Sherlock Holmes is the most recognizable character in the world. According to the Sherlock Holmes Society, the famous detective has been portrayed by seventy-five actors in more than 260 films, making him the most portrayed character on film. This could explain why a significant percentage of the British think Sherlock Holmes was a real person who lived at 221B Baker Street - a view supported by the Sherlockians, a loyal group of scholars dedicated to keeping his memory alive.
It turns out, the Sherlock Holmes we associate with the iconic deerstalker cap, Inverness cape, magnifying lens, and pipe, owes his life to Connecticut's William Gillette. That's right; the same William Gillette who built the big stone castle on the banks of the Connecticut River.
Gillette was an international star in his day, shaping many of the qualities of modern theater we enjoy today. So, why does Sherlock Holmes loom large in our cultural canon, while Gillette is all but forgotten?
GUESTS:
- Shera Cohen - Special events coordinator at the Springfield Armory and playwright of Elementary, My Dear Fellow, a one-act play about William Gillette
- Henry Zecher - Freelance writer and author of William Gillette: America's Sherlock Holmes
- Susan Dahlinger - Speaks internationally about William Gillette, with a focus on Sherlock Holmes. She's a member of "The Baker Street Irregulars"
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Colin McEnroe, Betsy Kaplan, Chion Wolf, and Greg Hill contributed to this show.
