I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

"See How It Glints and Sparkles" [BLUE]

"See How It Glints and Sparkles" [BLUE]

This was too good to pass up. Over at the discussion forum Holmesian.net , I came across some wonderful stick artwork by a member named whor...

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by Scott Monty

"A Certain Annual" [SPEC]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4108249706_220b1e666d_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4108249706_220b1e666d_o.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 405px;" /></a>For anyone reading this blog, there has never been a time when the world as you know it has been without Sherlock Holmes. As a matter of fact, it's been exactly 120 years since Sherlock Holmes made his first appearance in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Beeton's Christmas Annual</span>. For a short summary of Holmes's humble beginnings, you can listen to <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17563872">a segment on <span style="font-style: italic;">All Things Considered</span></a> that NPR ran on December 23.<br /><br />And in our own humble way, we honor his memory over at the <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/">Baker Street Journal</a>. Each year for the last 10 years, we've been offering an additional companion piece to our quarterly journal - something we call the <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/christmasannuals.html">Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual</a>.<br /><br />The Christmas Annual for 2007 is about to hit the streets, and we've already got a record number of subscribers signed up to receive it. If you are renewing your BSJ subscription or if you're taking a subscription out for the first time, you can automatically include the Annual as part of your package, and receive a discount in the process. So, <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/subscriptions.html">sign up now for the 2008 Journal & Annual</a>.<br /><br />In the meantime, let's focus on what we've got in 2007. The title of this year's entry is:<br /><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/christmasannuals.html"></a><blockquote><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/christmasannuals.html">Rathbone Returns: A Misadventure Called <span style="font-style: italic;">Sherlock Holmes</span></a> by S.E. Dahlinger, ASH and Glen Miranker, BSI ("The Origin of Tree Worship")<br /></blockquote>Basil Rathbone is still a perennial favorite of many Holmes enthusiasts. As a matter of fact, I recently met a 9 year-old who came to a dinner of the Friends of Irene Adler in Cambridge, MA dressed as the great detective - and he himself told me that Basil Rathbone was the best Sherlock Holmes ever. We could argue that here or in a variety of forums forever, but let's say that by the end of his 14 film stretch and radio play, Rathbone was inexorably typecast.<br /><br />Indeed, he was just as eager to push Sherlock Holmes over the precipice at Reichenbach Falls as Arthur Conan Doyle had been. As he wrote in his autobiography, <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0879101199?tag=thebakerstree-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0879101199&adid=15KJEK4J7QKM928K7C5G&">In and Out of Character</a>:<br /><blockquote>    I was . . . deeply concerned with the problem of being "typed," more completely "typed" than any other classic actor has ever been or ever will be again. . . . There was nothing I could do about it, except to stop playing Mr. Holmes. . . .</blockquote>That June, Rathbone and his wife Ouida left Hollywood for the New York stage in search of better things. At least, that was the plan. They quickly found that Broadway wouldn't touch Basil as anything other than Holmes, either. Rathbone began casting about for the play in which to rekindle his rapidly fading star—and fell back on his wife to write it.<br /><br />Thereby hangs our tale of Sherlock Holmes by Ouida Rathbone. It may have been a comedy, or it may have been a tragedy. It cost one man his dream of conquering Broadway in his most notable role. It cost another man his career as a Broadway producer. It gave yet a third man a heart attack at the dress rehearsal. It even caused the Conan Doyle Estate to forget that the script had ever been produced in the first place. Yet there was certainly an element of comedy.<br /><br />The play opened here in Boston (as did many plays of the day before hitting the Great White Way). Peter Blau even <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search?q=Peter+Blau">mentioned planning on seeing it in New York</a> after its Boston run. If you pick up a copy of the Annual, you'll see what happened in the process.<br /><br />So, as a birthday present to Holmes and as a happy Blue Carbuncle Day ("the second morning after Christmas"), order your copy - and sign up for a subscription and next year's Annual while you're at it, over at <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/">bakerstreetjournal.com</a>.

"A Certain Annual" [SPEC]

For anyone reading this blog, there has never been a time when the world as you know it has been without Sherlock Holmes. As a matter of fac...

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by Scott Monty

Special Episode: Compliments of the Season

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"compliments of the season" [BLUE] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisOa8EB3WP3vsHVWiJzMamYVd_KJdE0vbw2kZvssfgqzGJW8-NfLbIMk7EA_GnicRZIO-yBbF2jW-SHyejulfqpII6XxJxYUKd7n4hWDd1s5OC5AP7AYFu87J0N7VRuK5040Wi7zsqmLgqBmb5yBOccFHb-NPz30qsxjDH_mLw5UEhm2ntk_083Yws5Q=s1015" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1015" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisOa8EB3WP3vsHVWiJzMamYVd_KJdE0vbw2kZvssfgqzGJW8-NfLbIMk7EA_GnicRZIO-yBbF2jW-SHyejulfqpII6XxJxYUKd7n4hWDd1s5OC5AP7AYFu87J0N7VRuK5040Wi7zsqmLgqBmb5yBOccFHb-NPz30qsxjDH_mLw5UEhm2ntk_083Yws5Q=w640-h364" width="640" /></a></div><br />This time of year always draws our minds to "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Blue_Carbuncle">The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle</a>," the only Sherlock Holmes story that takes place at Christmas. It's the source of our greeting cards to each other, with the universally applicable "Compliments of the Season," which is exactly the wish that Burt and Scott give to each and every one of you.<br />
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Thank you so much for being part of this journey with us throughout the second half of 2007. We look forward to bringing you more episodes of the quality you've come to expect, and we may even have a few surprises in store for 2008.<br />
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In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy 10 minutes or so of a very special holiday greeting from your friends at I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><h3 style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock_compliments2007.mp3" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 8.9 MB, 9:41</h3></div>
<center><br /><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1185689230&color=%23ce1a21&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock" title="I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/compliments-of-the-season" title="Compliments of the Season" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Compliments of the Season</a></div></center>
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Special Episode: Compliments of the Season

"compliments of the season" [BLUE] This time of year always draws our minds to " The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle ,"...

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by Scott Monty

"In His Yorkshire Days" [HOUN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SajP8g6hlBgXVXvOt51b4D8oMZ35xq4RcPzOsAI3qnATLF9oJXMvWWi4Td2ukfOW2SgGxOX0D-0o3cflNXbzSw87jyaL6Ljjh_LmNb8g5s74tEdL74FD7Ooj_eqlfFJcEwXAfKxAQDy1/s1600-h/York_Watts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148500438878279618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SajP8g6hlBgXVXvOt51b4D8oMZ35xq4RcPzOsAI3qnATLF9oJXMvWWi4Td2ukfOW2SgGxOX0D-0o3cflNXbzSw87jyaL6Ljjh_LmNb8g5s74tEdL74FD7Ooj_eqlfFJcEwXAfKxAQDy1/s200/York_Watts.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>For the good people in the northern portion of England, there's about to be a special museum feature afoot. The <a href="http://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/Page/Index.aspx">Yorkshire Museum</a> in (where else?) York is going to be opening a new exhibit on January 1, called "<a href="http://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/Page/Events.aspx#The%20Mystery%20Files">Mystery Files</a>," which encourages visitors to put on their own symbolic deerstalkers and search for clues amid the current exhibits.<br /><br />At the end of 2008, the search will culminate in the opening of the museum's vault. There are a number of rarely seen exhibits and artifacts that are being displayed as part of this year-long hunt. The <a href="http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.1925514.0.sherlock_holmes_lends_a_hand_at_the_yorkshire_museum.php">full story is available at the York Express</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you live in or take a visit to the north of England, please do drop us a line and let us know about your experience with this feature at the museum.</span>

"In His Yorkshire Days" [HOUN]

For the good people in the northern portion of England, there's about to be a special museum feature afoot. The Yorkshire Museum in (wh...

