Episode 10: The Secret of Sherlock Holmes

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9wSrTIeoEIGuKzVAzDoD32fILvS516cTV8XPkHQyFUWBtIW083Q_tz3pyrlzWtPpf-iaBvb8MaQ31l3p1XffegTMmYovOsH9jX16xnpv9zHPhZUl0m7J20OqGG_LMGND1lDJrxbNTXUS/s1600-h/Secret_SherlockHolmes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115487343490081346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9wSrTIeoEIGuKzVAzDoD32fILvS516cTV8XPkHQyFUWBtIW083Q_tz3pyrlzWtPpf-iaBvb8MaQ31l3p1XffegTMmYovOsH9jX16xnpv9zHPhZUl0m7J20OqGG_LMGND1lDJrxbNTXUS/s200/Secret_SherlockHolmes.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>In the late 1980s, Jeremy Brett commissioned Jeremy Paul to write a play for him. The collaboration yielded The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, which ran for a year in the West End and toured for three months around England. The shores of the United States have never seen the play - until now. In honor of the 120th anniversary of the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes in print (1887-2007), Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts is producing the play.<br /> <br /> In this episode, we interview the actors Michael Hammond and David Demke and director Robert Walsh, in anticipation of the play's run from September 28 - October 28, 2007. In addition, there will be a Sherlockian weekend in Lenox from October 19-21, 2007. And at the end of the show, there's <span style="font-weight: bold;">a listener challenge</span>.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Note: because of some technical difficulties, you may notice us "stepping on" each other's words. For some reason, the audio misaligned, and as we don't record separate tracks for each line, there was no way to edit it. We apologize, but hope the content makes it worthwhile.</span><br /> <br /> <h4> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Show notes:</span></h4> <span style="font-weight: bold;">1: 11</span> Audio clip from the production<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">1:50</span> An introduction of the three interviewees, their qualifications, and the background of the play<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">8:16 </span>Michael Hammond discusses why Shakespeare & Company chose this play<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">11:38 </span>David Demke tells about his familiarity with the Canon and what he brings to the performance<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">13:40</span> Robert Walsh gives his perspective on directing such a play, after having directed <span style="font-style: italic;">Sherlock's Last Case</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">18:00</span> The two halves of the play - the known and well-recognized, and the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">secret</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">21:21 </span>How to go about getting something new out of time-tested characters<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">33:04</span> The challenge of presenting a Holmes play that is not a mystery, the evolution of the characters<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">35:15 </span>Staging a 2-man play - intimacy factor with the audience in the Founders' Theatre<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">36:50 </span>Walsh shares his feelings on directing a play for Shakespeare & Co. for the first time<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">45:01 </span>Burt & Scott discuss the evolution of the characters over time<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">47:42 </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Listener challenge</span> - let us know if you attend the show by <a href="mailto:comment@ihearofsherlock.com">emailing us</a> and we'll interview <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">49:02 </span>The eras of Sherlockians over the years<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">50:47 </span>Join <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">our Facebook page</a><br /> <br /> <h4> <b>Listen now:</b></h4> <br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/1114922/height/90/width/600/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/no-cache/true/render-playlist/no/custom-color/87A93A/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br /> </center> <br /> <h4> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Links:</span></h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/">Shakespeare & Company</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/sandco.php?pg=performance&category=&subCat=&showID=summer07.sherlock">The Secret of Sherlock Holmes</a> on the Shakespeare & Co. site, including the Sherlockian weekend - which you should attend!</li> <li>Two galleries of images: </li> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/gallery/SHpre">Pre-production photos</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/gallery/TheSecretofSherlockHolmes">Production photos</a></li> </ul> <li><a href="https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/403">Buy tickets</a> for the play online or call (413) 637-3353</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1553100352/103-1731002-2267851?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1553100352">Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1845765370/103-1731002-2267851?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1845765370">Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century of Sherlock Holmes on the Screen</a></li> </ul> <br /> <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock10.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: 48.87 MB, 53:20)<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /> <br /> <center> <script charset="utf-8" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/thebakerstree-20/8001/a63ea688-d250-445e-b54a-e0e9271c9ce8" type="text/javascript"> </script></center>

Episode 10: The Secret of Sherlock Holmes

In the late 1980s, Jeremy Brett commissioned Jeremy Paul to write a play for him. The collaboration yielded The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, w...

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by Scott Monty

Upcoming Episodes

Things are really happening in the studio these days! Burt and I are in the midst of some great interviews with Sherlockian writers, scholars, organizers and performers. Have we got some great shows lined up for you! Expect to hear some very interesting and intimate interviews with these individuals.<br /><br />And a quick note about the frequency of episodes: I think we've been spoiling you lately with the more frequent releases. Typically, the show is released on a bi-weekly basis, as recording, editing, formatting, links and show notes take a while to put together. The reason the shows have been close together recently is that I have preferred to release two-part interviews one week after the next, and we wanted to get the show about the Richard Lancelyn Green book out in a timely manner.<br /><br />Moving ahead, expect more evenly paced episodes, which may even mean waiting two weeks between parts 1 & 2 of interviews - unless you can convince us otherwise. Anyone? Let us know what you think.<br /><br />Thanks for your patience and your continued support.

Upcoming Episodes

Things are really happening in the studio these days! Burt and I are in the midst of some great interviews with Sherlockian writers, scholar...

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by Scott Monty

"Three or Four Times in a Single Week" [STUD]

Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Charles Foley have been working on a major work about Conan Doyle, taken from a very unique perspective. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594201358?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594201358">Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594201358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> looks at the author's life over decades solely through letters that he wrote to friends - and in particular, to family.<br /><br />While the book itself does not go on sale until November 5 in the United States, it has a British release this month and the authors are featured on BBC Radio 4's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/book_week.shtml">Book of the Week</a> with five 15-minute readings from the book on Sept. 24-28. You can listen to the program on their site from now until seven days after the broadcast date.<br /><br />And for those who are interested in pre-ordering the book, you may click on the link & image here in order to guarantee it in your home as speedily as possible.<br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1594201358&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr&nou=1" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></center>

"Three or Four Times in a Single Week" [STUD]

Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Charles Foley have been working on a major work about Conan Doyle, taken from a very unique perspective...

