Next In-Person Fetes:
Annual Blue Carbuncle Holiday Gathering
and Sherlock Holmes-William Gillette Tributes
Above, Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson talk with Henry Baker about his goose, an important detail in "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle." At right, Holmes and Watson examine the mysterious felt hat important to cracking the case.
|
|
The Afghanistan Perceivers will have our annual Blue Carbuncle-themed holiday gathering at 5 p.m. on 20 Dec. at Rib Crib, 8040 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa. "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is the only short story in the Sherlockian canon set at Christmastime.
Since we completed another circuit of the canon in 2025, we will draw by lot (or randomized numbers on a mobile phone application) the six short stories to be discussed in 2026. Our February and March discussions will focus on A Study in Scarlet, with The Sign of Four in 2027, The Hound of the Baskervilles in 2028 and The Valley of Fear in 2029.
Since we completed another circuit of the canon in 2025, we will draw by lot (or randomized numbers on a mobile phone application) the six short stories to be discussed in 2026. Our February and March discussions will focus on A Study in Scarlet, with The Sign of Four in 2027, The Hound of the Baskervilles in 2028 and The Valley of Fear in 2029.
William Gillette
We will kick off 2026 with our annual celebration and toasting of Sherlock Holmes's birthday. While the Great One was probably born 6 Jan. 1854, we will gather on 10 Jan. for a special event. At 2 p.m. at the Kendall-Whittier public library (21 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa), we will view a condensed version of the silent movie Sherlock Holmes, starring William Gillette, the actor who primarily helped to popularize Holmes in the United States. The 1916 film, based upon Gillette's play by the same name, was thought to have been lost until a print was found in France in 1914. Mark Gatiss, who played Mycroft Holmes and was a primary writer on the BBC Sherlock series, drove and helped to finance the restoration of the film.
Perceivers president Brian Wilson will give a short talk about the film, its groundbreaking effects and Gillette. After viewing it, we will walk two blocks west to Gillette Avenue, where we will toast Gillette with hot tea and hot chocolate, both of which may have adult-strength additives. After that tribute, we will repair down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast Sherlock Holmes's birthday. A food truck will be on site the hunger-stricken.
Perceivers president Brian Wilson will give a short talk about the film, its groundbreaking effects and Gillette. After viewing it, we will walk two blocks west to Gillette Avenue, where we will toast Gillette with hot tea and hot chocolate, both of which may have adult-strength additives. After that tribute, we will repair down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast Sherlock Holmes's birthday. A food truck will be on site the hunger-stricken.
Our previous in-person event was the annual commemoration of the Fatal Battle of Maiwand, a military disaster for the British during the Second Anglo-Afghan War that leads to John H. Watson and Sherlock Holmes becoming flat-mates. We met 24th July at Houligan Brothers restaurant and pub. Details about the fete are on the Fatal Battle of Maiwand page on this website.
On 24th May, the Screening Room at Tulsa's Circle Cinema sold out for the Perceivers lecture/film presentation of two Oklahoma-connected films about Holmes.
Andy Couch, an expert on Lynn Riggs, discussed the Claremore author's connection to Hollywood and how he wound up writing the screenplays for Sherlock Holmes in Washington and Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, both set during World War II. Couch's wife, Katie, provided invaluable technical help during presentation.
For three years, Couch was curator of the Riggs exhibit at the Claremore Musuem of History before he eventually became director of the Norman Firehouse Art Center in 2022. Couch continues to examine Riggs's archives and possessions. He might write a biography of Riggs, whose play Green Grow the Lilacs was converted into the musical Oklahoma. Dialogue from the play made its way into much of that production's libretto.
After Couch's insights and the two movies, about a dozen Perceivers traveled down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Arthur Conan Doyle. Dante's wood-fired pizza truck had delicious pies.
On 11th Jan., 16 Perceivers, including several newcomers, celebrated Holmes's birthday at the White Lion pub in Tulsa. Our robust discussion centered on Lucy Worsley's Holmes vs. Doyle three-part PBS series and a lecture by Dean Clark on Doyle's love-hate relationship with Holmes.
On 24th May, the Screening Room at Tulsa's Circle Cinema sold out for the Perceivers lecture/film presentation of two Oklahoma-connected films about Holmes.
Andy Couch, an expert on Lynn Riggs, discussed the Claremore author's connection to Hollywood and how he wound up writing the screenplays for Sherlock Holmes in Washington and Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, both set during World War II. Couch's wife, Katie, provided invaluable technical help during presentation.
For three years, Couch was curator of the Riggs exhibit at the Claremore Musuem of History before he eventually became director of the Norman Firehouse Art Center in 2022. Couch continues to examine Riggs's archives and possessions. He might write a biography of Riggs, whose play Green Grow the Lilacs was converted into the musical Oklahoma. Dialogue from the play made its way into much of that production's libretto.
After Couch's insights and the two movies, about a dozen Perceivers traveled down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Arthur Conan Doyle. Dante's wood-fired pizza truck had delicious pies.
On 11th Jan., 16 Perceivers, including several newcomers, celebrated Holmes's birthday at the White Lion pub in Tulsa. Our robust discussion centered on Lucy Worsley's Holmes vs. Doyle three-part PBS series and a lecture by Dean Clark on Doyle's love-hate relationship with Holmes.
