Posted by
Riklaa on July 31, 2009 at 9:54pm
Sexton Blake is a fictional detective who appeared in many British comic strips and novels throughout the 20th century, described by Professor Jeffrey Richards on the BBC in 'The Radio Detectives' in 2003 as "the poor man's Sherlock Holmes". Sexton Blake adventures appeared in a wide variety of British and international publications (in many languages) from 1893 to 1978, running to over 4,000 stories by some 200 different authors. Blake was also the hero of numerous silent and sound films, radio serials and a 1960s ITV television series
Blake's Evolution
As the years passed, Blake's character underwent various permutations. Originally, he was created in the vein of earlier 19th century detectives but in the late 1890s, Blake's authors consciously modeled him on Sherlock Holmes.
It was not until 1919 that Blake took on a more distinctive personality. The golden age of the story papers coincided with Blake's golden age, as he became far more action-oriented than Holmes and duelled with a variety of memorable enemies.
Many of Blake's writers had been men of adventure—men who had travelled the world and seen the seamier side of life. When World War Two started, they enlisted—leaving just a small group of writers behind (with the addition of the occasional guest writer). Consequently, the standard of Blake's stories suffered.
In November 1955, William Howard Baker took over as editor of the Sexton Blake Library and, in 1956, introduced a successful update of the Blake formula. The Sexton Blake Library found new popularity with faster-moving, more contemporary stories (often influenced by American pulp fiction).
Blake, who had moved a number of times over the years, moved to a suite of plush offices in Berkeley Square (while retaining lodgings at Baker Street) and acquired a secretary, Paula Dane, who became a not-quite-love interest for Blake. Tinker was given a real name, Edward Carter, and Blake's office receptionist Marion Lang was introduced as his female counterpart.
Covers, which had become rather staid in the early 50s, became far more dynamic and a new group of authors were commissioned.
Baker remained as editor until 1963 (his last story being "The Last Tiger") before becoming Blake's licensor/publisher and continuing to oversee Blake's print adventures until 1969.
1-3 of 14SB 01 670824 Lilies for the Ladies.mp3
SB 02 670831 The Sin Eaters.mp3
SB 04 670914 Bluebeard's Key.mp3
Replies
Re Sexton Blake - aside from the dramas (which I'm just starting on as I type), there are numerous images there that I've never seen before! Not to mention the PDF stories.
To me Sexton Blake has always been one of those notoriously elusive characters that you only really occasionally stumble across bits and pieces of! I've probably not searched Sexton Blake online for a couple of years now so I'm not sure what Google comes up with these days; but the other day I found Timespast anyway............
In a similar way; back in the days of BBC cassette audios (before CDs and the internet), I loved "Paul Temple and The Conrad Case", (and it's original cocktail stick cover). I'd never heard of him before that and finding ANYTHING out about Temple in those days was utterly impossible! Nowadays Paul Temple is everywhere, the BBC have cashed in and the selections are numerous and marvellous - whilst in contrast, Sexton Blake continually remains a man of mystery!
This thread will go some way to change that for me.
bump
Of note: The Blake (William Franklyn) in these episodes appears in the new Dirk Maggs BBC 2 serial in a cameo role.
Does anyone have any more Blake out there? I'm especially looking for the vinyl "Murder on the Portsmouth Road" featuring Arthur Wontner.
Sexton Blake - A White Man.pdf
Sexton Blake - The Black Orchid.pdf
Sexton Blake - The Great Convent Robbery.pdf
Sexton Blake - The Mystery of Marsh Bottom.pdf
Sexton Blake - Nurse Elma's Patient.pdf
Sexton Blake - The Case of the Coloured Lights.pdf
I am apologetic, the source of these stated 1945, I took the date off the title. I will keep you in mind for the other title.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick
No worries. Here are the dates for the episode broadcasts. I'm curious if anyone can provide the titles for the missing episodes? I'm only assuming there were episodes on those evenings; for all I know they were pre-empted.
-Jeremy
Lillies for the Ladies August 24, 1967
The Sin Eaters August 31, 1967
???
Bluebeards Key September 14, 1967
Vampire Moon September 21, 1967
???
Fifth Dimension October 5, 1967
???
First Class Ticket to Nowhere October 19, 1967
The Enchanted Editor October 26, 1967
The Eight Swords November 2, 1967
A Murder of Crows November 9, 1967
Double and Quit November 16, 1967
You Must Be Joking November 23, 1967
The Conjurer's Coffin November 30, 1967
The Blood of Rameses December 7, 1967
No Trees for the Peke December 14, 1967
Elaine
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