I Hear Of Sherlock Everywhere

"Male costume is nothing new to me" [SCAN]        It isn't every day you run into someone who crashed an invitation-only event 45 years ago. When you add to the mix that the event was all-male and the interloper was a female—well, now we have the beginning of a good story.   For years it remained a mystery, which is just fine with Rosemary Herbert, our guest for this episode and the very same person who pulled off the caper. It's the perfect genre, as Rosemary has been involved in the world of mystery fiction for nearly her entire life.   Her literary connections are broad and deep (as links below to books she's edited and written will attest), and she has cultivated connections in the world of Sherlock Holmes that span from Julian Symons to Dan Posnansky, BSI and more. Join us as we delve into this fascinating world with Rosemary.   We're pleased to have Mattias Boström with us again for another "As We Go to Press." But we need to take a one-episode hiatus from the Canonical Couplet quiz—which means you ha

"What do you want with the coffin?" [LADY]  As a rule, Sherlockians and Holmesians are a welcoming bunch. But occasionally you'll see arguments spring up about why a certain book, film, television show, play, or other related project is rubbish. Well, that's completely subjective, isn't it? The guiding light of the Sherlockian movement since its earliest days is rooted in having fun. And who is one person to tell another person how they can have fun? Such is the motivating factor behind Doyle's Rotary Coffin, a concept of Paul Thomas Miller. Paul joined us to discuss his quest to acknowledge that anyone's Holmes has something to offer. And to preview his upcoming project: a chronology of the Sherlock Holmes stories titled Watson Does Not Lie (available soon from Wildside Press). Paul set out to create a chronology that didn't rely on excuses like Watson's poor handwriting, a slip of the memory, or outright fabrications. And he's created quite a convincing argument. We also hear stories from Paul's native Port

"all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street." [COPP]   There are a handful of names in the pantheon of Sherlockians that are legendary: Morley. Bell. Smith. Starrett. Baring-Gould. And Shaw. For as much as John Bennett Shaw influenced modern-day Sherlockians, we haven't spent much time discussing him or his impact. Fortunately, Jim Hawkins does just that. And he does it in a most wonderful way, both in this interview and more comprehensively on the website JohnBennettShaw.com that he created. Explore with us how Jim first became aware of Shaw and how he managed to find his way into that legendary library in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's a journey that includes a group as eclectic and wonderful as the Norman Nerudas, the oil fields of Oklahoma, a funeral home, and much more. We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet quiz, see if you can

"these characters convey a message" [DANC]   It isn't every day that one has an opportunity to chat with someone who owns an intimate piece of clothing that belonged to "a certain gracious lady." Barbara Rusch, BSI ("The Mazarin Stone") is a collector of Victoriana and ephemera, and more importantly is the author of the play "The Crossing: or Three Authors in Search of a Character."   In a barren antechamber three titans meet unexpectedly. Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, and Harry Houdini are not pleased to be spending the afterlife in each other's company, and a clash of egos is the result. A mystery interloper only seems to add fuel to the fire. Ultimately, the connection is revealed: they all have unresolved issues with Arthur Conan Doyle, and their mission at last becomes clear. The resolution is only achieved with the assistance of a surprising yet familiar figure.   Barbara takes us on this fascinating journey to the afterlife and talks about her inspirations along the way.   We also have another installm

"His name is Vincent" [REDH]  We last spoke with Ray Betzner, BSI ("The Agony Column") five years ago (on Episode 61), where he was joined by Susan Rice, BSI ("Beeswing"). Ray had just launched his blog, Studies in Starrett, which takes a look at the works, connections, and life of Vincent Starrett, BSI ("A Study in Scarlet").   Now that the site has reached its five-year mark, we interviewed Ray about what he's seen and written over that half-decade and surprises along the way. It's an insightful look at the passion and mindset of a collector and a journey of one who delights in sharing his knowledge and acquisitions with others.   We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet quiz, see if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize.   Information on sponsors, links, and notes available below.   Please do consider becoming a 

"the name is familiar to me" [SPEC]  The parodies of Sherlock Holmes began almost as soon as the short stories began appearing in The Strand Magazine. And parody plots required parody names.   Bill Mason, BSI ("White Mason") began keeping a log of the silly iterations and manifestations of Sherlock Holmes's name over the years and has turned it into a book, A Holmes By Any Other Name. But more than a cataloging of names, it's a story about how Sherlock Holmes was been inextricably woven into the fabric of popular culture over a century or more. We also touch on Pursuing Sherlock Holmes, Bill's other Sherlockian book — evidence of his polymath personality — as well as the Fresh Rashers, a rather intriguing and fun group. We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet quiz, see if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize. Listen