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by Scott Monty

"Recent Services to One of the Royal Houses" [SCAN]

I think the 21st century is finally starting to catch up with us. As a reader of this blog, you no doubt have seen some wonderful things, thanks to the advancing technology. It would seem now that the monarchy of Great Britain is joining in the fun.<br /><br />If you haven't heard, on the heels of her 81st birthday, making her the oldest monarch in England's history (long may she reign!), <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7157947.stm">Queen Elizabeth II will be broadcasting her annual Christmas message on YouTube</a>. And in advance of that news, the Royal Family has established its own channel on YouTube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel">http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel</a><br /><br />We American Sherlockians have always bowed to the east, in honor of the queen of Sherlock Holmes's time, as well as our present-day queen. While it's not terribly Sherlockian, allow me to share with you <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBRP-o6Q85s">the first televised Christmas Greeting</a>, from Elizabeth II in 1957. And may you and yours have a very Happy Christmas.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-7358d5cafaff0740-3053" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOaun99ZeISBkgLMEIIKbJDm4afEAYpjQyQVCrnrzSk_ka9gAJ29t2McquI5RwzxpAGe80DAxB5YbB5XqAZZKhNG_NeoqvVpuKBLWcM71MJntg2udLAwK96VCXTpR4r4T2woQ" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>

"Recent Services to One of the Royal Houses" [SCAN]

I think the 21st century is finally starting to catch up with us. As a reader of this blog, you no doubt have seen some wonderful things, th...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 16: Collectors' Corner - Jerry Margolin

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We're pleased to welcome Jerry Margolin, BSI ("Hilton Cubitt") to this show this week. Jerry has been a collector of something or other nearly his whole life, but his Sherlockian collection was the thing that occupied most of his adult life. Recently, Jerry decided to sell his collection, and we wanted to understand what went into that process, from the making the very difficult decision, picking a buyer, and what's happened along the way.<br />
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Those who know Jerry will be pleased to know that he did not sell the core of his collection - his Sherlockian artwork - which contains a wide array of original comic art, many made specifically at Jerry's request. You can see some of Jerry's art collection in the slideshow beneath the flash player for the show below.<br />
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Please leave a comment at (774) 221-READ (7323), comment [AT] ihearofsherlock [DOT] com, within the comment section of each entry, or in the Splashcast player. We also encourage you to join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Facebook page</a>, to vote for us at <a href="http://podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=49043">Podcast Alley</a>, and to consider making a donation to the show (in the sidebar on the right).<br />
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<strong>Show Notes:<br />
1:13</strong> Show intro<br />
<strong>4:47</strong> The origins of Jerry's collecting mania<br />
<strong>6:30</strong> Jerry's first piece of Sherlockian artwork: "Murder at the English Pub" by V.I.P.<br />
<strong>7:15</strong> Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Plus, Jerry's Sherlockian mentor<br />
<strong>9:01</strong> It's in your DNA - the collector gene<br />
<strong>9:39</strong> Meet St. Judy<br />
<strong>10:32</strong> Where does one put a Sherlockian art collection of over 900 pieces?<br />
<strong>11:39</strong> Jerry's art collecting theme - personal favorite artists, commissioned pieces<br />
<strong>13:50 </strong>Will call for Peanuts - <a href="http://www.snoopy.com/">Charles Schultz</a><br />
<strong>17: 32</strong> Jerry's personal favorites: <a href="http://www.snoopy.com/"></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/">Jimmy Stewart</a>, <a href="http://www.willeisner.com/">Will Eisner</a>, <a href="http://www.gahanwilson.com/">Gahan Wilson</a><br />
<strong>25:42</strong> The oldest artwork in Jerry's collection<br />
<strong>30:01</strong> Shifting gears from art to books<br />
<strong>32:40</strong> Discovering rare & scarce books pre-eBay<br />
<strong>34:40</strong> The hallmarks of a good collector<br />
<strong>36:13</strong> Beginning to think about selling the collection<br />
<strong>40:10</strong> Starting the selling process<br />
<strong>40:45</strong> The emotional aspect of selling a collection<br />
<strong>42:29</strong> Starting to hear from collectors of the collection<br />
<strong>44:06</strong> Seller's remorse - and making up for it<br />
<strong>45:23</strong> It's not just about the sale - some philanthropy as well<br />
<strong>51:02</strong> What "what ifs" of collecting<br />
<strong>56:57</strong> The Editor's Gas Lamp: "Something Can Be Added," <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a> Vol. 1, No. 4 (New Series) October 1951<br />
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<iframe align="middle" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=9152065@N04&set_id=72157603451412010&tags=jerrymargolin" width="476"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Mouse over the slideshow to hide/unhide the thumbnails; you can click on the artwork to be taken to the full site.</span><br />
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<i>Update</i>: <a href="http://blog.marsdencartoons.com/tag/baker-street-irregulars/">an interview with Jerry via the Marsden Cartoons blog</a>.</div>
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<strong>Links:</strong> <br />
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<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ihearofsherlock/sets/72157603451412010/">Samples of Jerry's art collection on Flickr</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.snoopy.com/">Charles Schultz</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/">Jimmy Stewart</a> on the IMDb</li>
<li><a href="http://www.willeisner.com/">Will Eisner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.gahanwilson.com/">Gahan Wilson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">The BSI Trust</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a> </li>
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<b>Listen now:</b> <br />
<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock16.mp3" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TL5jgdrUh_nM_zlDgxql-jKOFGUVFqhoV6A2JtYklXOu4qmVDyRVbwGV6XrwXZgnG9awSwJ7td-txL1_4KGrpSf4igJLILOim4yJmX5pGTPIdMhCBYLyImSI5gs1MOMUZPAlpAgvtPdb/s200/podcastIcon.gif" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 21px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 46px;" /></a>Download this episode by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Save As..." (File size: 59 MB, 1:02:43)<br />
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Episode 16: Collectors' Corner - Jerry Margolin

We're pleased to welcome Jerry Margolin, BSI ("Hilton Cubitt") to this show this week. Jerry has been a collector of so...

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by Scott Monty

"I Shall Get the Tickets" [BOSC]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.resonanceensemble.org/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145960098866681714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AUroyxDbBkGXeEjJJn-hOIs9PMYjBk0_j1gSn7kGxolzXk4S09YhQsinYLbdzTe0UQJaAyOvkgJGdOh0N8I7uwzNczugMsZgvlrgpqGxsNswLbz31Vtrcis6IupSSzM6VueACFDH-6bw/s200/SherlockSolo.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>[<span style="font-style: italic;">Notice</span>: this is one of a number of contests that I'll be running on the blog here over the next few weeks. I've been lucky enough to have been contacted by some individuals who were interested in getting some publicity for their efforts. I hope you'll have fun with these, participate, and encourage others to do the same.]<br /><br />You may have heard that in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a>, the one-man play <a href="http://www.resonanceensemble.org/">Sherlock Solo</a> will be performed by Victor L. Cahn at the Kirk Theatre.<br /><br />The play runs from January 10 through February 3 in New York, so there are other times to see it if you don't make it to during the Weekend festivities (there are so many other things to do!). You can buy tickets at (212) 279-4200.<br /><br />Or - here's a thought - you can participate in a contest right here on the blog. The producer has given me 5 pairs of tickets that I'll be giving away to my readers. Here's how the giveaway will work:<br /><br />In the comments section of this post (if you're reading this as an email or through a feedreader, please go to the web site), or on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284">Baker Street Blog Facebook Group</a>, leave a comment that explains how you've personally been affected by Sherlock Holmes this year. It could be a book, a movie, another Sherlockian, an online discussion - whatever. But tell me some way that the character has enriched your life for 2007.<br /><br />Entries are due on or before 11:59 PM on December 31, 2007. After that, I'll be choosing winners at random. I'm also promoting this through the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284">Baker Street Blog Facebook Group</a>. I may post additional information to the group only; please join the group now so you don't miss out on any details.<br /><br />Good luck! I look forward to reading about your experiences!

"I Shall Get the Tickets" [BOSC]

[ Notice : this is one of a number of contests that I'll be running on the blog here over the next few weeks. I've been lucky enough...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 15: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 2)

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In the previous episode of the show, you heard us get into some pretty interesting topics with Mike Whelan, head of the Baker Street Irregulars. We continue in this vein in Part 2, talking about the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">BSI Trust</a>, the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a> in much greater detail, the Dr. Watson Fund, and a very exciting contest that you can participate in!<br />
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Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please contact us using the information in the sidebar to the right.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Notes:</span></h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2:33</span> The evolution of the archives of the BSI, thanks to Dan Posnansky and Harvard<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5:43</span> Mike's leadership style and getting things done<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">8:18</span> What happens at the BSI Weekend, anyway?<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14:30</span> The Dr. Watson Fund - what it is, how it works, and how to contribute<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">16:01</span> Listener contest!!! Listen, participate and win!<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">17:10</span> Mike's favorite part(s) of the BSI Weekend<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">20:16</span> Follow the BSI Weekend activities - <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">live </span>- on <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/" rel="nofollow">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a> and the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a> site<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">21:48</span> How does Mike explain this avocation to civilians?<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">23:04</span> Mike spends his free time doing...<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">26:15</span> The secret to enjoying the Game<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">27:30</span> Getting Mike into the 21st century - maybe<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">29:02</span> Interviews at the 2007 BSI Dinner with recently investitured Irregulars: Dayna MacCausland, Mattias Bostrom, Elaine McCafferty, Maggie Schpak, Warren Randall, Mike Homer and <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/07/episode-03-mike-berdan.html">Mike Berdan</a>.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">37:53</span> The Editor's Gas-Lamp, "Who Is a Baker Street Irregular?" Vol. 3, No. 2 of the 1948 <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Baker Street Journal</a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">42:23</span> Subscribing to the Baker Street Journal<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">44:30</span> Listener comments - all kinds!<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">52:15</span> <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">56:01</span> Burt makes Scott tell the Johnny Carson / Carnac hiatus joke<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock15.mp3">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 53.5 MB, 58:28</b></h3><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134346152&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="ihearofsherlock">ihearofsherlock</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/i-hear-of-sherlock-8" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Episode 15: Michael Whelan (Part 2)">Episode 15: Michael Whelan (Part 2)</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Links:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">BSI Trust</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The <a href="http://hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/#houghton">Houghton Library</a> at Harvard University</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a></li>
<li style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><a href="https://ihose.co/BSJ" target="_blank">The Baker Street Journal</a></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /><br />
--<br />
<br /></div>

Episode 15: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 2)

In the previous episode of the show, you heard us get into some pretty interesting topics with Mike Whelan, head of the Baker Street Ir...

