Sanford Quest was a criminologist and scientific detective who uses a wide variety of gadgets of his own invention, including an “electric mind-reader,” a “viewphone”, a pocket bomb made of a super-powerful explosive, and a “pocket wireless telephone,” to fight crime. He was also an expert in hypnosis. He was athletic, an exceptional fighter, and extremely brave and level-headed. He was described by one character as “the greatest master in criminology the world has ever known. He is a magician, a scientist, the Pierpont Morgan of his profession.” Quest investigated the mystery of the Black Box, bringing down Lord Professor Ashleigh, a mad scientist who created a suit which rendered its wearer invisible when charged with electricity. Notes: The Black Box (1915) is a 15-part movie serial that is considered “lost,” meaning that no known copies exist. The film was written in part by E. Phillips Oppenheim, a very popular novelist at the time. The story was also published in 1915 as a novel and a newspaper serial. Both published editions were illustrated by photographic stills taken from the movie serial.
First Publisher Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Appearance List Film: The Black Box (1915). Novelization: The Black Box (1915).
Sample Read The Black Box by E. Phillips Oppenheim [Internet Archive]
Description Sanford Quest was a criminologist and scientific detective who uses a wide variety of gadgets of his own invention, including an “electric mind-reader,” a “viewphone”, a pocket bomb made of a super-powerful explosive, and a “pocket wireless telephone,” to fight crime. He was also an expert in hypnosis. He was athletic, an exceptional fighter, and extremely brave and level-headed. He was described by one character as “the greatest master in criminology the world has ever known. He is a magician, a scientist, the Pierpont Morgan of his profession.” Quest investigated the mystery of the Black Box, bringing down Lord Professor Ashleigh, a mad scientist who created a suit which rendered its wearer invisible when charged with electricity. Notes: The Black Box (1915) is a 15-part movie serial that is considered “lost,” meaning that no known copies exist. The film was written in part by E. Phillips Oppenheim, a very popular novelist at the time. The story was also published in 1915 as a novel and a newspaper serial. Both published editions were illustrated by photographic stills taken from the movie serial.
