Black Museum-ep08-The Canvas Bag
Opening in 1875, the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard is the oldest museum in the world purely for recording crime. The name "Black Museum" was coined in 1877 by a reporter from "The Observer", a London newspaper, although the museum is still referred to as the Crime Museum. It is this museum that inspired The Black Museum radio series, produced in London by Harry Alan Towers.
From Jay Hickerson's "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows", the earliest US broadcast date was January 1, 1952. Thirty-nine shows, from the full syndication of fifty-two shows, aired over Mutual stations from January 1, 1952 through June 24, 1952 and September 30, 1952 through December 30, 1952.
This may be the earliest broadcast of the series worldwide. It was later broadcast over Radio Luxembourg starting May 7, 1953. Radio Luxembourg broadcast sponsored programs at night to England (the BBC was state-owned and had no commercials). The shows were sponsored by Dreft and Mirro.
The series continued to be offered in syndication and was heard on AFRTS broadcasts and in the US on NPR stations through the 1960's, 70's and 80's. Some shows were broadcast by the BBC in England in 1994.
This murder mystery series was based on true life cases from Scotland Yard's files. Each episode was based on an item or items of evidence in the museum.
Orson Welles hosted and narrated the shows. Mr. Welles opened each show slightly differently but followed a standard format. For example, the show, "The Bathtub", open as follows:
"This is Orson Welles speaking from London." (Big Ben starts humming in the background). "The Black Museum, repository of death... Here, in this grim stone structure on the Thames which houses Scotland Yard, is a warehouse of homicide, where everyday objects, a piece of wire, a chemist's flask, a silver shilling, all are touched by murder."
Following the opening, Mr. Welles would introduce the museum's item or items of evidence that was central to the case, leading into the dramatization. He also provided narration during the show and ended each show with his characteristic closing from the days of his Mercury Theater of the Air, remaining "obediently yours".
Harry Alan Towers produced the series from scripts written by Ira Marion. Music was composed and conducted by Sidney Torch.
The museum was not open to the public. Its purpose was then, and still is, for police training, although it did receive a considerable number of famous people, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is currently used as a lecture theater for the police and like bodies in various subjects of Criminology. But, thanks to Mr. Towers and Mr. Welles, we can still get a glimpse of what secrets are housed in The Black Museum.
-
DVR
Flyover Conservatives
22 hours agoDebating with the Left: How to Change Minds Without Losing Your Cool - Denise Gitsham | FOC Show
21.1K -
LIVE
Precision Rifle Network
9 hours agoGuns & Grub S3E3 - More Weird Crap
414 watching -
1:08:40
Glenn Greenwald
5 hours agoFLASHBACK: Ukraine's Inevitable Loss: Revisiting Key Developments In The Ukraine War | SYSTEM UPDATE SPECIAL
58.4K22 -
1:16:00
Josh Pate's College Football Show
4 hours ago $1.95 earnedWeek 8 Upset Alerts | JP Poll vs FanDuel | Biggest Sleeper Teams | Cole Cubelic Joins
22K2 -
LIVE
Chrissie Mayr
6 hours agoNIGHTLIFE: Stockholm, Sweden with Chrissie Mayr and Keanu Thompson
430 watching -
52:29
LFA TV
1 day agoRadically Transforming Columbus Day—And the World | Trumpet Daily 10.17.24 9PM EST
20.6K1 -
LIVE
VOPUSARADIO
2 days agoPOLITI-SHOCK! AMERICA'S MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI JOINS THE SHOW LIVE!!!
512 watching -
1:16:37
Donald Trump Jr.
10 hours agoKamala’s Interview Implosion, Plus Live Q & A | TRIGGERED Ep.183
125K266 -
52:16
Kimberly Guilfoyle
7 hours agoDid Kamala Derail Her Own Campaign? Plus, Interviews with Kari Lake & Lee Smith | Ep. 166
75.6K44 -
59:25
The StoneZONE with Roger Stone
3 hours agoRed China's Plan to Take Over America - w/ China Expert Gordon Chang | The StoneZONE
29.2K15