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by Scott Monty

"The Giant Rat of Sumatra" [SUSS]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg512wCMDTfVScAio2-3qtrWee3PTZry9QnRhFE89sceSW33tb26GxBKq8Chw7cQOWsSdI0RDcuOMKFDz9qE0DXzVK_MzIZj0Yf7PS5IQ_e5Vuotg7hrgk3fcDmIkFydJc0i0AUY_jKVis7/s1600-h/giant+rat.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145070967621965650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg512wCMDTfVScAio2-3qtrWee3PTZry9QnRhFE89sceSW33tb26GxBKq8Chw7cQOWsSdI0RDcuOMKFDz9qE0DXzVK_MzIZj0Yf7PS5IQ_e5Vuotg7hrgk3fcDmIkFydJc0i0AUY_jKVis7/s200/giant+rat.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Sometimes you come across a news item that's just too good to be true. Or in this case, too Canonically accurate. It's almost frightening.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.sherlockian.net/canon/stories/suss.html">The Sussex Vampire</a>, Holmes mentions that the <span style="font-style: italic;">Matilda Briggs</span> "was a ship which is associated with the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared." And so it went, that the Giant Rat of Sumatra became one of the most highly recognized of the apocryphal tales - the unrecorded cases of Sherlock Holmes.<br />
<br />
So imagine my surprise when I saw a headline on CNN.com today that not only included the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rattus horribilis</span>, but also a mention of one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's other enduring tales: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/17/giant.rat.ap/index.html">Giant rat found in 'lost world'</a>.<br />
<br />
In this case, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0938501232?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0938501232"> Lost World</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0938501232" style="border: medium none  ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> in question is not some South American plateau, but none other than Indonesia - which coincidentally includes Sumatra. In this case, the rodent was found in the Foja mountains in the eastern Papua province, which is not all that far away from Sumatra. Two new species were discovered in an area that is rarely visited by humans - and one of them happened to be a "giant rat" that is about 5 times the size of a normal city rat. I don't know you, but I think city rats are fairly large to begin with. This is approaching being a R.O.U.S. (Rodent Of Unusual Size).<br />
<br />
I love it when our little hobby becomes fodder for the headlines and something that was written about nearly 100 years ago becomes fact. I know Conan Doyle was into the psychic phenomena, including spiritualism, but this is just plain uncanny. As Sherlock Holmes himself said, "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent." ['A Case of Identity']<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
<br />
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"The Giant Rat of Sumatra" [SUSS]

Sometimes you come across a news item that's just too good to be true. Or in this case, too Canonically accurate. It's almost fright...

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by Scott Monty

"Holmes Gave Me a Brief Review" [THOR]

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXEiT11nhOmFI88giP09JGV5Da7Iak99uhMMnRrA4Fj7OMfxcr-2q_2LzKJj9W5pn_RuBoA1eQ7BM8kcstEZ0XGPwNdFXP3ZBtbe1sR_TXpHSHNSlqtk9TslIY2H04K5rS4qK46er3pIQ/s1600-h/Carbuncle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142545380950997378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXEiT11nhOmFI88giP09JGV5Da7Iak99uhMMnRrA4Fj7OMfxcr-2q_2LzKJj9W5pn_RuBoA1eQ7BM8kcstEZ0XGPwNdFXP3ZBtbe1sR_TXpHSHNSlqtk9TslIY2H04K5rS4qK46er3pIQ/s200/Carbuncle.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>You may recall <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/10/theatre-party-miss_14.html">our announcement of the opening of two one-act plays</a> by Andrew Joffe, BSI ("Sir Charles Halle"), starring Paul Singleton, BSI ("Covent Garden"). In it, I mentioned that if you're in New York in December, you should make it a point to see The Blue Carbuncle & the Gift of the Magi - a nice mashup of Conan Doyle and O. Henry. The details are:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blue Carbuncle with Sherlock Holmes & The Gift of the Magi</span><br />
Adapted from stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & O. Henry<br />
By Andrew Joffe<br />
Directed by Kathleen Brant<br />
Musical Direction: Jeffrey Buchsbaum<br />
With Paul Singleton as Sherlock Holmes<br />
Dec. 6 - Dec. 22, Tues thru Sat.<br />
At:  The WorkShop Theater Company<br />
312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor<br />
New York, NY<br />
<span class="HEADINGTextBLUEmed">           (212) 695-4173</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="HEADINGTextBLUEmed">Reservations through Theatermania:<br />    </span><a class="HEADINGTextBLUEmed" href="http://www.theatermania.com/ticketing/index.cfm/int_showid/138403" target="new">http://www.theatermania.com/ticketing/index.cfm/int_showid/138403</a></div>
</blockquote>
Well, it turns out that even though I'm a big Joffe/Singleton fan, you shouldn't take my word for it, oh no. Please, see what the inestimable Susan Rice, ASH, BSI, 2s. ("Beeswing") had to say.<br />
<blockquote>
I know you're all aware of the current production of Blue Carbuncle and Gift of the Magi, adapted for the stage by Andrew Joffe and starring Paul Singleton.  I saw it tonight, and I'm doing you a favor by telling you to take out your calendars and reserve a ticket for yourself <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOW</span>.  Andrew's adaptation of BLUE manages to demonstrate all the warmth every Sherlockian perceives in the friendship of Holmes and Watson without ever needing to put it into words.  You think you have seen Paul play Holmes, but until you see this production, you have not seen him be Holmes, and I'm glad to report his Watson is above reproach.  The Gift of the Magi is a lovely piece of lagniappe, as is an opening chorus of contemporary holiday music, some of which is extremely funny.</blockquote>
<br />
And just so you don't think that Susan and I are simply Kool-Aid drinking Sherlockians and <span style="font-weight: bold;">FOPS </span>(Friends of Paul Singleton), take a look at what <a href="http://www.backstage.com/bso/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003682860">Backstage</a> added:<br />
<blockquote>
Amidst all the big-budget holiday theatrical fare, I sincerely hope theatregoers will find time to enjoy this delightful offering at a tiny Midtown black-box theatre. It overflows with the true spirit of the season.<br />
<br />
Both tales have been cleverly adapted by Andrew Joffe and imaginatively staged by Kathleen Brant to include the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan Christmas, complete with jubilant carolers and a street-corner violinist (Ken Linsk). Touches like an invisible O. Henry (played with buoyant good humor by Richard Kent Green) helping his character Della on with her coat are wonderful. Jodie Bentley and Tyler Hollinger manage to avoid easy sentimentality and find the camaraderie and love, with an undercurrent of erotic passion, that bind O. Henry's famous romantic pair. Paul Singleton gives us brief glimpses of the emotional loneliness behind the pipe-chomping Holmes' piercing intellect and deftly illuminates the famous sleuth's unswerving moral passion, while Todd Butera creates an earthy, good-natured Watson who has great admiration and compassion for his longtime friend.</blockquote>
<br />
Please click through to the <a href="http://www.backstage.com/bso/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003682860">Backstage site for the full review</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Have you seen the plays? Let me - and the rest of the readership know what you thought of it by leaving a comment below.</span>

"Holmes Gave Me a Brief Review" [THOR]

You may recall our announcement of the opening of two one-act plays by Andrew Joffe, BSI ("Sir Charles Halle"), starring Paul Sin...