"He has an extraordinary faculty for figures" [GREE]    Chris Schweizer is a Sherlockian of multi-media origins. So it stands to reason that his depictions of the characters take on a multitude of aspects.   In our conversation with this Sherlockian artist, we discover that he'd like to illustrate as many characters in the Sherlock Holmes stories as possible. And his work shows his close reading of the texts and his eye for detail, combined with his artistic creativity.   Chris explains his process with us, and shows the work that he's done digitally, on paper, and now in the form of collectible wooden figures of Sherlock Holmes characters. His project is now running on Kickstarter for all to see and support. Pick the 4-pack that you prefer!   We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet quiz, see if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you m

"a Norwegian named Sigerson" [EMPT]  Every three years, the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota host a conference. It's been their practice since 1995, and they've had some well-attended and well-regarded programs in that time.   Julie McKuras, BSI ("The Duchess of Devonshire") and Gary Thaden are co-chairs of the latest conference, Dark Places, Wicked Companions, and Strange Experiences, which will be held August 8-11, 2019 in Minneapolis.   We spoke with Julie and Gary about the history of the conference, the Norwegian Explorers, the Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries, and more. Their description of past events and of plans for this year's festivities makes it sound like a very enticing conference, indeed!   Don't miss out on your chance to register. More information about the Explorers and the conference can be found in the Links section below.   We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doy

"give me a true account of all that happened" [ABBE]  We're fairly comfortable in taking Dr. Watson at his word. That is, we trust that what Watson tells us is the true eyewitness account of his time with Sherlock Holmes. But what if that wasn't the case? What if Watson's writings were actually a set of highly polished tales that masked the true drama behind the scenes at 221B Baker Street? That's the premise of The True Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Terence Faherty, BSI ("Sir Charles Baskerville") from Wessex Press. Terence joined us to talk about the art of writing, how he approaches mysteries, and how P.G. Wodehouse was one of the inspirations behind his book. We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet quiz, see if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize.     Information on sponsors, links, and notes available b

"clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket," [SIGN]  The town of Chester, Illinois contains a few interesting items. One is the Chester Baskerville Society. Another is the Popeye and Friends Character Trail. And the common bond between both of them is Mike McClure, BSI ("Stimson & Co."), a member of the Baker Street Irregulars. Mike tells us about his involvement with Sherlock Holmes, about the early days of Elzie C. ("E.C.") Segar, creator of Popeye, and how the town of Chester and Sherlock Holmes are irrevocably connected with him. That led Mike to another mission: commissioning the first-ever permanent Sherlock Holmes statue in the United States. We also learn about a new game called Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, which Mike is creating. Both the game and the statue hold an opportunity for Sherlockians and Sherlock Holmes societies to get involved and have themselves or their loved ones honored. We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-edito

"an event of extreme importance" [SIGN]  What do two energetic and passionate Sherlock Holmes fans do when they're sparked by a new Sherlock Holmes manifestation? Why, they establish a major event! That's exactly what Heather Holloway and Crystal Noll did, after discovering they each enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, albeit from two very different origins. Throw in the Canon, the BBC, Waffle House, and ground central for fan conventions, and you've got 221B Con. As you'll hear, Heather and Crystal went about things all wrong. But they were successful beyond their wildest imagination, and now 221B Con is in its seventh year. Listen to how this fascinating and multifaceted event came together and what you can expect if you attend the next 221B Con in Atlanta from April 5-7, 2019. We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. We've received some listener voicemail, and of course we've got the latest Canonical Coupl

"tucked like an umbrella underneath his arm" [BLAC] The BSI Press is busy again this year, adding another volume to the Manuscript Series. In this instance, the book is Deadly Harpoon, the manuscript of "The Adventure of Black Peter," with associated articles.   We spoke with the editor of this volume, Glen Miranker, BSI ("The Origin of Tree Worship"), who needs no introduction to regular listeners. In speaking with Glen, we discovered how broad and brooding this story is, and how Glen chose contributors. Add to that some talk about the latest restored silent film of Sherlock Holmes, cryptography, and three other manuscripts in Glen's possession, and we've got a full show.   We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. We also finally got around to surfacing some of our listener voicemail, and of course the latest Canonical Couplet. See if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might

"good practical knowledge of British law" [STUD]    Following the Baker Street Irregulars Weekend, the BSI Press is cranking again. We picked up three new volumes, and we're pleased to have the editors of one of them with us in this episode.   Will Walsh, BSI ("Godfrey Norton") and Donny Zaldin, BSI ("The Last and Highest Court of Appeal") are the editors of Canon Law: Lawyers, Law, and the Sherlockian Canon. This is the second in the BSI Press Professions Series (the first being Nerve and Knowledge).   We talked with them about how they selected contributors, what the state of Sherlockian-legal scholarship was until then, and about their star contributor.   We also have another installment of "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Toward the end of the episode, you'll find the latest Canonical Couplet. See if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize.   Information on sponsors, links, and not