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by Scott Monty

Granada Sherlock Holmes DVD Set

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggevs_KQuYMy07vxtAO6kfHx93OkTeoMz9KgZxcd69a93klVhuJuOL5W03_pFtrspbB5PJdg40Nqc0KfVps5DeIiGNGxkopkrpGEKMyEJbFYJcxhK-0rMoE2k9BMSOeFdA_FQOImCCAFR5/s1600/Complete+Granada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes - the complete DVD set" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggevs_KQuYMy07vxtAO6kfHx93OkTeoMz9KgZxcd69a93klVhuJuOL5W03_pFtrspbB5PJdg40Nqc0KfVps5DeIiGNGxkopkrpGEKMyEJbFYJcxhK-0rMoE2k9BMSOeFdA_FQOImCCAFR5/s1600/Complete+Granada.jpg" title="Complete Granada Sherlock Holmes DVD set" width="278" /></a></div> <br /> When I first discovered Sherlock Holmes, it was on the printed page, but it couldn't have been at a better time in my life. It was the mid-1980s and there were a number of other outlets for my Sherlockian enjoyment. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EXZFRQ?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EXZFRQ">Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce series</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000EXZFRQ" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> was faithfully running on Saturday afternoon movie features on a local television station; the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598870297?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1598870297">John Gielgud-Ralph Richardson old time radio series</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1598870297" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> was available on cassette; and most importantly for me, the Granada series with Jeremy Brett was airing on PBS.<br /> <br /> For me, Jeremy Brett has always been the consummate Holmes (up until the last dreadful series and long-form movies). Certainly, he was quirky; but so was Holmes. And he was blessed with such Canonically accurate settings, dialogue and wardrobe (at least in the beginning) that it felt like the stories came to life.<br /> <br /> <br /> While I've long had a the series on video, pieced together through MPI productions and the original PBS airings from "Mystery!" with the inimitable Vincent Price giving the introductions, I've longed for a complete set on DVD. Well, that wait is over.<br /> <br /> Now available from Amazon is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RPCJB6?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000RPCJB6">Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000RPCJB6" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, a set of 12 DVDs with all 41 programs, for a total of 43 hours, from MPI Home Video. You'll find this handsome set tricked out with bonus features that include include three commentary tracks, interviews with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke, an interview with Adrian Conan Doyle, a<br /> report on the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and subtitles in Spanish and English. While it doesn't have quite as many bells and whistles as one might hope for from such a handsome set, it's a worthy addition to any Sherlockian's multimedia collection.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

Granada Sherlock Holmes DVD Set

When I first discovered Sherlock Holmes, it was on the printed page, but it couldn't have been at a better time in my life. It was th...

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by Scott Monty

"The Great Scientist" [CREE]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsiinternationalseries.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/images/221_WebCover_Scandinavia.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 263px;" /></a>I recently received an email from Lars Falk, a correspondent in Sweden, who informed me that physicist and Sherlockian Hans-Uno Bengtsson passed away. He was a great popularizer of physics and was famous for his fakir stunts performed to demonstrate the laws of physics, like lying on a bed of nails and walking barefoot on burning coals.<br /><br />And I even found <a href="http://brave-new-words.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-memoriam-physicist-author-and.html">a very personal remembrance of Bengstsson</a> on another blog, which recalled a very simple yet human occurrence to which he responded with the utmost grace and generosity.<br /><br />Here's what Lars had to say:<br /><blockquote>Hans-Uno was a great Sherlock Holmes fan and his book “Trepiporsproblem och bagateller - 7 studier i Sherlock Holmes” (1993) (“Three pipe problems and trifles - 7 studies in Sherlock Holmes”) has done much to increase interest in Sherlock Holmes research in Sweden. Many of these contributions were published in Baker Street Journal. I was personally stimulated by his article <span>"And the Calculation Is a Simple One"</span><i><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></i>(<span style="font-style: italic;">The Baker Street Journal</span>, Vol. 39, No 4, p. 232, December 1989) to propose an alternative solution: <span>"The Two Percent Solution"</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Baker Street Journal</span>, Vol. 52, No 4, pp.5-18, December 2002) and was very happy when Hans-Uno responded with a truly academic comment: “Extremely elegant article: I was almost convinced.”</blockquote><br />And Bengtsson's influence certainly did not end with <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a>. Indeed, he brought his physics expertise to bear on his love of Sherlock Holmes, with a piece called "The Depth Which the Parsley Had Sunk into the Butter" which was included in the second volume of the Baker Street Irregulars Manuscript Series, <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsiinternationalseries.html">Scandinavia and Sherlock Holmes</a>.<br /><p>He was clearly a brilliant man who had many talents. Just the kind who would be drawn to Sherlock Holmes.<br /></p><p>If you'd like to get a hold of his past BSJ articles, you can get the BSJ CD-ROM, which contains the first 50 years of the publication, or you can simply order a reprint of the article. Both are accessible over on the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">Baker Street Journal</a> web site.<br /></p>

"The Great Scientist" [CREE]

I recently received an email from Lars Falk, a correspondent in Sweden, who informed me that physicist and Sherlockian Hans-Uno Bengtsson pa...