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by Scott Monty

"The Chaplain, No Less!" [GLOR]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmtdRuVfbZZrpuO_Yiz-85aahpogTRJB9kspUlxgtW_LA0LrS87PTwCAviJOCTbEskGzxUvkH5wOEk19VBkRf_v93oM0Eqk4bYv1xtscy0L9d9LmxrGH8Kn_aMXbCiCTbfvsBx2B04FdC/s1600-h/wood.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142458369208547682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmtdRuVfbZZrpuO_Yiz-85aahpogTRJB9kspUlxgtW_LA0LrS87PTwCAviJOCTbEskGzxUvkH5wOEk19VBkRf_v93oM0Eqk4bYv1xtscy0L9d9LmxrGH8Kn_aMXbCiCTbfvsBx2B04FdC/s200/wood.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Once again, it is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write of the passing of another member of the Baker Street Irregulars. Benton Wood, BSI ("A Scandal in Bohemia") passed away in Florida on Saturday, December 8. Ben had been in failing health for years and passed way very peacefully, according to his wife Joan.<br /><br />For many years, Ben was the official chaplain of the Baker Street Irregulars, presiding over the dinner's blessing. By trade, he was a headmaster of an Episcopal school, which made his local investiture in the Pleasant Places of Florida - Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable - all the more appropriate. His accomplishments include the publication of <a href="http://www.trussel.com/detfic/shbib.htm#C12758"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Philatelic and Numismatic Holmes</span></a> (that's stamp & coin collecting). Ben received his investiture in the BSI in 1979; his wife Joan was honored as 'The Woman' at the 1991 dinner.<br /><br />While I didn't know Ben personally (I only met him a couple of times), fellow Floridian David McCallister, over at the <a href="http://sherlockholmes.ning.com/">Sherlock Holmes Social Network</a>,  writes:<br /><blockquote>Ben was the second invested "Scandal in Bohemia" of the BSI, and its chaplain. He followed Leslie Marshall in this investiture and role, and also as the long-time head of the Pleasant Places of Florida scion. He was given the Two Shilling award by Tom Stix, and will be remembered by his many proteges and friends as an indefatigable apostle for Sherlockiana. His wife Joan, is one of The Women, to whom our condolences are expressed.</blockquote>There are no funeral services planned. If you would care to do so, you may write to Joan at:<br /><blockquote>9840 Sucia Circle<br />Parrish, FL  34219-9080<br /></blockquote>I join other Sherlockians around the world in remembering Ben and wishing Joan and their family my heartfelt condolences.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">If you have any other information about Ben, or memories that you'd like to share, please use the comment link below. I'm sure other Sherlockians would like to know.</span>

"The Chaplain, No Less!" [GLOR]

Once again, it is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write of the passing of another member of the Baker Street Irregulars. Benton ...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 14: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 1)

<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/366688143_f68e3ac8af_m.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/366688143_f68e3ac8af_m.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a>In this episode of the only Sherlockian podcast, we begin our interview the head of the Baker Street Irregulars - the internationally renowned literary society that remains at the forefront of the study of Sherlock Holmes. Michael Whelan has been "Wiggins" of the BSI for the last decade, and here he shares some thoughts on his own personal history, the organization, the annual gathering known as the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a>, and more.<br />
<br />
The Baker Street Irregulars is the umbrella organization for a host of so-called scion societies around the world and has been in existence since 1934.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Notes</span></h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1:15</span> Introduction & welcome<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5:10</span> Mike's first experience with Sherlock Holmes<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">9:50</span> A Rotary-like element to being a Sherlockian<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">10:15</span> Mike's first Sherlockian dinner, 1969 - Hugo's Companions<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">11:18</span> Mike's first BSI dinner, 1973<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13:16</span> The Montgomery tradition begins and other Irregularities<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">15:36</span> Mike gets his investiture and discussion of the "wait list"<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">17:54</span> How Mike became the head of the BSI<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">22:59</span> That's a lot of dinners!<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">23:26</span> The BSI's style - informal, no dues, no requirements<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">25:29</span> Tom Stix changed some things, Mike's vision for the organization<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">30:48</span> The BSI re-enters the publishing business<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">38:38</span> Archiving this podcast and other BSI-related material<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">42:21</span> Show wrap-up and highlights from next week's conclusion<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock014.mp3">Download</a> [Save As] | File Size 40.4 MB, 44:08</b></h3><center><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134346022&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="ihearofsherlock">ihearofsherlock</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/i-hear-of-sherlock-7" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Episode 14: Michael Whelan (Part 1)">Episode 14: Michael Whelan (Part 1)</a></div></center>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span></h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetirregulars.com" target="_blank">The Baker Street Irregulars</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://ihose.co/BSJ" target="_blank"><i>The Baker Street Journal</i></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ihose.co/BSIPress" target="_blank">The BSI Press</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">The BSI Trust</a></li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
--<div id="gtx-trans" style="left: 186px; position: absolute; top: 963.521px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div>

Episode 14: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 1)

In this episode of the only Sherlockian podcast, we begin our interview the head of the Baker Street Irregulars - the internationally renown...

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by Scott Monty

"That Mask Which He Was Wont to Assume" [SIXN]

While searching on <a href="http://www.brightcove.tv/">Brightcove</a>, a video search and aggregation site - like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>, but with longer form videos - I came across a number of interesting Sherlock Holmes-related findings. Brightcove hosts its own content (powered by AOL Video), plus it links to other sites that host videos, giving you a wide range of stuff to choose from.<br /><br />There were a number of the Basil Rathbone / Nigel Bruce films available for download. But more interesting to me - because the videos are less common and because of the lead actor's uncanny resemblance to some of the illustrations of Holmes (<a href="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/gallery/5-wiles.htm">Frank Wiles</a> in particular) - were the Arthur Wontner films. I've <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2007/03/many-people-were-moving-to-and-fro-empt.html">previously written about</a> the availability of some of these through the <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/feature_films">Internet Archive</a>, but this was the first time I had seen 3 of the 5 Wonter films available in such a shareable format. The first two Wontner films are unavailable - there are no known prints existing of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023231/">The Missing Rembrandt</a> (based on "Charles Augustus Milverton"), and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022373/">The Sleeping Cardinal</a> (based on "The Final Problem") was thought to be lost until a print was discovered in the U.S.<br /><br />Feel free to watch the three here (note: you need to have <a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash">Flash</a> installed), download them directly from Brightcove, or to purchase your own copies through Amazon.<br /><br /><center><embed src="http://www.brightcove.tv/playerswf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="initVideoId=1318913861&servicesURL=http://www.brightcove.tv&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://www.brightcove.tv&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&autoStart=false" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="bcPlayer" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="412" width="486"></embed></center><br /><br /><center><embed src="http://www.brightcove.tv/playerswf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="initVideoId=1318905898&servicesURL=http://www.brightcove.tv&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://www.brightcove.tv&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&autoStart=false" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="bcPlayer" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="412" width="486"></embed></center><br /><br /><center><embed src="http://www.brightcove.tv/playerswf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="initVideoId=1318914022&servicesURL=http://www.brightcove.tv&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://www.brightcove.tv&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&autoStart=false" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="bcPlayer" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="412" width="486"></embed></center><br /><br /><center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="175" id="Player_7a816127-c17f-4b00-afe9-397493e4176c" width="500"> <param name="movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthebakerstree-20%2F8003%2F7a816127-c17f-4b00-afe9-397493e4176c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthebakerstree-20%2F8003%2F7a816127-c17f-4b00-afe9-397493e4176c&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_7a816127-c17f-4b00-afe9-397493e4176c" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_7a816127-c17f-4b00-afe9-397493e4176c" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="175" width="500"></embed> </object> </center>

"That Mask Which He Was Wont to Assume" [SIXN]

While searching on Brightcove , a video search and aggregation site - like YouTube , but with longer form videos - I came across a number of...

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by Scott Monty

"Suddently Sold Out" [VALL]

I've been informed that the block of rooms that the Baker Street Irregulars booked at the <a href="http://www.algonquinhotel.com/">Algonquin Hotel</a> for the BSI Weekend has been sold out. I also understand that its smallish rooms were part of a remodeling project that resulted in queen beds replacing the twin beds. The end result is that some potential weekend visitors may be without a room.<br /><br />Fear not! I have some resources that I can share with you, if you're looking to book a reasonable room in New York. There are links on the sidebar on the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend</a> site, or you can click on any of the links below:<br /><br /><a onmouseover="window.status='http://travel.ian.com/index.jsp?cid=131241';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2692534-10443217" target="_blank"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onmouseover="window.status='http://travel.ian.com/index.jsp?cid=131241';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2692534-10443217" target="_blank"><img alt="Hotels.com" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-2692534-10443217" width="120" /></a> <a onmouseover="window.status='http://www.priceline.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-2692534-10392992" target="_blank"><img alt="Airfare, Hotels, Rental Cars, Vacation Packages" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-2692534-10392992" width="120" /></a> <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&offerid=130293.10000414&subid=0&type=4"><img alt="Logo (A Step Ahead) 120x60" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&bids=130293.10000414&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=6" /></a> <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&offerid=130340.10000037&subid=0&type=4"><img alt="CheapTickets" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&bids=130340.10000037&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=6" /></a> <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&offerid=88046.10000071&subid=0&type=4"><img alt="LastMinuteTravel.com" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&bids=88046.10000071&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=6" /></a><br /><br /></div>

"Suddently Sold Out" [VALL]

I've been informed that the block of rooms that the Baker Street Irregulars booked at the Algonquin Hotel for the BSI Weekend has been ...

