"It May Seem More Life-Like" [MAZA]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... Comes more news of the threatened sequel to Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.

If you've watched the film, you probably noted that the latest entertainment trends are in full swing: superhero-like status for the main character, computer-generated images (CGI), regular and slow-motion action scenes, and a questionable plot at the expense of whiz-bang effects. As if that wasn't enough to tarnish the more-or-less pristine image of our Victorian hero, there's always the sequel to ensure that the stake is driven completely through the heart of Sherlock Holmes films as we've come to know them.

What are we referring to? Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, the sequel might be filmed in 3-D. Yes, you read that correctly. Sherlock Holmes in 3-D. One thing that confuses us is a pair of statements about the writers: "Although they each worry what would happen if every film Hollywood churns out is turned into a z-axis spectacle, they think it makes sense here."

The writers don't indicate exactly how it makes sense. Perhaps they'll show Holmes lighting his pipe? Or playing the violin? Or making three dimensional deductions? The mind boggles.

While our April 1 post ("The Inconceivable Sequel" [EMPT]) didn't fool anyone, we have to wonder if Hollywood is really serious about this latest development. Maybe we'll all be supplied with 3-D magnifying lenses in the theater.

Oh - one more thing. Bonus points if you can explain the relevance of the photo above.

"Master by the Sweep" [VALL]

For those who love Sherlock Holmes and haven't had a chance to visit the homeland, here's an opportunity you might like to investigate. DreamCatcher Games, the creators of the Xbox 360 game Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack the Ripper, is offering a sweepstakes. From their announcement:

To coincide with the recent Xbox 360 release of Sherlock Holmes VS. Jack the Ripper, DreamCatcher Games is giving one lucky gamer the chance to experience the real world of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper in London, England! All you have to do is enter online and cross your fingers. The contest runs from April 27th – May 27th 2010.

The winner, along with a friend, will receive free:

• Airfare to London and 2 Nights Accommodation at the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel
• A Private Tour of the Sherlock Holmes Museum
• An Exclusive Ride Down Famous Baker Street in a Horse-Drawn Carriage
• An Action-Packed Dining Experience at the acclaimed Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel Murder Mystery Dinner, hosted by Murder Mystery Events UK

For your chance to win this incredible sweepstakes, enter online at: http://www.sherlockholmes-game.com/sweepstakes.html

The winner will be announced at 9:00 AM GMT on May 28th, 2010

Best of luck to all who enter! If you are a winner, please drop by and let us know.

"Ashes of 140 Different Varieties" [BOSC]

Lately, the news has been dominated by the ceasing of air traffic in and out of Europe, thanks to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland. Rather than some of the lava-based eruptions we regularly see in the Hawaiian islands, this series of events has resulted in millions of tons of volcanic ash.

We know that Sherlock Holmes was an expert on identifying ash - he tells Watson in A Study in Scarlet: 
"I have made a special study of cigar ashes - in fact, I have written a monograph on the subject."

And then again in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Holmes again shares his pride in his special powers:

I found the ash of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enabled me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco.

No mention of his knowledge of volcanic ash, however.

In today's fast-paced technology-laden world, it's astounding that something so basic an primordial as a volcanic eruption could disrupt travel globally. It makes one wonder if it would be easier if we lived in the era of the transatlantic liner as the primary means of getting to and from Europe.

If you happen to be one of the many who are thus waylaid this week, we hope that you'll take the time to peruse the Canon - perhaps looking for your favorite mention of ashes. Then again, there are some ASHes of an entirely different variety with whom you might enjoy spending some time...


Photo credit: wstera2 (Flickr)

"Dated From Cleveland" [STUD]

Tom Stetak, BSI ("The Head of the Police at Cleveland") was one of a kind. While we here at the Baker Street Blog didn't know him all that well, he left a distinct impression upon all who knew him. Tom passed away last week at the relatively young age of 60 after a brief illness.

