The Art of Crime
The Art of Crime is a history podcast that explores the unexpected intersections between true crime and the arts. Each season introduces a new theme, delving into stories where criminal acts and artistic expression collide. The show offers a unique perspective on historical events, blending narrative storytelling with cultural analysis.
Episodes
The Perfect Moment (Beach Reads)
Today, we're joined by cultural historian Isaac Butler, author of The Perfect Moment, an eye-opening new chronicle of the birth of America's culture wars in the 1980s. We talk about some of the most influential--and controversial--art about sex and religion of the period. And, as Isaac reveals, culture-war disputes could lead to violence and criminal charges. If you'd like to support the show, ple
Blood & Ink (Beach Reads)
Today, we're joined by Vanity Fair journalist Joe Pompeo to talk about the unsolved 1922 murders of Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills. In his book, Blood & Ink, Joe tells the riveting story of how this double homicide captured the national imagination and supercharged tabloid journalism. Joe is also working on a limited-series podcast that covers this case, so keep an eye out for that! If you'd like
The Art Spy (Beach Reads)
Today, I'm re-releasing my interview with Michelle Young, author of The Art Spy, a riveting account of the life and heroics of Rose Valland, a museum curator who spied on the Nazis during their occupation of France in World War II. The paperback edition of The Art Spy just came out, so pick up a copy if you haven't already. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If
Book and Dagger (Beach Reads)
Today, we're joined by historian Elyse Graham to talk about Book and Dagger, her riveting account of how the OSS, a precursor to the CIA, recruited scholars, artists, and activists to help the U.S. spy on the Nazis during World War II. If you'd like to suppor the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrime
Capone's Vault (Beach Reads)
Forty years ago, millions of Americans turned on their TVs to watch The Mysteries of Al Capone's Vault. In this live broadcast, construction workers blasted their way into a subterranean chamber beneath Chicago's Lexington Hotel, believed to have been a secret vault that belonged to the crime boss. My guest, William Elliott Hazelgrove, author of the new book, Capone's Vault, tells the story of how
The Witch of New York (Beach Reads)
Today, I'm joined by Alex Hortis, author of The Witch of New York, a riveting account of the 1843 trials of Polly Bodine. A resident of Staten Island, Bodine was accused of murdering her sister-in-law and her infant niece, sparking public outrage. Bodine went to trial not once, not twice, but three times for the crimes, and Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, and P.T. Barnum variously took part in the
Born in Flames (Beach Reads)
Today, we're joined by historian Bench Ansfield to talk about their breathtaking book, Born in Flames. It's about the arson wave of the 1970s, during which hundreds--yes, hundreds--of landlords in the Bronx set fire to their property to collect insurance. These crimes displaced thousands of Bronxites and killed a few, too. The crisis gae rise to a genre of sensationalist films Bench calls Bronxplo
Hollywood Double Agent (Beach Reads)
Today, we're joined by historian Jonathan Gill to talk about the amazing life of Boris Morros. After the Russian Revolution, Morros immigrated to America from Eastern Europe and became a big-time Hollywood filmmaker. To an outside observer, his life would have seemed all glitz and glam, but what the public didn't know was that Morros was risking his neck every day as a double agent, spying for bo
The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum (Beach Reads)
This week, I'm re-releasing my 2024 interview with Margalit Fox, author of The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum, a biography of the notorious nineteenth-century New York crime boss, Fredericka Mandelbaum. Next week, we're back with a brand-new interview. Until then! If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
The Man Who Stole the Gods (Beach Reads)
Today, I'm joined by award-winning journalist Matthew Campbell to talk about his new book, The Man Who Stole the Gods. For decades, the Bangkok-based Brit, Douglas Latchford, bought priceless Cambodian artworks that had been looted from ancient religious sites. Some of these pieces made their way to the collections of museums as august as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In The Man Who
The Rankings (Spy vs. Spy)
We've rated the spies, now it's time for the rankings. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. Full transcripts at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.
The Most Beautiful Woman of the Nineteenth Century: Countess of Castiglione (Spy vs. Spy)
Virginia Oldoini considered herself the most beautiful woman of the nineteenth century. In the 1850s, a high-ranking Italian official deployed her to France on a secret mission to seduce Emperor Napoleon III for political reasons. After her stint as a spy, the Countess emerged as a poioneer of photography, leaving behind one of the most stunning bodies of photographic self-portraits of the 1800s.