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by Scott Monty

"I Tell You That It Is Friday" [TWIS]

In the United States, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day is typically referred to as "Black Friday," because this is the day in the retail industry when stores typically surge into the black (aka turn a profit).<br /><br />Why is that relevant here? In case you haven't noticed, there are links to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=thebakerstree-20">Amazon.com</a> along the sidebars and at the bottom of the page. When you click on these links and buy something from Amazon, you help me keep this blog running, as I receive a small percentage of every purchase from Amazon. And to mark the occasion, Amazon is offering hourly deals from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST on Friday, Novemer 23. You can get there <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=thebakerstree-20">by clicking here</a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=thebakerstree-20"> to be taken to the Black Friday deals page</a>.<br /><br />This blog is a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">major</span> effort to maintain - from paying for the domain name and fees associated with online file sharing & storage, not to mention the sheer time that it takes me to search, compose and edit posts for your edification. And there are two ways you can help out, especially in this holiday season:<br /><ol><li>By clicking on any of the Amazon ads or search boxes the sidebars or below, or by clicking on book linkss in the context of each post;</li><li>By making a gift through the widget in the sidebar section titled "Your Own Gift". Any amount is appreciated, especially at this time of the year.</li></ol>So, I would appreciate it if you use my links to do any of your online shopping for the holidays. Once you're into Amazon, you can search for whatever you like, whether it's books, DVDs, electronics, household items - the list is seemingly endless. But by using my links to shop, you help to support the blog.<br /><br />Thank you for your continued encouragement. I hope you find my efforts worthy of your time and attention.

"I Tell You That It Is Friday" [TWIS]

In the United States, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day is typically referred to as "Black Friday," because this is the day in the...

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by Scott Monty

Remembering Paul Smedegaard, BSI

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"keenly on his guard" [HOUN]</h4>
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<br />
<br />
Sadly, the Baker Street Irregulars have lost another one of our own, just over a month after <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/10/is-swift-nobl_10.htm" rel="nofollow">the most recent obit</a>. Paul Smedegaard, BSI ("The Randall Gang") passed away suddenly on November 14.<br />
<br />
Paul, who proudly hailed from Racine, Wisconsin, received his investiture in the BSI in 1977 and had been a stalwart member of a number of Sherlockian societies of the Midwest - too many to mention, really - but if you check out <a href="http://sh-whoswho.com/index.php?page=search&criteria=member&id=383">his profile on the Sherlockian Who's Who</a> site, you'll see what I mean.<br />
<br />
Paul was not only a joiner, but a leader. And everything he led, he led with a fire-in-the-belly passion that ignited similar feelings in others. It was a joy to see Paul get truly excited about things.<br />
<br />
If you didn't know Paul, here are a few of his Sherlockian activities worthy of note:<br />
<ul>
<li>His involvement in Hugo's Companions, where he was was one of Vincent Starrett's own picks and served as Sir Hugo XIII (lucky 13!). You can read Paul's thoughts on "What Is a Sherlockian" in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595696619?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0595696619">Sir Hugo's Literary Companion: A Compendium of the Writings of Hugo's Companions, Chicago On the Subject of Mr. Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0595696619" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i>, the volume just edited and released by David Humphrey.</li>
<li>Paul's honorary membership in the <a href="http://www.sherlockiana.net/shklub/index_en.html">Sherlock Holmes Klubben i Danmark</a>, as it hearkened back to his father's roots in Denmark.</li>
<li>His membership in the <a href="http://www.themastersmasons.homestead.com/">Master's Masons</a>, a group founded by Ron Fish for Sherlockians who were also Master Masons. Paul took great pride in his affiliation and was an officer in his lodge.</li>
</ul>
Paul was progressive - well, as progressive as a midwestern Sherlockian could be. He advocated for bringing women into Hugo's Companions, and when he did, he was voted off of the executive board. But he hung tough and supported the decision of Tom Stix, BSI ("The Norwood Builder") in his decision as head of the Irregulars to make the group co-ed in 1991. And Paul was very proud of that fact. You can read something of the drama - and of a good deal of Paul's life in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080512232725/http://www.nashvillescholars.net/interviews/p_smedegaard.html">the excellent two-part interview</a> that Gael Stahl did with him in 2000.<br />
<br />
We had many occasions to chat with Paul during the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekends</a>, and even saw him last year in Philadelphia, <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2006/05/would-fly-together-to-philadelphia-vall_1.html" rel="nofollow">when we visited the Copper Beeches</a>. Paul had driven all the way from Wisconsin to be there. He was <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> dedicated. And during the 2006 BSI Weekend, Paul decided to have an "episode" at the Gillette Lunch, where he turned ghostly white (even for a Wisconsoner) and had to be whisked to the emergency room. True to form, though, he showed up for the BSI Dinner later that night.<br />
<br />
So we're sure the crew at <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/html/g2bschedule.html">From Gillette to Brett II</a> is going to miss Paul this weekend. <a href="http://illustriousclients.org/">The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis</a> were part of his roster and I'm sure he would have made the drive down to Indiana to take part in such a wonderful event.<br />
<br />
Paul was one of the nicest Sherlockians out there and he will be missed by many people around the world. He leaves behind his wife Margaret, who is also an Irregular ("The Criterion Bar") a son, a daughter and six grandchilren. Paul's funeral will be Saturday morning at 10:00 AM  at <a href="http://www.obuuc.org/">Unitarian Universalist Church</a>, 625 College Ave., in Racine.  Visitation will  be Friday night and Saturday morning from 9 to 10. The full obituary is available from the <a href="http://www.legacy.com/JournalTimes/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=98045832">Racine Journal Times</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Please consider leaving a comment below that we can forward on to Paul's family as a sort of guest book.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">--</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>

Remembering Paul Smedegaard, BSI

"keenly on his guard" [HOUN] Sadly, the Baker Street Irregulars have lost another one of our own, just over a month after th...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 13: Arthur Conan Doyle - A Life in Letters

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">“a man of letters” [WIST]</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjlVDnDxH0K0c58WAPBBbJnx1vY6yLYdscQsQahwIDtUp_3y46A41a3k4aprbU6s2jlqcYT8kVFg4iAcZJNcZpeWknUq2lwjs9ulicbQsRM2kgpOGqJn8Bz3coAnjQjSCMNtBujyGNab6DEX7QjryeZ98O17V_KFchpz2j2fB7RxX4YQKF3Tl6A3utw/s1440/ihose13%20-%20ACD%20Life%20in%20Letters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjlVDnDxH0K0c58WAPBBbJnx1vY6yLYdscQsQahwIDtUp_3y46A41a3k4aprbU6s2jlqcYT8kVFg4iAcZJNcZpeWknUq2lwjs9ulicbQsRM2kgpOGqJn8Bz3coAnjQjSCMNtBujyGNab6DEX7QjryeZ98O17V_KFchpz2j2fB7RxX4YQKF3Tl6A3utw/w640-h360/ihose13%20-%20ACD%20Life%20in%20Letters.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
We're pleased to welcome two noted authors to the show this week: Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower. The recently edited a biography about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle along with Doyle's great-nephew Charles Foley. Comprised of hundreds and hundreds of letters, the book is already a critical success and is gaining popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. We talk with Jon and Dan to get some of the behind-the-scenes information from them.<br />
<br />
Please do consider subscribing to this podcast for free; you may also join our Facebook page, where there's an additional opportunity to interact with the community.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Notes</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Introduction of Jon and Dan, their qualifications</li>
<li>Why this biography is so different, after 20 others</li>
<li>Where did all of these letters come from?</li>
<li>Working with the Conan Doyle estate</li>
<li>The heavy influence of Mary Doyle in her son's life</li>
<li>Jon and Dan share perspectives of working with original letters - the good and the bad</li>
<li>More of the bad: a chronologist's nightmare</li>
<li>Looking at Conan Doyle's faith and his turn to spiritualism</li>
<li>Did the editors find any surprises or new discoveries?</li>
<li>How the biographers view their subject now, after working so closely with his letters</li>
<li>The Editor's Gas-Lamp: <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" style="font-style: italic;">The Baker Street Journal</a>, Volume 4, No. 1, 1949 (Old Series)</li>
<li>Show wrap-up</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock13.mp3">Download [Save As]</a> | File size: 51.7 MB, 56:21</h3>
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/34d0kln" target="_blank"><i>Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters</i></a></li>
<li>Jon's other related work: <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2UhEZ5C">The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Thirteen Biographers in Search of a Life</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0809313847" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></i></li>
<li>Dan's related work: <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2UhEZ5C">Teller of Tales: The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</a></i></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/brg/berg.html">The Berg Collection</a> at the New York Public Library</li>
<li><a href="http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/holmes.phtml">The University of Minnesota Libraries' Sherlock Holmes Collections</a></li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Facebook page</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
--<br />
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Episode 13: Arthur Conan Doyle - A Life in Letters

“a man of letters” [WIST] We're pleased to welcome two noted authors to the show this week: Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower. The ...

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by Scott Monty

"For Sixty Years the Bulwark..." [BLAC]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Ebergq003/norwegianexplorers/images/greenman.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Ebergq003/norwegianexplorers/images/greenman.gif" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 137px;" /></a>This is an all-points-bulletin to heads of Sherlockian societies around the world. If you haven't received an email from Gary Thaden, the current president of the <a href="http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Ebergq003/norwegianexplorers/">Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota</a>, please pay special attention to this post. And if you have, pay special attention all the same.<br /><br />In early January 2008, the Explorers will celebrate 60 years of being a scion society of the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org">Baker Street Irregulars</a>. As such, they are holding a dinner and welcome any greetings or congratulatory messages from your group to theirs. You may email Gary directly at gthaden AT gmail DOT com or you may comment on the blog here (click the "comments" link at the bottom of this entry) and I'll see that the messages are passed along to the Explorers. Please have your comments in by November 30th.<br /><br />In my experience, the Minnesota Sherlockians are some of the most genuinely nice people (they're <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to be - it's Minnesota, right?) and some of the most profoundly knowledgeable about Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle and related subjects. Whether they're active in the <a href="http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/holmes.phtml">Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections</a> at the University of Minnesota Libraries, or busy coordinating <a href="http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Ebergq003/norwegianexplorers/2007_conference.html">their latest symposium</a>, the group is filled with many great contributors. I won't name any of them here, out of fear of forgetting someone, but my hope is that you'll be able to hear from some of them next year on <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a>.<br /><br />Thank you in advance for rallying around the Sherlockian community and showing support for one of our own.

