"I cultivate a large number of friends" [WIST]

What does it take to build a legacy that lasts nearly a century? Today we're joined by Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn to discuss their new book, On the Shoulders of Giants. It's a portrait gallery of twenty-one of the influential men and women who founded and fueled the Sherlock Holmes literary scene from its infancy in the 1930s.

We dive into the lives of these bookish, clubbable people, who were all as knowledgeable as they were sociable. Whether you're a lifelong Sherlockian or a newcomer to the Great Game, our conversation takes a fresh look at the "Giants" whose scholarship and camaraderie created the community we know today.

Our "Learned Societies" segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities in the second half of April. Then it's a new edition of "Examining the Pictures," with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI. This time, Christian explores Disney's 1986 success, The Great Mouse Detective.

Then the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of On the Shoulders of Giants for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, or if you want to show off your good taste to other Sherlockians, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• On the Shoulders of Giants: Great Sherlockians Remembered (Wessex Press)
• Other episodes mentioned on the show:
• Episode 244: The Finest Assorted Collection
• Episode 283: Canonical Cornerstones
• Episode 290: Legends of the BSJ - James Montgomery
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• And It Is Always 1895 conference
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"I was invited to a week-end gathering" [LAST]

Join us as we look back on four whirlwind days of Sherlockian festivities in New York City, when hundreds of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts gathered for plays, dinners, luncheons, lectures, auctions, and — most importantly — each other's company, from January 7 to 11, 2026.

We recap the full slate of events, from intimate meals to the grand annual Baker Street Irregulars Dinner, an invitation-only evening that remains the centerpiece of the weekend. Along the way, we share personal travel stories, New York side adventures, and the rich history behind several of the luncheons and receptions, including tributes to honorees and a memorable lecture by the award-winning composer, singer-songwriter, dramatist and author, Rupert Holmes.

Our conversation reflects what makes these gatherings special: not just Sherlock Holmes, but the friendships, traditions, and shared enthusiasm that bring this community together year after year.

Then it's on to Sherlockian society activities in the first half of April in "The Learned Societies" segment, and we introduce a major new segment: "Examining the Pictures," featuring the prominent film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI. We are delighted to bring Christian's extensive knowledge of Sherlock Holmes and the cinema to our listeners.

The Canonical Couplet quiz then tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a souvenir from the BSI Weekend for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by February 14, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, or if you want to show off your good taste to other Sherlockians, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• The BSI Weekend
• The Frick Collection
• Trifles Collections
• Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial
• The 2026 BSI — Weekend Awards and Honors
• The Baker Street Journal
• Remembering Susan Rice, ASH, BSI, 2s.
• Other episodes mentioned on the show:
• Episode 89: The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes
• Episode 126: Becoming the Gillettes
• Episode 236: The Legion of Zoom
• Episode 272: Legends of the BSJ - Christopher Morley
• Episode 287: Legends of the BSJ - Edgar W. Smith
• Episode 290: Legends of the BSJ - James Montgomery
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"All good comradeship and friendship" [ABBE]

Bob Sharfman's first impression of Sherlock Holmes came from Basil Rathbone's movies. Bob read Watson's cases later in life, and met others who shared his interest almost accidentally, when he came to a meeting of Hugo's Companions, a Chicago group then led by the legendary Vincent Starrett.

Although Bob became a serious player of the "Great Game" just a few years ago, his gifts for storytelling, research, and writing earned him the investiture of Killer Evans in 2024. His ideas about the canon and its events have made him a popular speaker, and dozens of Sherlockians have embraced him as a fast friend. Join us as we explore his essays, note his upcoming 90th birthday, and discuss his new book, … but I digress, the Musings of a Sherlockian Motormouth.

Then it's on to Sherlockian society activities in the second half of March in "The Learned Societies" segment, and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by January 29, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, or if you want to show off your good taste to other Sherlockians, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• ...but I digress: The Musings of a Sherlockian Motormouth by Bob Sharfman (Amazon)
• Happy 172nd Birthday, Sherlock Holmes!
• Sherlock Holmes's Birthday Is NOT January 6 After All
• Related episodes:
• Episode 61: The Private Life of Vincent Starrett
• Episode 169: Studies in Starrett
• Episode 272: Legends of the BSJ - Christopher Morley
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"Holmes took it with admirable good-humour" [PRIO]

For years, Holmes and Watson have served as a blueprint for an "odd couple" dynamic, usually by poking fun at the detective's ego, and the doctor's struggle to keep up. Humor can humanize these literary giants, making them feel less like statues and more like friends.

Now Nicholas Sercombe's The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series goes down this path, suggesting Watson's reports were just too risque for the morals of Victorian England. Join us as he shares the facts Watson really discovered about Holmes's family, Mrs. Hudson's real estate empire, and much more, and the live-action and animated television series under development.

