William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes

William Hooker Gillette (b. July 24, 1853, Hartford, Connecticut; d. April 29, 1937, Hartford, Connecticut) was an American actor, playwright and stage-manager; recognized as one of the greatest actors in the history of the United States. Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmes-001. ... Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmes-001. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: The Insurance Capital of the World, New Englands Rising Star Official website: www. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is someone who writes dramatic literature or drama. ... Stage management is a sub-discipline of stagecraft. ...

Possibly best known in his day for embodying the celebrated character of Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (with whom the actor also became a close personal friend), Gillette imposed his cachet forever on the character's stereotype: deerstalker cap, cloak, curved pipe and the phrase: "Oh, this is elementary, my dear Watson." Sherlock Holmes as imagined by the seminal Holmesian artist, Sidney Edward Paget, in The Strand magazine. ... Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 - July 7, 1930) is the British author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... A deekstalker (right) along with typically associated paraphenailia of Sherlock Holmes A deerstalker is a type of hat that is typically worn in rural areas, often for hunting. ... A cloak is a type of loose garment which is worn over indoor clothing and serves the same purpose as an overcoat – it protects the wearer from the cold, rain or wind for example, or it may form part of a fashionable outfit (e. ... Youth with pipe, by Hendrick Jansz Terbrugghen A smoking pipe is a device used for smoking combustible substances such as tobacco and cannabis. ...

Also, Gillette wrote, produced and performed a play entitled Sherlock Holmes (adapted from a version originally written by Conan Doyle), hailed by the highest figures of those years. Through this work, he broadly amassed fans all around the world.

Youth

The town where William Gillette was born, Nook Farm (near Hartford, Connecticut), was a literary and intellectual node, abiding Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. His father was the wealthy Francis Gillette, A former US Senator with conservative and reformist ideas, such as fighting for abolition, modals and public education, and who constructed most of town's infrastructure. His mother was Elisabeth Daggett Hooker, a descendant of Thomas Hooker, the puritan leader, who founded the town. In the mansion, Gillette grew up with his 5 brothers. Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, novelist, writer, and lecturer. ... Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe, born Harriet Elizabeth Beecher (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an abolitionist and writer of more than 10 books, the most famous being Uncle Toms Cabin which describes life in slavery, and which was first published in serial... Categories: Stub ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Reformism (also called revisionism or revisionist theory) is the belief that gradual changes in a society can ultimately change its fundamental structures. ... Thomas Hooker (July 5, 1586 – July 7, 1647) was a prominent Puritan religious and colonial leader remembered as one of the founders of the Colony of Connecticut. ... The Puritans were originally members of a group of English Protestants seeking purity — further reforms or even separation from the established church — during the Protestant Reformation. ...

As a student, William Gillette specialized in oratory, acting and engineering. But Mark Twain, his close neighbor, pushed him towards the acting career, which eventually became his real vocation. His last year as a regular student was 1873 (when he was 20 years old). Then Gillette briefly worked for a stock company in New Orleans. Gillette returned to New England, and on Mark Twain's own recommendation, Gillette debuted at the Globe Theater of Boston with Twain's stage-play Guilded Age, in 1875. Afterward, Gillette was a stock actor for six years through Boston, New York and the Midwest. Oratory is the art of eloquent speech. ... Engineering is the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ... A stock company, when referring to acting, is a group of actors who regularly act together, for example employed by the one theatre, who perform a set repertoire of stock plays. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ...

During these years, William Gillette irregularly attended a spate of institutions, although he never completed their programs: Trinity, Harvard, Yale (1875), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NYC-College and Boston University. His family warned him regularly against his chosen vocation, and eventually disinherited him. Trinity University may refer to: Trinity University of San Antonio, Texas Trinity University of Washington, D.C. (formerly Trinity College) There are also several other educational institutions called Trinity College. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... Yale redirects here. ... The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is a private research university located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. MIT is one of the worlds leading research institutions in science and technology. ... The City College of The City University of New York (known more commonly as City College of New York or simply City College, CCNY, or colloquially as City) is a senior college of the City University of New York, in New York City. ... For the unrelated Jesuit university in Chestnut Hill, see Boston College. ... Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, and obligations upon the death of an individual. ...

