to be a bit older than she remembered him and a lot less chivalrous. Nonetheless, Kent Taylor fit the part almost as well as Chester Morris, who remains the definitive Boston Blackie.

I just picked up half a dozen Boston Blackie TV episodes on DVD on eBay, of all places. The quality is only so-so, but the shows themselves are wonderful! I don't think they are as good as the old radio show or even the movies, but they certainly reflect TV's infant age and a delight to watch!

The TV series had the misfortune of coming along at a time when the trend in cop shows was being set by the more reality-based Dragnet. The concept of amateur detectives, comical helpers, and inept police really belonged to an earlier period before the onset of the Cold War and the Soviet menace. Thus it's a tribute to the excellent casting and great location photography that the show lasted as long as it did. Taylor is terrific as Blackie, handsome, debonaire, and with a panache that I think is missing in the movie version. Whatever they paid him, he earned it-- watch all the running and stunts he has to do, and without apparent doubles. Lois Collier too is charming and very fetching as Mary. Their chemistry together is perfect, neither too silly nor too serious-- just the right amount of "tongue-in-cheek". Meanwhile, Whitey, the dog, manages for the most part to act like a dog without being too cutesy or obnoxious, while poor Frank Orth gets the thankless job of Farraday even though he neither looks like nor acts like an acceptable bone-headed cop. The stories themselves have occasional twists, but are unexceptional for the most part. Nonetheless, they're nicely paced without getting bogged down in too much budget-saving talk. The show's real star, however, is a burgeoning post-war Los Angeles, just then moving into hyper-speed growth. Some producer had the good sense to load the series with location filming. Thus we get an unrehearsed view of rapidly changing neighborhoods and skyline. My lasting image of the show is of Tayor running across a roof-top as cranes across the way busy themselves with a new era. Unfortunately, it was an era that a show like Blackie would not survive.

..along with "Winkie Dink" and "Sky King"...and "Flash Gordon". I'm so glad to see other people here who also remember "Boston Blackie" I must have been around 5 or 6 years old when I watched these first early shows. I also remember " I Married Joan" ( Joan Davis was absolutely just as hilarious as Lucy but didn't get the same recognition) and " I Remember Mama"....there was an intro each week that ended with the words "...but most of all, I remember Mama.."( it almost brings a tear to my eye) I would just LOVE to be able to see some of these shows again. I have just ordered a couple of box sets of "I Married Joan" and a lot of other classic TV shows. Anyone remember "Life With Elizabeth"?

Do you suppose the originals still exist somewhere?

Maybe someday - in my lifetime - good quality copies will be available. I would love to watch those stories again.

Did they show outside of Los Angeles where we lived?

Though seeing my hometown as it was at that time would be a lot of the pleasure, everything about the show was great: the girl, the car, Blackie, etc.

At the beginning or end of every program there was a brief, dark, night scene of Blackie, the car, and an alleyway. At least that's the way I remember it.