Shows
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 311: The Digital Archive at the Toronto Public Library“You can file it in our archives, Watson” [RETI] North America is home to a number of public collections, libraries, museums, and archives that hold treasures related to Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Not least among them is the Toronto Public Library.Home to the famed Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, the TPL is a great friend to Sherlockians and Doyleans everywhere and regularly welcomes visitors to view and research its more than 25,000 items related to Conan Doyle. And curator Jessie Amalo joined us to talk about the digital offerings of the collection....2025-05-3000 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 310: White Smoke“we can bring it to a successful conclusion” [EMPT] When we discussed the Midwest Canonical Conclave in Episode 308, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. Organizer Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") gave us a general idea of what the aim was and what we might see there, but our expectations were blown away.Unlike any other Sherlockian event we've attended, the inaugural BSI Canonical Conclave (this of the Midwest variety) was a true delight. Burt and Scott reflect on the event and their experiences, consider the benefits of having attended, and muse on th...2025-04-3000 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereWhite Smoke“we can bring it to a successful conclusion” [EMPT] When we discussed the Midwest Canonical Conclave in Episode 308, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. Organizer Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") gave us a general idea of what the aim was and what we might see there, but our expectations were blown away. Unlike any other Sherlockian event we've attended, the inaugural BSI Canonical Conclave (this of the Midwest variety) was a true delight. Burt and Scott reflect on the event and their experiences, consider the benefits of having attended, and muse on the future of Sherlockian gatherings. Speaki...2025-04-3052 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 309: Holmes In an Hour or Two“good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences” [SCAN] Don't care for Sherlockian chronologies? Well, you're not alone! Neither did our guest today, and he's written a number of books on the subject.Brad Keefauver, BSI ("Winwood Reade") is a member of the Sherlockian Chronologist Guild and author of Holmes In an Hour or Two: A Sherlock Holmes Fan's First Sherlockian Chronology, or Create Your Own Timeline of Sherlock Holmes's Life in the Shortest Time Possible. It's not a matter of simply picking dates or looking for discrepancies; creating a chronology can take i...2025-04-1500 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Man with the Watches (The Apocrypha Part 2)“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL] The second in our series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes — stories that are not in the original Canonical 60 but that have some relevant interest. In this case, we have a story written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1898 and set in 1892 involving the mysterious death of a passenger on a train. The murderer is nowhere to be found and the man has an unusual number of watches on his person. A "well-known criminal investigator" writes a letter to the press with an explanation. We briefly discuss the st...2025-04-0923 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Alleged Use of Cocaine by Mr. Sherlock Holmes“you are mistaken about my alleged agents” [MAZA] Along with the calabash pipe, deerstalker cap, and Inverness cape, one of Sherlock Holmes's traits is the use of cocaine. But should it be? William H. Miller, M.D. F.A.C.P. won the Morley-Montgomery Award for his article in Vol. 19, No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal in which he asserted that we're mistaken in believing that Sherlock Holmes used cocaine. Don't believe us? Well, it's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon o...2025-04-0325 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 308: The BSI Midwest Canonical Conclave“grazed the subclavian artery” [STUD] While the Baker Street Irregulars is the most well-known of Sherlockian societies, it is by no means the only one — nor even the most important. There are gatherings happening every week, in person and virtually, of Sherlockian societies.And just like the Sherlockian societies that sprouted up in those early years of the hobby, Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") thought it might be helpful to bring some of them together in a spirit of building Sherlockian community and creating connections.And that's taking the form of the...2025-03-3000 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesNorth American Businesses“the great North American Continent” [STUD] Picking up where we left off in Episode 428 ("British Businesses"), we're moving to the other side of the pond and doing a survey of businesses in North America that were mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Since there are decidedly fewer scenes and stories that took place in North America, we have far fewer to choose from. But not so few as to leave us without something interesting to say! It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our communi...2025-03-2719 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Mathematics of Mrs. Watson“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE] It's not often that we get a piece of Sherlockian scholarship that had its origin in a mainstream publication. And in this case, it's from one of the original Sherlockians. In 1932, Ronald Knox set out to review two new Sherlockian books, but he managed to turn it into an essay that was a master class in chronology. It's just a Trifle. And stay tuned, as we have some bonus content on Ronald Knox for our supporters. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker...2025-03-2024 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 307: The Evolution of 221B Con“able to evolve from their own inner consciousness” [STUD] Now in its 12th year, 221B Con has become a mainstay of annual Sherlockian events, drawing people from all over the world to Atlanta every April. It was founded as a response to Sherlock on BBC, but has expanded beyond that to include the original stories as well as all forms of media.Last year, the founders announced that this year would be the final 221B Con. As we narrow in on that date, regular attendee and volunteer Johanna Draper Carlson isn't convinced that has to be...2025-03-1500 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBritish Businesses“preoccupied with business matters” [COPP] If you came across the name of a business in the Sherlock Holmes stories, do you think you could identify which story it came from? What about the type of business it was? We put your Canonical skills to the test in this episode as we quiz you (and each other!) on some familiar and not-so-familiar business names from the Great Britain of Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or Substack ...2025-03-1328 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesMy Biblical Knowledge Is a Trifle Rusty“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion” [NAVA] The Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article this month is "My Biblical Knowledge is a Trifle Rusty" by Henry T. Folsom, BSI ("The Golden Pince-Nez"), from The Baker Street Journal, Volume 15, No. 3. Rev. Folsom took the opportunity as a practitioner of the faith to examine the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of Sherlock Holmes. Was he an atheist? Was