"In a Flash We Caught a Glimpse" [RETI]

I recently shared a short video with you that described social media. As you may know, the essence behind social media is sharing information - text, audio, video, photos, etc.

I just found an interesting application that allows me to share a stream of mentions of anything on Twitter with a background of Flickr photos. I've set it to stream mentions of "Sherlock" while backed with images tagged with Sherlockian. See what people are saying and what images show up:

This is also a good time to remind you: if you take photos at any Sherlockian events, please consider uploading them to Flickr and tagging them with "Sherlockian," to share them with other like-minded individuals. You might find that you'll connect with some interesting people that way.

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"See How It Glints and Sparkles" [BLUE]

This was too good to pass up. Over at the discussion forum Holmesian.net, I came across some wonderful stick artwork by a member named whorl. When I saw the following posted there, I asked permission to repost it here.

So, in honor of the anniversary of "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," I give you animated piece "The Adventure of the Bloo Sparkly" (if you're reading this in a feedreader and can't see the image, please click through to the blog).

If you like this, please let me know and I'll be glad to arrange to have other works displayed here from time to time as well.

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"That Mask Which He Was Wont to Assume" [SIXN]

While searching on Brightcove, a video search and aggregation site - like YouTube, but with longer form videos - I came across a number of interesting Sherlock Holmes-related findings. Brightcove hosts its own content (powered by AOL Video), plus it links to other sites that host videos, giving you a wide range of stuff to choose from.

There were a number of the Basil Rathbone / Nigel Bruce films available for download. But more interesting to me - because the videos are less common and because of the lead actor's uncanny resemblance to some of the illustrations of Holmes (Frank Wiles in particular) - were the Arthur Wontner films. I've previously written about the availability of some of these through the Internet Archive, but this was the first time I had seen 3 of the 5 Wonter films available in such a shareable format. The first two Wontner films are unavailable - there are no known prints existing of The Missing Rembrandt (based on "Charles Augustus Milverton"), and The Sleeping Cardinal (based on "The Final Problem") was thought to be lost until a print was discovered in the U.S.

Feel free to watch the three here (note: you need to have Flash installed), download them directly from Brightcove, or to purchase your own copies through Amazon.

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"Quite a Little Parlour Game" [3STU]

Last month, I wrote about a PC computer game that had just been released in the U.S. called Sherlock Holmes: the Awakened. Well, the guys over at Frogwares evidently aren't resting on their laurels, as they've got something else up their sleeves.

First, let's recall that they've already had two other successful computer games related to Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy and The Silver Earring. And their latest creation, the aforementioned The Awakened, has been well received in the gaming world: IGN (I would imagine International Gamers' Network) has proclaimed in a recent review: "This is how adventure games should be made," giving the game an 8.1 out of 10. And Gamespot.com showed their praise by giving the game and 8.3 and lauding "An engaging story, logical puzzles, and nice visuals combine to make The Awakened a great adventure game."

So, I would imagine then, that the next game out will be equally as fun and exciting, as it has Holmes meeting up with Arsene Lupin. If you're not aware of Lupin, he is the gentleman thief created by Maurice LeBlanc, who himself was a contemporary of Conan Doyle. In fact, LeBlanc had the two characters meet in a story he wrote in 1906, but Conan Doyle, who was hot on the comeback trail with The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Return of Sherock Holmes series, objected and LeBlanc changed the detective's name to Herlock Sholmes.

The summary of Sherlock Holmes vs. Arsene Lupin, the game that pits the master detective and the genteel criminal, goes something like this:

It's the end of teh 19th century and an amazing battle of wits and wills
is going to take place between two great figures: Sherlock Holmes, armed
with his vast crime-fighting experience, and Arsène Lupin, the ultimate
criminal mind and gentleman thief. Lupin has announced that he plans
to rob the capital of five objects of immense value over the course of five
days. The objects are housed in highly prestigious locations such as the
National Gallery, the British Museum, the Tower of London and even
Buckingham Palace! Sherlock Holmes will have to muster all his courage
and ingenuity to save England from terrible humiliation.

If the copy doesn't move you, then perhaps the just-released trailer will:

Click on any of the above links for more information about this fascinating series.