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by Scott Monty

"Being of a Sociable Turn" [WIST]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111411073661348130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU01GNUfNag-cifLQJhn43U1iiqzV2eGs6tdF8DIN4U49xNdgB3gMUdoGl5oNstBfi5H6oZY1n6mj7cbhy2zGz6_5mG08Pez1a_1iwL7o2LRou-ZTEN0yKNkLfooacyHb-lfX_ZPFG47o/s320/facebook_logo.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I know I occasionally debut some new and funky technology and ideas here on the blog. I appreciate your willingness to (a) humor me and (b) try them out from time to time. In my <a href="http://www.scottmonty.com/">day job</a>, I see and review more new media developments than you can imagine. But I typically only share those with you that I think are worth your time.<br /><br />The concept I'd like to introduce you to today is called <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">social networking</span>. No doubt you've heard of MySpace or Facebook in the news. But what are they and how do they really work? And more importantly, of what use are they to Sherlockians? First, I'd like you to view this:<br /><br /><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc">Social Networking in Plain English</a><br /><center style="font-weight: bold;"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6a_KF7TYKVc"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6a_KF7TYKVc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object></center><br /><br />So now you understand how social networks help us connect to each other. To me, it's basically an online version of attending Sherlockian society events. I know I'm in a room with other people who like Sherlock Holmes, but unless I can connect with them, I have no idea what their other interests might be. When I find someone who also shares my other interests, it solidifies our connection with each other.<br /><br />Online social networks are no different. Just like normal conversations, you can choose to disclose as little or as much of yourself as you'd like and you can get involved with particular special interest groups as appropriate.<br /><br />I'd like to invite you to join <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284">The Baker Street Blog group on Facebook</a> - it's for people who enjoy this blog. From time to time, I'll be sharing certain newsworthy items with the group on Facebook. But more importantly - YOU can participate as well: upload photos, videos, write messages, join in a discussion. Over time, it can really become a nice extension of what we have here. Please <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5262672284">click here to check out the group</a>. You'll also find links to a Baker Street Journal group and an <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5027520788">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere group</a>.<br /><br />There's another social network I created on the site Ning. Whereas Facebook has a predetermined structure, I built the <a href="http://sherlockholmes.ning.com/">Sherlock Holmes Social Network</a> from scratch on Ning. I've got feeds there from this blog, from <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a>, Flickr photos tagged with "sherlockian," and I've created groups for WelcomeHolmes and Hounds-L members as well. But again, the beauty is that everyone can contribute and add their own content. It's a wonderful way to share what's on your Sherlockian mind.<br /><br />I really hope you'll at least try these out and see if they're right for you. While ever-advancing technology may seem like "an east wind coming" to some, it heralds the future of the Sherlockian world, where we'll be better connected than we ever were.<br /><br />Related post: <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2007/09/activity-and-ingenuity-illu.html">the Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis come blazing into the 21st century with their web site</a>.

"Being of a Sociable Turn" [WIST]

I know I occasionally debut some new and funky technology and ideas here on the blog. I appreciate your willingness to (a) humor me and (b) ...

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by Scott Monty

"Out of the Engine House" [VALL]

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOMFU08ByTHfj7nqSZcTGedgAQUtAE7NfELY7VBi1ld_pCbx7PI1vHsRDqu0kwdE9GM3hEpEtYHU29aKEgXjMsEOMtaqU3KdlEsG38d6VnoSCs1IrozeBt5UZ9yDsK3o4P6PwicIb9ZRW/s1600-h/gillette_7sistersloco.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111250330215328018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOMFU08ByTHfj7nqSZcTGedgAQUtAE7NfELY7VBi1ld_pCbx7PI1vHsRDqu0kwdE9GM3hEpEtYHU29aKEgXjMsEOMtaqU3KdlEsG38d6VnoSCs1IrozeBt5UZ9yDsK3o4P6PwicIb9ZRW/s200/gillette_7sistersloco.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>American stage actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gillette">William Gillette</a> (1853-1937) is undoubtedly best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. But visitors to his home at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillette_Castle_State_Park">Gillette Castle State Park</a> know him for a variety of other pursuits as well.<br /> <br /> He was an accomplished engineer, having designed many of the interior spaces of the Castle, such as doors without doorknobs, wooden light switches, his own desk, a spirits bar with a trick lock, hidden mirrors to keep an eye on guests, etc. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle around the Connecticut countryside. And of course, he loved his trains.<br /> <br /> When he died without issue, his will stated:<br /> <blockquote> <i>I would consider it more than unfortunate for me – should I find myself doomed, after death, to a continued consciousness of the behavior of mankind on this planet – to discover that the stone walls and towers and fireplaces of my home – founded at every point on the solid rock of Connecticut; – that my railway line with its bridges, trestles, tunnels through solid rock, and stone culverts and underpasses, all built in every particular for permanence (so far as there is such a thing); – that my locomotives and cars, constructed on the safest and most efficient mechanical principles; – that these, and many other things of a like nature, should reveal themselves to me as in the possession of some blithering saphead who had no conception of where he is or with what surrounded.</i></blockquote> <i></i>Fortunately, there were no "blithering sapheads" to be had in 1944 (the government was busy with the war), so Lake Compounce amusement park took over the trains and ran them until 1997. Since then, there has been a major effort under way to bring them back to Gillette Castle in full working order.<br /> <br /> That effort is about to be realized as the <a href="http://www.friendsofgillettecastle.org/">Friends of Gillette Castle</a> are hosting an event on <a href="http://www.friendsofgillettecastle.org/events.asp">October 6</a> (click for full details and how to register) to celebrate the restoration of one of the locomotives. The event will feature a fully restored locomotive that Gillette used to run (see the article <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-enginereturns0917.artsep17,0,883336.story">Electric Locomotive On Track for Return to Gillette Castle</a> from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Hartford Courant</span>). I thought I'd point out a couple of interesting coincidences for your consideration:<br /> <ul> <li>The restorer, Ted Tine, is also a motorcycle enthusiast & designer</li> <li>In 1931, Gillette asked E.N. Priest to build a locomotive for him - Priest's shop was the very shop where Tine now does business</li> </ul> The newly restored engine will sit stationary at the visitors' center at the park - alas, there evidently were some blithering sapheads who allowed the tracks to be torn up. Shame. If all goes well, the steam-powered locomotive may be build to sit alongside this electric one. And who knows? Perhaps the tracks will be restored some day...<br /> <br /> If you go to this event, drop us a line and let us know how it was - and if you take photos, email them to us so we can share them.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

"Out of the Engine House" [VALL]

American stage actor William Gillette (1853-1937) is undoubtedly best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. But visitors to his home ...