"For Sixty Years the Bulwark..." [BLAC]

This is an all-points-bulletin to heads of Sherlockian societies around the world. If you haven't received an email from Gary Thaden, th...

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by Scott Monty

"Those Week-End Parties" [SOLI]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128491499053133714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL5cxiG0_dcdL5plliChV-UksPUiC9tnOYNs3nWk6c4sJzGA8XVxPo0wgXdf5UCE6qiy93jqRGy0rVTfyxoGW3fE_26BoNdyFDrIBG7EmW2uz-MXJdTymes-zSAIgjRANGSV_lPWmu-5c/s200/Algonquin_lobby_lounge.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>To every Sherlockian, it is always <span style="font-style: italic;">the </span>weekend.<br /><br />This is it! The long-awaited announcement of the January festivities that we Sherlock Holmes devotees always look forward to. For many of us, it's been nearly a year since we rubbed shoulders with each other from venues such as the Algonquin Hotel, Ollie's Noodle House, a city club or two, or just the streets of New York.<br /><br />This year, rather than reproduce the entire schedule here, I'm trying something a little different. In order to be much more comprehensive in my approach, I've created a separate site where you can find all of your BSI Weekend information - from schedules, to maps, to links to travel site and the general RSVP form for download. You can find this and more at the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">Baker Street Irregulars Weekend</a> site.<br /><br />If you join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284">Baker Street Blog Facebook group</a>, I'll be adding BSI Weekend information and content along the way. It's a great way to meet other Sherlockians virtually and to share pictures, links and discussions with each other. Do please consider joining and seeing what it's all about.<br /><br />But one of the features I'm most excited to offer this year is <span style="font-weight: bold;">real-time updates throughout the weekend</span>. You'll be able to follow these in the upper-left section of the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend site</a>. Just think- if you can't make it to the event, you can be the first to know who receives their BSI Investitures or who gets spotted at various events.<br /><br />I hope to see you in New York in January. If you have any suggestions as to how to improve the BSI Weekend site, or if you have questions about the weekend, please drop me a line.

"Those Week-End Parties" [SOLI]

To every Sherlockian, it is always the weekend. This is it! The long-awaited announcement of the January festivities that we Sherlock Holmes...

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by Scott Monty

"There Is Nothing New Under the Sun" [STUD]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wgi7DTsDt2g/Rx6kKsm7o1I/AAAAAAAAAgY/hiwZ3of_wv0/s1600-h/Memory.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124713929674302290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wgi7DTsDt2g/Rx6kKsm7o1I/AAAAAAAAAgY/hiwZ3of_wv0/s200/Memory.JPG" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Evidently, Sherlock Holmes was onto something. Today's <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.wsj.com/">Wall Street Journal</a> (that <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">other </span>journal) column "The Informed Reader" had a writeup of a feature in November's <span style="font-style: italic;">National Geographic</span>: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119311117956768179.html">Remember This: Forgetting Can Be Beneficial</a> (subscription may be required):<blockquote>The brain's habit of remembering past traumas in vivid detail, while, say, losing track of where one put the car keys, actually serves people well. "If we remembered everything," writes journalist Joshua Foer, "we'd be drowning in irrelevant information." <p class="times">In the short story "Funes the Memorious," Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges described how a character's inability to forget anything meant he couldn't prioritize the events of his life or make generalizations. "To think is to forget," wrote Mr. Borges. Science is backing him up. Harvard University psychologist Daniel Schacter tells National Geographic that forgetting is the price individuals pay for being able to interpret the world around them.</p></blockquote>Does that ring a bell? It immediately reminded me of Holmes telling Watson (in <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/stud-102.htm">A Study in Scarlet</a>) that it was part if his responsibility to ignore facts that were irrelevant to his career, such as the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun:<br /><blockquote>“You appear to be astonished,” he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. “Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it.”<br />  <img height="1" hspace="6" src="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/0.gif" width="1" />“To forget it!”<br />  <img height="1" hspace="6" src="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/0.gif" width="1" />“You see,” he explained, “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”<br />  <img height="1" hspace="6" src="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/0.gif" width="1" />“But the Solar System!” I protested.<br />  <img height="1" hspace="6" src="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/0.gif" width="1" />“What the deuce is it to me?” he interrupted impatiently: “you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work.”</blockquote>

"There Is Nothing New Under the Sun" [STUD]

Evidently, Sherlock Holmes was onto something. Today's Wall Street Journal (that other journal) column "The Informed Reader" ...

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by Scott Monty

A Report from the Unveiling of Gillette's Old Locomotive

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"the very man was a witness" [WIST] </h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMTk3uBEmAg/VTG7TSyTvHI/AAAAAAAAeX4/PbYlZ9k3fDw/s1600/Gillette%2BLocomotive%2BRestoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Celebration of the restoration of the Gillette Castle locomotive" border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMTk3uBEmAg/VTG7TSyTvHI/AAAAAAAAeX4/PbYlZ9k3fDw/s1600/Gillette%2BLocomotive%2BRestoration.jpg" title="Gillette Castle Locomotive Restoration" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today we have a report from the field - that is, one of our readers who went to an event and reported back on what happened. I suppose this is in the spirit of the Baker Street Irregulars, who were authorized by Sherlock Holmes to "<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/sign-08.htm" target="_blank">go everywhere, see everything, overhear every one</a>."<br />
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In this instance, it's a report on <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/09/of-engine-house-vall_18.html#.VTG6wiFViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the unveiling of William Gillette's old locomotive</a> at Gillette Castle on October 6. Our friend and Sherlockian colleague Jeff Bradway was there and here's what he wrote:<br />
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The Restoration Celebration for Gillette's locomotive at Gillette Castle State Park on October 6 was a splendid event.  The day was splendid, an unseasonable 84 degrees; with the breezes prevalent atop the hill, however, it was delightful.  As best as I could estimate, about one hundred people were present to view the restored locomotive, view the Castle and grounds, and engage in liberal wine-tasting and hors-d'oeuvre sampling, all products provided by local wine shops, restaurants and inns.  There was also a silent auction for some lovely items, donated by various individuals and groups, including David Letterman and Jay Leno.  On hand were local newscasters and dignitaries, including state Attorney-General Richard Blumenthal.  As night fell, the winners of the auction were announced, and the crowd waited, some patiently, some not, for the fireworks display over the Connecticut River, which was delayed about 3/4 of an hour, but which was well worth the wait.<br />
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The locomotive has been beautifully restored - all gleaming black enamel, with shining brass dials and glorious oak cow-catcher.  It is currently on display in the center hall of the visitors center.  Plans are to build a structure for it out on the grounds of the Castle, apparently with overhead type doors that can be lifted to reveal it to park visitors.</div>
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Watching fireworks from Gillette Castle? Sounds like quite an evening. We remember going to dinners at the Castle for the Men on the Tor. But since the Castle is a state park now, there are precious few opportunities to be there after dark. One of Jeff's photos is a shot of the Castle lit up in the darkness. Below is a slideshow featuring 10 shots from the event. The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bakerstreetblog/sets/72157602428627169/">full set is available</a> at Flickr.<br />
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A Report from the Unveiling of Gillette's Old Locomotive

"the very man was a witness" [WIST] Today we have a report from the field - that is, one of our readers who went to an event...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 12: Bob Thomalen (Part 2)

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We pick up where we left off in <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/10/episode-11-bob-thomalen-part-1.html">Episode 11</a>, talking with Bob Thomalen, BSI ("The Three Garridebs") about how he was able to make his events so successful so early on, how he went about selecting speakers, what it was like to work with Tom Stix, and a wonderful legacy left to us by Bob's closest Sherlockian friend.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Notes</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Getting a critical mass at events</li>
<li>Selecting speakers</li>
<li>Some memories of Tom Stix, former head of the BSI</li>
<li>One of Bob's inspirations and best friends: Bill Schweickert, BSI ("Cox & Co.")</li>
<li>Bob's support system</li>
<li>No Gas-Lamp this week; instead a special reading of "A Long Evening with Holmes"</li>
<li>Listener comments</li>
<li>An appeal to join us online</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock12.mp3">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 28.1 MB, 30:36 </b></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Product placement: <a href="http://www.diageo.ie/brands/smithwicks">Smithwick's</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">The Baker Street Irregulars Trust</a></li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Facebook Page</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sherlockholmes.ning.com/">The Sherlock Holmes Social Network</a></li>
</ul>
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<b>Transcript</b></h3>
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Episode 12: Bob Thomalen (Part 2)

We pick up where we left off in Episode 11 , talking with Bob Thomalen, BSI ("The Three Garridebs") about how he was able t...