Tom's look was the first thing that caught our attention at Baker Street Irregular functions - his bearded countenance made him look Amish in nature, and his restoration business seemed to be in line with that appearance as well.

But it was his sense of humor that really set him apart. At the BSI Dinner in 1997, he was one of the many who stood up to roast Tom Stix, Jr., the outgoing "Wiggins" of the organization. Stix was known for his frank personality - which, depending on his mood, could sometimes be barbed. But he could also be a very warm and caring individual as well. And Tom Stetak sensed  that. One of the lines from his roast went something like:
     "Many people say that Tom Stix isn't emotional, but it just isn't true. Why, Tom has more emotion in his middle finger than I have in my whole body!"

And then the whole room erupted in laughter, with the heartiest laugh coming from Tom Stix himself.

Tom Stetak was also part of the Florin Society - Irregulars with spouses who were also members of the BSI -  and he left his wife Ruthann. You can read Tom's obituary here.

If you have a memory of Tom, please consider leaving it in the comments section below.

"Burn This Letter" [HOUN]

Over at SolarPons.com, Bob Byrne has dedicated the site to introducing people to the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street. Created by August Derleth in the 1920s, it was a kind of natural extension of Conan Doyle's works. After Derleth's death, the pen was ably taken up by Basil Copper with The Dossier of Solar Pons.

The reason we mention Mr. Byrne here is because he has produced a series of newsletters for Solar Pons enthusiasts as well as a more general Sherlockian newsletter called Baker Street Essays. We've provided the latest version embedded here for your consideration. You can flip through it, download it, share it, print it, etc.
Baker Street Essays 3

And if you're interested in learning more about Solar Pons, you can click on this link for additional reading material.

"A Curious Constitution" [SIGN]

We've had the pleasure of sharing many of the goings-on of the annual Baker Street Irregulars Weekend previously. If you'd like to read up on past goings-on, please take a look at the "Some Other Topic" section in the sidebar on the right of this page and select the BSI label.

But one of the things we haven't had the opportunity to cover here is the origin and text of the BSI's Constitution and Buy-Laws (yes, that's the correct spelling - as far as the BSI is concerned). The document is referenced throughout the BSI Archival Series and was first presented to the public in Profile By Gaslight: An Irregular reader about the private Life of Sherlock Holmes by Edgar W. Smith, longtime leader of the BSI and editor of the Baker Street Journal.

Elmer Davis, BSI ("A Case of Identity") wrote the BSI Constitution and Buy-Laws around the time of the founding of the Baker Street Irregulars in 1934, to document the tongue-in-cheek attitude that pervaded the BSI (and still pervades it to this day). Each year at the BSI Dinner, a member reads the document to the assembled crowd and in unison, we all chant the fifth buy-law together.

Here we present the Constitution and Buy-Laws of the Baker Street Irregulars in its entirety:

The Constitution and Buy-Laws of the Baker Street Irregulars

Article I
The name of the society shall be the Baker Street Irregulars.

Article II
Its purpose shall be the study of the Sacred Writings.

Article III
All persons shall be eligible for membership who pass an examination in the Sacred Writings set by officer of the society, and who are considered otherwise suitable.

Article IV
The officers shall be: a Gasogene, a Tantalus, and a Commissionaire.
   The duties of the Gasogene shall be those commonly performed by a President.
   The duties of the Tantalus shall be those commonly performed by a Secretary.
   The duties of the Commissionaire shall be to telephone down for ice, White Rock, and whatever else may be required and available; to conduct all negotiations with waiters; and to assess the members pro rata for the cost of same.

The BSI Buy-laws
1. An annual meeting shall be held on January 6th, at which the canonical toasts shall be drunk; after which the members shall drink at will.

2. The current round shall be bought by any member who fails to identify, by title of story and context, and quotation from the Sacred Writings submitted by any other member.
   Qualification A. If two or more members fail so to identify, a round shall be bought by each of those so failing.
   Qualification B. If the submitter of the quotation, upon challenge, fails to identify it correctly, he shall buy the round.

