 Daily Telegraph 16 August 1953 | |
| Genre | serial drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins [1] (8:30 pm – 9:00 pm) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | 2FC |
| Syndicates | ABC |
| Written by | Max Afford |
| Produced by | Max Afford [2] |
| Original release | August 1953 – 1953 |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
Murder's Not for Middle Aged is a 1953 Australian radio serial by Max Afford featuring his detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn. It was the last of Afford's Blackburn serials. [3]
According to ABC Weekly, "Jeffrey and Elizabeth have retired to a cottage at Sevenoaks, Kent, where Jeffery is growing tulips. Elizabeth now needs the aid of reading glasses. Jeffery has become a martyr to rheumatism, and his violent detective experiences in the past have resulted in a slipped knee cartilage. When Jeffery awakes on the morning of his 45th birthday, he little realises that he and Elizabeth are to be involved in the most fantastic and macabre case they have ever tackled. They are reluctant to be drawn in, but crime and destiny have their way." [4]
The Brisbane Truth called it "well produced and enjoyable." [5]
The Adelaide Mail said " the story got away to a dramatic start with a BBC reporter giving an eye witness account of police fighting it out with a trapped bandit. If anything it was a little too dramatic— it took me five minutes to catch up with what was going on." [6]
The Adelaide Advertiser called it "irritatingly mediocre." [7]
Another review in the same paper said "The mixture is much as Mr. Afford has given it to us before with demonology, witchcraft, beautiful aristocrats and even a count from Czechoslovakia... 'Ten years ago,' said one character, 'it would have been fun.' I would put that as about 20 years too early." [8]
Malcolm R. Afford known as Max Afford, was an Australian playwright and novelist.
Radio Call was a weekly magazine in South Australia published by The News, devoted to radio programs and associated artists, personalities, technology, gossip and news. This was at a time when radio was the country's prime source of entertainment, and information and a great variety of content was being produced for the medium both "live" and on transcription discs. The magazine also contained articles of more general interest and serial stories.
Silver Ridge is a 1954 Australian adventure radio series by Max Afford. It was set in Australia at a time when that was relatively rare. The serial was one of Afford's last productions prior to his death in 1954.
Danger Unlimited is an Australian radio series written by Max Afford which featured private investigator Jeffrey Blackburn and his wife Elizabeth. It started in 1945 on 2UE.
Jeffrey Blackburn was a fictional private investigator who was the hero of a series of stories by Australian writer Max Afford.
My Love Must Wait is a 1941 novel by Ernestine Hill.
The Mysterious Mr. Lynch is a 1939 Australian radio serial by Max Afford. It starred Peter Finch as its detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn.
Chump and Co is a 1939 Australian radio serial for children by Max Afford. The serial played on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It was very popular and led to a sequel The Return of Chump and Co. Afford had achieved fame writing detective stories, particularly those featuring his hero Jeffrey Blackburn. This one was for children
Stormy Petrel is a 1948 Australian radio serial about the career of William Bligh by Rex Rienits. It aired Mondays to Thursdays at 6.40pm on the ABC.
Man of Two Tribes is a 1953 Australia radio serial based on the stories of Arthur Upfield about Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte. Morris West adapted several of Upfield's stories.
Shenandoah is a 1947 Australian radio serial about a horse that wins the Melbourne Cup. Episodes went for 15 minutes.
The Blackburns Take Over is a 1942 radio serial by Max Afford. It was one of a series of adventures featuring the detective hero Jeffrey Blackburn and his wife.
Fly By Night is a 1937 Australian radio serial by Max Afford. It was his first radio serial featuring Afford's detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn. In this serial he was not married to Elizabeth but they would be married for subsequent serials.
Double Demon is a 1951 Australian radio serial by Max Afford featuriing his detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn. He wrote it after returning to Australia following a long trip to England, whereupon he signed a long-term contract with the ABC. This serial was one of the first results of that new arrangement.
It Walks by Night is an Australian radio serial by Max Afford featuriing his detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn.
Grey Face is a 1940 Australian radio serial by Max Afford featuring his detective hero, Jeffrey Blackburn.
Cats Creep at Night is a 1930 Australia radio play by Max Afford.
The Queer Affair at Kettering is a 1940 Australian radio drama by Max Afford starring his detective hero Jeffrey Blackburn and his wife Elisabeth. Unlike many Blackburn adventures, it was not a serial but a one-off mystery.
Blood on His Hands is a 1936 Australian novel by Max Afford. It was his first novel and featured Jeffrey Blackburn his detective hero. It was set in Melbourne during that city's Centenary celebrations. Afford wrote the novel for a competition held by John Long a publishers in London, submitted it in December 1934, then while waiting to hear back wrote a sequelo. John Long accepted it and offered a contract for three books. The novel was published in London before Australia.
The Dead are Blind is a 1937 Australian novel by Max Afford featuring his hero Jeffrey Blackburn. It was the third Jeffrey Blackburn novel.