he a believer? And if so, what form did it take? It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Bak...2025-03-0629 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 306: The Golden Era of Sherlock Holmes and His Contemporaries“the high opinion formed of him by his contemporaries.” [VALL] When the first Sherlock Holmes short stories came on the scene, they were something of a novelty: non-serialized, self-contained tales that put the Strand Magazine on the map.As with any success story, this one inspired imitators. These contemporaries of Sherlock Holmes inhabited the pages of the Strand and many other magazines of the day. Author Michael Cohen has stepped forward to catalog and categorize them from the years 1891 to 1914. This surprising array of characters includes those who were consciously not trying to be Sherl...2025-02-2800 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Field Bazaar (The Apocrypha Part 1)“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL] We're starting a short series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes: stories that are not in the Canonical 60 but that have some relevant interest. The first installment is "The Field Bazaar," written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1896 for his alma mater. It's a short item and it provides some insights into the habits of Holmes and Watson. And it's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or...2025-02-2726 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesDisguise Is Key“see through a disguise” [HOUN] The third episode of every month is a look into a piece of Sherlockian scholarship, and this time it brings us to Vol. 64 No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal from 2014 with a piece by Maria Fleischhack, BSI ("Rache"). In this article, Maria looks at various Germans in the Sherlock Holmes stories and tracks the disguises or aliases they used, in conjunction with Conan Doyle's own attitude toward Germans and Germans' attitudes toward the English. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker...2025-02-1921 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 305: That Ghastly Face“a wistful look on his wrinkled face” [BLAN] The first Sherlock Holmes adventure authored by Sherlock Holmes was “The Blanched Soldier.” It tells the tale of a family’s attempt to protect their son, a friend’s dedication to determining the truth, and Holmes’s actions to explain everything.Ira Matetsky, BSI ("The Final Problem") edited this volume and in the process, assembled a group of Sherlockians who have unique talents to apply to the analysis of the story and the manuscript, which was generously made available from the Berg Collection at the New York Public Lib...2025-02-1500 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBanks in the Canon“drawn on six different banks” [VALL] Banks and bankers are important to Sherlock Holmes. From clients to necessary fiduciaries, they represent an essential part of the real and Canonical worlds. Which banks are mentioned? What bankers do we meet? And what about one very specific bank to which we owe a debt of gratitude? It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. This season, we're adding "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode —...2025-02-1323 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Methods of Sherlock Holmes“You know my methods. Apply them!” [HOUN] In 1893, a curious entry appeared in the Tit-Bits magazine: an examination paper on the methods of Sherlock Holmes. A cash prize was offered to the winner (whom we know). The author of the quiz, though? That's been unknown for nearly a century and a half. Until Michael Meer came along and made an identification that earned him the Morley-Montgomery Award for 2024. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or Substack...2025-02-0526 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 304: Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders“One of the most precious public possessions of the empire” [BERY] Joel Meadows began what eventually became Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders: The Gene Genie in 2002 while working on Tripwire as a quarterly print magazine.He tells us the story of how it took two decades to bring this vision to life with illustrator Andy Bennett, and what the plans are for part two of the story. The initial Kickstarter for part one was wildly successful, and the Kickstarter for the sequel is under way. The praise has been e...2025-01-3000 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBaritsu“the Japanese system of wrestling” [EMPT] When Sherlock Holmes defeated Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, he had a secret weapon: his knowledge of a certain style of Japanese wrestling. Of course, we don't find this out until his return, and even then, Watson (or is it Holmes?) conveys the wrong name. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. This season, we're adding "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an...2025-01-3021 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesTurkish Baths“the sweat was pouring down my face” [BLUE] Turkish baths come up in just two of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Quick—without looking it up, can you name which? We know Watson enjoys both of them; Holmes joins him for one. In this episode, we discuss the origins and history of the Turkish bath, and specifically focus on the Victorian Turkish bath. Sit back and relax. This is just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community on Patreon or Substack toda...2025-01-2323 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 303: The Serpent Under“the rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent” [STUD] Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Bonnie MacBird are back! In the sixth book in her series, Bonnie once again finds firm footing in London as Sherlock Holmes investigates a strange mystery involving a disfigured body, Windsor Castle, and some rather unpleasant reptilian encounters.We talk with Bonnie about the creative process, including the expert advice she received from two knights, her extensive research, and — wait for it — smoke enemas. No, we're not joking. Discover why The Times called this "a treat for all Sherlockians."We've moved the...2025-01-1500 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesWho Wasn't Jack the Ripper“when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth” [SIGN] In our monthly discussion of an old piece of Sherlockian scholarship, we find ourselves in the back alleys of Whitechapel, discussing Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes. Our source of this discussion is not one but two back-to-back articles from The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 17, No. 4 from 1967. The first is "Who Wasn't Jack the Ripper" by Bruce Dettman, and the second is "Jack in Abyss" by Bruce Kenedy. Both are just Trifles. Just for our supporters: photos of Willi...2025-01-1521 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesPartnership“We shall then take you into partnership” [SIGN] Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are forever linked, thanks to that first meeting at Bart's. They were both looking for someone with whom to share rooming expenses, but found themselves thrust together on some of Sherlock Holmes's greatest cases, becoming one of history's greatest partnerships. But what of business partnerships that are scattered throughout the Canon? Some of them are obvious and memorable, while others are obscure and forgettable. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at...2025-01-0934 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Origin of 221B Worship“a singular set of people, Watson” [WIST] Image credit: The Baker Street Irregulars This podcast is a by-product of being active in the world of Sherlockians. But how did Sherlock Holmes societies first gain footing? What was the origin? In the inaugural episode of our new series on Morley-Montgomery Award winners (exceptional Sherlockian scholarship from The Baker Street Journal), Robert Keith Leavitt puts pen to paper in 1961 on what had only been an oral tradition until that time, putting everything in perspective for our little hobby. It's probably a little more than a Trifle. 2025-01-0133 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 302: Sherlock Holmes: A Year in Review“a combination of events” [3STU] Keeping track of everything going on in the Sherlockian world is no easy task. And yet, every year without fail, Ross Davies, BSI ("The Temple") oversees a team at The Baker Street Almanac that does exactly that.We first spoke to Ross about the enterprise on Episode 219, but this time our conversation less about the mechanics and features than it is about some of the worthwhile items of note for Sherlockians in 2024. Ross chooses his top items and neatly divides things into categories: events, societies, publishing, and media. Burt and Scott...2024-12-3000 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereSherlock Holmes: A Year in Review“a combination of events” [3STU] Keeping track of everything going on in the Sherlockian world is no easy task. And yet, every year without fail, Ross Davies, BSI ("The Temple") oversees a team at The Baker Street Almanac that does exactly that. We first spoke to Ross about the enterprise on , but this time our conversation less about the mechanics and features than it is about some of the worthwhile items of note for Sherlockians in 2024. Ross chooses his top items and neatly divides things into categories: events, societies, publishing, and media. Burt and Scott add in a few points of in...2024-12-301h 25
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesChristmas with Sherlock Holmes“the compliments of the season” [BLUE] There is only one Sherlock Holmes story that takes place at Christmas: "The Blue Carbuncle," which took place on "the second morning after Christmas." In his Gas-Lamp for the 1959 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual, editor Edgar W. Smith, BSI ("The Hound of the Baskervilles") entertained the idea of what was happening at Baker Street on Christmas Day. And that seemed like a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send y...2024-12-2514 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesSherlock Holmes Was No Burglar“I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal” [CHAS] In some cases, Sherlock Holmes was a bit of a vigilante in his pursuit of justice. He didn't mind breaking the law in a good cause. That led to him burgling various households. Or did it? S. Tupper Bigelow, BSI ("The Five Orange Pips") was a lawyer by trade and disabuses us of the notion that Sherlock Holmes was a burglar. Some of it is a mere technicality, but it's all a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd...2024-12-1928 minI Hear of Sherlock EverywhereEpisode 301: Sherlock Holmes: Leviathan“the preparation for submarine attack” [LAST] Good storytellers transport us to other places and times by virtue of their ability to create interesting characters and pull us along as the plot unfolds.Sherlock Holmes: Leviathan begins with two already interesting characters who are concerned with justice, and through Mike Baron's skillful storytelling that we find ourselves following the two as they unravel a global criminal conspiracy. Illustrated by artist Richard Bonk, it represents what may be the greatest work of both of their professional careers.As an Eisner Award-winning author, Baron has crowdfunded a num...2024-12-1500 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe December Cases“He disappeared upon the 3d of December” [SIGN] "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is inextricably linked with the month of December. But what about the other cases Sherlock Holmes handled in the final month of the year? Our research picked up only one other, and it isn't obvious by a careful reading of the Canon. Jay Finley Christ helps us out with a clever bit of detection and chronology to identify that second story. We compare and contrast these two December babies and it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic...2024-12-0534 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Newgate Calendar “You seem to be a walking calendar of crime” [STUD] Sherlock Holmes used the calendar to help him determine the significance of certain cluse and actions, noting phases of the moon and recurring events. But there was another calendar that was useful to Holmes, which he mentioned in passing: the Newgate Calendar. It wasn't a calendar the way we refer to calendars. What was it and why was it of use? It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use yo...2024-11-2824 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesA Touch of the Dramatic “it was a dramatic one” [GLOR] One of Sherlock Holmes's traits was that he was a master of disguise. And in the very first short story, "A Scandal in Bohemia," we find him in not one but two disguises. However, it's more than costuming that made him successful at subterfuge. Curtis Armstrong shares his insights on why Sherlock Holmes was able to fool so many people, including Watson. And it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the...2024-11-2126 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Continental “the Continental express” [FINA] When Sherlock Holmes was trying to outrun Professor Moriarty, the trail led from London to Switzerland. It was anything but a straight route. Our travel series traces their trip. What did Holmes and Watson's journey onto the Continent entail? How long did it take? And what might we say about their choices? It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eli...2024-11-1329 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesJohn Watson, Unreliable Narrator “you have erred, perhaps” [COPP] We have John H. Watson, M.D. to thank for the Sherlock Holmes stories, and we typically take them at face value. That is, we trust that Watson was telling us the truth. While Sherlock Holmes complimented Watson for his choice of cases, he also had criticisms of Watson's writing, taking issue with his storytelling process. Does this mean Watson's accuracy might also be called into question? It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use yo...2024-11-0721 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesSomething's Missing“gone—stolen, vanished” [BRUC] A few episodes ago, we investigated various items that clients brought to Sherlock Holmes and items that acted as vital physical clues. It was something of a show-and-tell. This time, we're flipping the idea on its head and considering various stories where something—or someone—goes missing. What and who will be it? Tune in for this Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly...2024-10-3033 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Strongest Man in England“with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit” [STUD] There were a number of individuals who exhibited strength in the Sherlock Holmes stories, to varying degrees. But which of them would you classify as the strongest? One of our listeners had an idea as to who it might be, so we surveyed the Canon and found a handful of others to make this a deeper discussion. Turns out it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air...2024-10-2425 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThat Old Black Boot“the loss of the old black boot” [HOUN] Brown