I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Episode 38: On Conan Doyle

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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0712358412&camp=217145&creative=399373" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; border: none; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px;" width="1" />One of the great benefits of being a member of the Baker Street Irregulars is that we get to meet a lot of interesting and famous people. Chief among them are the literati, such as Michael Dirda, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic for the <i>Washington Post</i>, who makes his living by writing about the literati.<br />
<br />In this case, Michael himself is the author, having been tapped by the Princeton University Press to contribute to their "Writers on Writers" series with the volume <b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/45nRUqJ">On Conan Doyle: Or, the Whole Art of Storytelling</a></i></b>. In it, he takes us through Conan Doyle's life and writings - many of which may not be familiar to the Sherlock Holmes fan - and gives us a perspective on many of them through the Canon.<br />
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Burt and Scott had a chance to sit down with Michael at the Players in New York City during the 2012 Baker Street Irregulars Weekend - marking the first time our podcast has been recorded with the two hosts together in the same room.<br />
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Rather than give you an Editor's Gas-Lamp in this episode, we asked Michael to read something from his own work.<br />
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<b>Links:</b></h4>
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<li><b><i><b style="font-style: normal;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/45nRUqJ">On Conan Doyle: Or, the Whole Art of Storytelling</a></i></b>  </i></b>(Amazon)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a></i></li>
<li><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/03/25/LI2005032502159.html">Michael Dirda's content in the <i>Washington Post</i></a><br />
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<b>Listen now:</b></h4>
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38489797@N00/8161024595">mcwetboy (Flickr)</a></i><br />
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Episode 38: On Conan Doyle

One of the great benefits of being a member of the Baker Street Irregulars is that we get to meet a lot of interesting and famous people...

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by Scott Monty

New CBS Sherlock Holmes Drama Will Be Called "Elementary"

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"Elementary." [CROO]</h4>
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     "Excellent!" I cried.<br />
     "Elementary," said he.</blockquote>
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Of course, any Sherlockian considering him or herself worthy of the name knows that one particular instance in "The Crooked Man" is the only time Mr. Sherlock Holmes uses the word “elementary” in that context. Never in the canon does he actually say “Elementary, my dear Watson.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Nevertheless, it appears that CBS has hit upon the entirely original idea of updating the Sherlock Holmes stories for the modern day, and will title this show, ahem, <i>Elementary. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/cbs-greenlights-dana-calvokevin-falls-legal-drama-pilot/">Deadline</a> is reporting that CBS has greenlit a pilot that would air in 2012 and would transport the Victorian detective to 21<sup>st</sup> century New York. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This news comes, unsurprisingly, after the success of the second series of BBC’s <i>Sherlock, </i>as well as Guy Ritchie’s recent sequel, <i>Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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As Holmes would also say, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data</span>” [SCAN] and so far, data is drastically lacking about this upcoming series. Aside from the screenwriter - Robert Doherty - <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">nothing is yet known, making any speculation about the quality of the series difficult. One hopes, however, that the script and acting will transcend the title and be something rather than “elementary.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<i>Anastasia writes at <a href="http://bookwormhermy.blogspot.com/">The Itinerant Bookworm</a>. This is her first contribution to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.</i><br />
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New CBS Sherlock Holmes Drama Will Be Called "Elementary"

"Elementary." [CROO] "Excellent!" I cried. "Elementary," said he. Of course, any Sherloc...