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by Scott Monty

"The Falls of Reichenbach" [FINA]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzb7XygIRRz1BMMQKoTQtGGiYqH-BQ0Nb20WMxcR_O9f60DxCKJgpsbL8Nk01pTfHGjwMv4RHkLGmbvjihKlaUk565xu6HfOLjSe8VQa_4Y0ikV-f-CDRNlthox9BeM67aPUQnN6wVw_t/s1600-h/swiss_stamps.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111209300392749314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzb7XygIRRz1BMMQKoTQtGGiYqH-BQ0Nb20WMxcR_O9f60DxCKJgpsbL8Nk01pTfHGjwMv4RHkLGmbvjihKlaUk565xu6HfOLjSe8VQa_4Y0ikV-f-CDRNlthox9BeM67aPUQnN6wVw_t/s200/swiss_stamps.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Aside from 221B Baker Street, one of the most well-known landmarks in the Canon is the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty meet for hand-to-hand combat to settle, as Holmes put it, "the final discussion of those questions which lie between us." While most (if not all) of you know the outcome, I'm not going to issue any spoilers here.<br /><br />I don't know if you've read <a href="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/fina.htm">The Final Problem</a> recently, but I highly recommend going back to rereading it if you have the chance. Aside from the suspense of Holmes being hot on the trail of Moriarty and his gang (and <span style="font-style: italic;">vice versa</span>), we're afforded what I think is some of Watson's best writing as he describes the Continental settings which he and Holmes experience. The other story that contains some of his finest descriptive prose is, for my money, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</span>. For example, as they get to Reichenbach Falls:<br /><blockquote>It is, indeed, a fearful place. The torrent, swollen by the melting snow, plunges<br />into a tremendous abyss, from which the spray rolls up like the smoke from a<br />burning house. The shaft into which the river hurls itself is an immense chasm,<br />lined by glistening coal-black rock, and narrowing into a creaming, boiling pit of<br />incalculable depth, which brims over and shoots the stream onward over its<br />jagged lip. The long sweep of green water roaring forever down, and the thick<br />flickering curtain of spray hissing forever upward, turn a man giddy with<br />their constant whirl and clamour. We stood near the edge peering down at<br />the gleam of the breaking water far below us against the black rocks, and<br />listening to the half-human shout which came booming up with the spray <br />out of the abyss.</blockquote>Like the Grimpen Mire in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451528018?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451528018">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0451528018" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, "the setting is a worthy one" for the events that unfold.<br /><br />Well, new events have unfolded that will be of particular interest to the philatelists out there, thanks to Swiss Post. They have released four stamps with an English literary connection as part of a series portraying Switzerland through the eyes of foreign artists. Naturally, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gets a nod there for his work with "The Final Problem." Joining him are Mary Shelley, William Wordsworth and Lord Byron. The site swissinfo has the full details on <a href="http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/feature/detail/Dramatic_Swiss_landscape_inspires_stamps.html?siteSect=108&sid=8211659&rss=true">their respective contributions</a> that included the Swiss landscape.

"The Falls of Reichenbach" [FINA]

Aside from 221B Baker Street, one of the most well-known landmarks in the Canon is the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and Professo...

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by Scott Monty

Sherlock Holmes Meets Doctor Who - the Music

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "the doctor will meet me here." [RESI] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOkOjc_rRZPbOXoCXCtPOiRes7l5RHkBcqC_QJ8lyh-9ZPU24GJpEQmg5UwxLgNzOfoMZi25UuaB_sWWvRziX58RcUBS3Lk_20bdCsI1SDk4udWIyF_TNs2P8qZ35dYkyMU9pdVNHMm43aA3oR81SxG7kQS-kR7zktc6DpRufprFX-4uPEPM8j9D4azg=s750" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="750" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOkOjc_rRZPbOXoCXCtPOiRes7l5RHkBcqC_QJ8lyh-9ZPU24GJpEQmg5UwxLgNzOfoMZi25UuaB_sWWvRziX58RcUBS3Lk_20bdCsI1SDk4udWIyF_TNs2P8qZ35dYkyMU9pdVNHMm43aA3oR81SxG7kQS-kR7zktc6DpRufprFX-4uPEPM8j9D4azg=w640-h452" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <br /> We know there are quite a few Sherlockians out there who, in addition to their passion about Sherlock Holmes, have an active interest in another character, namely <a href="https://amzn.to/3tHgD9h">Dr. Who</a>.<br /> <br /> For those of you not familiar with the good doctor, let me give you a (very) brief thumbnail: he's an extremely intelligent time-traveler who flits through time and space to solve problems. Originally aired on the BBC and played by a string of actors, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Baker">Tom Baker</a> as the Fourth Doctor, who went on to portray Sherlock Holmes in a very questionable production of <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL975NjlGoHlQINaFJIWAkz3kxzdrqVvsU" target="_blank">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a></span>. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwzyWgQHS0STODhk9JPyjTrvrEkZQTNAeoUfXiAFMb2b074Q0UGgUj4iGKFhohOBMXQ4N4ziMZZy05t2lZFMj06irNcfQzqoRTKZcEkV8ghKVd3UKqDnYieRR82uKOxCRGmDWDS5Zg-82/s1600-h/SH-DrWho.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102663066413851922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwzyWgQHS0STODhk9JPyjTrvrEkZQTNAeoUfXiAFMb2b074Q0UGgUj4iGKFhohOBMXQ4N4ziMZZy05t2lZFMj06irNcfQzqoRTKZcEkV8ghKVd3UKqDnYieRR82uKOxCRGmDWDS5Zg-82/s200/SH-DrWho.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a><br /> But the reason we're mentioning Dr. Who today is because a new album has just been (re)released: <a href="https://amzn.to/3nJejuC" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Meets Dr. Who</a> on Amazon.  Let's just say we're intrigued enough to mention it here.<br /> <br /> The music, composed by Carey Blyton, is an eclectic mix of saxophones and brass, as played by the Phoenix Saxophone Quartet and The Fine Arts Brass Ensemble. It features 32 tracks in its entirety. Here are some sample tracks:<br /> <h4><br /></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"> A Sherlock Holmes Suite, Op. 81</h3> <ol> <li> March: The Game's Afoot!</li> <li> Baker Street Conversation (Dr. Watson & Mrs. Hudson)</li> <li> Porky Johnson & The Baker Street Irregulars</li> <li> Scenes From Holmes' London (An Opium Den In Limehouse & A German Street Band)</li> <li> Professional Colleagues (Leverton, Gregson, Lestrade & Athelney Jones)</li> <li> Professor Moriarty - "The Napoleon Of Crime" (Hansom Cab Chase)</li> <li> Victoria Triumphans!</li> </ol> There are a number of other tracks related to Dr. Who, but we can't comment on the relevance of those. From a musical perspective, it's definitely worth adding to your collection.<div><br /> --<br /><br /></div> <script type="text/javascript"> amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "scottmonty-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B00002MPR7"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "54f3658e5a3601507e400bd1e2bef76f"; </script> <script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script> <div><br /></div>

Sherlock Holmes Meets Doctor Who - the Music

"the doctor will meet me here." [RESI]  We know there are quite a few Sherlockians out there who, in addition to their passi...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 09: Our Favorite Books