Playwright, director and actor

In 1881, while performing at Cincinnati, William Gillette was hired as playwright, director and actor, by Gustave and Daniel Frohman. Taken to New York with a salary of $50-week, his first play was The Professor. He debuted in the Madison Square Theater, lasting 151 performances, with a posterior tour through many States (far as St. Louis). That same year, he performed his consecrating piece Esmeralda, written together with Hodgson Burnett. Cincinnati, Ohio viewed from the SW, across the Ohio River from Kentucky. ... Madison Square, 1908. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Official website: http://stlouis. ...

Ignoring his critics, William Gillette instead strove to fill all the theater's seats. He was committed to catch the spectator by sprightly effects and many improvements on sound systems, stage and illumination, for example the use of sudden blackouts for dramatization, fade-in/fade-out at scenes' beginning, etc. Often, he added large pantomime segments, that were also effective on the audience. i love ?? ...

Usually leaning toward cold roles enduring extreme situations, Gillette was also regarded as the "aristocrat of the stage" and an innovator in interpretation. His acute realism was accented by his particular charisma, replacing much dialog with physical action also. This was something he denominated "The Illusion of the First Time in Acting", as mentioned to the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1913). American Academy of Arts and Letters is an organization whose goal is to foster, assist, and sustain an interest in American literature, music, and art. ...

Indeed, historians have noted that he did "natural acting and not the melodramatic declaiming, proper of the 1800s". In other words, Gillette was an artist based on his personality. It can be considered that all Gillette's traits had historical consequences, as since his time American theater began to reach out the common people.

Career as Sherlock Holmes

Charles Frohman was a young Broadway producer, who had been successful with the exchanging of theater productions between the USA and the UK. After he produced some of Gillette's plays, the two formed a greater partnership. Their productions had great success, sweeping Gillette into London's society spot, which had been historically reluctant to accept American theatre. Charles Frohman (1860 - 1915) was a U.S. theatre manager. ... Broadway theatre is often considered the highest professional form of theatre in the United States. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ...

In 1897, William Gillette performed his play Secret Service at Adelphi Theater of London, with great success and was praised by the critics also. This was a significant event, particularly because he was spotted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle then. The Adam brothers Adelphi Buildings in an 18th-century print; the terrace stood upon riverfront warehousing. ...

Conan Doyle had finished his Sherlock Holmes saga with The Final Problem, published in 1893. After this publication Conan Doyle found himself in need of further income, as he was planning to build a new house. He decided to take his character to stage. While two previous plays had been done by Charles Brookifield, the skit "Under the clock" in 1893, and John Webb, the play "Sherlock Holmes" in 1894, Doyle wrote a new 5-act play nevertheless, with Holmes and Moriarty in their freshmen years as detectives. The Adventure of the Final Problem is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. ... Architect John Webb (1611-24 October 1672) was born in Butley in Somerset and became son-in-law and personal assistant to fellow architect and theatre designer Inigo Jones from 1628, having married Jones daughter Anne. ...

After attending Gillette's London performances of 1897, Conan Doyle commented to the press that Gillette was his favorite actor to perform the classic sleuth. He contacted Frohman then, who was in New York, but Conan Doyle canceled the deal when Frohman pretended to own the staging-copyright also. Copyright symbol. ...

Conan Doyle the offered the production to Henry Irving and Beerhom Tree. But when they demanded to readapt Holmes to their acting profile, he turned down the deal, considering that this would debase the character. Henry Irving, as Hamlet, in a 1893 illustration from The Idler magazine John Henry Brodribb Irving (February 6, 1838 – October 13, 1905),(whose original name was John Brodribb), became better known as Sir Henry Irving. ...

