VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio explores the intersection of true crime and classic radio storytelling with, “The Black Museum,” premiering at 1 p.m. April 20.
While the episode takes its name from the infamous Black Museum at Scotland Yard—a collection of everyday objects linked to crimes and murders—it draws from four different mid-20th century radio drama series that used the collection as inspiration for their storytelling.
The original Black Museum, officially known as the Crime Museum of London’s Metropolitan Police, houses artifacts associated with criminal cases. Its restricted access and eerie reputation sparked public fascination, inspiring numerous stories, books and radio programs. Re-Imagined Radio revisits that legacy by sampling and reinterpreting episodes from four series: “Secrets of Scotland Yard,” “The Black Museum,” “Whitehall 1212” and “Fabian of the Yard.”
Each program offers a distinct perspective on crime. “Secrets of Scotland Yard,” dramatizes famous cases; “The Black Museum,” introduced by Orson Welles, focuses on individual objects tied to specific crimes; “Whitehall 1212” presents investigations from the police point of view; and “Fabian of the Yard” recounts memoirs of a former Scotland Yard inspector. Together, these series bring to life true crime stories connected—directly or thematically—to the artifacts of the Black Museum.
Re-Imagined Radio’s new episode weaves selections from all four programs into a single narrative experience, spanning stories from 1874 to the present day. Combining archival material with contemporary sound design, the production highlights how different radio storytellers approached crime, evidence and narrative structure across decades.
“‘The Black Museum’ is not just one program, but a storytelling tradition rooted in the mystery of the collection itself,” said John F. Barber, producer of Re-Imagined Radio and faculty member in the Digital Technology and Culture program at Washington State University Vancouver. “By bringing together four series, we can explore how radio used objects, investigation and memory to tell compelling true crime stories in different ways.”
Listeners will experience a range of storytelling styles—from object-centered narratives to procedural accounts—while reflecting on the enduring appeal of true crime and the power of sound to shape imagination.
Listeners are invited to tune in April 20 to experience this unique episode, which reimagines multiple classic radio series through a single, unifying theme.