3. Special meetings may be called at any time or any place by any one of three members, two of whom shall constitute a quorum.
   Qualification A. If said two people are of opposite sexes, they shall use care in selecting the place of meeting, to avoid misinterpretation (or interpretation either, for that matter).

4. All other business shall be left for the monthly meetings.

5. There shall be no monthly meetings.

Canonical Toasts
The obligatory canonical toasts are typically as follows: to the Woman, Irene Adler; the Master, the Doctor and, of course, long suffering Mrs. Hudson. These are always followed by toasts of varying propriety to the more colorful characters of the Canon and often the less fortunate fellow Irregulars.

Image courtesy of Toronto Public Library Special Collections (Flickr)

"Baffled By So Slight an Obstacle" [FINA]

While many of us got our start with the Sherlock Holmes stories via the written page, there are others who find their way to the Canon via the silver screen or small screen. No matter how we each discovered Holmes, we all find our way to a visual representation - and particularly one that resonates with us.

One of the most iconic influences since the early 1940s was Basil Rathbone. And despite a number of film and television adaptations over the intervening 40 years, it wasn't until the arrival of Jeremy Brett that an entire generation pictured another face in their minds when they read the stories (in addition to Pagets and Dorr Steeles). The purists who were raised on Rathbone would never hear of such a usurpation. To this day, one tends to find a sharp split between Brettians and Rathbonians (or is that Rathboneheads?).

What we can't deny is the incredible influence Brett had on the Sherlockian movement, thanks to his complete dedication to the character. But his career spanned decades and included film, television and theatre alike, from Hollywood to the Old Vic. Which makes it all the more strange that he never received a BAFTA award. For those of you who don't know, BAFTA is the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Think  Oscars and Emmys rolled into one, for our American readers.

Currently, there is a site angling for a posthumous BAFTA for Jeremy Brett: http://www.bafta4jb.com. There you'll find information about Brett and his career, as well as information about the site and its creators. They opine that if Heath Ledger could receive a posthumous BAFTA for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight, then Jeremy Brett should be eligible for one based on his life's work.

What you can do to help
The site's creators are encouraging all interested parties to sign a petition supporting this effort. You can find it by clicking on the link. Please also consider sharing this post with others by using the Share This link below.

"Demonstration Before Breakfast" [LION]

The Baker Street Breakfast Club has been an integral part of Bennington, Vermont for the last 20 years. Under the guiding tutelage of Sally Sugarman, BSI ("The Three Gables"), the friendly and intimate group typically meets in members' homes - including an annual pool party, which we're guessing is B.Y.O.L.M. (bring your own Lion's Mane).

Some 15 years ago, the BSBC put on a marvelous conference at Bennington College (or so we hear). If recollection serves, this was the last major conference that John Bennett Shaw attended. We may be mistaken in this regard.

Anyway, the Baker Street Breakfast Club is at it again and is ready to celebrate another milestone. This time, at their 20th anniversary, they're putting on Sherlock Holmes: The Man and His Worlds from June 24-27, 2010 in Bennington, VT. There's quite a program in place for the very reasonable $60 registration fee, and the conference organizers have coordinated with the local theater and library, among other municipal services, for a truly integrated experience while you're in Bennington.

You can read about the extensive program and print out the registration form here:
Sherlock Holmes: The Man and His World - June 2010

Sally was also a guest on the most recent episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Take a listen to her passion around this unique event and how she talks about it.

More information is available from the conference web site. We hope you can make it!

"No Ghosts Need Apply" [SUSS]

The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota know how to put on a conference. They've hosted many in the past, including the most recent, Victorian Secrets and Edwardian Enigmas in 2007.