Noting that Conan Doyle was hopeless and weighing that Gillette could do it, the literary agent A. P. Watt again sent the script to Frohman. Frohman, assessing that this was impossible, traveled to London to meet Conan Doyle nonetheless. There, Frohman suggested the prospect of an adaptation by William Gillette. Conan Doyle endorsed this and Frohman obtained the staging-copyright (1897).

William Gillette, who read the entire collection for first time then, liked the idea and started the piece's outlining in San Francisco, while touring with Secret Service still. Both artists became confident. In one occasion, Gillette referred by telegraph: "May I marry Holmes?" . The unwavering Conan Doyle's responded: "You can marry him, or kill him. Or anything you want." This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

Coins famous phrase

William Gillette's version consisted of 4 acts. Epitomizing several Conan Doyle's stories, he mainly utilized the plots "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Final Problem". Also, it had elements from "Study in Scarlet", "The Sign of the Four", "The Boscombe Valley" and "The Greek Interpreter". A Scandal in Bohemia was the first of Arthur Conan Doyles 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories to be published in The Strand Magazine. ... The Adventure of the Final Problem is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. ...

Different to the only-intellectual original, "a machine rather than a man", William Gillette portrayed Sherlock Holmes as brave and open to express his feelings. He introduced the deerstalker cap on stage, which was originally featured in illustrations by Sidney Paget in the 1890s. Gillette also introduced to Holmes' costume the cloak and the curved pipe, instead of the straight one, so Gillette, a great smoker also, could pronounce his lines. Gillette also made use of a magnifying-glass, a violin and a syringe, which were all established as "props" to the Sherlock Holmes character. A Paget illustration of Sherlock Holmes (right) and Dr. Watson. ... A magnifying glass A magnifying glass is a single convex lens which is used to produce a magnified image of an object. ... A violin The violin is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a perfect fifth apart. ... A syringe consists of a plunger fitted to a tube, called the barrel, which has a small opening on one end. ...

Gillette formulated the complete phrase: "Oh, this is elementary, my dear Watson", which was later reused by Clive Brook, the first spoken-cinema Holmes, as: "Elementary, my dear Watson", one of Holmes' well known traits. Clive Brook (1 June 1887 - 17 November 1974) was a British actor. ...

Irene Adler, the woman of the series, was replaced by Alice Faulkner, young and beautiful lady who was planning to revenge her sister's murder but eventually falls in love with Holmes. Irene Adler is a fictional character featured in the Sherlock Holmes story A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in July, 1891. ...

The tentative title was: "Sherlock Holmes in an Unknown Episode, not Published in the Great Detective's Career, showing his connection with the Weird Ms. Faulkner case". But it was reduced later to: "Sherlock Holmes - A Drama in Four Acts."

After the Baldwin Hotel blaze in San Francisco, in November 1898, both original scripts, Conan Doyle's and Gillette's adaptation, were destroyed. Gillette wrote the piece again nevertheless, in a month and by memory.

Traveling in 1899 to present it to Conan Doyle, they met in Ulster's train station. Gillette showed up disguised as Sherlock Holmes. With the character's posing, he approached slowly and said: "You're the writer, no doubt about it". Conan Doyle approved the script and the two became friends. Statistics Area: 24,481 Population (estimate) 1,931,981 Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ...

Holmes tour

Original tour's poster. "Presented by Charles Frohman."

After a pre-debut presentation streak starting October 1899 in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse in New York, and Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania, Sherlock Holmes debuted in the Garrick Theater of New York in November 6, 1899, performing until June 16, 1900. It was an instant success. Gillette applied all his dazzling special effects over the massive audience. Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmes. ... Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmes. ... Official website: Buffalo, NY Location Location of Buffalo in New York State Government County Erie County Mayor Byron Brown Geographical characteristics Area Total 136. ... Nickname: The Flour City, The Flower City, The Worlds Image Center Motto: Rochester: Made for Living Official website: www. ... Aerial View of Syracuse Syracuse is an American city in Central New York. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 141,205 km²  (54,520 sq. ... Motto: Embracing Our People, Our Traditions and Our Future Nickname: Electric City, Map Political Statistics Incorporated Borough:February 14, 1856 City: April 23, 1866 County Lackawanna County Mayor Christopher A. Doherty (D) Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 65. ... Wilkes-Barre (IPA: , , or [1]) is a city located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, of which it is the county seat. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Harrisburg Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq. ...

