Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“I am one of the hounds” [STUD] The golden age of Hollywood brought us stars like William Powell and Myrna Loy, and of course Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. In Elizabeth Crowens' new novel Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, we find them (and Dashiell Hammett) intervowen in a story that begins with the disappearance of Asta from The Thin Man movies, and Rathbone's own lost pup. Young private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt team up with him to dig up the reasons behind these canine crimes. Elizabeth joined us to talk about her Sherlockian and historical...
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BrettCon
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
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Canonical Cornerstones
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“some short sketch of the essentials” [BLAC] What are the essential volumes that every Sherlockian should have in their library? John Bennett Shaw had an idea with what became known as . But a more modest and attainable version was needed. In stepped Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn, BSI (“Elementary”). IHOSE listeners may recall Peter and Rob from their previous work, . This time, they collected individuals who had a strong view as to which Sherlockian books ought to be part of every Sherlockian's library to develop 17 recommendations that make up . The...
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A History of the Woman
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“to Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman” [SCAN] This is a fascinating episode that brings us closer to the inside story of "The Woman" — an honor bestowed every year by the Baker Street Irregulars — and a bit of personal history from one of those very women. Beverly Wolov is a longtime Sherlockian and is well-known by the Sherlockian community as a longtime companion of Peter Blau, BSI ("Black Peter"). You've heard from Peter on four episodes previously (links to those below), but now you have an opportunity to hear about Bev's role — in particular how her journey is...
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The Lantern's Dance
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“a most complete and remarkable woman” [LION] It's odd to think that the Mary Russell series predates this show, yet we've never spoken with Laurie R. King, BSI ("The Red Circle") specifically about her most acclaimed series. The 18th book in the Mary Russell series, The Lantern's Dance, is available on February 14, and Ms. King joined us to talk about her creation. Her familiarity with Sherlock Holmes is far from typical, and this unusual pairing of Ms. Russell and Mr. Holmes, which began with The Beekeeper's Apprentice in 1994, is as fresh and resilient as ever. We talk...
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BSI Weekend Recap
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“those week-end parties” [SOLI] The Baker Street Irregulars just marked their 90th anniversary with the BSI Weekend, filled with events for Sherlockians of all kinds. If you weren't able to make it to New York — or even if you were! — tune in to hear about some of the events, people, books, and more that were part of our experience. And plan ahead for other events in the year ahead. After all, it's meeting up with other kinsprits that make this little hobby so special. Our first Canonical Couplet quiz of Season 18 is here, and that means it's your chance to...
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The Classified Dossier of Sherlock Holmes
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“you have a good dossier there” [LAST] There were supernatural elements in the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Elements of gothic intrigue like voodoo, a possible vampire, a family curse, and a spectral hound come to mind. So when Christian Klaver looked at the intersection of his interests in sci-fi, fantasy, Sherlock Holmes, and writing, it was only natural to find some existing and contemporary examples and bring them to life. Thus was born series from Titan Books. Christian shares stories of these passions with us, bringing us from his childhood inspiration to the...
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A Christmas Story Without Slush
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“I’ve read enough of the slush” [VALL] Following our , we revisited Christopher Morley's wonderful introduction to the Baker Street Irregulars' edition of "The Blue Carbuncle" from 1948. For our Patreon supporters (and our PayPal supporters here) we have Burt's full reading of Morley's essay, followed by commentary and discussion with Scott afterward. You can hear a sample here. You can listen to the full version if you're for as little as $1 a month. Or if you'd prefer to , it is available . Find all of our relevant links...
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Belanger Books
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“a line of books” [NOBL] Derrick Belanger is one half of the duo responsible for Belanger Books, one of the prominent Sherlockian publishers, founded in 2015. His passion for Sherlock Holmes began uncommonly — in a way we can't ever recall hearing from a guest before. But that passion fueled the founding and direction of Belanger Books, which focuses on traditional Sherlock Holmes pastiches as well as the Solar Pons stories. Many of the titles on Belanger Books began as Kickstarter efforts, and the latest volume, Steel True, Blade Straight is an annual journal of...