The description of their latest conference, "The Spirits of Sherlock Holmes" notes: The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota and the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota are sponsoring a conference to explore the many meanings of the word "spirits" and how they relate to Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Victorian Era. The conference will take place August 6-8, 2010 at the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota, home of the Sherlock Holmes Collections, the world’s largest collection of Sherlock Holmes-related material.

The conference will feature presentations, vendor tables, a silent auction of selected duplicate items from the Collections, an exhibit of rare and unique materials from the Collections, a performance of an Edith Meiser radio script by the Red-Throated League of the Norwegian Explorers, and the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections.Spirits of Sherlock Holmes - August 2010

Speakers include: Ray Betzner, BSI ("The Agony Column"), Susan E. Dahlinger, BSI ("The Bruce-Partington Plans"), ASH; Evelyn Herzog, BSI ("The Daintiest Thing Under a Bonnet"), ASH; Gideon Hill, BSI ("Jack Prendergast"); Brad Keefauver, BSI ("Winwood Reade"); Leslie S. Klinger, BSI ("The Abbey Grange"); Jon L. Lellenberg, BSI ("Rodger Prescott"); Peggy Perdue; Tim Reich; Richard Sveum, BSI ("Dr. Hill Barton").

Registration for the conference is now open. You can fill out the form below and mail it in.
Spirits Registration

"A Woman's Quick Intuition" [BOSC]

We've just received notice of the publication - or rather re-publication - of a novel by Abbey Pen Baker: In the Dead of Winter. Originally published in 1994 by St. Martin's Press, it is being reissued in advance of a late 2010 publication of a follow-up novel Death at the Round Table.

Here's a synopsis, from Ms. Baker's publicist:

Myrl Adler Norton was, by all accounts, one of the most remarkable women of the twentieth century. The daughter of the acclaimed opera singer Irene Adler, she was a respected professor of logic at Smith College as well as one of the most famous consulting detectives of all time. The books of her exploits, written by her lifelong friend and confidante Faye Martin Tullis, are among the most popular in the history of detective literature. Now, with this previously undiscovered manuscript, the true story behind the meeting of these two friends and their first case comes to light.

In 1918, while a student at Smith College, Faye first encountered Myrl, an enigmatic figure with an interesting past. When a local actress is found dead amid bizarre circumstances, Myrl takes an interest in the murder, and the two travel to Brattleboro, Vermont, to investigate.

There they uncover a twisted conspiracy, one far more dangerous than simple murder - and learn the truth about Myrl's real father, the world's most famous consulting detective.

Kirkus Reviews said:
"Baker juggles her large cast and their secrets dextrously ... Recommended for readers who aren't sick of the centenary glut of Holmes pastiches, and even for those who are."

And a blurb from Laurie R.King:
"The Great Detective as a woman? Yes, with all the quirks, foibles, and misanthropy, all the genius, and all the darkness that runs through that remarkable mind. I look forward to more of Myrl Adler and her faithful Watson."

Interestingly, Ms. Baker's work was written in the same time period as Laurie R. King's first Mary Russell novel (The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen) and both  concern clever women who play a Holmes-like role. We have a theory about the timing: the small screen and now the large screen have influenced the popularity of each. In 1994, the Jeremy Brett Granada series was coming to a close, and now, as we see this novel republished and its sequel being queued up, we've just seen a major success with the large screen version from Hollywood.

A clever use of the natural publicity and revived interest in Sherlock Holmes, or mere coincidence? Your thoughts?

"Running a Tunnel to Some Other Building" [REDH]

In the "nothing new under the sun" department, news reports indicate that "termite" gangs have been tunneling into a bank in France - the third such occurrence.

Reuters has reported:

Would-be robbers armed with a pneumatic drill dug a tunnel from a Paris subway station into the basement of a bank in the early hours of Sunday but failed to seize any cash or valuables, police said.

[SPOILER ALERT]

For those of you who have read the Canon, it sounds like a page directly out of the original stories from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - notably "The Red-Headed League".

"I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some other building... The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw that the City and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I had solved my problem."

