T H E B L A C K M U S E U M ----- --------- ----------- 1952 First Show: Jan 01, 1952 Last Show: Dec 30, 1952 Number Shows: 52 Audition Show: none Series Description: 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" (see "References" section below), 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 (cleaning products). 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. Orsen 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 chiming 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 homocide, where everyday objects, a piece of wire, a chemist's flask, a silver shilling, all are touched by murder." (dramatic music) 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 general public. It's 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. Log Comments: None of the references used showed all 52 shows, none listed broad- cast dates and few had episode numbers. The shows were untitled for broadcast and there was title variation source to source. In most cases, the title was derived from the item introduced by Mr. Welles at the show's opening. Differences in titles were often an extra discriptive word or two. Titles for the list are, first, the most common found, followed by other titles listed below. The list is in alphetical order (leading "The" and "A" ignored). The numercal list (first column of the list) indicated number of shows, not broadcast order. Two references listed show numbers 3, 4 and 21 with different titles, so a question mark follows the numbers in this list. Dick Judge provided story lines for a lot of shows. These are below titles and alternates, preceded by "Syn:" (synopsis). To date, only 51 titles have been found. The title for #52 is shown as "title not known". Alphabetical Log: Num Title --- ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. 6 The .22 Caliber Pistol Aka: The Little Blue 22 Syn: Little blue pistol. Vivian Davis, a woman scorned. 2. A .32 Caliber Bullet Aka: The Center-Fire Bullet Syn: Bullet made for killing does not kill. Three men hold up a jewelry store and commit murder in the process. 3. 25 The Bath Tub Syn: Edward Jones has a wife in every city and this bathtub is important in his apprehension for murder. 4. The Black Gladstone Bag 5. 23 The Blood Stained Brickbat Aka: The Blood Stained Brick Syn: Handy man-gardener, young wife and a husband attacked by a brick. 6. 8 The Brass Button Syn: A brass button from an Army uniform is found near the body of Janet Morgan, the "Swamp Girl". 7. A Can (or Tin) of Weed Killer Aka: Hidden Poison Syn: Helen Ashley dies mysteriously; her husband is arrested for poisoning her. Guest star: Agnes Moorehead 8. 9 The Canvas Bag Syn: Young girl is hood-winked by an older man. 9. The Car Tire Syn: Two men in stolen car are stopped by a policeman and is killed by one of them. 10. 26 The Champagne Glass Syn: Retired colonel has poisoned his wife for her money and is now after his best friend. 11. A Claw Hammer Aka: Hammer, with a Purpose Syn: Handyman worms his way into an old ladies house; wants 50 pounds to leave; he kills her with the hammer. 12. The Door Key Syn: On the floor beside a body is found an ordinary, every day key that leads to the murderer. 13. 5 The Faded Tartan Scarf Aka: The Yellow Scarf, The Pike (the lead character) Syn: "Pike" is known to wear a scarf that he uses for strangling. 14. Four Small Bottles Aka: The Medicine Bottles, The Chloroform Bottles Syn: Oscar Stone, an old man with a young wife, is poisoned with chloroform in an "eternal triangle" murder involving a rich merchant and pastor. 15. A French-English Dictionary Aka: Strychnine Poison Syn: When a British pub owner has been poisoned, the suspects are his wife and her French-speaking lover. A small English-French dictionary is clue to murder. 16. 39 The Gas Receipt Syn: A receipt for ten gallons of gas is a clue to murder of a constable who is shot to death by four bullets. 17. Glass Shards Aka: Frosted Glass Syn: Charles Fly Sr. and his son catch a burglar in their apartment. The father is killed, shot by a small man. 18. 38 The Hammerhead Syn: Started with almost two dozen disappearances and wound up with a killer who used a hammer with a purpose. 19. 36 The Jack Handle Syn: AWOL US soldier and British singer team up to create a crime wave of robbery and murder. 20. 3? A Jar of Acid Aka: The Glass Acid Jar Syn: Two widows meet Mr. Hart, a research chemist, at a vacation resort. One of the widows disappears. 21. The Khaki Handkerchief Aka: Soldier's Handerchief 22. 22 A Lady's Shoe Syn: Middle-aged newlyweds; he's a fortune hunter. 23. The Leather Bag Syn: Man carrying payroll is found dead on a train. Syn: The murdered body of Warren King, who was carrying a payroll, is found on a train, with five bullets in his head. 24. A Letter Syn: The signature of a solicitor, found on a letter, is used to forge checks by a seemingly educated criminal. 25. The Mandolin String Syn: A pretty blond, blue-eyed widow who plays the mandolin figures promenently in this case of two "accidental" deaths. 26. Meat Juice Syn: The story of marital discord between a 50-year old husband and his under 30 wife. 27. 16 The Notes Aka: Kilroy Was Here (written on the notes), The Slogan, Scribbled Notes Syn: "Kilroy Was Here" is found written on two notes and carved into a butcher's block around murder victims. The police have a good suspect but are they missing something? 28. 21? The Old Wooden Mallet Syn: Mallet is clue to a murderer of a man found inside a burning car on Guy Fawkes Day. 29. 10 The Open End Wrench Syn: A wrench is the clue when a woman is found dead in her car after an accident. 30. 3? The Pair of Spectacles Aka: The Broken Spectacles 31. 