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by Scott Monty

The 2012 BSI Weekend Recap — Saturday

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"then on Saturday" [HOUN]</h4>
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The day after the BSI dinner and Gaslight Gala can be a bit of a paradox for some people. For after the dinners, some attendees gather to celebrate well into the night. It's an unwritten tradition to keep the newest investitured members of the Baker Street Irregulars awake until at least 2:21 a.m. That's not too rare when you're in the city that never sleeps, but with the doors of the Vendors Room opening at 9:00 a.m. sharp (and Jerry Margolin always jockeying to be the first in), it can be difficult to rouse yourself from an otherwise groggy state.<br />
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This year's Vendors Room was packed with merchandise, from the new to the old and rare. The Baker Street Irregulars had its usual range of books available from the <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsimanuscriptseries.html">BSI Manuscript</a> and <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsiinternationalseries.html">BSI International</a> series, as well as <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/grandgamev2.html" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>The Grand Game Volume Two</i></a>, the continuation of the first volume edited by Leslie S. Klinger and Laurie R. King. In addition to the <i>Grand Game</i> compendium being completed, there was a very handsome <i><b><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/grandgamelimited.html">Grand Game Limited Edition</a></b></i> being offered for sale; you can order it online after March 30. There will be 100 box sets created, with gilt-stamped volumes, a companion index with an expansion of the origin of the Game and Ronald Knox, and a gold-stamped slipcase.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>The afternoon turned toward West 44th Street as Sherlockians descended on the New York Bar Association for the reception and auction. As usual, Don Novorsky hosted the event and recognized the previous evening's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/6697583377/">newly-investitured Irregulars</a>. Then, we we all treated to a fun little vaudeville routine by Jim Saunders and Henry Boote, who performed a Sherlock Holmes-inspired version of the old <a href="http://www.marx-brothers.org/marxology/shean.htm">Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean</a> bit. While we didn't record Jim and Henry, here you can have a look at what it looked like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkzAEGarl9Q">as performed by Charles Winniger and Al Shean</a>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/6697551885/" title="BSI Raffle prize by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="BSI Raffle prize" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6697551885_2489a7e1ce_m.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The 2012 raffle prize</i></td></tr>
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Directly after the performance, it was time for the drawing of the raffle prize. All weekend, raffle tickets were sold to raise money for the John H. Watson Fund, a self-exhausting fund that is available to all Sherlockians (BSI membership is not required) who wish to travel to New York for the annual Baker Street Irregulars weekend but who may not be able to afford to otherwise attend. This year's raffle prize was donated by Maggie Schpak, BSI ("The Soup Plate Medal"), who works in metallurgical costuming. It was a replica of Lady Frances Carfax's Spanish diamonds, which you can see to the right.<br />
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Then it was time for another highlight of the weekend - the Sherlockian Year in Review, as given in verse by father and daughter team Al ("Inspector Gregory") and Betsy ("Lucy Ferrier") Rosenblatt. As usual, their observations and wit skewered events and individuals who made headlines throughout the year, and then turned toward the doings of the weekend. They even stopped mid-poem to break out in song to honor Henry Boote's Two Shilling award (sung to the tune of "Aunt Clara," of course).<br />
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The final programmatic event was Peter Blau's professional auctioneering effort to raise money for the Watson Fund. This year, the items included original posters from <i>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i>, a hand-turned wooden fountain pen made from wood salvaged from the barque <i>Lone Star</i>, original artwork by Charles Meyer, BSI ("Adloph Meyer") and a handmade wooden collector's cabinet made by Joe Coppola ("The Stranger's Room"). And in a last-minute surprise appearance, a Peter Blau-ish powder blue blazer worn the previous evening in the skit was offered up by Scott Monty. Peter and Scott stood side by side, taking bids for the jacket. The winning bid was a Canonical $221 and the buyer plans to donate it to the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">BSI Trust</a>.<br />
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Afterwards, Sherlockians went their separate ways. Some caught trains, others joined up for an intimate dinner for 10 for Indian food, and many others got Lost in New York with a Bunch of Sherlockians at Pete's Tavern. The wrap-up brunch was hosted the following day by Lyndsay Faye at the Irish Rogue.<br />
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We have a few photos from the weekend. If you'd like to see them, there's a slideshow embedded below on the site. If you're viewing this on email or an RSS reader, please click through to the full article, or <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/sets/72157628871829545/with/6697449965/">check out our set on Flickr</a>.<br />
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If you weren't able to make it to the weekend this year, there's always next year! Set your calendar for <b>January 10-12, 2013</b>.<br />
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<i>Do you have a memory or a first-person account of what happened at one of the events that we didn't cover? We'd love to hear about it in a comment below.</i><br />
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The 2012 BSI Weekend Recap — Saturday

"then on Saturday" [HOUN] The day after the BSI dinner and Gaslight Gala can be a bit of a paradox for some people. For aft...