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"A Complete Set" [VALL]

When I first discovered Sherlock Holmes, it was on the printed page, but it couldn't have been at a better time in my life. It was the mid-1980s and there were a number of other outlets for my Sherlockian enjoyment. The Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce series was faithfully running on Saturday afternoon movie features on a local television station; the John Gielgud-Ralph Richardson old time radio series was available on cassette; and most importantly for me, the Granada series with Jeremy Brett was airing on PBS.

For me, Jeremy Brett has always been the consummate Holmes (up until the last dreadful series and long-form movies). Certainly, he was quirky; but so was Holmes. And he was blessed with such Canonically accurate settings, dialogue and wardrobe (at least in the beginning) that it felt like the stories came to life.

While I've long had a the series on video, pieced together through MPI productions and the original PBS airings from "Mystery!" with the inimitable Vincent Price giving the introductions, I've longed for a complete set on DVD. Well, that wait is over.

Now available from Amazon is Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series, a set of 12 DVDs with all 41 programs, for a total of 43 hours, from MPI Home Video. You'll find this handsome set tricked out with bonus features that include include three commentary tracks, interviews with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke, an interview with Adrian Conan Doyle, a
report on the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and subtitles in Spanish and English. While it doesn't have quite as many bells and whistles as one might hope for from such a handsome set, it's a worthy addition to any Sherlockian's multimedia collection.

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"Being of a Sociable Turn" [WIST]

I know I occasionally debut some new and funky technology and ideas here on the blog. I appreciate your willingness to (a) humor me and (b) try them out from time to time. In my day job, I see and review more new media developments than you can imagine. But I typically only share those with you that I think are worth your time.

The concept I'd like to introduce you to today is called social networking. No doubt you've heard of MySpace or Facebook in the news. But what are they and how do they really work? And more importantly, of what use are they to Sherlockians? First, I'd like you to view this:

Social Networking in Plain English

So now you understand how social networks help us connect to each other. To me, it's basically an online version of attending Sherlockian society events. I know I'm in a room with other people who like Sherlock Holmes, but unless I can connect with them, I have no idea what their other interests might be. When I find someone who also shares my other interests, it solidifies our connection with each other.

Online social networks are no different. Just like normal conversations, you can choose to disclose as little or as much of yourself as you'd like and you can get involved with particular special interest groups as appropriate.

I'd like to invite you to join The Baker Street Blog group on Facebook - it's for people who enjoy this blog. From time to time, I'll be sharing certain newsworthy items with the group on Facebook. But more importantly - YOU can participate as well: upload photos, videos, write messages, join in a discussion. Over time, it can really become a nice extension of what we have here. Please click here to check out the group. You'll also find links to a Baker Street Journal group and an I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere group.

There's another social network I created on the site Ning. Whereas Facebook has a predetermined structure, I built the Sherlock Holmes Social Network from scratch on Ning. I've got feeds there from this blog, from I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, Flickr photos tagged with "sherlockian," and I've created groups for WelcomeHolmes and Hounds-L members as well. But again, the beauty is that everyone can contribute and add their own content. It's a wonderful way to share what's on your Sherlockian mind.

I really hope you'll at least try these out and see if they're right for you. While ever-advancing technology may seem like "an east wind coming" to some, it heralds the future of the Sherlockian world, where we'll be better connected than we ever were.

Related post: the Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis come blazing into the 21st century with their web site.

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"My Interest Is Already Awakened" [NAVA]

If you're reading this blog, then no doubt you know how to turn on the computer and navigate the Web. But how are you with using your machine's DVD drive? And arrowing around the screen? And figuring out solutions based on clues? If you think you've got all of those traits, then perhaps it's time to look into the new computer video game Sherlock Holmes : The Awakened.

As of yesterday, the web site of Sherlock Holmes: the Awakened had been drastically overhauled and gave way to the announcement that the game was ready to be shipped to U.S. customers.

If you're not familiar with the concept behind the game, it's a crossover of sorts, from mystery to horror - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle meets H.P. Lovecraft - in a seemingly routine investigation that tests the limits the great detective as he attempts to thwart the plans of a sect of the Cult of Cthulhu.