But he faced sharp, even derisive, criticism from the newspapers, especially about Holmes falling in love. In Conan Doyle's original novels, Holmes was said to have an "aversion to women". As a matter of fact, throughout 34 years, the critics would rarely praise the production.

The company also toured nationally, along the western United States, from October 8, 1900, to March 30, 1901. This was bolstered by another company also, with Cuyler Hastings, through minor cities and Australia.

After a pre-debut week in Liverpool, the company debuted in London (September 9, 1901), at the Lyceum Theater, performing in Duke of York's Theater later. Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ... The Lyceum Theatre is a theatre located in London, on Wellington Street near Covent Garden in the West End. ... The Duke of Yorks Theatre in London, UK, opened on 10 September 1892 with Wedding Eve, was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte. ...

It was another hit with its audience, despite not convincing the critics. The 12 weeks originally appointed were at full-hall. The production was extended until April 12, 1902 (256 presentations), including a gala for King Edward VII, in February 1. Then, it toured through the British Islands, with two ancillary groups: north (with H.A. Saintsbury) and south (with Julian Royce). Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... Under the Interpretation Act 1978 of the United Kingdom, the term British Islands refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, together with the Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwicks of Jersey and of Guernsey (which in turn includes the smaller islands of Alderney, Herm and Sark) in the...

At the same time, the play was produced in foreign countries (such as Australia, Sweden, South Africa). In the USA, Gillette toured again from 1902 to 1903, until November of 1903, when Gillette launched his next play: The Admirable Crichton, requested personally by its author, J.M. Barrie. Sir James Matthew Barrie, Bt. ...

Worldwide fame

One of the many caricatures. This one originated with Vanity Fair.

In his lifetime, Gillette presented Sherlock Holmes approximately 1,300 times (third in the historical stage-record), before American and English audiences. He was also shown widely, through appearances in many magazines, by way of photographs or illustrated caricatures, and was also well represented on the covers of theater programs. Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteVanityFair. ... Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteVanityFair. ... This article is about the magazine as a published medium. ... A photograph (often just called a photo) is an image (or a representation of that on e. ... Caricature of Alan Greenspan by Jan Op De Beeck. ... A programme or program with respect to events such as theatre performances or fêtes is a printed leaflet outlining the parts of the event scheduled to take place, principal performers and background information. ...

Meanwhile, around the world, other productions took place, based on Gillette's Sherlock Holmes. These were either satiric, which were very successful, and/or undue; some lasted several seasons. Frohman's lawyers tried to curb the illegal phenomenon exhaustedly, traveling overseas, from court to court. Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject (individuals, organizations, states) often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Even Gillette parodied Holmes once and, ironically, on this one occasion the critic praised the production. The Fearfully, The Harrowing (1905) was a one-act piece, a preamble to the main production, conceived as an homage to Joseph Jefferson Holland, a member of the company who had died while touring. It was about Holmes, with his typical pose but not uttering a word, listening to an alienated woman calmly. Gillette repeated the piece in London, while promoting his sentimental drama Clarice (September-October 1905). The juvenile Charles Chaplin portrayed Billy the pageboy there. But, when the production of Clarice became a failure, Gillette replaced Clarice with Sherlock Holmes. Chaplin repeated his role again. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For the Jamaican musician named Charlie Chaplin, see Charlie Chaplin (singer). ...

Models for Holmes' portrait

The magazines Collier's Weekly (USA) and The Strand (UK) pushed Conan Doyle avidly, offering to continue Sherlock Holmes series for a generous salary. The new chapters were first published in 1901, first with a prequel and later with Holmes revived definitively (1903). It continued for another quarter-century. November 24, 1917 cover Colliers Weekly was an American magazine that was published between 1888 and 1957. ... The Strand Magazine was a monthly fiction magazine founded by George Newnes. ...