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by Scott Monty

The 2012 BSI Weekend Recap — Friday

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"Today is Friday" [CARD]</h4>
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Friday is always a hectic day during the BSI Weekend. From impromptu breakfasts to early pilgrimages down to Tribeca to see <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2011/10/infinitely-more-mysterious-devi.html">Otto Penzler's offerings as the Mysterious Bookshop</a>, there are plenty of mind- and waist-expanding opportunities to be had before running off to...lunch.<br />
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<b>The William Gillette Lunch</b></h3>
The Gillette Lunch has been in place for many years, having been first established in the early days of the BSI as an opportunity for those traveling from out of town to gather before the BSI dinner. Susan Rice and Mickey Fromkin have been running this event for a couple of decades, after it was handed down to them from Lisa McGaw.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Susan Rice - all smiles</i></td></tr>
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Guests are welcomed to the quickly overflowing bar area of <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=63709c1ff5d9d35a61c4186a878d6a7d&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bakerstreetblog.com%2Fsearch%2Flabel%2Fbsi2010&v=1&libid=1326557509698&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moranschelsea.com%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bakerstreetblog.com%2Fsearch%2Flabel%2Fbsi2011&title=The%20Baker%20Street%20Blog&txt=Moran%27s%20Chelsea%20Restaurant&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13265577788861">Moran's Chelsea</a> restaurant (an aptly named or aptly selected venue, as the case may be) and conversation quickly rises, along with the temperature of the facility. But all is well as we wind our way into the substantial dining area and prepare for the welcome from Susan. We remember William Gillette of course, but also the founders and previous administrators. After a quick promotion of the <a href="http://www.beaconsociety.com/">Beacon Society</a> - the group that promotes educating the young on Sherlock Holmes via the original stories - we dine.<br />
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After lunch come the skits. In this case were treated to two: a "Tonight Show" (c. 1895) rendition of Carnac the Magnificent; and the Friends of Bogey's of Baker Street giving us their fanciful interpretation of Sherlock Holmes on the <i>Titanic</i>. The iceberg even got a starring role.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHGdaIqmaYoPAa_Tt2Tvu89-2r1mUuFxWz5xfkOguKhyphenhyphenhw_R0GMts5M4YxY9h5rF1ILMacz3zI-73HUpec7oZZM0SMTmr5jrVD_JpovfWAchGdG1a8ASnF70pzfhqhFaoh06neyrTIidY/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHGdaIqmaYoPAa_Tt2Tvu89-2r1mUuFxWz5xfkOguKhyphenhyphenhw_R0GMts5M4YxY9h5rF1ILMacz3zI-73HUpec7oZZM0SMTmr5jrVD_JpovfWAchGdG1a8ASnF70pzfhqhFaoh06neyrTIidY/s640/IMG_4558.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Iceberg right ahead!</i></td></tr>
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We all wended our way to our respective hotels, some walking in the bracing cold in a futile attempt to burn some calories before attending another meal in three hours or so.<br />
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<b>The BSI Dinner</b></h3>
We attended the BSI dinner (as we have for the last 17 years), so we can only report on that. [<i>Ed. note: if you attended the Gaslight Gala, we'd be delighted to have a writeup of what happened there. Please click on the Tip button at the top of the site.</i>]<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Connie Keane</i></td></tr>
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Prior to the dinner, it is always the custom to name "The Woman" of the year - typically the spouse of a BSI who has supported and encouraged her husband's work and in many cases who has been a co-conspirator in support of the BSI. This year it was Connie Keane, wife of Michael Keane who manages the <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale.html">BSI Publications</a>. As it turns out, it was Connie who first encouraged Michael's interest in Sherlock Holmes, so as Leslie Klinger (who introduced Connie at the reception) put it, "Michael Keane would not exist if it weren't for Connie!" She did however put her foot down when Michael wanted to name their son Sherlock.<br />
