The John Blackwell Case: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (December 17, 1949)

“The John Blackwell Case” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 17, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Private detective Richard Diamond takes a strange client who claims he's going to commit a murder and wants professional advice on police procedures. When Diamond tries to call police, he's locked in a closet at gunpoint. After breaking free and getting shot at by the mysterious client's hired killer, Diamond teams up with Lieutenant Walt and Sergeant Otis to identify the would-be murderer before a crime occurs.

New York City, including Diamond's detective office, a newspaper office, an artist's studio, and a penthouse benefit party in Helen Asher's building

Characters: Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Walt, Sergeant Otis, Johnny Blackwell, Mrs. Blackwell (Rita), Big Man McCarthy, Adam Worcester

Listen for: Diamond's wise-cracking dialogue and constant yo-yo tricks; the mystery of identifying the man with initials J.B.; the climactic revelation at the benefit party; the attempted murder on the terrace

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.