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SN-I9a5Ef9aI7Nuw7i04NclwtzbHC8BF54xBx-bEYOJrNyYocywccXNczE8llMwnDQzn6CieAbjfXbpFO_wFox7ns8uCX4Ix9uVIpwnHeFBr5isZcxKec8PU8cO3BnYqek6-LkZ5TEDT/s1600/Favorite+Sherlock+Holmes+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SN-I9a5Ef9aI7Nuw7i04NclwtzbHC8BF54xBx-bEYOJrNyYocywccXNczE8llMwnDQzn6CieAbjfXbpFO_wFox7ns8uCX4Ix9uVIpwnHeFBr5isZcxKec8PU8cO3BnYqek6-LkZ5TEDT/s320/Favorite+Sherlock+Holmes+books.jpg" width="269" /></a></div> <br /> This episode, we take a break from our interview schedule to get back to the basics. We discuss the man who determined the foundations of a good Sherlockian collection and heap lavish praise on our favorite tomes related to the great detective.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Show topics:</span><br /> 3:50 The Shaw 100 as the basis of a number of good Sherlockian books<br /> 4:40 A bit about John Bennett Shaw<br /> 7:32 Do you have memories of John Bennett Shaw? Call us at (774) 221-READ, email us at comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com, or comment below<br /> 9:03 Burt's favorite book<br /> 15:40 What "the hunt" was like before the Internet<br /> 19:27 Paxton Whitehead reads "221B" by Vincent Starrett<br /> 21:08 Scott's favorite book<br /> 28:50 Editor's Gas Lamp, "Let Me Recommend This Book," Vol. 2, No. 2 (Old Series)<br /> <br /> <b>Listen now</b>:<br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" height="45" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/1114916/height/45/width/250/theme/standard/direction/no/autoplay/yes/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="250"></iframe></center> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Links mentioned in this episode:</span><br /> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.geocities.com/~sherlockian/shaw_yop.html">The Shaw 100</a> - the books John Bennett Shaw, BSI thought were essential; they are listed on our Shelfari shelf here, or you can click on the Amazon link below to purchase them.</li> </ul> <center> <embed flashvars="UserName=ihearofsherlock&ShelfType=user&verE=s1.1&booksize=large&AmazonAssociate=thebakerstree-20&Alpha=0&BGColor=FFFFFF" height="220" src="http://sws.shelfari.com/shelfH.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" wmode="transparent"></embed></center> <br /> <ul> <li><a href="http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/holmes.phtml">The Sherlock Holmes Collections</a> at the University of Minnesota Library</li> <li>Paxton Whitehead on the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925717/">Internet Movie Database</a> and the <a href="http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=8081">Internet Broadway Database</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/thebsjoncdrom.html">The Baker Street Journal CD-ROM</a></li> </ul> <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock09.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: 33.8 MB, 36:58)<br /> <br /> <br /> <center> <iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="60" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=13&l=ur1&category=books&banner=1N4P1140VP34Z6816KR2&f=ifr" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" width="468"></iframe></center> <div> <br /></div>

Episode 09: Our Favorite Books

This episode, we take a break from our interview schedule to get back to the basics. We discuss the man who determined the foundations of...

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by Scott Monty

A Change in Format

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "in these columns" [HOUN]</h4> <br /> Astute readers who visit our site will see that there's been a change to the format. We realized that the sidebar column had grown extremely long, and that it would take a very dedicated reader indeed to make it all the way to the bottom.<br /> <br /> Now we've made it twice as easy to do so by creating a second sidebar to divide up the material and make it a little easier on the eyes. So, on the left you'll see contact information and other background-related things. On the right are recent comments, links and services within this site, as well as services outside the site and the usual variety of links you've come to expect.<br /> <br /> Please spend some time looking around and let me know what you think.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

A Change in Format

"in these columns" [HOUN] Astute readers who visit our site will see that there's been a change to the format. We realized ...

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by Scott Monty

New Canadian Holmes Published, with New Editor

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "It is the bootmaker" [LADY]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp5sltHrdEKrlgtefYFRxeGi9fGimhLRUmpQCupgFFcgwyAl8RBVZtAQYEovnp_1STM5Ty_5k36aRIMHUrpAofSXWrtVgdn3p-dZA-_j_DCQqkGSrVf90DgQnXTFLfx2fm1114nGLxjiM/s1600/canadianholmes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp5sltHrdEKrlgtefYFRxeGi9fGimhLRUmpQCupgFFcgwyAl8RBVZtAQYEovnp_1STM5Ty_5k36aRIMHUrpAofSXWrtVgdn3p-dZA-_j_DCQqkGSrVf90DgQnXTFLfx2fm1114nGLxjiM/s1600/canadianholmes.gif" /></a></div> <br /> We're pleased to report that the Bootmakers of Toronto have released the latest issue of their quarterly magazine, <a href="http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/BMT%20CH%20Latest.htm">The Canadian Holmes</a>. If you're at all interested in Sherlockian scholarship, this is one of the top publications you can subscribe to. The others are <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a>, <a href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/journal.php">The Sherlock Holmes Journal</a> and <a href="http://www.ash-nyc.com/muse.htm">The Serpentine Muse</a>.<br /> <br /> Of particular note with regard to this issue of this northern publication is that it is the first issue over which Barbara Roden has presided as editor. As her husband Christopher points out:<br /> <blockquote> It's packed from cover to cover with fascinating material, including an article by Richard Lancelyn Green on the manuscript of 'Shoscombe Old Place' and - those of you who were in Minneapolis recently will recognise the significance of this - a revelatory article by Michael Dirda on Langdale Pike.</blockquote> Congratulations to Barbara on her debut!<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

New Canadian Holmes Published, with New Editor

"It is the bootmaker" [LADY] We're pleased to report that the Bootmakers of Toronto have released the latest issue of the...