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The dinner kicked off with the normal routine: our annual photograph taken with a 100 year-old camera, as well as welcome remarks from "Wiggins," the head of the BSI. He noted that this year marks a number of anniversaries: the 125th anniversary of the publication of <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>; the 175th anniversary of Dr. Joseph Bell's birth; the 120th anniversary of the birth of Basil Rathbone; and the 75th anniversary of the death of William Gillette. Mike also noted that the BSI Publications have produced an enormous amount of content in the last 11 years; in the last year alone, titles like <i><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsiinternationalseries.html">Italy and Sherlock Holmes</a></i>, <i><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsimanuscriptseries.html">Bohemian Souls</a></i>, two <i><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/christmasannuals.html">Baker Street Journal Christmas Annuals</a></i>, and two volumes and a special edition of <i><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/grandgamev2.html">The Grand Game</a>.</i>  In addition to those remarks, Wiggins also bestowed the Benefactor Award on Glen Miranker, who has very generously given of his time, materials and resources to support the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/">BSI Trust</a>. "For the sake of the trust," [MUSG] indeed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgForjzlnE7O9fsSidLcw9vRDIvdsifQr9cFnoIcfcmKk1UQPHoy2ySW0Gza2ws6Nx9eVIlruoQ8x5mFBP5b6KwjMRYus4qyLnPOErChuiW1AOiB0LUJ42iYdje7MKoRQXLsXjBjxyb437/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgForjzlnE7O9fsSidLcw9vRDIvdsifQr9cFnoIcfcmKk1UQPHoy2ySW0Gza2ws6Nx9eVIlruoQ8x5mFBP5b6KwjMRYus4qyLnPOErChuiW1AOiB0LUJ42iYdje7MKoRQXLsXjBjxyb437/s640/IMG_4588.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For this camera, it's always 1895</i></td></tr>
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Tom Francis, on behalf of the Trust, accepted a trove of materials that were donated by the <a href="http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/holmes.phtml">Sherlock Holmes Collections</a> of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Tom cautioned all attendees to save and donate their BSI correspondence, because "we don't know which of these clowns are going to become important" down the road. That got a great laugh from those assembled, but also served as a great reminder - especially in this digital age - that correspondence is to be treasured and preserved for future generations, to help tell our story.<br />
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The rest of the program unfolded splendidly, with toasts given by Lyndsay Faye, Andrew Solberg, Jim Saunders and Don Novorsky, and the reading of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2010/04/curious-constitution-sign.html">BSI's Constitution and Buy-Laws</a> by Costa Rossakis. Papers were read by Barbara Rusch, Burt Wolder and Bob Katz - or more appropriately, talks were given by Burt and Bob, who each performed the amazing feat of speaking without notes. As the theme of the evening was "His Last Bow," Burt covered the Chicago connection, with an interesting conclusion as to who Martha was (we'll won't spoil the surprise, as it's likely to appear in the <b><i><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">Baker Street Journal</a></i></b> - which you should subscribe to, if you don't already). And Bob shuffled off to Buffalo to look at the connection between England and New York in 1912.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bT8uPrwjJh_x-wPzX1ENGbO5VKzPRbQfq8uYCSW0TkZowoTDovDPwS37wEjnQpCO2zKo8CGilOfxpLYnG-MvQOScJZgbTl1t6RHLEkheI0P-sz5B8cxThwFHsmVz-gqZes7hRXeAmHOi/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bT8uPrwjJh_x-wPzX1ENGbO5VKzPRbQfq8uYCSW0TkZowoTDovDPwS37wEjnQpCO2zKo8CGilOfxpLYnG-MvQOScJZgbTl1t6RHLEkheI0P-sz5B8cxThwFHsmVz-gqZes7hRXeAmHOi/s640/IMG_4595.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Will the real Peter Blau please stand up?</i></td></tr>