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by Scott Monty

"A Presentation, I See" [HOUN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6uJg0BNWpeqE5ogjMdPai3peDUiIrQpKO9bEfK9gAxErSvqsNpCouhLPbvtiTqrbqfzx3Hqfn6cFR449XNrAHqtpiyhU1f5JDcKtowXNHxP2Molo0wGFlwXleWy6crp7t4IMLSZPAJsz/s1600-h/Sherlock2.0beta.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121790006133498642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6uJg0BNWpeqE5ogjMdPai3peDUiIrQpKO9bEfK9gAxErSvqsNpCouhLPbvtiTqrbqfzx3Hqfn6cFR449XNrAHqtpiyhU1f5JDcKtowXNHxP2Molo0wGFlwXleWy6crp7t4IMLSZPAJsz/s200/Sherlock2.0beta.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>A few weeks ago <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2007/09/their-secret-was-out-gree.html">I wrote about <span style="font-style: italic;">The Secret of Sherlock Holmes</span></a>, a play that is being produced by Shakespeare & Company out in Lenox, Massachusetts. In conjunction with the month-long performance, this weekend, October 19 - 21 there will be a special celebration honoring having Sherlock Homes in our lives for 120 years.<br /><br />You can check out <a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/sandco.php?pg=performance&category=&subCat=&showID=summer07.sherlock">the full details of the Weekend of Sherlockian Discovery</a>, which feature speakers such as Sally Sugarman, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393059162/103-1731002-2267851?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0393059162">Leslie Klinger</a>, Peter Blau, Dick Riley (author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826411169?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826411169">The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0826411169" style="border: medium none  ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />), and me. Tickets are still available, and I seriously recommend this series of events. One plus - you can purchase tickets a la carte, so if you don't want to or can't attend everything, you can select those events that are of the most interest to you. The venues themselves look like a reason to attend:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.gatewaysinn.com/">Gateways Inn</a></li><li><a href="http://www.cranwell.com/">Cranwell Resort & Spa</a></li><li><a href="http://lenoxlib.org/">The Lenox Library</a></li><li><a href="http://www.gildedage.org/">Ventfort Hall</a></li></ul>Oh, and if you're wondering about my presentation, it's called <span style="font-style: italic;">Sherlock 2.0: Discovering the Great Detective in the 21st Century</span>. In it, I'll explore how Sherlockians around the world have been connecting since the early part of the 20th century, how drastically it has changed in the last 15 years alone, and what it means for Sherlockians of future generations.<br /><br />I hope to see you there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Update</span>: the <a href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=630752&category=ARTS&newsdate=10/17/2007">press is starting to pick up</a> on the events.

"A Presentation, I See" [HOUN]

A few weeks ago I wrote about The Secret of Sherlock Holmes , a play that is being produced by Shakespeare & Company out in Lenox, Massa...

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by Scott Monty

"One Theatre Party" [MISS]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw31mSeHa2zDVUEPsqIHaQ022yiXeX1_lFYmNxLcHmFGgD5Q4AuCN91rWDFTo-sUHfi4g3RiJcZIeb4eEMirbX3iDuMLJJnrevsjj-m6JIxxglbA1KYnLCfye5f0FZO3pOt5CBQ5xcKiy5/s1600-h/Singleton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121028044575449858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw31mSeHa2zDVUEPsqIHaQ022yiXeX1_lFYmNxLcHmFGgD5Q4AuCN91rWDFTo-sUHfi4g3RiJcZIeb4eEMirbX3iDuMLJJnrevsjj-m6JIxxglbA1KYnLCfye5f0FZO3pOt5CBQ5xcKiy5/s200/Singleton.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Friend and fellow Irregular Paul Singleton ("Covent Garden") does his fair share of acting. With letters like SAG, AFTRA and AEA after his name, he's obviously serious about it. He even has <a href="http://www.singletonactor.com/">a web site</a> to prove it.<br /><br />If you've ever been to the BSI Weekend festivities and attended the Gillette Luncheon, you will have seen Paul performing after the meal, usually with some combination of Andrew Joffee, Sarah Montague and Elyse Locurto. And occasionally I get notices from Paul about his theater  appearances in New York.<br /><br />Paul just sent an announcement about an evening of O. Henry and Sherlock Holmes:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blue Carbuncle with Sherlock Holmes & The Gift of the Magi</span><br />Adapted from stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & O. Henry<br />By Andrew Joffe<br />Directed by Kathleen Brant<br />Musical Direction: Jeffrey Buchsbaum<br />With Paul Singleton as Sherlock Holmes<br />Dec. 6 - Dec. 22, Tues thru Sat.<br />At:  The WorkShop Theater Company<br />312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor<br />New York, NY<br /><br /></blockquote>I have no doubt that this will be an excellent show, as Andrew's works are always engaging and entertaining, and Paul's performances are thorough, accurate and believable. In preparation for the production, the company is holding an event:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Fundraising Party</span> For the upcoming production of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blue Carbuncle & The Gift of the Magi</span><br />(Two great stories, rooted in the Holiday season, with music)<br /><br />Suggested Donation $30 (cash or check at door; tax-deduction receipt is available)<br /><br />At: <a href="http://www.moranschelsea.com/">Moran’s Chelsea</a><br />146 Tenth Avenue (at 19th St.)<br />Monday, October 22, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.<br /><br />There will be food: passed hors d’oeuvres of Sesame Chicken, Steak Kabob, Vegetable Quesadilla, Mini Crab Cakes / stationary hors d’oeuvres table of fresh fruit and cheese board, vegetable pasta, fried Calamari<br /><br />And don't forget the music & entertainment: a scene from <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blue Carbuncle</span>, design presentations<br /><br />Raffle:  Free tickets to the show and other prizes!<br />Rub elbows with the actors, designers & director!<br />Special visit from Sherlock Holmes!<br /><br />Cash Bar; free soda/juice/coffee/tea</blockquote><br />Sounds like a great opportunity to hob-nob with some glitterati of the Sherlockian stage.

"One Theatre Party" [MISS]

Friend and fellow Irregular Paul Singleton ("Covent Garden") does his fair share of acting. With letters like SAG, AFTRA and AEA a...

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by Scott Monty

"Whom Would you Recommend Then?" [HOUN]

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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBwEmhzXn9I/Uvr6R_GfwDI/AAAAAAAAQSU/aUzXiyYCeUw/s1600/Beacon05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBwEmhzXn9I/Uvr6R_GfwDI/AAAAAAAAQSU/aUzXiyYCeUw/s1600/Beacon05.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://www.beaconsociety.com/">Beacon Society</a> is a Sherlockian group that was founded some 5 years ago to support and recognize exemplary educational experiences that introduce young people to Sherlock Holmes. I have been fortunate to be involved with that group, which is comprised of some very dedicated and resourceful people. For example, you can find <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/Teacher.html" target="_blank">teaching tools</a>, course curriculum examples, lesson plans and quizzes about Sherlock Holmes. Teachers and librarians should have a field day with this.<br />
<br />
This is the time of year when we open nominations for the Beacon Award, which is our way of recognizing individuals who have done their part in bringing Sherlock Holmes to children. The benefits are obvious:<br />
- they're doing their part in encouraging childhood literacy, which is critical today;<br />
- they're helping to plant the seeds for the next generation of Sherlockians.<br />
<br />
As such, we typically bestow the Beacon Award on one or more individual or group who sets themselves apart. The <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/BeaconAwardNomination.html" target="_blank">nominations process</a> is open until October 31, so please act now - get your nominations in to the committee. The previous link will take you to the nominations page, which includes a nomination form.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations Guidelines</span><br />
<ol>
<li>One or more Award(s) for excellence in introducing young people to Holmes may be granted each year.  An Award may go to a person or an organization.  The person or organization may or may not be Sherlockian.</li>
<li>Anyone can make a nomination.  The Awards Task Group has the right to reject a nomination that is frivolous, incomplete, or otherwise deemed inappropriate.</li>
<li>No one can nominate himself/herself.</li>
<li>Nominations for Awards open on October 1 and close on October 31. Early or late nominations will be not accepted and will be returned to the person making the nomination.</li>
<li>All Beacon Society members will be invited to join in the vote on final recipients.  The list of nominees will only be distributed to Awards Task Group Members and other members of the Beacon Society who have responded to the invitation via email or some other way that they</li>
<li>want to vote.</li>
<li>The only restriction on voting is that a person cannot vote for himself/herself.</li>
<li>Ties in voting for the award will be brought up for at least one other vote limited to the tied nominees.  After the second round of voting, the Committee can decide to give two awards if, at that point, the Committee chooses, or it can vote again.</li>
</ol>
<script>(["mb","\u003cbr\>\nvoting, the Committee can decide to give two awards if, at that point, \u003cbr\>\nthe Committee chooses, or it can vote again. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n9.    Each Award will consist of:\u003cbr\>\n        A Certificate,\u003cbr\>\n        A 1 year BSJ subscription to a school/organization of the \u003cbr\>\nrecipient's choice, and\u003cbr\>\n        A short feature on the recipient in the BSJ and/or the \u003cbr\>\nSerpentine Muse.\u003cbr\>\n        A cash award will only be given if the Beacon Society has the \u003cbr\>\nresources to do so. \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n10.    Once a winner is chosen, the Society will send a letter to the \u003cbr\>\nwinner and his/her nominator notifying him or her.\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n11.   Until such time that the Beacon Society has a more formal meeting \u003cbr\>\nsite and schedule, we should not expressly invite the winner to the \u003cbr\>\nmeeting.\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nSo, if you want to request a nomination form, email me for one.  It is \u003cbr\>\nalso available on the Beacon Society web site at:\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.beaconsociety.com/beaconaward/nominations.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>http://www.beaconsociety.com/beaconaward/nominations.html\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\nBest,\u003cbr\>\n- Andy Solberg, Awards Task Force Chair\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n/\u003cbr\>\n/\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n-- \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*A.L.S. HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT SERVICES \u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d\u003d*\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*                                 *\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*Andrew L. Solberg \u003cbr\>\n                                                             Voice: \u003cbr\>\n410-730-2664    *\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*5612 Thicket Lane                   \u003cbr\>\n                                             Fax: 410-730-6775*\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*Columbia, Maryland 21044 \u003cbr\>\n                                                 E-MAIL \u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\"mailto:asolberg%40earthlink.net\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>asolberg@earthlink.net\u003c/a\>*\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n*                                                                                                \u003cbr\>\n Strategic Planning in Health Care***\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n/Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, \u003cbr\>",1] );  //</script><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Each Award consists of:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>        A Certificate</li>
<li>        A 1 year BSJ subscription to a school/organization of the recipient's choice, and</li>
<li>        A short feature on the recipient in the BSJ and/or the Serpentine Muse.</li>
<li>        A cash award will only be given if the Beacon Society has the resources to do so.</li>
</ul>
The Beacon Award is typically announced and granted during the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/bsiweekend.html">BSI Weekend</a> in New York.<br />
<br />
Please share this post with others, either by clicking on the mail icon or one of the bookmarking services in the button below.

