Trial by Playbill (Madame Tussaud and the Chamber of Horrors)
Release Date: 06/12/2024
The Meteoric Rise of Audrey Munson (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 there with the trial of Harry Thaw for the murder of Stanford White. You can learn more about ArtMuse here: . If you'd like to suppor The Art of Crime, please consider becoming a...
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To Catch a Book Thief (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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.
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Mae West Goes to Jail (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at .
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A Gentleman and a Thief (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 . If you'd like to support the show, please consider beocming a patron at .
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Murder at Madison Square Garden (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 . For show notes and full transcripts, visit .
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The Child Musicians of Crosby Street (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at . Show notes and full transcripts available at .
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The Yuletide Art Heists of 1990 (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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) | promoted by Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) “Nutcracker- Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Jon Sayles (Creative Commons License) All other music by...
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The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 podcast. If you'd like to learn more about Margalit's work, including The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum, make sure to check out her website: . If you'd like to support the podcast, please consider...
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George L. Leslie and the Gilded Age of Bank Robbery (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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-lived, however, after a robbery went bad in 1878. Show notes and full transcripts available at . If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at .
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The Adventure of the Libelous Painter (Crimes of Old New York)
The Art of Crime
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 consider becoming a patron at . Show notes and full transcripts available at .
info_outlineIn 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 to haunt Madame Tussaud more than two decades later.
For show notes and full transcripts, visit www.artofcrimepodcast.com.
If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/artofcrimepodcast.