boot, black boot — these two items of Sir Henry Baskerville's went missing at the Northumberland Hotel shortly after he arrived in London. And they begin to put Sherlock Holmes on the scent of The Hound of the Baskervilles. However, there's a wrinkle regarding the old black boot that persists throughout the story. George Fletcher, BSI ("The Cardboard Box") made a note of this curious detail for the very first time in The Papers on the Sundial, a 2020 publication from The Five Orange Pips. And it's quite the Trifle. Do you have a...2024-10-1720 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesMatilda Briggs“not the name of a young woman, Watson” [SUSS] Here's a strange one. We hear of the Matilda Briggs in one story. Do you know which story and what it was associated with? This entry in our Travel Series takes us on a mysterious sea voyage that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write a short story and then borrow a real name from this true tale and plant it in Sherlock Holmes story. What as the connection? Well, that's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we us...2024-10-0918 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesSomething to Show for It“Look at that!” [3STU] Sherlock Holmes had clients of all kinds. Some that visited him with vague fears. Others that were concerned about missing documents. But when he had cases and clients that included a little show-and-tell — where a physical object was displayed — well, that is just a Trifle. And listen closely, because we ask for some input from you on this one! Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for o...2024-10-0225 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBohemian Alternatives“She responded beautifully” [SCAN] Occasionally — very occasionally — there are flaws in Sherlock Holmes's reasoning. Or, if not flaws, then something that doesn't quite hold up when we put our own magnifying lens against it. There is one such example in "A Scandal in Bohemia," as pointed out by a listener. One we had never considered before, but one that is just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for...2024-09-2620 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBaker Street Fables“To a collector of fairy tales” [HOUN] Of the many things we know about Sherlock Holmes — or think we know about him — his knowledge of chemistry and his violin-playing skills are probably most closely associated with him. However, in 1952, Remsen Ten Eyck Schenck pulled the evidence together and compared it with what merely passed as opinion in a Baker Street Journal article. And what he found is more than just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank...2024-09-1921 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesFateful Voyages“his attitude and manner told their own story” [SCAN] The tragedies on September 11 ensured that it is a date that will forever be stamped in the history books. What to do when it coincides with an episode drop date for Trifles on our monthly travel series? As we glanced through the Sherlock Holmes canon, we found that a number of trips and voyages were associated with tragic outcomes. Part of it was a matter of the times and the risks of traveling; others seemed to be associated with karma. Together, they're just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd...2024-09-1126 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Perfect Act of Telling a Story“his attitude and manner told their own story” [SCAN] Last month, we lost prolific Sherlockian David Stuart Davies. But prolific doesn't quite cover it. He was insightful and delightful, he amused and schmoozed, he wrote and spoke, created and debated, was always elated. In his memory, we're taking a deeper look at his article "First Encounters of the Holmes Kind" from Vol. 47, No. 1 of The Baker Street Journal — an essay on why "A Scandal in Bohemia" was the perfect first short story for Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us a...2024-09-0425 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Great 400“he had actually won as much as four hundred” [EMPT] It's hard to believe, but we've managed to notch our 400th episode of Trifles. And we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by highlighting some of our favorite episodes from throughout the show. We put our usual amount of consideration and thinking into this effort, and we think it's something that will delight old listeners as well as new. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air...2024-08-2924 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesWho Killed Charles Augustus Milverton?“private revenge” [CHAS] In "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," Watson tells us that a woman with a "dark, handsome, clear-cut face" lifted her veil and "emptied barrel after barrel into Milverton’s body," leaving him dead on the floor. But in the Summer 2024 issue of The Baker Street Journal (Vol. 74, No. 2), Carla Coupe wonders if Watson wasn't giving us the whole story. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our suppo...2024-08-2119 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Journeys of Sherlock Holmes“‘journeys end in lovers’ meetings,’ as the old play says” [EMPT] When it came to London, Sherlock Holmes preferred to stay put. That's what Paul Gore-Booth would have us believe. When he assessed the many tales, he found that most happened in London and its immediate suburbs. But Gore-Booth went one further: he conjectured about the locales of various unpublished cases. If you know Trifles, you'll recall that we delved into some of the unpublished cases in Season 2. Together, it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use...2024-08-1433 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesClumsiness“I did it clumsily” [DANC] Sherlock Holmes was a man of great precision. We learn about his attention to detail and his preferences for improving the art of detection from the very first time we meet him. But there were instances of clumsiness — his own and from others — that crop up throughout the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Str...2024-08-0718 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesAnxiety Part 2“I am much more anxious” [MISS] Four episodes ago, we began a discussion about anxiety in the Sherlock Holmes stories. We managed to make from A Study in Scarlet up through The Hound of the Baskervilles. What about the rest of the Canon? Worry not! We continue the journey from The Return through The Case-Book. While Sherlock Holmes shows some anxiety in this half of the Canon, we'll find that his clients and others are more anxious. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use y...2024-08-0126 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesVictorian Aventuresses“she seems indeed to be on a very different level” [SCAN] There is one woman in the entire Canon of Sherlock Holmes stories that we can instantly recall as an adventuress. You know who we're talking about. Can you think of at least one other off the top of your head? We'll help with that. Plus, we'll explore just how the term "adventuress" evolved and what it meant in polite society. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we...2024-07-2519 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesMaps & Floorplans“I sent down to Stamford's for the ordnance map” [HOUN] In a number of instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we find ourselves guided by maps. Not only as critical elements of the plot, but also as visual aids to readers. In which stories do we find maps? And what about those that required floorplans to be sketched out as well? It's just a Trifle. This topic was suggested by listener Ron Groenewoud, who'll be receiving a thank you gift for his efforts. If you have a topic you'd like to suggest and we use it on the...2024-06-2630 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereThe Autistic Sleuth“That was the curious incident” [SILV] From time to time, we see analysis and debate about whether Sherlock Holmes was autistic, had , or is in some other way on the spectrum. As neurodiversity becomes more understood and accepted in the 21st century, it seems natural to explore this not only with Holmes, but with other characters in the genre as well. In The Autistic Sleuth, Christopher Chan and Patricia Meyer Chan, Ph.D., test the question: Is the entertainment industry celebrating neurodiversity or is it reinforcing stereotypes? They analyze how two dozen characters appearing in filmed productions from around the globe wh...2024-04-301h 07