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by Scott Monty

"My Interest Is Already Awakened" [NAVA]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9CCLU?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000V9CCLU"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109161395561507026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3gxjNPD9DizVS8sI6f3qebyZdPMUrCFf_CGdpyFO6-AAl5g7s0EOQLcX1FcWx4ciYpaHe1g7ZuYavIBZc_BVh2uhiKrOfVK-6OpTXaddcstn21fuDLu7WtyCe3Ru5VJKl1d4Y61f9sHc/s200/sherlock+holmes_awakened.gif" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>If you're reading this blog, then no doubt you know how to turn on the computer and navigate the Web. But how are you with using your machine's DVD drive? And arrowing around the screen? And figuring out solutions based on clues? If you think you've got all of those traits, then perhaps it's time to look into the new computer video game <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9CCLU?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000V9CCLU">Sherlock Holmes : The Awakened</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000V9CCLU" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.<br /><br />As of yesterday, the web site of <a href="http://sherlockholmes.cdvusa.com/content/story">Sherlock Holmes: the Awakened</a> had been drastically overhauled and gave way to the announcement that the game was ready to be shipped to U.S. customers.<br /><br />If you're not familiar with the concept behind the game, it's a crossover of sorts, from mystery to horror - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle meets H.P. Lovecraft - in a seemingly routine investigation that tests the limits the great detective as he attempts to thwart the plans of a sect of the Cult of Cthulhu.<br /><br />This new adventure of Sherlock Holmes marks the first time Sherlock Holmes has ever been presented in a three-dimensional virtual world. From the game's web site:<br /><blockquote>19th century England: Following a string of shocking disappearances on London’s fog-choked streets, an entire nation trembles in fear. As history’s most famed detective, loosen terror’s grip by tailing the perpetrators to the ends of the earth in epic 3D adventure Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. <p>Inspired by the works of author H.P. Lovecraft, this globe-spanning saga of suspense and horror pits the master sleuth against his most dangerous foe yet – a fanatical cult seemingly devoted to ancient, evil god Cthulhu. From Baker Street to Bale, Louisiana to Scotland, hunt for hidden clues with the help of faithful companion Dr. Watson, solve fiendish puzzles and thwart the forces of darkness.</p> <p>But beware – behind the façade of everyday life lurk terrifying places and truths best forgotten. There are some secrets man was never meant to know: Dare you uncover them? Either way, the clock’s ticking. So what are you waiting for? The game is afoot!</p></blockquote><p></p>While I'm not a gaming fan, I have spent some time in the virtual world <a href="http://www.secondlife.com">Second Life</a>. If this game helps bring some younger people into our midst and entices them to learn more about the sleuth of Baker Street through his original ventures, I'm all for it.

"My Interest Is Already Awakened" [NAVA]

If you're reading this blog, then no doubt you know how to turn on the computer and navigate the Web. But how are you with using your ma...

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by Scott Monty

"The Activity and the Ingenuity" [ILLU]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.illustriousclients.org"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108427372086584786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPsX2vw7tDSND3lZ5A_PMtcr7EqvcDOYk3FYYnXO5U2rtyJ2FUqPHykdns0IkV2lSAE5MVosxOnHjmr-bh5vO68ITfFOsbx3iNW5EtSHN3dsOvkcLxIGkVIxngaRfDWnFYOlpkmCJAbwf/s200/clients_logo.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>A little over a week ago, I noticed a new web site spring up, but I kept quiet during its beta period, until the official launch was announced. Well, today is that day, so I'm sharing my secret with you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.illustriousclients.org/">The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis</a> now have a web site! Well, to call it a web site is really understating the effort Ann M. Lewis has put into it. It's much more than a simple destination; it's more of a hub and a two-way communication vehicle for this venerable Midwest scion society. This is a great example of how a scion society should embrace interactive media and forge into the 21st century.<br /><br />Expect to hear more about new developments in the Sherlockian world that are going to shift the way we think about online communications. I'll be covering these changes and announcements here as well as on <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a>, which I'd love you to subscribe to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Features Abound</span><br />You'll find all of the standard offerings there, like meeting updates, upcoming events, links, etc. But where this site stands apart is how it integrates aspects of social media. For example:<br /><ol><li>You can register on the site as a member. It's free and doesn't require any sensitive information from you. Registration allows you to interact with other members on the site. You can post information to your profile, such as a web site, email address, or just something you'd like to write about yourself, as well as a picture.<br /></li><li>Everyone can view the photo gallery, and members can upload their own photos. It's a great place to put faces to names or to see what happened at events.</li><li>There is a section for articles and a downloads section which currently contains a PDF of the society's flyer.</li><li>A news section contains announcements of meetings as well as the latest trailer for the <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/g2b.html">From Gillette to Brett II</a> conference. Anyone in the community can also add their own news story as well.</li><li>You can contribute in another important way: in the section called Blogs. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Every member can create his or her own entries and write about and share anything that comes to mind.</span> You know I couldn't resist and opportunity like that. <a href="http://www.illustriousclients.org/index.php?name=Blogs&mode=display&id=1">Here's what I wrote</a>.</li><li>There's an RSS feed of both this blog and of my podcast, <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/"></a>for which I am grateful. What? You just don't understand RSS? Then please do me and yourself a favor and spend a quick 4 minutes watching this:</li></ol><br /><center><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0klgLsSxGsU"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0klgLsSxGsU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /></center><br />If it doesn't show, I'm very impressed with what Ann has instituted on behalf of the Clients. I've often wondered why they've never had a site, because they're an active society that publishes regularly and has a fairly dedicated base of members. Indeed, this is the home turf of Mike Whelan, the head of <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">the Baker Street Irregulars</a>.<br /><br />I'm glad to see that they've come blazing into the 21st century with a real winner of a site. Get over there and register. More importantly, join the conversation there, or here, or any other site that allows you to raise your voice. The wonder of the Sherlockian world is the degree with which we interact with each other, and current technology is giving us the opportunity to keep the conversation flowing 24/7.

"The Activity and the Ingenuity" [ILLU]

A little over a week ago, I noticed a new web site spring up, but I kept quiet during its beta period, until the official launch was announc...