This new adventure of Sherlock Holmes marks the first time Sherlock Holmes has ever been presented in a three-dimensional virtual world. From the game's web site:

19th century England: Following a string of shocking disappearances on London’s fog-choked streets, an entire nation trembles in fear. As history’s most famed detective, loosen terror’s grip by tailing the perpetrators to the ends of the earth in epic 3D adventure Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened.

Inspired by the works of author H.P. Lovecraft, this globe-spanning saga of suspense and horror pits the master sleuth against his most dangerous foe yet – a fanatical cult seemingly devoted to ancient, evil god Cthulhu. From Baker Street to Bale, Louisiana to Scotland, hunt for hidden clues with the help of faithful companion Dr. Watson, solve fiendish puzzles and thwart the forces of darkness.

But beware – behind the façade of everyday life lurk terrifying places and truths best forgotten. There are some secrets man was never meant to know: Dare you uncover them? Either way, the clock’s ticking. So what are you waiting for? The game is afoot!

While I'm not a gaming fan, I have spent some time in the virtual world Second Life. If this game helps bring some younger people into our midst and entices them to learn more about the sleuth of Baker Street through his original ventures, I'm all for it.

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"The Activity and the Ingenuity" [ILLU]

A little over a week ago, I noticed a new web site spring up, but I kept quiet during its beta period, until the official launch was announced. Well, today is that day, so I'm sharing my secret with you.

The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis now have a web site! Well, to call it a web site is really understating the effort Ann M. Lewis has put into it. It's much more than a simple destination; it's more of a hub and a two-way communication vehicle for this venerable Midwest scion society. This is a great example of how a scion society should embrace interactive media and forge into the 21st century.

Expect to hear more about new developments in the Sherlockian world that are going to shift the way we think about online communications. I'll be covering these changes and announcements here as well as on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, which I'd love you to subscribe to.

Features Abound
You'll find all of the standard offerings there, like meeting updates, upcoming events, links, etc. But where this site stands apart is how it integrates aspects of social media. For example:

1. You can register on the site as a member. It's free and doesn't require any sensitive information from you. Registration allows you to interact with other members on the site. You can post information to your profile, such as a web site, email address, or just something you'd like to write about yourself, as well as a picture.
   
2. Everyone can view the photo gallery, and members can upload their own photos. It's a great place to put faces to names or to see what happened at events.
3. There is a section for articles and a downloads section which currently contains a PDF of the society's flyer.
4. A news section contains announcements of meetings as well as the latest trailer for the From Gillette to Brett II conference. Anyone in the community can also add their own news story as well.
5. You can contribute in another important way: in the section called Blogs. Every member can create his or her own entries and write about and share anything that comes to mind. You know I couldn't resist and opportunity like that. Here's what I wrote.
6. There's an RSS feed of both this blog and of my podcast, for which I am grateful. What? You just don't understand RSS? Then please do me and yourself a favor and spend a quick 4 minutes watching this:

If it doesn't show, I'm very impressed with what Ann has instituted on behalf of the Clients. I've often wondered why they've never had a site, because they're an active society that publishes regularly and has a fairly dedicated base of members. Indeed, this is the home turf of Mike Whelan, the head of the Baker Street Irregulars.

I'm glad to see that they've come blazing into the 21st century with a real winner of a site. Get over there and register. More importantly, join the conversation there, or here, or any other site that allows you to raise your voice. The wonder of the Sherlockian world is the degree with which we interact with each other, and current technology is giving us the opportunity to keep the conversation flowing 24/7.

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"My Collection of M's is a Fine One" [EMPT]

As you may know, the Norwegian Explorers hosted a wonderful event two weekends ago in Minneapolis, called Victorian Secrets and Edwardian Enigmas. The buzz from the event is still palpable and many Sherlockians attended from around the globe.

