The Murdered Sword Swallower: Boston Blackie (January 3, 1946)

“The Murdered Sword Swallower” is an episode of Boston Blackie, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 3, 1946. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

At a carnival, sword swallower Lillian is found murdered with a blade through her heart. Boston Blackie investigates before Inspector Faraday arrives, suspecting a jealous suitor named Bob Hendricks. But when Hendricks is discovered dead from a similar sword wound, Blackie must reconsider who the real killer is among the carnival's peculiar residents.

A carnival with various attractions including a sideshow, tunnel of love, and roller coaster.

Characters: Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, Jackson, Mabel the bearded lady, Bob Hendricks, Lillian the sword swallower

Listen for: Blackie's clever deduction about romantic motives for murder; the reveal that both victims died from sword wounds; Blackie and Mary's playful banter and their plan to sneak back onto the carnival grounds despite Faraday's orders.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.