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The Adventure of the Dying Detectives.
In the first week of December, in the year 2007, a dense yellow fog settled down upon London. From the Monday to the Thursday I doubt whether it was ever possible from our windows in Baker Street to see the loom of the opposite houses.
At precisely 18.30, the first of five carriages I expected that evening, drew up outside our address at 221B Baker Street.
Our first floor rooms were tidier than normal and the bookshelves lined with an extraordinary range of volumes and tombs on diverse subjects, from Botany and Medicines to Chemistry and Anatomy. On the tables lay copies of the latest scandal sheets and copies of Strand Magazine. In the corner rested a violin case and neatly stacked in a rack were several curious pipes.
I rose to greet our guests. This was an infrequent meeting of the Apolyton Irregulars. The Apolyton Irregulars were a dedicated and enthusiastic group of fans of the actors who had ever played the Sherlock Holmes character.
First to enter was Adagio Adagio had chosen to take on the role of Arthur Wontner, who had played the detective in five films between 1931-1937. Ben Kenobi at his shoulder had chosen Matt Frewer. Close behind was duke o’ york who chose to reprise the great Basil Rathbone, who starred in 14 films as Sherlock, between 1939 – 1946. Next to enter was EPW who chose to act as William Gillette, who had first portrayed Holmes, with the Briar Pipe and played Holmes in total 1300 times. I made them welcome and offered them some refreshment. That was four of us signed in.
From the first floor window I could see that the second carriage had arrived on time. I made to make our new guests most welcome. Jonny bound up the stairs. He made an excellent entrance as John Barrymore, Hi Herci boy, he called, Hi Badge, Hi Dooki, Hi EPW, close shave heh. Where’s de dames ! Barrymore was slightly annoyed.
‘Damn right, this is beyond the fringe’ said Kataphrakoi, desperately trying to emulate Peter Cook, as Sherlock, and doing a good job I might add. But I could see he missed Dudley Moore. ‘A big loss the day Dudley died ’ he said.
‘My dear boy, life goes on’ announced Jeremy Brett (aka as Kuciwalker) Life is an Adventure.
I brought the three over to meet the others. It no longer looked like an empty house.
Just then I heard the third carriage arrive. I rushed to the window. Below, stepping from the carriage was LordShiva who had made a special visit to London to meet with the Apolyton Irregulars. To grace the occasion he had opted to play Robert Stephens, whose portrayal of Sherlock, in the Private Life of, had garnered favourable reviews. On arrival, he spotted the others and immediately rushed to join them. A little behind was Nikolai who gauged that re-enacting Nicholas Rowe in ‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ would be different.
‘My Dear Boy, how could you be so single minded’ roared Rah as Peter O’ Toole His voice certainly carried authority.
The fourth carriage arrived at 19.15. I looked out the window. There was no mistaking the arrival of Rasputin as Clive Brook. Tall, black hair, brown eyes. Upstairs he was one of the first to the violin case. ‘Did I tell you about the time with Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express’ . Coming up the stairs was Riesstiu IV portraying Douglas Wilmer, well known for his Sherlock in Gene Wilder’s ‘ The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ smarter brother.
Peter Cushing, otherwise in the guise of Spaced Cowboy entered the upper room apartments. ‘ I feel so at home ‘, And he had a right to feel so,
having played Sherlock in 16 episodes of the BBC series.
Most everyone who said they’d come had arrived. But I knew some more had yet to present themselves. And then carriage number five arrived at 20.00 precisely. Out stepped Sparrowhawk as Raymond Massey. ‘ I played Sherlock in the first sound version of Sherlock Holmes’ he claimed.
‘ I couldn’t possibly comment ‘, said Tuberski , playing Ian Richardson, as he groaned about the dark beginnings of Sherlock Holmes.’
So the band of Irregulars chatted and drank and discussed and compared notes. They were having excellent entertainment. I decided to turn the lights lower.
In the first week of December, in the year 2007, a dense yellow fog settled down upon London. From the Monday to the Thursday I doubt whether it was ever possible from our windows in Baker Street to see the loom of the opposite houses.
At precisely 18.30, the first of five carriages I expected that evening, drew up outside our address at 221B Baker Street.
Our first floor rooms were tidier than normal and the bookshelves lined with an extraordinary range of volumes and tombs on diverse subjects, from Botany and Medicines to Chemistry and Anatomy. On the tables lay copies of the latest scandal sheets and copies of Strand Magazine. In the corner rested a violin case and neatly stacked in a rack were several curious pipes.
I rose to greet our guests. This was an infrequent meeting of the Apolyton Irregulars. The Apolyton Irregulars were a dedicated and enthusiastic group of fans of the actors who had ever played the Sherlock Holmes character.
First to enter was Adagio Adagio had chosen to take on the role of Arthur Wontner, who had played the detective in five films between 1931-1937. Ben Kenobi at his shoulder had chosen Matt Frewer. Close behind was duke o’ york who chose to reprise the great Basil Rathbone, who starred in 14 films as Sherlock, between 1939 – 1946. Next to enter was EPW who chose to act as William Gillette, who had first portrayed Holmes, with the Briar Pipe and played Holmes in total 1300 times. I made them welcome and offered them some refreshment. That was four of us signed in.
From the first floor window I could see that the second carriage had arrived on time. I made to make our new guests most welcome. Jonny bound up the stairs. He made an excellent entrance as John Barrymore, Hi Herci boy, he called, Hi Badge, Hi Dooki, Hi EPW, close shave heh. Where’s de dames ! Barrymore was slightly annoyed.
‘Damn right, this is beyond the fringe’ said Kataphrakoi, desperately trying to emulate Peter Cook, as Sherlock, and doing a good job I might add. But I could see he missed Dudley Moore. ‘A big loss the day Dudley died ’ he said.
‘My dear boy, life goes on’ announced Jeremy Brett (aka as Kuciwalker) Life is an Adventure.
I brought the three over to meet the others. It no longer looked like an empty house.
Just then I heard the third carriage arrive. I rushed to the window. Below, stepping from the carriage was LordShiva who had made a special visit to London to meet with the Apolyton Irregulars. To grace the occasion he had opted to play Robert Stephens, whose portrayal of Sherlock, in the Private Life of, had garnered favourable reviews. On arrival, he spotted the others and immediately rushed to join them. A little behind was Nikolai who gauged that re-enacting Nicholas Rowe in ‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ would be different.
‘My Dear Boy, how could you be so single minded’ roared Rah as Peter O’ Toole His voice certainly carried authority.
The fourth carriage arrived at 19.15. I looked out the window. There was no mistaking the arrival of Rasputin as Clive Brook. Tall, black hair, brown eyes. Upstairs he was one of the first to the violin case. ‘Did I tell you about the time with Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express’ . Coming up the stairs was Riesstiu IV portraying Douglas Wilmer, well known for his Sherlock in Gene Wilder’s ‘ The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ smarter brother.
Peter Cushing, otherwise in the guise of Spaced Cowboy entered the upper room apartments. ‘ I feel so at home ‘, And he had a right to feel so,
having played Sherlock in 16 episodes of the BBC series.
Most everyone who said they’d come had arrived. But I knew some more had yet to present themselves. And then carriage number five arrived at 20.00 precisely. Out stepped Sparrowhawk as Raymond Massey. ‘ I played Sherlock in the first sound version of Sherlock Holmes’ he claimed.
‘ I couldn’t possibly comment ‘, said Tuberski , playing Ian Richardson, as he groaned about the dark beginnings of Sherlock Holmes.’
So the band of Irregulars chatted and drank and discussed and compared notes. They were having excellent entertainment. I decided to turn the lights lower.
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