4? A Piece of Iron Chain Aka: Father's Ghost Syn: Woman comes to the Yard complaining about ghostly voices she hears and ghosts that drag chains. 32. 12 The Pink Powder Puff Aka: The Faded Pink Power Puff Syn: While waiting to be hanged, a murderer tells the story of his life of crime. 33. The Post Card Aka: The Rising Sun (picture on postcard) Syn: The clue of a post card with the picture of a rising sun helps solve the murder of Alice Cortland, secretly married to Alfie Vines, when her headless body is found in Vines' room. 34. A Prescription Aka: The Doctor's Prescription Syn: Two ill women, Martha Dawson and her daughter June, are placed in the care of a woman who later becomes the chief beneficiary of June's will. 35. 34 The Raincoat Syn: The raincoat is found wrapped around a dead woman's body. The husband is suspected and found guilty, but "reasonable doubt" spares him from death. 36. The Sash Cord Aka: The Length of Sashcord Syn: Man found shot to death outside a Brighton theater. 37. A Service Card Aka: The Auto Service Card Syn: An odometer reading on a service card helps convict a man of murdering his parents. 38. The Sheath Knife 39. The Shopping Bag Syn: Used to suffocate women. 40. A Shilling Syn: Joey Bart thinks his brother, Dave, has framed him. Now Joey's out of prison and wants his share of the bar he owned. A shilling is the clue ot Joey's murder. 41. A Silencer Syn: Silencer is used on a gun that kills the husband of a couple just moving into a neighborhood. 42. 28 The Small White Boxes Syn: Frenchman in Glasgow has fallen in love with daughter of a wealthy man; white boxes contain arsenic. 43. 19 The Spotted Bedsheet Aka: The Spotted Sheet, The SS Bengal Tower Bed Syn: Natalie Parsons, on a cruise ship, mysteriously disappears. 44. The Straight Razor Syn: Larry Wilson marries for the third time. His first two wives died within three years of each other and now his new wife is dead. But how? And why did he hide his box of straight razors? 45. 14 The Tan Shoe Aka: The Blood-Stained Shoe, Left Tan Shoe Syn: Courier carrying payroll is slain aboard a train. 46. The Telegram Syn: An urgent request to die. A chauffer who can't spell is caught a telegram and a long string of coincidences. 47. A Trunk Aka: An Old-Fashioned Trunk Syn: Man drops a baggage receipt that turns out to be for a trunk that contains a dissected body. 48. 21? Two Bullets Aka: Twin 45's, Twin Messengers of Death, The .45 Caliber Bullet Syn: Two bullets from the same weapon each claim a life, but 3 years apart. The story of two young punks in wartime London. The caliber of the bullet is never mentioned in the show. 49. The Walking Stick Syn: Garibaldi's walking stick, now owned by a doctor, proves to be an important clue in his wife's death. 50. A Woman's Pigskin Glove Syn: A woman's glove plays an important part in solving the deaths of three women by rifle shot. 51. 4? The Wool Jacket Aka: The Sleeveless Baby Jacket, Missing Evie Rose Syn: Shortly after Trevor Moon proposes to Evelyn Rose, she pays an unannounced visit to his chicken farm and them disappears. 52. title not known References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * AVPRO, Don Aston, PO Box 1392, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1392 * Edward J. Carr, 216 Shaner Street, Boyertown, PA 19512 * Great American Radio, Gary Kramer, PO Box 504, Genesee, MI 48437 * Hello Again Radio, 10280 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 * Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 * McCoy's Recordings Inc., Pat McCoy, PO Box 1069, Richland, Wash. 99352 * Memories Of Radio, Dick Judge, PO Box 67800, Rochester NY 14617 * Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood, CO 80150 * Radio Memories, Ted Davenport, 1600 Wewoka St., North Little Rock, AR 72116 * Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 * Radio Spirits, PO Box 2141, Schiller Park, IL 60176-2141 * Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And Comedy, PO Box 7177, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7177 * Vintage Broadcasts, Andy Blatt, PO Box 50065, Staten Island, NY 10305 Additional: Besides the vendors shown above, BLACK MUSEUM sets are commercially available in the United Kingdom, published by Hodder Headline. The title of these sets, along with their ISBN and shows contained in them are: * "Tales from the Black Museum", ISBN 185998 1542, shows: "The Key", "The Car Tyre", "Brickbat", "The Jacket", "The Pike", "The Little Blue", "The Chain", "The Brass Button". * "More Tales from the Black Museum", ISBN 185998 1747, shows: "Canvas Bag", "Silencer", "Mandolin String", "Powder Puff", "The Sash Cord", "Blood-Stained Shoe", "Pair Of Spectacles", "The Notes". * "Further Tales from the Black Museum", ISBN 185998 1755, shows: "The Hammer", "Sheath Knife", "The Spotted Sheet", "The Shoe" (many contain others). Other Logs or Books: * THE BLACK MUSEUM log, Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 Reader Feedback: Special thanks has to go to Paul Urbahn for providing copies of all shows he had and lots of additional information. Besides Paul: * From Arlene Osborne: Titles "The Center-Fire Bullet", "The Notes" and "Strichnine Poison". She also sent her full list of shows. * From Bob Kimmel: Titles "The Medicine Bottles", "The Sheath Knife" and "The Black Bag". * From Steve Kelez (Radio Showcase): "The Center-Fire Bullet" and "The .22 Caliber Pistol" are the same. * From Darrell Anderson and Andy Emmerson: The actual Black Museum does exist. * From Al Hubin: Alternates titles. * From Dick Judge: A couple more alternates, some type corrections and a list of story lines. Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).