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesCanonical Luggage and Railway Journeys“whatever luggage you intend to take” [FINA] We're back on the rails this week, with our monthly travel-related episode. This time, we turn to an article written by H.J. Curjel for The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 12, Nos. 3 & 4, Summer 1976. Specifically, we review his survey of stories in which railway journeys long and short took place, and specifically those in which luggage was mentioned or when people traveled without luggage. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you so...2024-03-1431 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesHalf Measures“half-humorous, half-cynical” [DEVI] Celebrate our terquasquicentennial with us as we take a full look at "half" mentions in the Canon. While there are nearly 400 instances of the word, there are a select few that tell us something about hte personality of Sherlock Holmes. Namely, that Sherlock Holmes used the term "half" strategically when he wanted to sound a certain way. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. All of our supporters a...2024-03-0726 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesSecret Societies“the secret societies must have done it” [STUD] Here and there across the Sherlock Holmes stories, we find ourselves embroiled in the intrigue that involves secret societies. Many are of foreign origin, and they're almost always associated with death and violence. What are these organizations and in which stories can we find them? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker S...2024-02-2925 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesCorpulence in the Canon“His body was absolutely corpulent” [GREE] Join us for another "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" episode, in which we bring a piece of Sherlockian scholarship about a trifling issue to you. This time, we look at Anna Brindisi Behrens' article "Corpulence in the Canon: Beyond Stereotypes" from the Winter 2023 issue of The Baker Street Journal (Vol. 73., No. 4). It's a look beyond the obvious, and as always, it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian...2024-02-2127 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesAn Essex Adventure“not far from Frinton.” [RETI] It's travel time again! The second episode of every month in Season 8 is travel-themed, and we ride the rails again with "An Essex Adventure" by A. Godfrey Hunt from The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Winter 1992). Here we have the case of Holmes getting a client-cum-suspect out of the way. And in doing so, he sent Josiah Amberley with Watson on a wild goose chase to Essex. Why Essex, though? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on...2024-02-1525 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesWatson's Billiard Playing“chalk his billiard-cue” [MISS] Back in Season 3, when we did a series on Games and Sports, we had one episode on billiards in the Sherlock Holmes stories. In this case, we were inspired by an article in the Sherlock Holmes Journal specifically mentioning Watson's billiard-playing habits. When did Watson start playing billiards? Who was Thurston? And other than at his club, where is it likely that he engaged in the game? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll...2024-02-0823 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesHunting Crops“here’s a hunting crop handy” [IDEN] In the last episode, we reflected on Sherlock Holmes chasing James Windibank out of Baker Street. While he did so, he referenced his handy hunting crop. Hunting crops, do (ahem) crop up in the Canon from time to time. Who used them and why? What are they used for when not being brandished as weapons? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. All of our s...2024-02-0124 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Underground Adventures of Sherlock Holmes“We traveled by the Underground” [REDH] We're kicking off a new monthly series for Season 8: travel. Highly appropriate, as we travel to New York for the Baker Street Irregulars Weekend. In this case, our travel is local within London. That is, the Underground. For as much as we associate Sherlock Holmes and London, his travel on the Underground was a bit limited. The late John Baesch, BSI helps us explore it. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we...2024-01-1023 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesSoothing Elements“I have myself found it a very soothing atmosphere” [GREE] It's easy to think of Sherlock Holmes as an automaton — Watson himself called Holmes that exact word, remarking “There is something positively inhuman in you at times.” And yet, if we consider the detective's demeanor with clients and the types of activities he found solace in, we find a softer side of Holmes. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. All of our Patreon...2024-01-0432 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesOh My!“Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been!” [BERY] Well, this is it. The final entry of Season 7 and of 2023. And it marks our 365th episode. We reach the final episode in a quartet of episodes that took us as many months to complete, honoring Alfred Hitchcock as an inspiration. And we look back at the origins of the show, what some of the running themes have been, and where we'll take it in Season 8. It's just a Trifle. Thank you to our loyal listeners, who are enthusiastic and encouraging. There's lots ahead, particularly for our Patreon comm...2023-12-2737 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesWatson à la Mode“a charming coquettish intimacy” [3GAB] The final installment in this season's Masters Class is another Christopher Morley essay, "Watson à la Mode," from Vol. 1 No. 1 of The Baker Street Journal (1946). We discuss Morley's keen analysis of Watson's eye for fashion and an extraordinary conclusion about his marriages. It's just a Trifle. Oh, and we've issued a challenge to Trifles Patreon supporters, due before the next issue drops. A prize awaits! If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. 2023-12-2131 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesBy Jove!“By Jove, Watson; I’ve got it!” [CHAS] Last month, we contemplated the significance of the exclamation "By George!" So this month, we give ourselves over the gods as we explore "By Jove!" What's the significance of a Jovian exclamation, what's the connection to being jovial, and who is described as such in the Sherlock Holmes stories? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad...2023-11-2225 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesDr. Watson's Secret“This terrible secret” [FIVE] Dr. Watson was a master of inconsistencies. Or perhaps sloppiness. Or, according to Christopher Morley, intentional obfuscation. With a little chronological detective work, he may have figured it out. Just what was Watson's secret, and why was he keeping it? He did it so well that not only did he keep it from his readers, but from Sherlock Holmes himself. It's the lastest Masters Class and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll sen...2023-11-1625 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesA Few Quick Ones“this quick succession of strange surprises” [SIGN] There are some trifles that are too trifling to stand on their own. Then again, Burt and Scott tend to have the ability to stretch out any bit of minutiae into an exposition. Three topics came to our attention lately, and we felt they were deserving of a quick discussion: the seven schemes in "The Missing Three-Quarter," the size of the dog in "The Lion's Mane," and a questionable denial in "The Red-Headed League." Taken together or separately, they're just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us kn...2023-07-1324 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereSketches of Scions“fitting subjects for this series of sketches” [REIG] One of Burt's and Scott's great interests is music. When it converges with the world of Sherlock Holmes, it becomes all the more interesting. Joshua Harvey lives at that convergence and has some wonderful stories to tell about his history with music, with Sherlock Holmes, and with Patrick Gowers, the composer of the score of the Granada/ITV Sherlock Holmes series. In addition to his work with Gowers' material, Josh threw himself into a Canonical composing fit during the pandemic, writing theme songs for a variety of Sherlockian societies (aka "scions") that met bot...2023-02-281h 25
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereThe Monstrum Opus of Sherlock Holmes“the fruit of my leisured ease, the magnum opus” [LAST] What happens when Sherlock Holmes faces off against forces of the supernatural? Well...nothing. At least nothing in the Canon. But unleash the creative minds of Brad Keefauver, BSI ("Winwood Reade") and Rob Nunn, BSI ("Elementary") and 17 creative Sherlockian authors and you've got The Monstrum Opus of Sherlock Holmes: A Compendium of Horrors Dr. Watson Dared Not Tell. We've been horror-ing for the last two episodes. Hmm. The duo join IHOSE to talk about their influences and what they hoped for in initiating this compendium. We even hear from Burt, who con...2023-02-1558 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesCompound Surnames“toward the Triple Alliance” [NAVA] When we're introduced to the victim in "Wisteria Lodge," it happens first by telegram — a telegram he himself signed "John Scott Eccles." Later, we hear him referred to as "Mr. Scott Eccles" and "Mr. Eccles." What are we to make of this? Is it a compound surname, or was it Watson playing fast and loose with names? John Scott Eccles isn't the only tripartite character we meet in the Canon, either. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your ide...2023-02-0828 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesMasters Class: Lowenstein of Prague“an obscure scientist who was striving in some unknown way” [CREE] In this month's Masters Class, we turn to a Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article from The Baker Street Journal in 1973: "Lowenstein of Prague" by Jan C. Prager and Albert Silverstein. In "The Creeping Man," a certain H. Lowenstein is reviled for supplying Professor Presbury with an experimental substance. Who was Lowenstein, in actuality? And was he truly the culprit in the matter? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll...2022-09-2132 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereThe Sherlock Home“That and a toothbrush are, I think, all that we need” [SPEC] What if you could stay in a Victorian-themed home with plenty of Sherlock Holmes-inspired elements? Don't answer just yet. What if you could stay in such a place and had to solve a mystery before you left? That's what Ken and TamiKai Frazier have developed in this unique house in San Antonio, Texas, to delight people who love puzzles, mysteries, and escape rooms, but who also want a relaxed and authentic atmosphere in which to solve these conundrums. Ken and Tami joined us to talk about what inspired them...2022-09-151h 05Sherlock Holmes: TriflesThe British Monarchy“a regal and stately lady in Court dress” [CHAS] With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we find ourselves in a similar place as Sherlock Holmes did in 1901 with the passing of Queen Victoria: at the end of an age. What a perfect opportunity then, to reflect on the thirteen British monarchs who appeared in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Who were they? We found thirteen — some were obvious and others were a little tricky to find. Thanks to the help of Chris Redmond, it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at tri...2022-09-1431 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Arcadia Mixture“You still smoke the Arcadia mixture of your bachelor days then!” [CROO] When Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson first met, Watson noted he was not averse to strong tobacco and that he usually smoked what he called "ship's" himself. But later, Holmes finds him smoking the "Arcadia mixture" from his bachelor days. Why the switch? And what was it? Robert F. Cairo, Jr. identified the Arcadia mixture in a piece in The Baker Street Journal from 2000. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use y...2022-09-0825 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Metaphysical Holmes“I caught a glimpse of a great heart” [3GAB] Without a question, Sherlock Holmes was a master of his craft. When we look at his motivations for pursuing his career—at least on the surface—he seems like he's all business. And yet, we have glimpses of Holmes over the course of his career when he waxes a bit more philosophical. David Stuart Davies' column "A Great Heart" in the latest issue of Sherlock Holmes Magazine got us thinking about it. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at tri...2022-09-0122 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereBig Finish“some interest to finish” [DANC] We live in an age when Sherlock Holmes audio productions are more prolific than ever. For listeners of a show like I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, that is excellent news indeed. And for fans of Big Finish Productions, there are plenty of stories from which to choose, both new and old. Big Finish executive producer, writer, composer, and actor Nicholas Briggs and writer Jonathan Barnes join us to talk about the creative process and output there. We cover dramatizations of some of David Stuart Davies' works, Conan Doyle's original stories, newly-written mysteries, and even a Doctor...2022-08-3059 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Best Sherlock Holmes Stories “the finest assorted collection” [STUD] For nearly a century, there has been a general concordance on which Sherlock Holmes stories are best. It was a tradition started by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Strand Magazine, no less. Over the years, there have been minor quibbles, but one story has remained at the top of the list. How did these rankings come about and what do they say about successive generations? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll...2022-08-2428 min