"Whom Would you Recommend Then?" [HOUN]

The Beacon Society is a Sherlockian group that was founded some 5 years ago to support and recognize exemplary educational experiences th...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 11: Bob Thomalen (Part 1)

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<br />
Scott and Burt interview Bob Thomalen, BSI to learn more about his involvement with the Sherlockian world, including his claim to fame, Autumn in Baker Street (aka “The Great Sherlockian Sleepover”). Join us as we learn more about this veteran drummer, guitarist, magician, chessman, and corporate presenter. Bob will also share his insights as to how to start a Sherlock Holmes society or event .<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Notes</span></h3>
03:05 Bob shares his late start with Sherlock Holmes<br />
06:37 Ron Burt De Waal’s World Bibliography of Sherlock Holmes<br />
07:55 Bob discovers the Sherlockian scene through societies<br />
12:30 The Beginnings of Autumn in Baker Street<br />
17:10 Giving the people what they want – for 25 years<br />
17:50 The latest AIBS (September 2007) was a major success<br />
21:50 Some insight on planning a Sherlockian event<br />
26:51 A description of Autumn in Baker Street for the uninitiated  <br />
31:18 Listener comment - a memory of John Bennett Shaw<br />
35:22 Wrap-up, join our Facebook group, consider subscribing for free<br />
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<b><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock11.mp3">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 33.7 MB, 36:47</b></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.autumninbakerstreet.org/">Autumn in Baker Street</a></li>
<li><a href="http://3garridebs.homestead.com/">The Three Garridebs of Westchester County</a></li>
<li><a href="http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/ush/ush.html">The World Bibliography of Sherlock Holmes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sherlockian.net/societies/index.html">List of Sherlockian societies  </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bearmountaininn.com/">Bear Mountain Inn</a> – site of the very first Autumn in Baker Street</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/10/episode-12-bob-thomalen-part-2.html" target="">Part 2 of this interview</a> can be found here.<br />
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<b>Transcript</b></h2>
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Episode 11: Bob Thomalen (Part 1)

Scott and Burt interview Bob Thomalen, BSI to learn more about his involvement with the Sherlockian world, including his claim to fam...

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by Scott Monty

Remembering Francine Swift, BSI

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"she is swift" [NOBL]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGgy5bC6lJuwWYqHG7gIZ64FUPhAGuZijfZ6JoNo4tXnIFPH6P7YP6IEOVdp58V9aY7tZJsWriyp-OkkgmdeswAd33_1Bdx9kW7ac4BXbog8N13a5ztMc4jY4K3HtLKxOcQCeGEQOI-1Z/s1600-h/1998+BSI+Weekend.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div>
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<br />
One of the most difficult tasks we undertake with this site is reporting on the deaths of fellow Sherlockians, and this one is no exception, as we knew her personally. Francine Morris Swift, BSI ("The Wigmore Street Post Office") has passed beyond the Reichenbach. She died this morning after a brief illness.<br />
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Those who knew Francine remember a woman who could be at times outgoing, at at other times quietly pensive. She was a true Sherlockian, being a long-time member of the <a href="http://www.ash-nyc.com/">Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes</a> ("Hatty Doran") and having received her investiture in the Baker Street Irregulars in 1994. I don't know about any of her local involvements - perhaps those who lived near her could fill in the gaps.<br />
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What I do know is that she found her perfect mate when she met Wayne Swift, BSI ("The Giant Rat of Sumatra"). The two made up one of those rarities in Sherlockian circles: a couple comprised of two individuals who equally enjoy the Canon. Wayne wrote about a great many subjects that he and Francine enjoyed, including trains, music, P.G. Wodehouse and horse racing, to name a few. In fact, he authored the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/christmasannuals.html">2000 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual: <span style="font-style: italic;">History of the Silver Blaze</span></a>, in which he recounted the first 50 years of the horse race associated the BSI. While Wayne himself was the historian behind the Annual, he noted in his Acknowledgements:<br />
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<blockquote>
"Overall, my wife, Francine Swift, the real Swift family authority on horses as animals, has been a central bulwark throughout the effort."</blockquote>
When Wayne passed away suddenly following the BSI Weekend in 2001, we remember how difficult it was for Francine. The following year, as we manned the table in the vendors' room, she came by the stacks of BSJ Christmas Annuals new and old and lovingly passed her fingers over Wayne's contribution. We could see the tears welling up in her eyes and her lip began to quiver before she quickly moved away. Clearly, Francine had lost the great love of her life.<br />
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Francine continued in her own right in the Sherlockian world, contributing to the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/"><i>Baker Street Journal</i></a> from time to time, but in the end, it seemed as if her heart wasn't in it quite the same. I recently received a number of orders from her for the BSI's <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsimanuscriptseries.html">Manuscript Series</a> and <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsiinternationalseries.html">International Series</a>, so I inferred that she was getting back into the game in full force.<br />
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It is my sincerest hope that she and Wayne are together again, eternally blissful and at peace.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">If you have any personal memories of Francine, or if you can fill in any relevant details about her life, we invite you to share them in a comment below.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Photo credit: Dorothy Stix</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />
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Remembering Francine Swift, BSI

"she is swift" [NOBL] One of the most difficult tasks we undertake with this site is reporting on the deaths of fellow Sherl...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

IHOSE header

"See How It Glints and Sparkles" [BLUE]

"A Certain Annual" [SPEC]

Special Episode: Compliments of the Season

"In His Yorkshire Days" [HOUN]

"Recent Services to One of the Royal Houses" [SCAN]

Episode 16: Collectors' Corner - Jerry Margolin

"I Shall Get the Tickets" [BOSC]

Episode 15: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 2)

"The Giant Rat of Sumatra" [SUSS]

"Holmes Gave Me a Brief Review" [THOR]

"The Chaplain, No Less!" [GLOR]

Episode 14: Michael Whelan, Wiggins of the Baker Street Irregulars (Part 1)

"That Mask Which He Was Wont to Assume" [SIXN]

"Suddently Sold Out" [VALL]

"I Tell You That It Is Friday" [TWIS]

Remembering Paul Smedegaard, BSI

Episode 13: Arthur Conan Doyle - A Life in Letters

"For Sixty Years the Bulwark..." [BLAC]

"Those Week-End Parties" [SOLI]

"There Is Nothing New Under the Sun" [STUD]

A Report from the Unveiling of Gillette's Old Locomotive

Episode 12: Bob Thomalen (Part 2)

"A Presentation, I See" [HOUN]

"One Theatre Party" [MISS]

"Whom Would you Recommend Then?" [HOUN]

Episode 11: Bob Thomalen (Part 1)

Remembering Francine Swift, BSI

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