Episode 126: Becoming the Gillettes

"they are an extraordinarily astute couple" [VALL]

Harold and Theodora Niver (that's Tyke and Teddie to all who know them), are a unique couple, even by Sherlockian standards. They've had an abiding love of Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper and Dracula for most of their adult lives, they live at Baskerville Hall, and founded and ran the Men on the Tor, a Connecticut Sherlock Holmes society. [Which just so happens to be the group where Scott first got his start in Sherlockian societies.]

But one thing that keeps them active is appearing across Connecticut as William and Helen Gillette. They make regular weekend appearances at Gillette Castle, have been special guests at the William Gillette Luncheon during the BSI Weekend, and have been hired for regular events to perform "An Evening with the Gillettes."

As both of them are members of the Baker Street Irregulars, the Nivers are part of a select group of individuals in the Florin Society - having two shillings between them. Tyke received his investiture "The Man on the Tor" in 1977 and Teddie received her investiture "Carina" in 1997.

Join us on this very personal episode that has wonderful stories and details about this grand couple's adventures. From Don and Betty Grant at the Castle to Michael Harrison's sly preparedness to the law firm that includes language like "blithering saphead," it's full of surprises. We conclude with a "Gas-Lamp" that's cobbled together from the Introduction to Gillette's play in book form, and a poem written on the occasion of William Gillette's death.

Sponsors

This episode includes our two longtime sponsors, plus a new addition. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:

• Wessex Press, publishers of The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library.
• The Baker Street Journal, the original nerd periodical, publishing Sherlockian scholarship quarterly since 1946.

Links

• Episode 103: Al and Julie Rosenblatt
• Sherlock Holmes: An Evening with the Gillettes
• Episode 34: William Gillette, America's Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes in San Francisco: The Triumph of William Gillette
• Schlock Holmes by Bob Fish
• Essex Steam Train
• Chris Steinbrunner
• Gillette Castle: A History by Erik Ofgang
• Mysteries at the Castle: Season 3 Episode 2

Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine atihose.co/flipsherlock, as well as on the The Sherlock Holmes Community on Google+ (with over 4,200 members), as well as through our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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