Gillette posed for pictures by the artist Frederic Dorr Steele, which were featured on Collier's Weekly's covers then and reproduced by American media. Additionally, Steele contributed with Conan Doyle's book-covers, Gillette's short stories (Baker Street Irregulars) and, later, doing marketing when Gillette made his farewell performances. Cover may mean: Cover (telecommunications), a communications concealment technique Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package Cover version, a new version of a previously recorded song Cover band, a musical band that plays only covers Cover (topology), the mathematical concept of a collection of subsets of a set whose... The Baker Street Irregulars are several different groups, all named after the original, from various Sherlock Holmes stories. ...

As international copyright did not yet exist, Conan Doyle's series were widely printed throughout the USA, mostly with pictures of William Gillette on-stage. P. F. Collier & Son owned the copyrights of Steel's illustrations and issued drawings in many editions.

Gillette Castle

Gillette Castle, Hadlyme, Connecticut

Gillette announced his retirement many times along his career, despite not actually accomplishing this until just before his death. The first announced retirement took place in 1919, after he purchased the boat Aunt Polly which was 144 feet in length and weighed 200 tons. Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteCastle. ... Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteCastle. ...

In 1912, while sailing the Connecticut river, Gillette spotted a hill, part of the Seven Sisters, over a ferry's pier in Hadlyme. He docked, disembarked and climbed up. He was so amazed by the view that he purchased 115 acres of land, the next month. He decided to build up a castle at this location based on the Norman fortress Robert the Devil. Seven Sisters may refer to: The Pleiades, seven sisters who are companions of Artemis in Greek mythology The Pleiades, a star cluster named for the mythological characters The Hesperides of Greek mythology The Seven Sisters, fictional characters from the Forgotten Realms Geographical locations: Two places in England: Seven Sisters, Sussex... The Pride of Rotterdam, One of the P&O Ferriess Flagships operating the Hull-Rotterdam Route A ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, on scheduled services. ... A pier in Lillebælt, Denmark A pier is a raised walkway over water, supported by widely spread piles or pillars. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ... Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Robert the Devil is a legend of medieval origin. ...

During the five years of construction, Gillette lived aboard the Aunt Polly. The material for the castle was carried up by an aerial-trolley designed by him. The castle's walls tapered from 5 feet thick at the base to 3 feet at the upper levels. The castle possessed 24 rooms and 47 doors, with puzzled hand-carved locks, which were also devised by Gillette. The main salon measured 30 by 50 feet and was 19 feet in height, featuring a complex mirrored system of surveillance that ended in his bedroom. He explained this as a means "to make great entrances in the opportune moment". This article refers to the mass transit vehicle running on rails. ...

The mansion was finished in 1919, at a cost of 1 million US dollars. Gillette called it Seven Sisters. Its small train was his personal pride. The train's layout was 3 miles long, and it travelled all around the property. Gillette also enjoyed strolls on his property in company of his guests, Albert Einstein among them. Alternate uses: Dollar (disambiguation) The dollar is the name of the official currency in several countries, dependencies and other regions (see list below). ... Albert Einstein, photographed by Yousuf Karsh in 1948. ...

The castle is preserved as part of Gillette Castle State Park. Gillette Castle State Park is located in East Haddam, Connecticut. ...

Last years and farewell tour

An elder William Gillette with full Holmes's costume

Naturally, Sherlock Holmes was Gillette's foremost production with 1,300 performances (in 1905, 1906, 1910, 1915 and 1923). While performing on other tours, he was always forced to include at least one extra performance of Sherlock Holmes, by popular demand. Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmesLegacy-002-HD.jpg Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Image File history File links Zzz-GilletteHolmesLegacy-002-HD.jpg Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ...

In 1929, at the age of 66, Gillette started the farewell tour of Sherlock Holmes, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Scheduled for two seasons, it was eventually extended into 1932. Springfield MA skyline Nickname: City of Homes Official website: www. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ...