School for Scandal: Anthony Blunt (Spy vs. Spy)
Anthony Blunt was about as much of a rock star as an art historian could be. Then, in 1979, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher exposed him as a Soviet spy on the floor of Parliament, destroying his reputation. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. Show notes and transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com.
Leonora Carrington's Surreal World War (Spy vs. Spy)
Today, we're joined by art historian Grace Anna, host of the fabulous ArtMuse podcast, to talk about surrealist painter and writer Leonora Carrington. After Carrington fell in love with the famed German painter, Max Ernst, the couple moved to the south of France, where they lived happily. With the outbreak of World War II, however, both Leonora and Max were arrested on espionage charages, triggeri
Leonora Carrington's Surreal World War (Spy vs. Spy)
Today, we're joined by art historian Grace Anna, host of the fabulous ArtMuse podcast, to talk about surrealist painter and writer Leonora Carrington. After Carrington fell in love with the famed German painter, Max Ernst, the couple moved to the south of France, where they lived happily. With the outbreak of World War II, however, both Leonora and Max were arrested on espionage charages, triggeri
The Renegade Chevalière: Beaumarchais Part Two (Spy vs. Spy)
The decorated French soldier, diplomat, and spy, the Chevalière d'Éon, loyally served the French crown for decades. But then she decided to blackmail the king. With nowhere to turn, the French monarch enlisted Pierre Beaumarchais to talk the rogue chevalière out of it. For show ntoes and full transcripts, please visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider
A Real Figaro: Pierre Beaumarchais, Part One
Pierre Beaumarchais made a name for himself as a watchmaker, working for none other than Louis XV. But Beaumarchais was a man of many talents, including espionage, and when Louis found himself blackmailed by a rogue pamphleteer, the king dispatched Beaumarchais on a secret mission to find the blackmailer and stop him. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patr
Mata Hari, Fatal Lover (Spy vs. Spy)
Mata Hari rose to fame as an exotic dancer in Paris before beocming a double agent in World War One, spying for both the French and the Germans. Mata Hari is often remembered as a super spy, but how much of that was true? Today, we're joined by Julie Wheelwright, author of The Fatal Lover, a book about Mata Hari, who can help us separate fact from fiction. If you'd like to suppor the show, please
The Royalist (Spy vs. Spy)
In the late eighteenth century, Grace Elliott became a royal courtesan, famously sharing a bed with the Prince of Wales, later to reign as King George IV, and the Duke of Orléans in Paris. When the French Revolution broke out, she sided with the royalists and risked her life to sneak aristocrats out of the country. For show notes and full transcripts, please visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If yo
Chapter One: Wax to the Max (Raven)
Today, I'm releasing episode 1 of my new podcast, Raven. Please subscribe on your podcasting platform of choice so you don't miss forthcoming episodes. Hope you enjoy! If you'd like to suppor the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
Raven - Trailer
This week, I'm sharing the trailer for my brand-new podcast, Raven! Go check it out and make sure to subscribe, so you don't miss any episodes.
The Den of Illustrious Thieves Re-Release (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Today, I'm re-releasing episode 1 of Queen of Crime: Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors. More information--plus some very exciting updates--in the intro to the episode. I hope you enjoy, and if you haven't already, go back and listen to Queen of Crime--it's season 3 of this podcast! For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, pl
The Nazi and the Psychiatrist
Why did the Nazis commit their atrocities? After the end of World War II, American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley tried to answer this question at Nuremberg prison. During his time as chief psychiatrist there, Kelley examined high-ranking Nazis, including Hermann Göring, as they waited to stand trial for war crimes. Today, we're joined by Jack El-Hai, author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, a book a
Atto the Castrato (Spy vs. Spy)
In the early seventeenth century, Atto Melani gained international renown as a castrato singer, used his stature to spy on French courtiers, and even played a role in electing a new pope. Today, we're tjoined by Dr. Roger Freitas to talk about this remarkable figure. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a
Mission: Implausible, Part Three (Spy vs. Spy)
Having scored a trove of top-secret intelligence, Eppler and company desperately try to radio their findings to the German military. Unfortunately, their efforts explode in their face, to spectacular effect. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.com.