As Holmes said in A Study in Scarlet: "Read it up - you really should. There is nothing new under the sun."

"The Intelligence Which You Have Shown" [HOUN]

So it would seem that most of our readers are fairly savvy. This year, that is.

You see, yesterday (April 1, for those of you following along at home) we shared some news that was, well...not really news. As many of you already intuited, the Sherlock Holmes sequel news was not entirely true. While there have been reports that filming will begin this summer, there's no word on the script at this point.

If you were a reader of this blog some three years ago, you may remember the April Fool's prank we pulled - again about the movie - that announced that Nicholas Rowe would be filling the title role. That year, a number of blogs and news outlets picked up on the rumor and ran with it. Punk'd!

No such luck this time around, we fear. Ah well, we're glad everyone enjoyed the joke! If you'd like to take a look at the Top 10 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of all time, click on the link.

"The Inconceivable Sequel" [EMPT]

For anyone who saw the Robert Downey, Jr. film "Sherlock Holmes," it should have been patently obvious that the studio was prepping the audience for a sequel. The shadowy presence of one certain mathematics professor certainly paved the way for that. And with box office results to date that top the $500 million mark according to Box Office Mojo, it's no question that studio executives would want to see this kind of success repeated. In fact, Screen Rant reports that shooting will begin this summer.

But for those who await the actual script, there are questions that remain: what will the sequel cover? Will it pick up where the first film left off? Will Hollywood go with a conventional title like "The Return of Sherlock Holmes"?

We're happy to be able to share some inside news that is exclusive to the Baker Street Blog. Because of our prominence within the Sherlock Holmes community and connection to Warner Brothers and the literary world, we're in a unique position. Fellow Baker Street Irregulars include Leslie Klinger, BSI ("The Abbey Grange"), who was a technical advisor to the first film; and Laurie R. King, BSI ("The Red Circle") author of the Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli books among others. Between the two of them, we have all the inside scoop we need at this point.

In the first outing, Rachel McAdams portrayed a wily, if sexed up, Irene Adler. It was probably a little more than Holmes fans expected out of the woman. When juxtaposed with the so-called "bromance" between Holmes and Watson, it was an odd threesome. Evidently, the new script contains another threesome, but one of a different sort.

We have credible information that Professor Moriarty will in fact play a significant part in the sequel, but Watson will be relegated to the background as he enjoys married life with Mary Morstan, his finacee from the first film. Set five years after the conclusion of the original, we're told that the screenwriters have dipped into a related series and have written in a very apt assistant to Sherlock Holmes, albeit taking liberty with the timeline of the novels. That's right: Sherlock Holmes will be joined in the sequel by none other than Laurie R. King's Mary Russell. The two team up and decipher clues that lead them to Moriarty's fiendish plan: to eliminate a sizable portion of London's upper class by poisoning the water supplied by plumbing - which only that strata of society would be likely to have.

For those who don't know Ms. Russell, she is the protagonist in Ms. King's novels which began with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. And although the novels have her meeting Sherlock Holmes in 1915, we have been told that the script very convincingly brings her back about 20 years into the mid-1890s, although the details at this point seem a little vague.

In terms of casting, we understand that actress Amy Adams, most recently so notable in Julie & Julia, is being considered for the role. As a petite, blue-eyed strawberry blonde, it would seem like the casting directors finally got something right this time around (although Jude Law's turn as Watson was well done).

We haven't yet heard about who will fill the role of Moriarty. We certainly hope that it's not a certain actor that we heard rumors of last year (see "Going Back to Pitt" [SIXN]). But with Ms. Adams filling the title female role, we could deal with whomever they throw at us.

Will the new film be as successful as the first? Will Mary Russell devotees be as open-minded and enthusiastic as some Sherlock Holmes fans were? Will Moriarty be cast believably? Will this sequel allow for yet another? Those and other questions still remain. Perhaps there are some answers out there. But for now, we're satisfied with the current news.

What do you think?