Don't miss our round-up of Sherlockian society activities in the second half of February in "The Learned Societies" segment, and the Canonical Couplet quiz that tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of one of N.P. Sercombe's books for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock.com by January 14, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material, such as additional conversation from this episode. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• Unexpurgated Sherlock
• Harry King Films
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"Important issues might hang upon our journey." [SIGN]

Join us as we speak to Steve Mason and Greg Ruby about their adventure this past summer — a whirlwind, five-day odyssey through the rugged landscapes of Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, tracking down 39 locations with hidden ties to Baker Street. Decades after a simpler, four-stop Texas road trip set the precedent, our intrepid investigators clocked 2,414 miles in heat of the last week of August, all to prove that the Great Detective's influence knows no borders.

You'll hear how they bridged the gap between the dusty plains and the foggy streets of London, and found Holmesian echoes in the most unexpected places. It's all about imagination, and how their "Great Sherlockian Whimsical Tour II" transformed the American Southwest into a sprawling map of Victorian mystery.

We also give you a glimpse of Sherlockian society activities, this time in the first half of February in "The Learned Societies" segment. Then we announce an exciting new segment launching in 2026, and the Canonical Couplet quiz will test your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by December 29, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material, such as additional conversation from this episode. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• The Great Sherlockian Whimsical Tours of 2005 and 2025 (Crew of the Barque Lone Star)
• Episodes mentioned in this show:
• Steve's episode appearances: Episode 183: The Beacon Society; Episode 236: The Legion of Zoom
• Greg's episode appearances: Episode 128: Sherlockian Coin Collecting
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"Particularly bright and joyous" [THOR]

Forget about the silence you might think is suggested by the word "pantomime." British panto is a raucous, musical, holiday tradition that expects the audience to be as loud as possible, booing the villain and cheering the hero. It's usually a comic, theatrical retelling of a fairy tale — like Cinderella or Aladdin — with slapstick for the kids, cheeky innuendo for the adults, and a cast that includes a campy "Dame" (a man in an over-the-top dress).

Now Holmes, Watson, and the world of 221B have been lovingly added to the panto tradition in Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, playing through January 18, 2026, at England's Birmingham Rep. The show is also a genuine whodunnit: West End stars are being murdered in mid performance. Can Sherlock Holmes solve the case?

It's all the work of our guests Humphrey Ker and David Reed, writers and stars whose love of the Victorian Age, history, and classic literature has infused almost twenty years of collaboration. You'll hear about their work creating radio plays for the BBC, stage shows for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and their adventures as two-thirds of the comedy troupe "The Penny Dreadfuls."

You'll also learn how Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas came about, and how it came to inspire new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber — creators of some of the most enduring musicals in history.

Then it's on to our review of Sherlockian society activities in the second half of January in "The Learned Societies" segment. The remarkable Madeline Quinones caps her series of Holmesian podcast reviews with her final report in "A Chance of Listening," with our thanks and admiration. And the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by December 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas (Birmingham Rep)
• Humphrey Ker (Wikipedia)
• David Reed
• The Penny Dreadfuls
• Episodes mentioned in this show:
• Episode 259: Sketches of Scions
• Other links:
• A Chance of Listening: Genius and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories
• Madeline's podcast: Dynamics of a Podcast
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

Explore more here.

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"'Why, Holmes, it is a child's drawing,' I cried." [DANC]

Just when you thought everything about Sherlock Holmes and popular culture was known, a new mystery emerges from dusty U.S. newspaper archives.

Join us as we interview the remarkable Ross E. Davies, BSI ("The Temple"), organizer of "The Scourers of the Dancing Men," a fascinating research project that dives deep into a 1903 advertising campaign for the publication of "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" in Collier's magazine.

They've discovered dozens of unique advertisements — including a particularly intriguing "third format" whose cryptic figures bear a striking, unexplained resemblance to the original drawings that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

You'll hear about the ongoing, national hunt for missing ads and the perplexing questions these newly found "Collier's dancing men" pose. You can even join the search to gather the data and help solve this curious, 120-year-old mystery.

Once again, we give you a glimpse of Sherlockian society activities, this time in the first half of January in "The Learned Societies" segment. Madeline Quinones is back with "A Chance of Listening," and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by November 29, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).

Bonus material for this episode includes images of the Dancing Men advertising, the current map of found newspapers, Strand and Colliers errors, and the original inspiration for the Dancing Men code.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts & Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Links

• The ACD Society
• The Stranger's Room (Facebook)
• Canadian Holmes
• Episodes mentioned in this show:
• Episode 137: Boxes From Royalty
• Episode 175: Building an Archive
• Episode 212: All Things ACD
• Episode 219: The Baker Street Almanac
• Episode 234: A Masterpiece of Villainy
• Episode 302: A Year in Review
• Other links:
• A Chance of Listening: Fawx & Stallion
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• OUR NEW MERCH PAGE

Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"An expression of the most dreadful horror." [HOUN]

Join us as we explore Sherlock Holmes Into the Fire, a new, two-volume collection that reimagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Gothic tales through the lens of Sherlock Holmes. Our guest Margie Deck discusses how Doyle's eerie, atmospheric stories — often overshadowed by Sherlock Holmes — reveal the author's deeper fascination with mystery, psychology, and the supernatural.

