Podcast Summary: Boston Blackie – “Spy Ring” (08/04/1944)
Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Boston Blackie: Spy Ring
Date Recapped: December 13, 2025
Original Air Date: August 4, 1944
Episode Overview
This episode of Boston Blackie plunges listeners into a classic Golden Age radio mystery, blending quick wit, intrigue, and wartime suspense. Blackie is drawn into a case involving a mysterious young woman, a case of mistaken identity, murder, and a Nazi spy ring threatening Allied shipping. Listeners experience the tension between Blackie and Inspector Faraday, coded messages, and an action-packed rescue—all tied together with signature humor and banter.
Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown
1. Mistaken Identity and Disappearance
[00:49–03:52]
- Alice Manletter arrives in New York, meant to meet Boston Blackie, but leaves with a man she mistakenly believes is Blackie.
- The real Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) arrives at the hotel, learns Alice has left with someone, and realizes a case of mistaken identity has occurred.
- Blackie starts retracing Alice's steps, seeking clues from the hotel staff and taxi driver.
“[03:52] A: Listen, clerk, try to think. What did the man look like?… D: You’re rather good looking, about your height and build.”
2. A Murder at the Hotel
[06:08–10:59]
- Blackie finally connects with Alice Manletter (or so he thinks), arranges to check on her later.
- Called to her hotel room—only to find her dead. Inspector Faraday is already at the scene, suspects Blackie of murder, especially after discovering Blackie’s gun is the murder weapon.
- Faraday orders a paraffin test to determine if Blackie recently fired a gun.
“[09:52] A: How are you, Inspector? Holy Mac. [09:55] C: Yeah, Blackie, she’s dead. [09:57] A: Dead? [09:58] C: As if you didn’t know.”
3. The Mystery of the Code
[11:19–12:15, 14:03–15:07]
- Blackie discovers a coded note in the victim’s handbag with odd words and numbers connected to place names and numbers. He starts deciphering the code.
- He deduces that the first letters spell out “buzz”—leading to more speculation about the meaning.
“[14:09] A: Boston, five. Zealand. Zealand. That’s the first word. Now, you take the first letters of each word and you get buzz. Great.”
4. Blackie’s Escape and the Case’s Twist
[15:27–17:14]
- With Faraday intent on arresting him, Blackie distracts a guard and cleverly escapes police custody by stealing an officer’s uniform.
- Contacts Arthur Manletter in San Francisco, discovers the murdered girl wasn’t actually Alice Manletter but an imposter (the real Alice is blonde and older than the victim).
“[18:47] A: She had the most beautiful blonde hair you ever saw. Oh, that’s wonderful, Arthur. Your niece wasn’t murdered.”
5. Infiltrating the Spy Ring
[17:14–21:38]
- Blackie and his sidekick, Shorty, search for the real Alice by knocking on doors in the area where the imposter got out of a taxi, using a fake telegram delivery to draw out her captors.
- Blackie is taken prisoner by Nazi spies who reveal they kidnapped Alice due to a mix-up and plan to silence her forever.
“[21:04] D: Boston Blackie. We were hoping you would come. It took you a little longer than we thought.”
6. The Coded Spy Messages
[22:51–24:09]
- While tied up with Alice, Blackie overhears the spies sending a coded message via radio: “Shoes and ceiling wax. Autumn. Galahad and Launcelot.”
- Blackie deduces the message: “Ships leave tonight”—a warning about an Allied convoy about to be targeted by U-boats.
“[24:08] E: Two nights. [24:09] A: That’s it. Ships leave tonight. That’s the message. We’ve got to get out and stop that convoy from sailing.”
7. Rescue & The Case Solved
[24:47–26:28]
- Blackie and Alice use ropes to subdue their captors. Shorty arrives with Inspector Faraday, who is finally convinced of Blackie’s innocence. The authorities are alerted to the spy plot in time.
“[25:35] A: Well, hot or cold, you’ll hate yourself in the morning, Faraday, but I’m glad you’re here. How did you manage it?”
- Blackie reassures Alice and her uncle that she is now safe, and that he’ll take care of her.
“[26:28] A: Well, I’m going to tell him I’ve spent a lot of time looking for you, but from now on, I’m looking after you.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Blackie's Reputation:
- “You’re rather good looking, about your height and build.” – Room Clerk, [03:57]
- Comedy in Danger:
- “Faraday couldn’t find a skunk in a perfume shop.” – Blackie, [17:10]
- Classic Banter:
- “When you do anything with your feet, Faraday, flat is the right word.” – Blackie, [25:49]
- On Daring Escapes:
- “I can keep my head above water is to duck you.” – Blackie, to Faraday, [12:15]
- Decoding the Puzzle:
- “That’s it. Ships leave tonight. That’s the message. We’ve got to get out and stop that convoy from sailing.” – Blackie, [24:09]
- Epilogue:
- “Well, I’m going to tell him I’ve spent a lot of time looking for you, but from now on, I’m looking after you.” – Blackie to Alice, [26:28]
Timeline of Key Segments
- 00:49 – Alice Manletter’s mistaken meeting and disappearance
- 03:52 – Blackie’s investigation at the hotel
- 09:55 – Discovery of the “murder”
- 11:19 – The coded message is found
- 15:27 – Blackie tricks his way out of custody
- 18:47 – Revelation: The real Alice isn’t dead
- 21:04 – Blackie captured by Nazi spies
- 22:51 – Code-breaking and spy message intercepted
- 25:49 – Rescue and confrontation
- 26:28 – Blackie’s promise and case closed
Style and Tone
The episode is packed with fast-paced, witty dialogue and clever problem-solving, balancing suspense with humor. The chemistry between Blackie and Faraday is filled with good-natured ribbing, even as the stakes rise. There’s a signature blend of heroics and one-liners that defines the Boston Blackie radio adventures.
For Listeners
Even if you haven't heard this episode, you'll enjoy its accessible plotting, pacy script, and the unique intersection of World War II espionage and whodunit investigation. It's a textbook example of mid-20th-century radio drama that's light on its feet even as lives hang in the balance. The episode also lends an interesting historical window into public concerns of the era—covert enemies, coded messages, and the home front’s vigilance.
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