Mission: Implausible, Part Two (Spy vs. Spy)
Having made it to Cairo and forged an alliance with megastar belly dancer Hekmet Fahmy, Nazi spy Johannes Eppler began snooping around for intelligence that could be of use to the Germans. Thanks to Hekmet, Eppler got his first major breakthrough in the case. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com If you'd like to support the show, please consider beocming a patron at
Mission: Implausible, Part One (Spy vs. Spy)
From an early age, Johannes Eppler yearned for adventure. It was for that reason more than any other that he agreed to spy for the Nazis. In 1942, he embarked on a dangerous mission to enter Egypt by way of the Western Desert, hoping to gather intelligence for the German military. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please cons
Princess, Singer, Actress, Spy: Asmahan (Spy vs. Spy)
In the 1930s, singer and actress Asmahan became one of the most beloved performers in the Arabic-speaking world. After the outbreak of World War II, she embarked on a secret mission to Syria to aid in the fight against Hitler. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to suppor the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodca
The Art Spy (Spy vs. Spy)
Today, we're joined by Michelle Young, author of a the brand-new nonfiction book, The Art Spy. It tells the amazing true story of Rose Valland, a museum professional who spied on the Nazis as they looted priceless artworks. To learn more about The Art Spy and the rest of Michelle's work, visit www.michelleyoungwriter.com . If you'd like to supprt the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.
Introducing Season 6 . . .
Introducing season 6 . . .
Introducing History Daily: The Cold War Spy Swap
Today, I'm sharing an episode of History Daily, where they do history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened 'on this day' in history. In this episode:At the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union conduct a spy exchange. If you like what you hear, make sure to
The Ardlamont Mystery, Part One (Murder by the Book)
Today, I'm releasing part one of a three-part miniseries that was previously available exclusively to patrons of The Art of Crime. It's all about the fatal shooting of a British hunter at a Scottish manor house and the authorities' efforts to determine whether the vicitm died by accident or by design. If you'd like to hear how it all ends, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artof
Remembering Elliott Speer With a Very Special Guest (Murder by the Book)
Today, we're joined by a very special guest to remember the life of Elliott Speer. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
Fact and Fiction (Murder by the Book)
Today, we look at how the conventions of detective fiction informed--and misinformed--the investigation into the murder of Elliott Speer. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
The Trial (Murder by the Book)
In 1937, former Mount Hermon employee S. Allan Norton was ambushed at home by a trespasser with a shotgun. Norton identified his attacker as Thomas Elder, prime suspect in the unsolved murder of Elliott Speer. Members of the community held their breath as Elder went to trial for the attempted murder of Norton, hoping that proceedings would shed light on the shooting of Headmaster Speer. For show
The Suspect (Murder by the Book)
Within a week or two of the shooting of Elliott Speer, Dean Thomas Elder, second-in-command at Mount Hermon School for Boys, became the prime suspect in the crime. After amassing as much evidence as possible agains Elder, District Attorney Joseph Bartlett called an inquest that would determine whether Elder would stand trial for the homicide. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofc
The Investigation (Murder by the Book)
In 1934, police were initially baffled by the murder of Elliott Speer. Then, one day, while an investigator was combing over the bookshelves in Speer's study, he happened upon a murder mystery that blew the case wide open. Show notes and full transcripts are available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcri
The Life and Death of Elliott Speer (Murder by the Book)
The son of an internationally renowned Presbyterian preacher, Elliott Speer became headmaster of the Mount Hermon School for Boys, a religiously oriented boarding school, in 1932. On the night of September 14, 1934, a trespasser murdered Speer in his own home, devastating his family, his colleagues, and the rest of the community. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.c
Introducing Season 5 . . .
Introducing season 5 . . . Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. You can also sign up for an Apple subscription for bonus content, early access, and ad-free listening.