The event was hosted at the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota, which is noted for its remarkable Sherlock Holmes Collections, one that is unrivaled anywhere else in the world. The Collections were established in the 1970s with the purchase of James Iraldi's remarkable collection of first editions, then solidified with the bequest of the collection of Dr. Phillip Hench, who owned four copies of the Beeton's Christmas Annual, which contained the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes. It was solidified with the addition of the Frederic Dorr Steele collection of artwork, the Edith Meiser collection of original radio scripts, and John Bennett Shaw's comprehensive collection of - well, everything.

Victorian Secrets and Edwardian Enigmas: the Riddles of the Rooms of 221B Baker Street was more than a conference, though. It is also a major exhibit at the Andersen that is on display until August 20, 2007, and features miniature and life-sized recreations of 221B Baker Street. You can download a full exhibit catalog in PDF form, containing a warm tribute to the late S. Allen Mackler, BSI.

I had known Allen for many years by his frequenting the BSI table, which I man in the Vendors' Room during the BSI Weekend. Diminutive and unassuming, he was friendly and humble and would always purchase whatever books the BSI had to offer. So imagine my surprise when I read in the catalog that Allen's estate is the largest bequest ever received by the Collections: some five to six thousand volumes of books, as well as numerous videos & DVDs, and original art. One of the prizes is this original drawing of Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget, created for "The Adventure of the Red-Headed League."

"All the afternoon he sat in the stalls...enwrapped in the music at St. James’s Hall..." [REDH]

This was entirely appropriate, as Allen's investiture was "Sarasate" and he was first a record librarian for WETA of National Public Radio, later becoming an on-air host for several classical music programs.

While I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, I have been lucky enough to meet Tim Johnson, the curator. Tim is erudite and extremely knowledgeable, and the collection is in excellent hands with Tim at the helm. If you'd like to get to know Tim and the collection, I a unique opportunity for you.

WCCO in Minneapolis did both a television and a radio interview with Tim, which also featured Chris Kehoe, who portrays Holmes in the play Sherlock's Last Case from June 15 - August 25, 2007. On WCC0 830 AM, Don Shelby - a radio host and TV anchor who really knows his Sherlock Holmes - interviewed Chris and Tim for his show on June 29. You'll hear him dig deep for the interview and acknowledge that he's been involved in this scene for some time. In fact, he was instrumental in convincing Edith Meiser to send her papers to the Collections.

Over at WCCO-TV, reporter Jeanette Trompeter took the typical "Holmes is fictional" approach that any good investigative reporter will take. But take a look at the video to see Watson pinching himself at Holmes's suggestion - reality check! The video affords view of a full-size sitting room and ephemera of 221B Baker Street. Just click on the image to the right to be taken to the video site.

And if you'd like to see the exhibit for yourself, hurry out to Minneapolis before it concludes on August 20th. I'm sure Tim Johnson would love to hear from you - make sure you stop by their web site and see everything they have to offer.

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"The Identity of the Writer" [LION]

One of the recurring features on this blog is announcing the appearance of the latest issue of the Baker Street Journal. It is an exercise that I take great pride in, as I get the chance to write about some of the great content that keeps streaming through our Sherlockian quarterly, without fail. Watch for the Summer issue announcement shortly.

The Baker Street Journal online always features a representative article from an issue, in an effort to let readers and non-readers alike know what Sherlock Holmes scholarship is all about. In the latest episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, Burt Wolder and I interview Mike Berdan, BSI, the author of the featured article from the Spring 2007 issue.

In this episode, you get to hear what goes into writing a scholarly paper for a publication, some advice from Mike to budding authors, and a little bit about his history. We hope to make this an ongoing feature in our podcast.

If you've never listed to a podcast before, it's as simple as pressing the button below and listening on your computer. Or, you can head over to the site and subscribe. Either way, we'd love to hear what you think of this ongoing experiment.

If the widget above does not work, try the link in the sidebar.

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"You've Two Horses in for the Wessex Cup" [SILV]

As many of you may know, Burt Wolder and I have begun a podcast for Sherlockians called I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. It's the first podcast of its kind - a Sherlockian talk show of sorts, where we discuss all sorts of things related to the world of Sherlock Holmes (where it is always 1895).

We've just released our second episode in which we interview Steve Doyle, BSI and Mark Gagen, BSI. They are the driving force behind Wessex Press / Gasogene Books and are the coordinators of the From Gillette to Brett II conference later this year. We had a delightful time speaking with them (I hope you'll agree).