In the New Amsterdam Theater of New York, on November 25, 1929, a great ceremony took place. Gillette received a signature book, autographed by 60 different world eminences. There, in his speech, Conan Doyle stated: "I consider the production a personal gratification... My only complaint is that you made the poor hero of the anemic printed page a very limp object as compared with the glamour of your own personality which you infuse into his stage presentment." Former President Calvin Coolidge commented that the production was a "public service". On the same occasion, the critics concurred, praising the performance sentimentally. The definitive farewell appearance took place on March 19, 1932, in Wilmington, Delaware. The New Amsterdam Theatre is a playhouse located at 214 West 42nd Street in New York Citys Broadway district. ... For other uses, see Signature (disambiguation). ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... Motto: A Place To Be Somebody Map Political Statistics Founded 1638 Incorporated 1832 County New Castle County Mayor James M. Baker (Dem) Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 44. ...

Gillette died on April 29, 1937, in Hartford, due to a pulmonary hemorrhage. He was buried in Hooker's family cemetery, at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Farmington is a town located in central Connecticut, in Hartford County, Connecticut. ...

Trivia

• Around June 1903, in one of the shadow companies touring UK, Charles Chaplin (12 years old) was hired to play Billy the pageboy. He was saved from impoverishment then. Repeatedly, years later, at his heyday, Chaplin touched on this anecdote beholdenly when interviewed.
• Orson Welles did an homage adaptation of Gillette's Sherlock Holmes, imitating Gillette's style, in his The Mercury Theater on the Air (September 25, 1938). "It is not enough to say that William Gillette resembles Sherlock Holmes; Sherlock Holmes looks exactly like William Gillette." (Welles)
• Gillette was married for six years, until the death of his wife. He was very depressed for the following five years and never married again. But later, he was regarded as a philanderer since many women were seen at his castle. He corresponded with one of them in particular, for decades.
• Gillette helped to arrange a reunion of The Baker Street Irregulars, on December 7, 1934, in New York. This occasion was later marked and renamed the Gillette Memorial Luncheon. The latter event now celebrates Sherlock Holmes's birthday, by Baker Street's fellows.
• Gillette's Sherlock Holmes was the first radio-drama transmitted in stereo in the UK, on November 15, 1958. It was adapted by Raymond Raikes.
• Gillette had the same butler for 30 years, hired in 1890: Yukitaki Ozaki was a political refugee from Japan. A member of a rich family, Yukitaki was embarrassed in one occasion at his humble job, because they were about to visit the castle. Gillette switched the roles, doing him of butler and Yukitaki of his master. Ozaki was replaced by another Japanese butler, Fakumatsu Tsubone.
• Gillette improved Aunt Polly 's interior, maintaining it for years. Despite his efforts, the boat later sank. Its remains are exhibited inside Gillette's Castle.
• Gillette was also fond of his motorcycle. He used to drive it around the castle. Once, he lost control of the brakes and motorcycle and rider dived into the river. His attempt to quickly rescue the vehicle had to be barred by some onlookers.
• To avoid forclosure on the "Castle," and in order to pay a tax bill, Gillette instead burned a yacht that he had recently purchased, fifty yards from Hadlyme's pier.
• Gillette supported Connecticut Governor Wilbur Cross, advising him on political strategies.
• Visiting Washington D.C., Gillette was invited to the White House.
• The studious journalist Henry Zecher is deemed as one of the "World's foremost authorities on William Gillette".

For the Jamaican musician named Charlie Chaplin, see Charlie Chaplin (singer). ... George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was a director of film and the theatre, as well as an actor, screenwriter, broadcaster and producer. ... The Mercury Theatre was a theatre company founded in New York City by Orson Welles and John Houseman. ... The Baker Street Irregulars are a group of fictional characters featured in the Sherlock Holmes stories. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Audio theatre. ... Wilbur Lucius Cross (1862 - 1948) was a U.S. educator and political figure. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ...