We talk about the creative process behind pairing each original tale with a modern Holmesian retelling, the challenges of preserving Gothic dread while introducing rational deduction, and how contributors balanced Doyle's voice with their own. Our conversation sheds light on what might be lost and gained when the world's greatest detective steps into the shadows of Conan Doyle's darker imagination — and why these stories continue to inspire new interpretations more than a century later.

Once again, we give you a glimpse of Sherlockian society activities, this time in the second half of December in "The Learned Societies" segment. Madeline Quinones is back with "A Chance of Listening," and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of Sherlock Holmes Into the Fire for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by November 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack). Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsors

• MX Publishing has a number of Sherlockian calendars available for purchase, from the page-a-day style to a group of Advent calendars. Check them all out and pick a date to buy one!

We're always entertaining offers from sponsors. You can find more information here. Links

• Sherlock Holmes Into the Fire (Amazon)
• "The Terror of Blue John Gap" annotation project (ACD Society)
• Episodes mentioned in this show:
• Episode 57: A Sherlockian Halloween
• Episode 208: Collectors' Corner - Charles Prepolec
• Episode 248: The Sherlock Home
• Other links:
• A Chance of Listening: Sherlock & Co.
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians to find us. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"the biggest mystification of all" [COPP]

Bruce Harris, BSI ("Harris") is a longtime Sherlockian whose love of the stories goes back more than half a century. During that time, Bruce has put his considerable talents to work in a number of directions, not least of which is in chronologies.

In fact, his latest work ("Rolling on the River in The Sign of Four") appears in Autumn 2025 issue of The Baker Street Journal and poses an interesting question around the involvement of Athelney Jones. It was thanks to his work on chronologies that got him there.

Bruce has of course contributed to the literature of the subject of dating the Sherlock Holmes stories, but he goes beyond the usual of his first entry, It Is NOT Always 1895 and gets us into an entirely different realm with his second, The Duration Debate. We had to admit that it was the first time we thought about the stories that way.

Once again, we give you a glimpse of Sherlockian society activities, this time in the first half of December in "The Learned Societies" segment. Madeline Quinones is back with "A Chance of Listening," and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with one of Bruce's books for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by October 29, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack). Listen to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere anywhere you get podcasts Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsors

• MX Publishing has a number of Sherlockian calendars available for purchase, from the page-a-day style to a group of Advent calendars. Check them all out and pick a date to buy one!

We're always entertaining offers from sponsors. You can find more information here. Links

• It Is NOT Always 1895
• The Duration Debate
• The Baker Street Journal
• Episodes mentioned in this show:
• Episode 144: The Chronologies of Sherlock Holmes
• Episode 172: Watson Does Not Lie / Doyle's Rotary Coffin
• Episode 276: On the Road with Erik Deckers
• Episode 309: Holmes in an Hour or Two
• Other links:
• A Chance of Listening: Sherlock Mondays, Sherlock Mondays: The Hound, Sherlock Monthly (2024/2025 season), Sherlock Monthly (2025/2026 season)
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians to find us. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.

"a member of an aristocratic club" [BERY]

Sherlockians from around the world joined the members of the Sherlock Holmes Klubben i Danmark earlier this year to mark their 75th anniversary. While the club first met in 1950, the Danish appreciation of Sherlock Holmes is as old as the Great Detective himself, when translations, movies, and parodies of his cases first graced the pages of the country's newspapers.

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion with Christian Monggaard, BSI ("Neville St. Clair") to discover the exceptional community of artists and writers who first brought Holmes to the Danish public and formed the first societies. You'll hear about noted the artists and illustrators Robert Storm-Petersen and Henry Lauritzen, and learn the twists and turns that led to Christian's career as a film critic and journalist.

Of course we lead off with Sherlockian gatherings for the second half of November in "The Learned Societies" segment. Madeline Quinones is back with "A Chance of Listening," and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with something from the vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by October 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material.

Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsors

• MX Publishing has a number of Sherlockian calendars available for purchase, from the page-a-day style to a group of Advent calendars. Check them all out and pick a date to buy one!

We're always entertaining offers from sponsors. You can find more information here.

Links

• Sherlock Holmes Klubben i Danmark

• Scandinavia and Sherlock Holmes (BSI Press)

• Other links:

  • A Chance of Listening: Baker Street Regulars

  • The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar

• Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.

And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians to find us.

Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.