Sherlock Holmes: TriflesJames Watson, M.D. “he was trying to hide his own identity” [RESI] Over the years, there have been numerous theories about how Watson (or Mrs. Watson, rather) got his name wrong, substituting “James” for “John.” We covered some of them in Episode 7. But this is a Masters Class episode in which we pick a masterful piece of Sherlockian scholarship and discuss it. In this case, it's one that may get to the bottom of this issue once and for all: Thomas Cynkin's article “James Watson, M.D.” appeared in Vol. 51, No. 4 of The Baker Street Journal and it's just a Trifle. If you hav...2022-08-1720 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereSherlock Holmes and the British Empire“One of the most precious public possessions of the empire” [BERY] At the end of July 2022, the Baker Street Irregulars held a conference in upstate New York titled "Sherlock Holmes and the British Empire." That itself isn't news (although ), but what is news is the breadth and depth of presentations that were given there. Half of our intrepid reporting team attended the event and captured commentary from some of the esteemed presenters to give a flavor of the event to IHOSE listeners who were unable to attend. The Canonical Couplet quiz awaits if you can make it through the episode; we have a l...2022-08-151h 16Sherlock Holmes: TriflesCarina “Carina sings tonight at Royal Albert Hall” [RETI] We revisit our previous episodes about music, with a singular investigation: Carina. Mentioned in the last Sherlock Holmes story to be published, Carina sang at Royal Albert Hall. What do we know about the venue? More importantly, just who was Carina? One investigation into her identity caught our attention, and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. And don't miss a chance at our mon...2022-08-1120 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesHis Last Bow — Wow! “the judgment which we have pronounced” [ABBE] You say bow, I say bow. Potato, potato, tomato, tomato, let's call the whole thing off. Of course, that song never made sense in print, just like Lord Donegall's assertion that there are alternative pronunciations to "His Last Bow." We take a look at an old piece of scholarship about this story. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. And don't miss a chance at our mo...2022-08-0426 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereMoriarty: The Devil's Game“Now, then, listen to this” [SIGN] Earlier this month, Audible and Treefort Media released a ten-part podcast, Moriarty: The Devil’s Game, written by Charles Kindinger and starring Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Phil Lamarr, Adam Godley, and Lindsay Whisler, with a special appearance by Curtis Armstrong. The story takes what we know from the traditional Holmes-Moriarty archrivalry and turns it on its head, getting us to familiar territory by taking a very different route indeed. Charles Kindinger joined us for an interview to talk about the inner workings of this Audible Original production, what inspired him to write it, and how he man...2022-07-3059 minSherlock Holmes: TriflesThe Four Violets “stained with violet” [IDEN] It should come as no surprise that the most common name of female leads in the Sherlock Holmes stories was Violet. We meet four of them in as many stories: "The Copper Beeches," "The Solitary Cyclist," "The Bruce-Partington Plans," and "The Illustrious Client." But what do Misses Hunter, Smith, Westbury and de Merville have in common? And how was it that Conan Doyle was influenced to use this particular name? It's just a Trifle. This topic was suggested by listener Tony. (Thank you, Tony!) If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode...2022-07-2725 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereThe Finest Assorted Collection“Maybe you collect yourself” [EMPT] Many Sherlockians are collectors. Most of those collect books or related written material. But collectors are an interesting breed, as widely varied as the general population. Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn discovered this fact as they set out to put together The Finest Assorted Collection: Essays on Collecting Sherlock Holmes. In essays written by 27 Sherlockians, they take us on a journey of collecting that highlights the eccentricities of the collections and collectors alike. It's a book that's all about passion, as our interview makes abundantly clear. The Canonical Couplet follows the interview; try matching wits with our...2022-07-1651 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereOn the Trail of Sherlock Holmes“I may be on the trail in this matter” [BERY] There are a number of one can take in and around London. But for the true fan, tracking Holmes's steps by foot is incomparable. Stephen Browning has written On the Trail of Sherlock Holmes to take us on seven separate walks around London and an eighth outside the city. But the book goes far beyond simply being a set of maps and tours. Listen to hear about Steve's approach to organizing the book, telling stories about Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, and squeezing every last drop out of the storytelling potenti...2022-06-301h 01
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereFoundational Fandoms“the very foundations of revealed religion” [GOLD] Thanks to two decades of digital expansion, you can now find fandoms pretty much everywhere across the internet. And you can find a fandom for just about anything. We invited Allison Broesder to join us to discuss her ongoing work on foundational fandoms, tracing certain kinds of fanfic as far back as the 1300s. Of course, Sherlock Holmes plays a central role in how we think about modern fandom. And Allison's work at the graduate level explores some of that. The Canonical Couplet gives you a chance to test your creativity and knowledge with our...2022-06-151h 05
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereA Masterpiece of Villainy“It was a masterpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like a master” [NORW] January brought another entry in the Manuscript Series from the BSI Press. This time, it's the manuscript of "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder," and it was edited by Ross Davies, BSI ("The Temple"). He and Ira Matetsky, BSI ("The Final Problem") join us for this episode. We learn about where this manuscript is held and the heroics that Ira had to take to ensure its availability for the project, as well as how Ross managed to select a group of people beyond lawyers to produc...2022-02-151h 07
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereThe 223B Casebook Series"magnetism which drew good humour from all around him" [VALL] It's not often that we talk bout the topic of humor on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Regular listeners may strain to find humor in Burt and Scott's banter, but we're fans of humor here at IHOSE. It's strange, then, that we find ourselves more than 200 episodes into this production without a nod toward Sherlockian parody. Episode 214 corrects that as we speak to Bill Peschel, who has collected more than 40 years' worth of Sherlockian parodies. In The 223B Casebook Series, Bill takes us on that journey, from the early parodies...2021-04-1554 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereFrederic Dorr Steele "striking illustration of those powers for which my friend was famous" [SOLI] The name Frederic Dorr Steele is legendary among Sherlockians. Even for those who don't know his name, his iconic rendering of Sherlock Holmes (as partly inspired by William Gillette) has left us with distinctive imagery. Sadly, Steele was buried in an unmarked grave in his family plot at the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, NY. But the Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial Committee was assembled to solve that. Our own Burt Wolder administers the group, and he asked fellow committee members Andrew Malec, BSI ("The Strange Old Book Collector"), Har...2020-11-151h 19