Ask Me Anything (Crimes of Old New York)
Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and comments! As promised, here's a link to Netherlandish Proverbs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandish_Proverbs. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
The Practice Run (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1990, two men entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole something like $500 million worth of art, in what became the most infamous art heist in U.S. history. Today, we're joined by retired museum professional Frederick J. Fisher, who thinks that the Gardner affair may have been a sequel to an earlier effort to rob a different institution, the Hyde Collection, located in Gl
The Devil Wears Rothko (Crimes of Old New York)
Today, we're joined by acclaimed author and filmmaker Barry Avrich to talk about one of the most colossal art fraud cases in New York history. It all started when a woman named Glafira Rosales walked into the storied Knoedler Gallery with a painting she claimed to have been created by Mark Rothko. The ensuing fiasco ended in catastrophe for the gallery. The Devil Wears Rothko by Barry Avrich is
Shooting Andy Warhol: Valerie Solanas (Re-Release)
This week, I'm re-releasing one of my all-time favorite episodes of The Art of Crime, "Shooting Andy Warhol: Valerie Solanas." It originally aired ac ouple years back, during seasons 2 of the podcast, Assassins. It looks at how playwright, writer, and all-around hellraiser Valerie Solanas shot and nearly killed Andy Warhol in 1968. For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.c
Theft and the Met (Crimes of Old New York)
Today, we're joined by the fabulous Amanda Matta, host of the Art of History podcast, to talk about theft and New York's Metropolitan Museum. On the one hand, the Met has acquired a good chunk of its collection by dubious means, including the purchase of looted objects. On the other hand, the museum itself has become the target of thieves, leading to some of New York's most astounding art heists.
Wig Heist! (Crimes of Old New York)
One Monday morning in 1958, Nina Lawson, Mistress of Wigs at the Metropolitan Opera, came into work to discover that someone had stolen thirty thousand dollars' worth of wigs from the Met. The theft made national headlines, and the FBI joined the hunt for the culprits. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider bec
The Meteoric Rise of Audrey Munson (Crimes of Old New York)
Today, I'm thrilled to share an episode of a wonderful podcast, ArtMuse. This is part one of a two-part episode about Audrey Munson, sometimes referred to as "America's first supermodel." She inspired more than a dozen prominent statues throughout New York. After reaching the height of her fame, she got roped into one of the early twentieth century's most sensational homicide trials, right up ther
To Catch a Book Thief (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1931, a trio of thieves stole a rare book by Edgar Allan Poe worth more than half a million dollars from the New York Public Library. To bring them to justice, the library called in G. William Bergquist, an investigator who specialized in recovering stolen books.
Mae West Goes to Jail (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1927, blond-haired bombshell and future movie star Mae West performed the lead role in a play about a prostitute titled SEX. The risqué production launched her to stardom on Broadway. There was just one problem--it also launched her straight into a jail cell. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a
A Gentleman and a Thief (Crimes of Old New York)
In the Roaring Twenties, Arthur Barry stole millions of dollars' worth of jewels from some of New York's wealthiest residents. Today, we talk about the cat burglar's audacious capers with best-selling author Dean Jobb, whose new biography of Barry is titled A Gentleman and a Thief. For more about Jobb's writing, visit his website at https://www.deanjobb.com/. If you'd like to support the show, p
Murder at Madison Square Garden (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1901, Broadway chorus girl Evelyn Nesbit met Stanford White, the fabulously wealthy and influential architect who designed Madison Square Garden. They formed a relationship that ended in murder six years later, right in the middle of a crowded performance at Madison Square Garden. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. For
The Child Musicians of Crosby Street (Crimes of Old New York)
In the 1860s and '70s, hundreds--maybe thousands--of Italian children migrated to New York to make money as street musicians. They worked for bosses known as padroni, living in squalor and suffering abuse at the hands of their employers. In 1873, the plight of these little street performers unleashed outrage in New York and neighboring states, which prompted the federal government to take action.
