I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Remembering Nicol Williamson

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"baffled all those who have sought a solution" [FIVE]</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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk9ALwq-Yjf487GHizkYXHGRLvh_CF1O-MH7MgTraOWkfpG1XrNmZkLjRfxZjoWr2CKqViU-I9RxI9htpFdnEovMrppkcVdGLz0N7TpW4VFen20owgxP18I0hyphenhyphenZCln0lX12FztKdRxs9d/s1600/Seven-Percent-Williamson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk9ALwq-Yjf487GHizkYXHGRLvh_CF1O-MH7MgTraOWkfpG1XrNmZkLjRfxZjoWr2CKqViU-I9RxI9htpFdnEovMrppkcVdGLz0N7TpW4VFen20owgxP18I0hyphenhyphenZCln0lX12FztKdRxs9d/s640/Seven-Percent-Williamson.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The three-time BAFTA-nominated actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol_Williamson">Nicol Williamson</a> has <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXXf7k0AXdqqnt8kvEPoZ2NIEdQA?docId=7231bc1affc54ed282a2d07f0f8821f4">passed away</a> at the age of 75.<br />
<br />
To Sherlockians, he'll be most closely identified with the role of Sherlock Holmes in the 1976 film <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ETAMHS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005ETAMHS">The Seven Per-Cent Solution</a></i></b>. The book and the screenplay were both written by Nicholas Meyer, BSI ("A Fine Morocco Case"). Outside of the Holmesian world, he was probably best known for his turn as the wily wizard Merlin in Excalibur (1981).<br />
<br />
As Sherlock Holmes, he seemed as if he were cast against type, but he gave a convincing performance as a manic and overwrought consulting detective who was weaned off of his cocaine dependence by a once similarly afflicted Sigmund Freud. With Robert Duvall as his Watson and Alan Arkin as the venerable psychiatrist, the unlikely trio made for a memorable film.<br />
<br />
Below, we bring you a slideshow of some of the posters and lobby cards from the film. You can also <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/sets/72157629028037471/">view them on Flickr</a>.<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a data-flickr-embed="true" data-footer="true" data-header="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/albums/72157629028037471" title="The Seven Per-Cent Solution"><img alt="The Seven Per-Cent Solution" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7146/6761008133_823e0028a1.jpg" width="640"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><br />
Do you you have a memory or impression of how Williamson's performance (Sherlockian or not) struck you? Leave us a comment.<br />
<br />
<i>When you make purchases from the links we share, it provides us with a stream of revenue to help keep this site running. Thank you for your generosity.</i><br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
<br /></div>

Remembering Nicol Williamson

"baffled all those who have sought a solution" [FIVE] The three-time BAFTA-nominated actor Nicol Williamson has passed awa...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Episode 38: On Conan Doyle

<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0691151350" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3XxXgVT-zK-5fVtFHvxLpUk0hbmYUpduz6cO6uzGZXyXcA1mQ90ZBh9pIRBYukzZfPRstNkHOp4OEj2Ss12tXp8Ei0cCw9_4Xiqpkiawc5AQfLJThQ0Q9E5PeajVO46J_qFRM3kUpqsdD8UMNgfm-f7tCIupiSQ9ppJf-3PwU8qCDndc6_6ETs72KA/s2250/ihose38%20-%20On%20Conan%20Doyle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3XxXgVT-zK-5fVtFHvxLpUk0hbmYUpduz6cO6uzGZXyXcA1mQ90ZBh9pIRBYukzZfPRstNkHOp4OEj2Ss12tXp8Ei0cCw9_4Xiqpkiawc5AQfLJThQ0Q9E5PeajVO46J_qFRM3kUpqsdD8UMNgfm-f7tCIupiSQ9ppJf-3PwU8qCDndc6_6ETs72KA/s320/ihose38%20-%20On%20Conan%20Doyle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<center><br /></center>
<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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
Rather than give you an Editor's Gas-Lamp in this episode, we asked Michael to read something from his own work.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Links:</b></h4>
<ul>
<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 />
<i></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<h4>
<b>Listen now:</b></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/1828424/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/212c42/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes" height="192" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" style="border: none;" data-dashlane-rid="afa5bc748f2ec674" data-dashlane-frameid="3007" data-form-type="other"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<center>
</center>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock038.mp3"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TL5jgdrUh_nM_zlDgxql-jKOFGUVFqhoV6A2JtYklXOu4qmVDyRVbwGV6XrwXZgnG9awSwJ7td-txL1_4KGrpSf4igJLILOim4yJmX5pGTPIdMhCBYLyImSI5gs1MOMUZPAlpAgvtPdb/s1600/podcastIcon.gif" /></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
Download this episode by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Save As..." or simply click on the file to listen, or on the nice box above. (File size: 34.7 MB, 37:51)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email, call us at (774) 221-READ (7323) or drop by our <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">Facebook page</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">
And as always, please visit our sponsors <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38489797@N00/8161024595">mcwetboy (Flickr)</a></i><br />
<br />
--<br />
<br /><br />
<br /></div>

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...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

New CBS Sherlock Holmes Drama Will Be Called "Elementary"

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Elementary." [CROO]</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4182504806/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="silv01 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="silv01" height="218" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2741/4182504806_6d27b302c5_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
     "Excellent!" I cried.<br />
     "Elementary," said he.</blockquote>
<br />
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>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><br /></i>
<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 />
<br />
--<br />
<br /></div>

New CBS Sherlock Holmes Drama Will Be Called "Elementary"

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

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

The 2012 BSI Weekend Recap — Saturday

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"then on Saturday" [HOUN]</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQHryeMn8lCwqAMjsgJGTCG4eJIRJPjjYgAkUYa2jbJWDjLAV36-70d9t37oksDzEQpIkaQBXsidBHqaqoAGAjpHUDgsgN0Saq_-OWKudZRBe_HhQ5V5sASZLAuNKG3H6bD9QNB07y6D9/s1600/IMG_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQHryeMn8lCwqAMjsgJGTCG4eJIRJPjjYgAkUYa2jbJWDjLAV36-70d9t37oksDzEQpIkaQBXsidBHqaqoAGAjpHUDgsgN0Saq_-OWKudZRBe_HhQ5V5sASZLAuNKG3H6bD9QNB07y6D9/s640/IMG_4607.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
<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 />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HkzAEGarl9Q" width="420"></iframe></center>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<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>
</tbody></table>
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
<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 />
<br />
--<br />
<br />