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Sherlock Mondays
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“I was much astounded by this programme” [HOUN] When Sherlockians are looking for more ways to fill their listening and viewing time, what are they to do? We would of course recommend you to either of the podcasts we create, but lucky for you, there's an even better option! Sherlock Mondays are offered through the Rosenbach Museum and Library, running from September 2023 to April 2024. These Biblioventures are the creation of Edward G. Pettit, who is the Sunstein Senior Manager of Public Programs at the Rosenbach. For 30 weeks, Ed and his co-hosts take us...
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In Episode 68, we explored some of the early days of Sherlock Holmes on radio with Bert Coules. We're pleased to present the second part of that episode as we make a deeper dive into Sherlock Holmes as portrayed in radio productions.
The bulk of our conversation with Bert centers - appropriately so - around the BBC Radio 4 series starring Clive Merrison and Michael Williams (Amazon). After selling a dramatized version of The Hound of the Baskervilles to the BBC (which starred Roger Rees), Bert was given the green light to dramatize all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories, serving as the head writer.
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| The striking resemblance between Sidney Paget's Sherlock Holmes (r) and Clive Merrison in the role (l). |
Bert discusses the casting of the new series, including what was required in a Watson that was an equal partner - and a zinger aimed at Nigel Bruce - as well as the increased comfort felt by the characters and actors over the course of the series recording.You may be surprised to learn how the stories were assigned to the writing team (a scientific method from the BBC, no doubt) and how the writers were "imaginatively faithful" to the stories. Not to mention the backstory behind an alternative ending to "The Solitary Cyclist."
Of particular interest for us in this show is a multitude of sound clips from the BBC series - including the music that played such a prominent role in so1me episodes. We did a bit of our own sound design in this episode in keeping with the spirit of the theme.
We also discuss some of the more intriguing guest stars on the series, such as Peter Sallis, Desmond Llewelyn, Brian Blessed and Tom Baker, as well as the "new" Watson during The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Andrew Sachs. Bert has a great story about how he ended the series in a manner than ensured it will not be continued.
CONTEST ALERT: This episode contains a contest.
We mentioned Denis Quilley and Patrick Allen as two actors who have been in the BBC Sherlock Holmes radio shows (as Bob Carruthers [SOLI] and Leon Sterndale [DEVI], respectively) and who have also been guest stars in the Granada series (as Leon Sterndale [DEVI] and Col. Sebastian Moran [EMPT], respectively.
There are at least two other actors who have also had guest starring roles in each series. The first individual who emails us the names and their respective roles and stories in each series will win a copy of Bert Coules' book, 221 BBC: Writing for the World's Only Complete Dramatized Canon and Beyond.
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| The Baker Street Regulars - recurring members of the cast (L to R): Clive Merrison (Holmes), Stephen Thorne (Inspector Lestrade), Joan Matheson (Mrs. Hudson), Michael Williams (Watson), John Hartley (Mycroft Holmes). |
Our Gas-Lamp this episode, we return to The Baker Street Journal of January 1952 (Vol. 2 No. 1 (New Series)) for Edgar Rosenberger's poem "Four Ages," representing the evolution of Sherlock Holmes as portrayed by various actors.
Links:
- BertCoules.co.uk
- The unofficial BBC Radio series website, maintained by Bert Coules.
- 221 BBC: Writing for the World's Only Complete Dramatized Canon and Beyond - a new editions, revised and expanded - by Bert Coules
More links available on on Facebook, Twitter and of course, our web- and app-based Flipboard magazine.
Please subscribe to us on iTunes and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.
Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (ihearofsherlock AT gmail DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).
And above all, please let our sponsors know that you heard us rant and rave about their excellence during the programme: Wessex Press and The Baker Street Journal - and as always, a very special sponsor.
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