The Yuletide Art Heists of 1990 (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1990, three separate art heists took place in the week leading up to Christmas, baffling New York authorities as well as the FBI. In this special holiday episode, we look at police efforts to recover the stolen artworks as well as the many mysteries that hover over the case to this day. Music featured in this episode: "Deck The Halls" by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorc
The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum (Crimes of Old New York)
Today, we're joined by best-selling author Margalit Fox to talk about Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum, who rose to the top of New York's underworld as a criminal fence and financial backer of bank burglaries in the 1860s and '70s. Earlier this year, Margalit published a brand-new biography of the crime boss, titled The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum, which you will most assuredly enjoy if you like this p
George L. Leslie and the Gilded Age of Bank Robbery (Crimes of Old New York)
In the late 1860s, gentleman bank robber George L. Leslie arrived in New York and started working for Fredericka Mandelbaum, one of the city's most notorious crime bosses. Leslie always claimed to have studied architecture in college and drew on his training to mastermind some of the most daring heists of the century, earning the nickname of "King of Bank Robbers." His reign would prove short-live
The Adventure of the Libelous Painter (Crimes of Old New York)
In 1817, Italian-born painter Francesco Mezzara had a spat with his patron, New York attorney Aaron Palmer. As the feud escalated, Mezzara painted an insulting picture of Palmer and put it up for auction. Mezzara was giddy when the picture fetched $40—but not for long. Soon, he stood accused of criminal libel on account of the offensive portrait. If you'd like to support the show, please conside
The Curse of Catherine Ring (Crimes of Old New York)
In this special Halloween episode, we explore an urban legend that emerged from the trial of Levi Weeks. After the verdict came down, a vengeful Catherine Ring is said to have cursed Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Justice John Lansing, causing all three to die lamentable deaths. Show notes available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming
The Manhattan Well Mystery (Crimes of Old New York)
On January 2, 1800, a group of New Yorkers discovered the body of a missing local in the disused Manhattan Well. The Manhattan Well Murder, as the crime came to be known, led to a sensational trial, in which two of America's Founding Fathers participated. Given the intense public interest in the homicide, publishers raced to print the first—and fullest—account of the proceedings, spawning a new ge
Introducing Crimes of Old New York
This season, we explore crimes that only could have happened in the Big Apple. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to suppor the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
Introducing History Daily: The Shining Debuts
Today, I'm sharing an episode of the chart-topping podcast, History Daily. This episode is about the premiere of one of the greatest horror films ever made, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. What better way to kick off spooky season? Next week, we're announcing the theme of season 4 of The Art of Crime, so watch this space! If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www
Ask Me Anything (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and comments! For show notes and full transcripts, please visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
Princess Caraboo with Ann Foster (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Today, we're joined by Ann Foster, host and creator of the Vulgar History podcast. Gavin and Ann talk about the enigmatic Princess Caraboo, an exotic princess who washed up on English shores in 1817 and generated a sensation in the press as various observers tried to work out where she had come from. Make sure to check out Vulgar History here: https://vulgarhistory.com/ If you'd like to support
Azadeh Akhlaghi: Bearing Witness
Today, I'm releasing an episode that became available exclusively to patrons of The Art of Crime at the end of last season. It's about Iranian photographer Azadeh Akhlaghi and her photo-series, By an Eye-Witness, which reconstructs politically significant deaths in twentieth-century Iranian history. If you want more content like this, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcri
The Art of Revolution with Will Clark (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Today, we're joined by Will Clark, host and creator of Grey History: The French Revolution. He and Gavin discuss their favorite works of art from the French Revolution. Show notes available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to exclusive bonus episodes, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. And make sure to check out
Trial by Playbill (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
In 1823, John Thurtell murdered the gambler William Weare while the two were riding in a horse-drawn gig. Cashing in on public fascination with the case, the Surrey Theatre staged The Gamblers, a play that recreated the murder and incorporated the actual horse-drawn gig in which the crime took place. The Gamblers became one of the most explosive melodramas of the nineteenth century and came back t
Murder at the Wax Museum with Caroline Crampton (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
A surprising number of crime stories from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction take place in wax museums. Today, we're joined by Caroline Crampton, host and creator of Shedunnit, a podcast that unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories, to talk about why the wax museum has fueled the imagination of so many crime writers. Link to "Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White: https://trove.nla.gov.a
Marie Antoinette, The Marriage of Figaro, and the Diamond Necklace Affair
Beaumarchais's madcap comedy, The Marriage of Figaro, smashed box-office records when it opened in Paris in 1784. The following year, a team of real-life con artists drew inspiration from a crucial scene in the play as they planned—and pulled off—the swindle of the century. Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider