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereDisease and Discussion“discussion of those questions which lie between us” [FINA] In an effort to cheer the spirits of the home-bound and continue reveling in Sherlock Holmes, we decided a show with just Burt and Scott discussing current affairs was, in addition to brandy, just what the good doctor ordered. Given that all Sherlockian gatherings this spring have been cancelled or postponed, we used this as a jumping-off point for imagining what kind of virtual gatherings we might be able to instigate. We had a few ideas, but our live audience added to the mix as well. Plus, we talked a bit about...2020-03-301h 01
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereUpon the Turf“your wide experience of turf matters” [SILV] The sport of kings horse racing is part of the Sherlock Holmes lore. It's also part of a tradition in Sherlockian events going back some 70 years. The BSI Press has issued a new book, , that is a comprehensive look at horse racing in the Canon, Victorian England, and the Baker Street Irregulars, as well as associated topics such as gambling, drugs (quite an associated set of vices!), the law, art, and history. Candace J. Lewis, BSI ("A Little Art Jargon") and Ira Brad Matetsky ("The Final Problem"), together with Roger Donway, edited this volume...2020-02-151h 04
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereCatching Up With Scott and Burt“Your conversation is most entertaining” [SPEC] Usually things run like clockwork around these parts. But with both Burt and Scott on the road for work, and trying to coordinate daytime, evening, and even weekend schedules with various guests, sometimes it doesn't work out. So, we're returning to our roots and just having a chat with each other. It's a wide-ranging conversation that takes us from the 92nd Street Y with Joel Grey and Nicholas Meyer (Joel Grey played a small part in The Seven Per-Cent Solution, of course), to the Sons of the Copper Beeches in Philadelphia and their new member...2019-10-3153 min
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere221B Con“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. Liste...2019-02-281h 10
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereElementary!“"Excellent!" I cried. "Elementary," said he.” [CROO] We'll be honest. The CBS drama series Elementary, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu doesn't get enough attention here on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. It's largely because Scott and Burt haven't carved out the time to watch it. As a weekly series, there's much more to absorb than the three-episode series that the BBC produced every few years. Fortunately, James O'Leary, a regular contributor on the IHOSE site, has made it his business to watch, follow, and dissect Elementary on behalf of all Sherlockians. And we welcome him to the show to talk a...2018-08-151h 02
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereReplay - To Keep the Memory Green"seared into my memory" [SPEC] Richard Lancelyn Green, BSI ("The Three Gables"), who died in March 2004, was the world's leading expert on the life and works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He amassed one of the finest collections of Conan Doyle, and specifically, Sherlock Holmes material in private hands and had intended to produce a three-volume biography on Conan Doyle. He was not yet 30 when he co-edited the towering A Bibliography of A. Conan Doyle in 1983. He served a term as Chairman of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. His tragically early death was mourned by both friends and those who...2017-07-1559 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereScott and Burt"a pair of professional beauties" [STUD] We like to interview people who are doing interesting things related to Sherlock Holmes. have included authors, publishers, society leaders, entertainers and more. But there's one show that some listeners requested that we historically ignored. And that is a show in which we talk about ourselves. We thought that rather than simply running off at the mouth at random, it might be more in line with what you've come to expect if we interviewed each other. And with that, Scott and Burt sat down to reveal each other's backgrounds, first meetings with Sherlock Holmes and...2017-07-011h 12
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereHip Hop Holmes"Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music." [SOLI] It's our final show of 2016, we welcome Karen Wilson to the program to discuss a variety of musical associations of hers with Sherlock Holmes. From teaching to composing to performing, she does it all, and incorporates that into her Sherlockian pursuits. We're treated to one of the best toasts of the year, "Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street," performed for us by Karen. It was inspired by "Alexander Hamilton" from the hit musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and it does not disappoint. Karen shares with us her muse, the creative process, her other inspirations and...2016-12-3059 min
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereNews & Nonsense"absolute nonsense" [VALL]
This episode is a little different. As you know, we alternate between interview shows and Burt and Scott discussing whatever comes to mind. In this case, we had a number of news-related items to stitch together, but we had help in doing so. This was something of a chowder, a goulash, a salmagundi, a boullabaise, a melange of content.
First, Bob Katz, BSI ("Dr. Anstruther") joined us again, but this time he told us all about — the latest in the BSI's series of quadrennial conferences. This gathering at the Chatauqua Institution is not exclusive to Baker Street Irregul...2016-04-151h 24
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereSteven Moffat and Sue Vertue"an extraordinarily astute couple" [VALL]
Anyone who has been following Sherlock Holmes on television and in popular culture over the last five years or so should be familiar with the names and . Steven is showrunner, writer and producer for Sherlock and Doctor Who, and Sue is a producer of a number of programs, including Doctor Who and Sherlock, as well as of numerous British television comedies.
Steven and Sue met at the Edinburgh Television Festival in 1996 and joined Hartswood Films, where Steven wrote a comedy based on their budding relationship, which became Coupling. And it is their coupling on Sherlock that...2015-12-151h 09
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereA Conversation with the Head of the BSI
Mike Whelan is the "Wiggins" of the Baker Street Irregulars and has been such since 1997. He joined us as a guest on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere first in December 2007 (Episodes and ).
As a reminder, the Baker Street Irregulars, the literary society dedicated to Sherlock Holmes, was founded in 1934 by Christopher Morley, administered ably from 1940-1960 by Edgar W. Smith, followed by Julian Wolff from 1960-1986 and Tom Stix, Jr. from 1986-1997.
In our conversation with Mike, we touch on both Julian and Tom, both of whom Mike knew. We go behind the scenes at the Regency, where Mike's first BSI din...2014-12-151h 29
I Hear of Sherlock EverywhereSherlockian Jeopardy
This. Is. IHOSE!
In our 70th episode, we've joined forces with three of the formidably intelligent to create a Sherlockian version of the popular American game show Jeopardy. To say that it was one of our most technically challenging episode yet would be a massive understatement. But we hope you find that it was pulled off with aplomb.
, and faced off against each other with Burt and Scott filling the role of Alex Trebek in what could be summed up as "the nervous tutor, the careless servant, and the three enterprising students."
In our version, the game revolves around the Canonical refe...2014-11-281h 50