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In a bit of comic relief Paul Singleton and Scott Monty performed an updated "Two Thousand Year-Old Man" routine, modeled after the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=two+thousand+reiner+brooks&oq=two+thousand+reiner+brooks&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=375l4300l0l4452l19l17l0l15l1l0l117l186l1.1l2l0">Carl Reiner / Mel Brooks collaboration</a>. In this case, the Mel Brooks character looked and sounded an awful lot like Peter Blau.<br />
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Vinnie Brosnan recited the Musgrave Ritual and the audience replied with the appropriate answers. Otto Penzler took us back in time to the House of El Dieff as we remembered old Irregular Lou David Feldman, who was a bookseller extraordinaire. Otto recalled Lou's so-called "warehouse" where he kept many volumes; to Otto's surprise on his first visit, it was actually an apartment at 63rd Street and Park Avenue in New York.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotp85YH6ZoLagV4QxkTygEdapwbNtdwTUVWCiBzWryy0rVVkvtG-XWHjFVgWZC_dzKnjY1_jJjDHWJA43jl9-R7pG1ibEdMp_qTVv_twedCicJRz2pMm2LCKJgt_4UbgyyaYocR9FEOKA/s1600/IMG_4596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotp85YH6ZoLagV4QxkTygEdapwbNtdwTUVWCiBzWryy0rVVkvtG-XWHjFVgWZC_dzKnjY1_jJjDHWJA43jl9-R7pG1ibEdMp_qTVv_twedCicJRz2pMm2LCKJgt_4UbgyyaYocR9FEOKA/s640/IMG_4596.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Henry Boote tickling the ivories</i></td></tr>
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In a surprise move, Wiggins called up Henry Boote and referred to him officially as the Music Director of the BSI before bestowing on Henry a well-deserved Two Shilling Award, given to Irregulars who have gone above and beyond in their service to the organization. Henry then took to the piano, where he performed a series of "His Last Bow"-inspired songs. He cleverly rewrote the lyrics to "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "Chicago," and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," followed by the traditional "Aunt Clara."<br />
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Then of course, it was time for Francine Kitts to solemnly <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/terrace">stand on the terrace</a> for the following six Irregulars: Jason Pierre Rouby ("Vanderbuilt and the Yeggman"), Dr. George L. John ("Sir Jasper Meek"), Peter Wood ("The Second Stain"), J. Warren Scheideman ("Count Von und zu Grafenstein"), Dr. Bruce L. Crawford ("The Solitary Cyclist"), James H. Bready ("The Disappearance of James Phillamore"). They will all be sorely missed by friends, family and Sherlockians alike.<br />
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Before we moved on to the final portion of the program Wiggins called up Mary Anne Bradley to receive an Editor's Award for her 2011 <i>Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual, The First Lady: Lenore Glen Offord.</i><br />
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And then, the moment we were all waiting for - the reading of the 2012 Honours List.<br />
<ul>
<li>"Thucidydes" - Mark Schwartz</li>
<li>"Birdy Edwards" - Phil Bergem</li>
<li>"Helen Stoner" - Helen Dorey</li>
<li>"Thorneycroft Huxtable" - Peter Accardo</li>
<li>"Baritsu" -  <span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Akane Higashiyama</span></li>
<li>"Inspector Lestrade" - Don Hobbs</li>
<li>"John Hector McFarlane" - Donny Zaldin</li>
<li>"Mary Morstan" - Mary Anne Bradley</li>
</ul>
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The evening concluded with Marsha Pollak reading Bill Schweikert's poem "<a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/10/episode-12-bob-thomalen-part-2.html">A Long Evening with Holmes</a>," and the assembled members and guests then disassembled.<br />
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