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by Scott Monty

The San Diego Natural History Museum's Connection to Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "there is this naturalist" [HOUN]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wHmB2GfeiVAqrMAS5qgwUQKvcK3zqymZB70Y_eVOgX1CWOZpMw3inZThhz18tWPnGHAyYhSaaDxZxC-fhtcVSTJIhzJwHqXweTu9vvc-IYQ_w-ArQWRzwX3sTq7tiV7PlqPbYUojVPrK/s1600/laurenceklauber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wHmB2GfeiVAqrMAS5qgwUQKvcK3zqymZB70Y_eVOgX1CWOZpMw3inZThhz18tWPnGHAyYhSaaDxZxC-fhtcVSTJIhzJwHqXweTu9vvc-IYQ_w-ArQWRzwX3sTq7tiV7PlqPbYUojVPrK/s400/laurenceklauber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The history of the <a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/" target="_blank">San Diego Natural History Museum</a> is rich and deep, as it is the oldest scientific institution in southern California and only the second oldest west of the Mississippi River. It is even more interesting to us because it contains a Sherlockian connection.<br /> <br /> One of the <a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/about-us/history/klauber/" target="_blank">museum's major historical leaders</a> was an amateur naturalist, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Monroe_Klauber" target="_blank">Dr. Laurence M. Klauber</a>, who had a wide variety of interests. Although he became CEO of San Diego Gas & Electric, his passion fueled his hobbies - two of which intersected for an interesting outcome.<br /> <br /> You see, Dr. Klauber was a herpetologist — a person who makes a study of snakes. He wrote over 100 papers on snakes and lizards, identified 53 species and left a collection of more than 36,000 reptile and amphibian specimens to the museum. In addition, he was an inveterate collector and bibliophile who amassed 1462 books, 19,000 pamphlets, 20 drawers of hand-written catalog cards, and 198 looseleaf binders of scientific notes related to snakes.<br /> <br /> Naturally, a bookman with an interest in snakes can only lead to one story: <a href="http://camdenhouse.ignisart.com/canon/spec.htm" target="_blank">The Adventure of the Speckled Band</a>. It was this combination of interests that led Dr. Klauber to write an article for Vol. 3, No. 2 of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" target="_blank"><i>Baker Street Journal</i></a> in 1948, called "<a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/about-us/history/klauber/sherlockiana/" target="_blank">The Truth About the Speckled Band</a>". You can click on the link and read it for yourself.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

The San Diego Natural History Museum's Connection to Sherlock Holmes

"there is this naturalist" [HOUN] The history of the San Diego Natural History Museum is rich and deep, as it is the oldest ...

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by Scott Monty

The Life of a Beekeeper

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "I live and keep bees" [LAST]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrjQDVJSWs9DXwA6dvo9YVt1PKsBvXwkVXJTfTGaxyNq2oL4n6-ShIdQTbp0xUk6v-S0P_wyawAYegnk-ptj267KbDKHouL5unWfu2IV5QwqI1Ha2W95zIaR7b5GphyphenhyphenQdnqcVvzECWN6I/s1600/Beekeeping+interview.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrjQDVJSWs9DXwA6dvo9YVt1PKsBvXwkVXJTfTGaxyNq2oL4n6-ShIdQTbp0xUk6v-S0P_wyawAYegnk-ptj267KbDKHouL5unWfu2IV5QwqI1Ha2W95zIaR7b5GphyphenhyphenQdnqcVvzECWN6I/s640/Beekeeping+interview.PNG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Apiculture, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping" target="_blank">the practice of keeping bees</a> has been around for millennia. In fact, there is archeological evidence to show that hives were used for keeping bees as early as 900 B.C. It wasn't until the 18th century that scientists began to understand bee biology and realize that what had been called the "king bee" was in fact the queen bee. Click on the above link for more detail on beekeeping.<br /> <br /> All of this is interesting, of course, but some Sherlockian novices may be wondering why we're discussing beekeeping on this site. When Sherlock Holmes retired to the Sussex Downs, he took up beekeeping (hence the title of the Laurie R. King book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553571656?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553571656" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0553571656" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />). And Holmes wrote his own scholarly piece on his apicultural studies, entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with Some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen</span>.<br /> <br /> Today we'd like to celebrate Holmes' hobby or post-retirement studies by sharing a video with you - an interview with a beekeeper.<br /> <br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OGFz9gt0-Fc?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></center> <br /> <br /> If you can't see the video above, simply follow <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=OGFz9gt0-Fc">this link</a>.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

The Life of a Beekeeper

"I live and keep bees" [LAST] Apiculture, or the practice of keeping bees has been around for millennia. In fact, there is a...

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by Scott Monty

Copies of New Conan Doyle Book Available in Giveaway

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "Might I ask a few questions to test you?" [ILLU]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFUpfTdV_kVrwUVmmvXnUUppDMCaK4a9ExnkF4Xb8kpClnudrCrPIp8nTdROo9-EGDNin-z_HaE8bhJCfuS7xeqkYAZKXXJNIk6HIL4tYnNEpD_5PrDQ5EzPz-KSGwyXQwFfe4PG2RjuM/s1600/ACD_Letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFUpfTdV_kVrwUVmmvXnUUppDMCaK4a9ExnkF4Xb8kpClnudrCrPIp8nTdROo9-EGDNin-z_HaE8bhJCfuS7xeqkYAZKXXJNIk6HIL4tYnNEpD_5PrDQ5EzPz-KSGwyXQwFfe4PG2RjuM/s1600/ACD_Letters.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> Christopher Roden, MBt BSI ("Sir Henry Baskerville") and Barbara Roden, MBt, BSI ("Beryl Stapleton") are literary movers and shakers in Canada. They are both organizers of the <a href="http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/acdsocy.html" target="_blank">Arthur Conan Doyle Society</a>, which Christopher himself founded in 1989.<br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594201358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br /> I'll save the rest of their qualifications for another post about the Rodens. But I wanted to share a contest that they're running through the ACD site, to promote the new biography of Conan Doyle by Charles Foley, Jon Lellenberg and Dan Stashower, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594201358?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594201358" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594201358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. According to Christopher:<br /> <blockquote> We have five copies of this forthcoming book to give away as prizes, and Jon Lellenberg has devised a fiendish quiz, answering which could mean that a copy of the book will be headed your way.<br /> <br /> The closing date for entries is 16 September, and there is a link to my e-mail address to which entries should be sent.</blockquote> So, are you up for the challenge, dear reader? If so, head over to <a href="http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/ACD%20Letters.htm" target="_blank">the quiz page on the ACD site</a> and email your answers to Christopher. Good luck!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/ACD%20Letters.htm"></a>

Copies of New Conan Doyle Book Available in Giveaway

"Might I ask a few questions to test you?" [ILLU] Christopher Roden, MBt BSI ("Sir Henry Baskerville") and Barbara ...

