The Black Museum - Single Episodes

The Black Museum, opening in 1875, is the oldest museum in the world dedicated to recording crime. Coined in 1877 by a reporter, the name "Black Museum" refers to the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard, which inspired this gripping radio series. Produced in London by Harry Alan Towers, the series features true crime stories based on evidence from the museum's collection.

Orson Welles hosted and narrated the episodes, introducing each case with a unique flair. The series aired on Mutual stations from January to June 1952 and again in September to December of the same year, with later broadcasts on Radio Luxembourg starting in May 1953. Each episode dramatizes a specific item of evidence, revealing the chilling stories behind them.

Although the museum is not open to the public, it serves as a training facility for police and criminology lectures. Thanks to the efforts of Towers and Welles, listeners can explore the dark secrets housed within The Black Museum.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

The Black Museum Intro	4:13
Orson Welles Biography	6:01
The 22 Caliber Pistol	29:20
A .32 Caliber Bullet	23:42
The Bath Tub	27:13
The Gladstone Bag	27:29
The Bloodstained Brick Bat	24:59
The Brass Button	29:26
A Can Of Weedkiller	26:48
The Canvas Bag	24:43
The Car Tire	24:56
The Champagne Glass	23:49
The Claw Hammer	25:41
The Door Key	29:13
The Faded Tartan Scarf	30:10
Four Small Bottles	26:15
A French-English Dictionary	25:47
The Gas Receipt	25:35
Glass Shards	29:49
The Hammerhead	23:46
The Jack Handle	27:03
A Jar Of Acid	26:55
The Khaki Handkerchief	24:25
A Lady's Shoe	25:59
The Leather Bag	28:39
A Letter	24:37
The Mandolin String	29:51
Meat Juice	29:46
The Notes	25:13
The Old Wooden Mallet	26:05
The Open Ended Wrench	24:47
The Pair Of Spectacles	27:33
A Piece Of Iron Chain	25:00
The Pink Powder Puff	29:41
The Post Card	26:16
A Prescription	27:39
The Raincoat	29:01
The Sash Cord	25:06
A Service Card	25:51
The Sheath Knife	29:26
The Shopping Bag	27:13
A Shilling	25:16
A Silencer	28:00
The Small White Boxes	26:21
The Spotted Bedsheet	23:45
The Straight Razor	29:05
The Tan Shoe	24:34
The Telegram	25:35
A Trunk	25:52
Two Bullets	25:23
The Walking Stick	25:25
A Woman's Pigskin Glove	27:08
The Wool Jacket	29:55
Orson Welles Biography	7:25

Reviews

Classic series

(5 stars)

jonfrum

When I first encountered this series on an OTR web site, the sound was poor and I didn't listen to the full show. My mistake. The episodes are not necessarily mysteries - often more just crime stories gradually laid out. It's Orson Welles' role as the narrator that makes the show. It's like going to your local coffee shop to listen to some music and having Bob Dylan doing an acoustic set. These aren't convoluted whodunits, but they are classic "theatre of the mind" shows.

Orson Welles and the real Scotland Yard Murder Museum

(5 stars)

Vivia, LibriVox Populi

The writing and direction are just things of beauty. Ikebana school of writing...minimal verbiage, tightens the nerves. I love the ad lib-style tour Orson Welles gives us each episode of the Scotland Yard Murder Museum exhibits until he reaches the one featured in that night's show. The interaction between the host and the actors can be unusual in a good way, make you run the audio back to savor it again and maybe even make a note of it so you can come back to it later (one hopes not in a plagiaristic way, ahem, lol). There's an example in THE CLAW HAMMER, just around 25min30sec in.

Black Museum

(5 stars)

mittens13

Having found no successor to Gunsmoke and Fort Laramie on the western entertainment,I found this gem. I used to listen to True Crime stories years ago and forgotten how enjoyable they are, if end badly for the victims... A nice if macabre touch was a couple of episodes featured Rayleigh and Eastwood in Essex,not too far from where I live. Good acting from the cast,the superb Orson Wells as narrator,interesting cases what's not to like here? Five stars and a big thumbs up to OTR and Librivox for making this available. Cheers!

Amazing

(5 stars)

honey bee

this is so entertaining! one of my favorites! I love the fact that the stories are based on REAL cases! the scripts are great as well the music fits so well to the time periods plus u don't have thee same commercial to listen to over and over like in so many other shows!

favourite otr show

(5 stars)

Carolyn Mullins

This is my favourite of otr shows. Orson Wells narration adds to y joy of listening. some of the shows are a little quiet but this is not a hindrance. for anyone with an interest in true crime I recommend it.

Really Amazing

(5 stars)

luckyace120

This is one of my favorites. Welles acts as a catalyst for the stories. The story lines, acting, and writing are very good, and Welles just adds to the fun.