Boston Blackie: “Mrs. Boston Blackie” (06/06/1945)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Episode Air Date: January 3, 2026 (originally aired June 6, 1945)

Overview

This episode of Boston Blackie plunges the listener into a tangled web of blackmail, political scandal, and murder. When a woman posing as Boston Blackie’s wife attempts to blackmail politician Lester Allen, a chain of deception and crime is set in motion. The real Boston Blackie—caught between proving his innocence and uncovering the true culprit—must untangle lies, confront a murder scene, and race against time, all while keeping close friend Mary Wesley out of harm’s way. The episode is a classic Golden Age detective tale brimming with sharp wit, twists, and signature banter.

Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

1. Political Scheming and Blackmail (01:21–05:10)

• Leonard Brewster, a political rival, hires private detective Jim Whalen to dig up dirt on Lester Allen, hoping to remove him from the upcoming election.
• Whalen claims to have found someone who can spill Allen’s secrets: “She’s Mrs. Boston Blackie.”
  [Leonard Brewster, 02:33]
• “Mrs. Boston Blackie,” actually an imposter, approaches Allen claiming to have incriminating knowledge, demanding he drop out of the race—or pay $10,000 to keep silent.
  “You’d have a difficult time being elected to any harness if you were exposed, wouldn’t you?” – ‘Mrs. Boston Blackie’ / Mary Wesley, 03:43
• Allen chooses to pay the blackmailer.

2. Boston Blackie Accused (05:10–13:42)

• News of Blackie’s supposed marriage spreads, shocking both him and Mary Wesley.
• Allen confronts Blackie about the blackmail, who denies both being married and being involved in any extortion.
• Blackie investigates at the Waltham House hotel, where the fake Mrs. Boston Blackie is staying.
• Upon entering, Blackie and Inspector Faraday find the woman dead—shot. Evidence at the scene, including a marriage certificate and Mary Wesley’s handkerchief, points to Blackie and Mary as suspects.
• Notable exchange: “You killed her?” – Inspector Faraday, 11:42 “I only saw her once in my life.” – Boston Blackie

3. On the Run & Race for Clues (15:03–18:21)

• Blackie escapes police custody using a clever ruse with a doctored cigarette.
• He rushes to Mary Wesley's apartment, where she rebuffs him for the supposed marriage but is convinced of his innocence after he explains the setup.
• Blackie’s focus turns to finding out who actually orchestrated the blackmail. Suspicion falls on both Brewster and Whalen.

4. Tracing the Players & The Clue of the Sofa (18:21–21:02)

• Blackie interviews both Allen and Brewster.
• Brewster claims he met the fake Mrs. Boston Blackie in her hotel room, sitting “on the sofa by the window.” This detail becomes key.
• The hotel confirms that the original room had no sofa; only the room in which the murder occurred had one. Brewster’s story is proven false.

5. Trap Sprung and Case Solved (21:02–24:32)

• Blackie and Faraday confront Brewster. He is caught in his lie about the timing and location of his meeting with the blackmailer—proving he visited her at the murder scene on the day she died.
• Motive: Brewster tried to use the imposter to torpedo Allen’s campaign. When she turned on him, threatening blackmail as well, he killed her.
• Memorable line:
  “Isn’t it ironic that a sofa is going to send you to the chair?” – Boston Blackie, 24:32

6. Aftermath and Final Revelations (24:50–26:11)

• Brewster withdraws from the election—now in police custody.
• Jim Whalen, the supposed detective, is found with the missing $10,000 and revealed to have been married under the alias “Boston Blackie.” He and the impostor were working together until greed pulled them apart.
• Mary Wesley teases Blackie about marriage plans, playfully referencing a “get married in five minutes for five dollars” sign.
• Classic flirtatious ending:
  “What’s the matter? Haven’t you got $5?” – Mary Wesley, 25:51
  “No, the smallest I have is 50.” – Boston Blackie, 25:53

Memorable Quotes and Notable Moments

• Brewster’s Irony:
  “He’s pure, Mr. Brewster. Sure, but he’s not hermetically sealed.” – Jim Whalen, 01:47
• On Blackmail:
  “Because you sound to me more like Mrs. Boston Blackmail.” – Lester Allen, 04:58
• On Deception:
  “The handkerchief was in the corner of that sofa by the window.” – Faraday to Blackie, 12:14
• Detective Wit:
  “Sofas are made to lie on, not about.” – Boston Blackie, 20:50
• The Wrap-Up:
  “Mrs. Boston Blackie wasn’t married at all, was she?” – Mary Wesley, 25:13
  “She was married to Jim Whalen. Faraday figured that out and Whalen admitted he was married under the name Boston Blackie.” – Boston Blackie, 25:17
• Classic Closing Banter:
  “I think we’d better keep moving.” – Boston Blackie, 25:49

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:21] – Main plot set in motion, Brewster seeks dirt on Allen
• [02:22] – The blackmail scheme introduced
• [05:10] – Mary and Blackie’s misunderstanding
• [11:37] – Discovery of the murder
• [13:10] – Blackie's escape and search for clues
• [15:03] – Blackie and Mary Wesley discuss the evidence
• [18:55] – Brewster’s story; the sofa clue revealed
• [20:44] – Hotel staff confirm timing and room details
• [23:35] – Brewster confronted and case cracked
• [24:32] – Sofa pun and Brewster’s arrest
• [24:50] – Epilogue with Blackie and Mary

Tone and Style

The episode showcases the classic Boston Blackie interplay—fast-paced, sarcastic, and packed with sharp-tongued humor and clever detective banter. Characters are quick-witted, with Blackie and Faraday especially trading barbs that both advance the plot and provide comic relief.

Summary

“Mrs. Boston Blackie” is a quintessential detective yarn, blending political intrigue, mistaken identity, blackmail, and a cleverly constructed murder mystery. Through rapid-fire dialogue and a maze of shifting suspicions, Boston Blackie unravels the truth, all while maintaining his trademark charm, delivering justice for the innocent, and outwitting both enemy and friend alike.