You can hear the episode right here on your computer, as a podcast doesn't require any sort of fancy equipment. You get to choose when and where you want to listen. Just click the link over in the right column to hear the latest episode. Or, try this:

And if you're intrigued by what you hear, I'd only ask two things of you:

1. Subscribe to our show using any of the methods listed on the show site
2. Tell just three other people about it and encourage them to listen

Oh, wait - I lied - there's a third thing: if you have anything to say about the show, good or bad, leave us a comment, send us an email or call our comment phone number. All of these are available on the show's site.

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"I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere" [GREE]

For Sherlockians who have a keen interest in the appearance of Sherlock Holmes in popular culture, literature, news or any other day-to-day occurrence, you're probably familiar with that now-famous phrase:

"I hear of Sherlock everywhere since you became his chronicler."

That shot-heard-round-the-world was the first thing that Mycroft Holmes uttered in the Canon, and they were of course directed to Dr. Watson.

Well, I've got my own version - let's call it a shot-heard-round-the-blogosphere. That survey that many of you were kind enough to participate in showed me that 60% of the respondents would be interested in one way or another, so I went right ahead with my idea.

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, the podcast for devotees of Sherlock Holmes, was officially launched on June 14, 2007, co-hosted by Scott Monty and Burt Wolder.

Twice a month, Burt and I will be airing a show that is comprised of lively discussion, interviews, storytelling, history, event coverage and whatever else comes to mind. Think of it as talk radio for Sherlockians. But our programming isn't pre-ordained - we want to hear from you to give us suggestions, tell us where to improve or comment on shows.

We've got a dedicated call-in line where you can leave a message: +1 774 221-7323, or 774-221-READ. You can also email us at comment [at] ihearofsherlock [dot] com.

I hope you'll join us for a listen. Here's a quick intro as to what a podcast is and how to get started. The game's afoot!

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"It Is Quite a Pretty Little Problem" [SCAN]

Here's a pretty little problem for you: test out your knowledge of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes(starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce) over at the Am I Wrong site.

It's a really neat little setup that allows you to drag & drop character names, in order to match them up with the names of the actors who portrayed them. When you're done, it gives you your score and allows you to share it with others.

Here's mine:

I scored 100%!
I got 10 out of 10 correct on the The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Movie Match quiz.

How'd you do? If you need to refresh your memory, you might want to pick up a decent copy of the DVD.

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"Drawing on His Stockings" [SIGN]

Our friends over at The Morning News have discovered The Adventure of the Missing Stocking - a new Sherlock Holmes adventure. Evidently, the writers of the television series Lost took time out of their busy schedules to write this pastiche—the latest chapter in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

My favorite quote has to be the Lestrade-as-Hurley remark:

“Pretty weak, dude,” said Lestrade.

Definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

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"A Composer of No Ordinary Merit" [REDH]

Today - April 18, 2007 - marks an auspicious occasion: the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian-born composer Miklós Rózsa (it's my birthday too, but that's not as important). To celebrate that event, producer James Fitzpatrick of Tadlow Music is releasing a limited collector's edition, the World Premiere Recording of the Complete Score of The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.

You may recall a previous post in which I highly recommended that collectors get a taste for the full score by purchasing Rózsa's Violin Concerto, Op. 24. Composed before he scored the movie, the concerto was the closest thing we had to the full recorded score other than the title music featured in Sherlock Holmes: Classic Themes From 221B Baker Street.

Now we have for the first time the definitive score, orchestrated by noted Rózsa expert Nic Raine, a noteworthy orchestrator and composer in his own right. I have previewed a copy and recommend it with my highest regard. Stick with me. This is a long, but worthwhile post to read.

While the "Classic Themes" version was at least representative of the theme, that orchestra was tinny in comparison to what is now available from Tadlow Music. As well it should, since the music is performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra with the same orchestral line-up that Rózsa used: 26 violins, 10 violas, 10 celli, 5 basses, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, harp, piano, celesta and timpani plus 4 percussion. The original Rózs