The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Encyclopedia
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was an old-time radio
show which aired in the USA from October 2, 1939 to July 7, 1947. Most episodes were written by the team of Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher
.
Originally, the show starred Basil Rathbone
as Sherlock Holmes
and Nigel Bruce
as Doctor Watson. Together, they starred in 220 episodes which aired weekly on Mondays from 8:30 to 9:00pm. Bromo Quinine
sponsored some of the earlier programs on the NBC Blue Network and for a period Parker Pen was the sponsor. The show first aired on the Blue Network
but later moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System
. It was originally broadcast from Hollywood. During World War II
, the show was also broadcast overseas through the Armed Forces Radio Service. Recordings of only 50 episodes were originally known to be extant, but today well over 150 have been found, evidence of this is needed as only 51 are in circulation.
Basil Rathbone's last episode as the famous Detective was "The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher." He was eager to separate himself from the show to avoid being typecast as Sherlock Holmes, and even though the show's sponsor Petri Wine
offered him generous pay to continue, he decided to move on. Once he did, the sponsor did as well, and Tom Conway
took the starring role, though Nigel Bruce got top billing and was always announced first. The new sponsor was Kreml Hair Tonic for Men, and the new series only lasted 39 episodes. Tom Conway was replaced midseason by John Stanley. The show was later sponsored by Clipper Craft menswear and broadcast from New York City.
With Rathbone and Bruce, the show exhibited an interesting introduction. The sponsor's spokesman, usually Harry Bartell
, or, during the show's initial season and again in the final season, Joseph Bell, would show up weekly at Dr. Watson's house (then retired and living in California
), and share a story about Holmes and his adventures over a glass of Petri wine. This offered them the chance to sometimes bring in other characters to contribute to the story, and also gave Watson a chance to summarize or add additional tidbits at the end. Another interesting thing about this radio show's introductions was Dr. Watson's anecdotes and comments about his dogs usually referred to as the "Puppies".
Old-time radio
Old-Time Radio and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s...
show which aired in the USA from October 2, 1939 to July 7, 1947. Most episodes were written by the team of Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher was an American science fiction editor and author of mystery novels and short stories. He was particularly influential as an editor. Between 1942 and 1947 he acted as reviewer of mostly mystery fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle...
.
Originally, the show starred Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
and Nigel Bruce
Nigel Bruce
William Nigel Ernle Bruce , best known as Nigel Bruce, was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Doctor Watson in a series of films and in the radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes...
as Doctor Watson. Together, they starred in 220 episodes which aired weekly on Mondays from 8:30 to 9:00pm. Bromo Quinine
Bromo Quinine
Bromo Quinine were brand name cold tablets manufactured by Grove Laboratories. They were first marketed in 1889....
sponsored some of the earlier programs on the NBC Blue Network and for a period Parker Pen was the sponsor. The show first aired on the Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
but later moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
. It was originally broadcast from Hollywood. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the show was also broadcast overseas through the Armed Forces Radio Service. Recordings of only 50 episodes were originally known to be extant, but today well over 150 have been found, evidence of this is needed as only 51 are in circulation.
Basil Rathbone's last episode as the famous Detective was "The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher." He was eager to separate himself from the show to avoid being typecast as Sherlock Holmes, and even though the show's sponsor Petri Wine
Petri Wine
Petri Wine is a family run vineyard in San Francisco, California, United States. It was founded in 1886 by Raphaelo Petri. In 1953, Petri Wine was the largest domestic producer of wine in the United States....
offered him generous pay to continue, he decided to move on. Once he did, the sponsor did as well, and Tom Conway
Tom Conway
Tom Conway was a British film and radio actor, and elder brother of actor George Sanders.-Early life:...
took the starring role, though Nigel Bruce got top billing and was always announced first. The new sponsor was Kreml Hair Tonic for Men, and the new series only lasted 39 episodes. Tom Conway was replaced midseason by John Stanley. The show was later sponsored by Clipper Craft menswear and broadcast from New York City.
With Rathbone and Bruce, the show exhibited an interesting introduction. The sponsor's spokesman, usually Harry Bartell
Harry Bartell
Harry Bartell was an American actor and announcer in radio, television and film. With his rather youthful sounding voice, Bartell was one of the busiest West Coast character actors from the early 1940s until the final end of network radio drama in the 1960s.Bartell was born in New Orleans,...
, or, during the show's initial season and again in the final season, Joseph Bell, would show up weekly at Dr. Watson's house (then retired and living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
), and share a story about Holmes and his adventures over a glass of Petri wine. This offered them the chance to sometimes bring in other characters to contribute to the story, and also gave Watson a chance to summarize or add additional tidbits at the end. Another interesting thing about this radio show's introductions was Dr. Watson's anecdotes and comments about his dogs usually referred to as the "Puppies".
Listen to
- Botar's Old Time Radio (free mp3 downloads)
- Sherlock Holmes Public Library (Most of the programs plus lots of other Sherlockiana)
- Sherlock Holmes programs available on the Internet Archive.Org