Bibliography

In his life, Gillette wrote 13 original plays, 7 adaptations and some collaborations, encompassing farce, melodrama and novel adapting. Two pieces about the Civil War highlights: Held by the Enemy (1886) and Secret Service (1896). Particularly, Secret Service was successful with both the public and the praising critics. He reaped 3 million dollars in gaining, great deal of it by copyright. A farce is a comedy written for the stage, or a film, which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely and extravagant - yet often possible - situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include puns and sexual innuendo, and a fast-paced... For Vibe Tribes album see Melodrama (album) Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914). ...

• 1881, The Professor. Original. Gillette's first play. About an appealing professor coveted by the girls, while grappling with the rude boys.
• 1881, Esmeralda. Adaptation (original by Frances Hodgson Burnett). Light comedy. Starred by Annie Russell. Later by Viola Allen. (Film: 1915)
• 1884, The Private Secretary. Adapted from the German Der Bibliothekar (by Gustav Von Moser). Well Known. Many changes over the original: Rev. Mr. Spaulding became a medium. Also, it had several modifications throughout five years of presentations.
• 1886, Held by the Enemy. Original. Successful. First Gillette's drama in years of the American Civil War. (Film: 1920)
• 1894, Too Much Johnson. Original. Successful. (Films: 1919, 1938)
• 1896, Secret Service. Original. Foremost production until Sherlock Holmes. On Civil-War 's Captain Thorne, Union-spy infiltrated as press correspondent (Lewis Dumont). Performed by Maurice Barrymore (Philadelphia) and William Gillette (Broadway). It lasted a year on stage. (Films: 1919, 1931, 1977 TV)
• 1899, She Loved him So. Original.
• 1899, Sherlock Holmes. (Films: 1916, 1922 UK, 1932, 1939 UK, 1981 TV, 1982 TV)
• She (Fire Goddess). Adaptation (H.R.Ridder Haggard).
• 1903, The Admirable Crichton. First Gillettes's starring role in a play by James M. Barrie.
• 1906, Clarice. Original. Sentimental comedy.
• 1910, Electricity. Original.
• 1918, Dear Brutus. Second Gillette's starring role in a play by James M. Barrie. It included a young Helen Hayes.

Frances Hodgson Burnett Frances Hodgson Burnett, (November 24, 1849 - October 29, 1924) was an English playwright and author. ... Viola Emily Allen (born October 27, 1869 in Huntsville, Alabama; died May 10, 1948 in New York City) was an U.S. actress. ... Combatants Union (remaining U.S. states) Confederate States of America Commanders Abraham Lincoln† Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties KIA: 110,000 Total dead: 360,000 Wounded: 275,200 KIA: 94,000 Total dead: 258,000 Wounded: 137,000+  The... Born Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blyth, Maurice Barrymore (1849 – 1905) was the forefather of the Barrymore family of American actors. ... Helen Hayes (October 10, 1900 - March 17, 1993) was an American actress whose successful and award-winning career spanned almost 70 years. ...

In-life editions of Sherlock Holmes

• 1922. First publication by Samuel French. It was based in 1923's reposition.
• 1935. Published by Doubleday, Doran & Co.. It was a pricey edition, containing Gillette's foreword, multi-paged feature on trivial data and illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele.

Samuel French in 1851 Samuel French (1821 - 1898) was a U.S. entrepreneur who, together with British actor, playwright and theatrical manager Thomas Hailes Lacy, pioneered in the field of theatrical publishing and the licensing of plays. ...

Filmography

• The Battle at Fort Laramie (1913). Starring.
• The Delayed Special (1914). Starring.
• In 1916, Gillette starred the first cinema-adaptation of his Sherlock Holmes. Albeit it wasn't the first movie about Holmes. It was a seven-roll silent movie by Essenay Film Manufacturing Co.. Marjorie Kay played Alice Faulkner and Ernest Manpani was Moriarty. The acid critic noted that Gillette was "about to lose his physical strength to perform the character" since then, insisting that he would not be able to repeat it over the 60 years old. No copy of the film has survived.
• In 1922, Goldwyn Pictures filmed another version of Gillette's play. It was directed by Albert Parker and John Barrymore played Holmes.
• Secret Service. 1931. Radio Pictures. 69 minutes. Romantic drama in Civil War. It was directed by J. Walter Ruben and Richard Dix was the Union's spy.

Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in 1916 by Samuel Goldfish in partnership with Broadway producers Edgar and Archibald Selwyn using a combination of both last names to create the name. ... John Sidney Blythe (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942), better known as John Barrymore and nicknamed The Great Profile, became famous as a Shakespearean actor, lauded for his Hamlet, and was frequently regarded as the greatest actor of his generation, playing a wide variety of roles on stage and in... The classic logo of RKO Radio Pictures. ... Richard Dix publicity photo Richard Dix (July 18, 1893 - September 20, 1949) was an American actor. ...

Radio

• In October 20, 1930, Gillette performed the first radio-version of Holmes in history: The Adventure of the Speckled Band. It was an original theater version by Conan Doyle, re-adapted by Edith Meiser. It was transmitted by WEAF-NBC (New York) and sponsored by G. Washington Coffe Co.. It was the pilot of a series actually, performed by several actors along five seasons.
• In November 18, 1935, Gillette (80 years old) performed his own Sherlock Holmes in the WABC radio of New York, re-adapted by Edith Meiser; with Reginald Mason --Watson-- and Charles Bryant --Moriarty--. It's duration was 50 minutes. It was the pilot for a new Holme's series by Lux Radio Theater. New York Times said that Gillette was "still the best, with all his shades and improvisation".

WNBC, NBC4 is the flagship TV station of the NBC television network with studios located at 30 Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. ... WABC is the callsign of the American Broadcasting Companys three flagship broadcast stations in New York: WABC AM, 770 kHz WABC-TV, channel 7 (DTV 45) WABC-FM 95. ... Charles Gyude Bryant (born January 17, 1949) has been the Chairman of the Transitional Government of Liberia since October 14, 2003. ... Lux Radio Theater, one of the genuine classic radio anthology series (NBC Blue Network, 1934-1935; CBS 1935-1955), adapted first Broadway stage and then (and especially) films to hourlong live radio presentations and became the standard by which future radio and early television anthologies would be judged. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

As novelist

William Gillette wrote two novels.

• 1937, The Astounding Crime on Torrington Road. Only mystery novel.

Legacy

Tryon, North Carolina

In 1890, after his first visiting of Tryon, North Carolina, Gillette built the first of his two residences there. Nowadays, in November, is celebrated the William Gillette Festival, around the still surviving house, with personal items on display and souvenir selling. Tryon is a town located in Polk County, North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Raleigh Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq. ...

• Tryon's Festival home (External Link)

Gillette's Castle

After Gillette died, his will appointed to preclude for his castle any "blithering sap-head who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded". In 1943, Connecticut's government took the property, re-baptizing it Gillette's Castle and Gillette Castle State Park. Look up will in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Located in 67 River Road, East Haddam, Connecticut, it was reopened in 2002. After a four years of restoration --costing 11 million dollars--, It includes museum, park and many theatrical celebrations. It receives 100,000 annual visitors, who can do hikes or picnic.

• Gillette´s Castle at Connecticut (External Link)

Quotations

• “I want to make money on Holmes quick, so as to be through with it!”
• “What good is a friend if you can't make an enemy of him?”

References

• "Sherlock Holmes: The Published Apocrypha", compiled by Jack Tracy.
• "The Final Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", compiled by Peter Haining.

Peter Haining is a well-known journalist and author who lives and works in London. ...

See also

• Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes as imagined by the seminal Holmesian artist, Sidney Edward Paget, in The Strand magazine. ...

External links

• William Gillette at The Internet Movie Database
• 221b Sherlock Holmes
• Details of Gillette´s Castle