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by Scott Monty

"Heard from Italy" [3GAB]

On November 23rd, <a href="http://www.unostudioinholmes.org/">Uno Studio in Holmes</a>, the Italian Sherlock Holmes Society, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Firenze, Italy.<br /><br />Gianluca Salvatore, BSI ("The Dacre Hotel")writes:<br /><blockquote>A magnificent reception will be held in the most beautiful city in the world. Do not miss the occasion to join us for a weekend. We will have a meeting in the style of Sherlock Holmes, a true renaissance man.</blockquote><br />For more information, hotel booking and facilities please feel free to email Gianluca at <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=monterivecchi@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">monterivecchi@gmail.com</a>. Plus, I've given you some links below to get started on your travel.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&offerid=130293.10000402&subid=0&type=4"><img alt="Logo (Find Easier/Faster)468x60" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&bids=130293.10000402&subid=0&amp;amp;type=4&gridnum=1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=C*JE*kqZKe8&amp;offerid=130293.10000838&type=3&subid=0" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Save up to $200 on Internationa<wbr>l Hotels and Vacations: Book<wbr> by Sept. 30 on ORBITZ!</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14489139&postID=2048047975497636511" width="1" /><br /></center>

"Heard from Italy" [3GAB]

On November 23rd, Uno Studio in Holmes , the Italian Sherlock Holmes Society, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Firenze, Italy. Gianluc...

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by Scott Monty

"Between and Around These Scattered Points" [HOUN]

If it seems like it's been a while since I've posted the HTML links from Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, you're right. The last time I did so was April. It's not that Peter Blau hasn't been kind enough to share his newsletter with me in a timely fashion; rather, I've been deluged with other activities (which you may have gathered by my less frequent posting).<br /><br />Well, rest assured that I'm trying to get back on the wagon and give you the updates and the links that it is my duty to supply. Herewith then, the links for Peter's latest issue:<br /><ul><li>The <a href="http://museumofjewelry.net/">Museum of Jewelry</a> uses names from English literature to title some of their products, which include "Moonstones of Baker Street Earrings" and "Arnsworth Castle Earrings"</li><li>The Hans Sloane of our age is a chocolatier: <a href="http://www.sirhanssloane.com/home/index.html">The Sir Hans Sloane Chocolate and Champagne House</a> is the first chocolate studio in the UK to have its own in-house chocolate conching machine</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887768504?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0887768504">Eye of the Crow: The Boy 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=0887768504" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> is the first in a series of books about an adolescent Sherlock Holmes; there's a nice interactive web site at <a href="http://www.theboysherlockholmes.com/">http://www.boysherlockholmes.com</a><br /></li><li>Oscar Wilde and Lillie Langtry seek advice from Sherlock Holmes in the People's Light &<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://h1.ripway.com/wsmonty/BakerStreetBlog/Langella.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://h1.ripway.com/wsmonty/BakerStreetBlog/Langella.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 198px;" /></a> Theatre Company's production of Katie Forgette's <a href="http://www.peopleslight.org/season/show.php?id=8">Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Jersey Lily</a> in Malvern, PA in June, 2008</li><li>The American Theatre Wing has two video great seminars with Frank Langella, who portrayed Sherlock Holmes twice</li><ul><li><a href="http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/detail/performance_09_84/">Working in the Theatre, September, 1984</a></li><li><a href="http://www.americantheatrewing.org/seminars/detail/performance_04_02/">Working in the Theatre, April, 2002</a><br /></li></ul><li>And they also have an interview with Langella as an audio file from XM Satellite's <a href="http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/frank_langella/">Downstage Center</a></li><li><a href="http://www.friendsofgillettecastle.org/">The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park</a> will hold a celebration on Oct. 6 benefiting the restoration of William Gillette's locomotives</li><li>Laurie R. King now has a <a href="http://www.laurierking.com/vbulletin/">Virtual Book Club</a>; it's really a discussion forum on her web site</li><li>Look for an appearance of Mycroft Holmes as Thursday Next's uncle in Jasper Fforde's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670038717?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0670038717">Thursday Next: First Among Sequels</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0670038717" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></li><li><a href="http://www.qbbooks.com/">Quill & Brush Books</a> offers a handy <a href="http://www.qbbooks.com/first_ed_pub.php">guide to identifying first editions</a></li><li><a href="http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/special/sherlock.cfm">The Sherlock Holmes Collection</a> at the Marylebone Library is always worth taking a look at; and from now until October 31, they're <a href="http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/special/doylebook.cfm">running a competition</a> to win a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594201358?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594201358">Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594201358" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></li><li>Randall Stock has an <a href="http://members.aol.com/shbest/ref/conan-doyle-life-letters.htm">informative and comprehensive site</a> put together about the new book, including a background FAQ and a list of press mentions</li><li>Speaking of books, <span style="font-style: italic;">To Keep the Memory Green</span>, a collection of essays about the life of Richard Lancelyn Green is available for order from <a href="http://www.quarteringpress.com/">The Quartering Press</a>, a joint effort between the Baker Street Irregulars and the Sherlock<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://h1.ripway.com/wsmonty/BakerStreetBlog/Basil_Rathbone_in_Tovarich.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://h1.ripway.com/wsmonty/BakerStreetBlog/Basil_Rathbone_in_Tovarich.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 175px;" /></a> Holmes Society of London<br /></li><li>The <a href="http://www.mbtheatre.com/season/">Meadow Brook Theatre's</a> season opens with Stephen Dietz's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure in Rochester, MI from October 10 to November 4</li><li>Recognize this suave gentleman? It's Basil Rathbone, as Commissar Dimitri Gorotchenko in the 1937 film "Tovarich" and shown in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Rathbone">his entry for Wikipedia</a></li><li>MC Black offers <a href="http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/detectivewalks/">Detective Walks</a> through London that he has personally researched</li><li>The DVD of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R349HK?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000R349HK">Sherlock Holmes and Baker Street Irregulars</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000R349HK" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> has been released and is now available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R349HK?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000R349HK">Amazon</a></li><li><a href="http://www.magicdragon.com/SherlockHolmes/">The Sherlock Holmes Resume Service</a> (1-800-5-SHERLOCK)</li></ul>

"Between and Around These Scattered Points" [HOUN]

If it seems like it's been a while since I've posted the HTML links from Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, you're right. Th...

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by Scott Monty