The True Crime Controversy of 1849 (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
In 1849, George and Maria Manning murdered a guest in their London home and fled the British capital . A dramatic hunt for the killers ensued. After the law caught up with the Mannings, the glamorous Maria achieved near-celebrity status as she made her way through the justice system. A staggering thirty thousand spectators gathered to watch her and George's public execution, triggering a ferocious
The Baker Street Bazaar and the Cult Leader of Kent (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
After more than three decades of touring the provinces, Madame Tussaud made the unexpected decision to settle down in London in 1835. Within a matter of years, Tussaud was running the metropolis's number-one tourist destination, and she updated the Chamber of Horrors more frequently than ever before. In 1838, she unveiled an effigy of Sir William Courtenay, a charismatic cult leader who committed
Burke and Hare at Madame Tussaud and Sons (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
For more than three decades, Madame Tussaud toured England, Scotland, and Ireland, winning nationwide acclaim. Over the years, her enterprise morphed into a family business, with both her sons dedicating their lives to the wax museum. In 1829, Madame Tussaud and Sons scored one of their biggest hits of the '20s with controversial effigies of Burke and Hare, Edinburgh-based murderers who sold their
The Red Barn Murder (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
From 1803 to 1808, Madame Tussaud toured Scotland and Ireland, exhibiting her handiwork in major cities. During this time, she took drastic measures to win her freedom from her exploitative business partner, Paul Philipstahl. Tussaud went years without creating new figures related to crime, but in 1828 she introduced a likeness of William Corder, perpetrator of the infamous Red Barn Murder. This b
Fright Night at the Lyceum (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
After marrying and starting a family, Madame Tussaud accepted an offer to partner with another showman and exhibit her handiwork in London. To her dismay, she soon realized that she had teamed up with a snake. Despite a rough start in the British capital, Tussaud scored a major hit with a wax effigy of Colonel Edward Marcus Despard, a convicted traitor who was hanged, drawn, and quartered in Febru
Tussaud and the Terror (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
As the French Revolution ran its course, the monarchy crumbled, and the nation descended into wanton violence. During the Reign of Terror, thousands of French citizens went to the guillotine, and Tussaud made waxen replicas of important revolutionaries' severed heads, including that of Maximilien Robespierre. In 1793, she also created a wax tableau inspired by perhaps the most notorious crime of t
The Phantom of the Bastille (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
On July 12, 1789, a crowd of protestors furious over King Louis XVI's policies swarmed Madame Tussaud and Philippe Curitus's wax museum, demanding busts of prominent political figures. This episode led to bloodshed that same afternoon. Two days later, a mob stormed the Bastille, a medieval prison, marking the outbreak of the French Revolution. Soon after, the Den of Illustrious Thieves exhibited o
The Den of Illustrious Thieves (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Born in 1761, Madame Tussaud studied the art of wax modeling under Philippe Curtius, owner of the most famous wax museum in pre-revolutionary Paris. Sometime around 1780, Curtius opened a special exhibit in his establishment called The Den of Illustrious Thieves, in which he displayed wax effigies of notorious murderers. He had an early hit with a sculpture of double poisoner Antoine Francois Desr
Introducing Queen of Crime: Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors
Introducing Queen of Crime: Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors Show notes and full transcripts available at www.artofcrimepodcast.com. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.
Introducing Who ARTed? - The Stockholm Art Heist
Today, I'm sharing an episode of the delightful art history podcast, Who ARTed?, hosted by Kyle Wood. This episode is all about the Stockholm art heist of the year 2000. Find out what extraordinary paintings were stolen from the National Gallery--and how they were recovered. We're back next week with another installment in Queen of Crime: Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors. Show notes and
The Herculean Labor of Sculpting the Perseus
The Perseus of Benvenuto Cellini is justly considered a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. Believe it or not, this statue almost never existed. From start to finish, sculpting the Perseus proved a Herculean labor, as dogged opposition from Cellini's own patron, life-threatening illness, and the sheer enormity of the artist's ambitions conspired against him. Show notes and full transcripts avai
Before Borat: The Dreadnought Hoax
In 1910, four Abyssinian royals toured the H.M.S. Dreadnought, the most technologically advanced ship in the British Royal Navy. Afterward, however, it leaked to the press that the captain and crew of the vessel had been duped: they had given a tour not to foreign dinitaries but British citizens. The Dreadnought affair caused a minor scandal, and what started as a practical joke threatened to end
Introducing History Uncovered: The Disappearance of Michael Rockefeller
Today, we're joined by Austin Harvey, co-host of History Uncovered, a podcast that explores the natural world and the world past. First, we'll hear a History Uncovered episode about the mysterious disappearance of indigenous art collector Michael Rockefeller in 1961. Afterward, Austin chats with Gavin about the process of making the episode and offers additional insight on a few key points. If yo
The Art of Crime Interview on Crawlspace
Back in the spring, I was interviewed on the true crime podcast, Crawlspace, and I wanted to share that interview with you. Hope you enjoy! We'll be back with original Art of Crime content in December, and season 3 will start in earnest in January 2024. If you'd like more Art of Crime content now, however, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast. There, you can liste
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