"singularly adapted to our needs" [MISS]    With our first episode of 2019, we're pleased to welcome fellow podcasters Jeremy Latour and Arielle Lipshaw, hosts of Adapt or Perish. They came to our attention because of a couple of episodes they did on Sherlock Holmes.   Jeremy and Arielle have a process they follow, complete with a quadrant, to help make sense of their assessments of how literary works are adapted from medium to medium. They have a good sense as to what works and what doesn't, and are prepared to defend their rankings.   They reviewed their Sherlock Holmes and Hound of the Baskervilles episodes with us, and provided a preview to the very next Sherlock Holmes-themed show they have planned.   We have a new segment that we're debuting in 2019: "As We Go to Press" with Mattias Boström, co-editor of the Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers series. Toward the end of the episode, you'll find the latest Canonical Couplet. See if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and yo

"Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science" [SIGN]    We promised you a science-filled December, and we're keeping that promise. Following our previous episode on the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ, we're pleased to welcome the crime historian E.J. Wagner to the show.   E.J. wrote the 2007 Edgar Award winner The Science of Sherlock Holmes and was a technical advisor for the Exhibition. We had a chance to sit down with her and talk about the influence of Sherlock Holmes on forensics (and vice versa), the future of crime fiction, and how a crime historian gets her start.   Toward the end of the episode, you'll find the latest Canonical Couplet. See if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize.     Information on sponsors, links, and notes available below.     Please do consider becoming a Patron of the Arts. Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, product

"They had among their exhibits" [VEIL]  We're accustomed to seeing Sherlock Holmes on the printed page, screen, stage and even the Internet as a course of regularity. But it isn't all that often we have an opportunity to see an entire exhibition dedicated to Sherlock Holmes.   Amy Noble Seitz and Geoffrey Curley join us to discuss how their respective teams at Exhibits Development Group and Geoffrey Curley + Associates collaborated with the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate and other Sherlock Holmes experts to put together the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes.   The exhibition has been traveling the world for the last five years or so, and it is now at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.

"Volume 'H' in his encyclopaedia of reference" [PRIO]    If you were looking for the Sherlock Holmes media pundit, you've come to the right place. Howard Ostrom is a completist of Sherlock Holmes material in media, and he's been on the hunt for decades.   Howard has collected more than 4,300 names of individuals who have played Sherlock Holmes in various formats over the years, and has written the new book Sherlock Holmes Cyclopædia Volume I: 1929-1939, with Thierry Saint-Joanis, BSI ("Monsieur Bertillon") as editor and illustrator, as an accurate documentation of Sherlock Holmes across all media.   In our conversation, Howard describes the discovery of an error and a determination of the correct identity of the first actor to play Sherlock Holmes on film; he shares his secrets of sourcing new material; he makes an expert suggestion on where new Sherlockians might start their journey; and shares one or two of his biggest surprises.   Toward the end of the episode, you'll find the latest Canonical Couplet. See

"colored plates illustrating the difference" [SIGN]  Sherlockians and Holmesians everywhere have been waiting decades for a book like this. All it took was the enterprising mind of Nick Utechin, BSI ("The Ancient British Barrow") and the professional eyes at Wessex Press to bring it to life.   For the first time anywhere, all of Paget's illustrations are reproduced in high quality images, scanned from the original Strand Magazine and 22 original prints photographed from collections around the globe. Nick shares how the project came about, how the originals and their owners became part of it, and what secrets the Paget family held for years.    It's an episode and a book you won't want to miss.   Toward the end of the episode, you'll find the latest Canonical Couplet. See if you can figure out the story we're referring to, and you might win a prize – you don't need to be a Patron of the Arts – every listener is eligible to participate! (But we could still use your support.)     Please do consider becom

"Leslie...is certainly a man of energy and character" [MISS]    Without a doubt, one of the greatest Sherlock Holmes scholars of our time is Les Klinger, BSI ("The Abbey Grange"). Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he updated and expanded the landmark Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould, BSI ("The Gloria Scott"). His work took on two forms: The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, published by W.W. Norton, and The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library, published by Wessex Press.   But Les's work goes far beyond Sherlock Holmes. He has created five other annotated volumes, plus has edited a variety of mystery fiction books. He's a certifiable editing and annotating dynamo.   We talked with Les on the four (!) books he has out this year, and on what goes into the process of annotating classic books.   Please try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet and try to win a prize – you don't need to be a Patron of the Arts – every listener is eligible to participate! (But we could still use your support.)

"Your pictures are not unlike you" [3GAR] There's no question that being with other Sherlockians makes things eminently more enjoyable. And that was proven to be quite true during From Gillette to Brett V in Bloomington, Indiana earlier this month.   Nearly 150 Sherlockians gathered to celebrate Sherlock Holmes on the screen, and there were a wonderful grouping of talented people who put on the program and participated in it. We caught up with a number of them and got their unique take on things.   These people included: Nick Utechin Ashley Polasek Leslie Klinger Terence Faherty Charles Prepolec David Stuart Davies Jeffrey Hatcher Steve Doyle and Mark Gagen The result is a multifaceted view of a multifaceted character. There's something for everyone.   Please try your hand at the latest Canonical Couplet and try to win a prize – you don't need to be a Patron of the Arts – every listener is eligible to participate! (But we could still use your support.)       Please do consider becoming a Patron of the A