Episode 331: The Amateur Mendicant Society

by Scott Monty March 30, 2026

“Those were the early days” [VALL]

Join us as we explore the roots of Sherlockian tradition in the Motor City with Christopher Music, archivist and Commissionaire of The Amateur Mendicant Society, and the group's Gasogene, our own Scott Monty. As one of the "Original Eight" scion societies in the U.S., the Mendicants hold a unique place in literary history — from their 1946 founding held on the same night as an early meeting of The Speckled Band of Boston, to producing the first-ever televised Sherlock Holmes performance of a society.

Chris discusses the founding members of the group, including newspaperman Russell McLauchlin, who was welcomed into the BSI by Vincent Starrett himself. You’ll hear about the Mendicants’ evolution, and look ahead to April 25, 2026, when the group will return to their original Detroit meeting site to celebrate 80 years of fellowship.

Our “Learned Societies” segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities coming up in the first half of June. Then, it’s a new edition of “Examining the Pictures,” with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI, as Christian offers a fascinating perspective on the television series Elementary.

Finally, the Canonical Couplet quiz will test your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of something from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by April 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. DST. All listeners are eligible to play.

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