Sherlock Holmes-William Gillette Tributes
At Gillette Avenue in Tulsa's historic Kendall-Whittier district, (front row) Nancy Laughrey, Lynn Westbrook, Jane Langston, (back row) Mike McKeon, Scott Wilson, Dean Clark and Brooks Williamson hold their hot beverages to toast William Gillette, who enacted Sherlock Holmes about 1,300 times in his long career. Gillette's 1899 play and 1916 silent movie popularized Sherlock Holmes in the United States and the world.
William Gillette
Eleven Afghanistan Perceivers, including newest member Dena Shea, kicked off 2026 with our annual celebration of Sherlock Holmes's birthday. While the Great One was probably born 6 Jan. 1854, we gathered on 10 Jan. for a special event at the Kendall-Whittier public library.
Founding member Dean Clark, second-oldest member Jane Langston, Brooks Williamson, Mike McKeon, Nancy Laughrey, Lynn Westbrook, Dena Shea, treasurer/social media wench Sarah Wilson, Scott Wilson and Barbara Wilson listened to president Brian Wilson's lecture about William Gillette, the actor who primarily helped to popularize Holmes in the United States. Gillette's 1916 film Sherlock Holmes, based upon his 1899 play by the same name, was thought to have been lost until a print was found in France in 2014. 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.
Brian Wilson discussed the film, its groundbreaking effects and Gillette, whose influence on global theater and eventually famous actors is considerable. After viewing the film, we went two blocks west to Gillette Avenue, where we toasted Gillette with hot tea and hot chocolate, both of which may have had adult-strength additives.
After that tribute, we repaired a half-mile down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast Sherlock Holmes's birthday. Lynn Westbrook was invested with the canonical name Theresa Wright.
Our next in-person event will be at 4 p.m. on 23 May to toast Queen Victoria's birthday. Please watch this webpage for the location. Please email [email protected] for questions and information.
Founding member Dean Clark, second-oldest member Jane Langston, Brooks Williamson, Mike McKeon, Nancy Laughrey, Lynn Westbrook, Dena Shea, treasurer/social media wench Sarah Wilson, Scott Wilson and Barbara Wilson listened to president Brian Wilson's lecture about William Gillette, the actor who primarily helped to popularize Holmes in the United States. Gillette's 1916 film Sherlock Holmes, based upon his 1899 play by the same name, was thought to have been lost until a print was found in France in 2014. 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.
Brian Wilson discussed the film, its groundbreaking effects and Gillette, whose influence on global theater and eventually famous actors is considerable. After viewing the film, we went two blocks west to Gillette Avenue, where we toasted Gillette with hot tea and hot chocolate, both of which may have had adult-strength additives.
After that tribute, we repaired a half-mile down Admiral Boulevard to Heirloom Rustic Ales to toast Sherlock Holmes's birthday. Lynn Westbrook was invested with the canonical name Theresa Wright.
Our next in-person event will be at 4 p.m. on 23 May to toast Queen Victoria's birthday. Please watch this webpage for the location. Please email [email protected] for questions and information.
Our previous in-person event was our annual Blue Carbuncle-themed get-together. Ten Perceivers gathered at a Tulsa Rib Crib to hear humorous excerpts from "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," the only Sherlock Holmes story set at Christmastime.
Since one goose plays prominently in the plot and another (broiler ... er, uh ... spoiler alert) is roasted, Wilson roasted a goose (above) and brought dozens of slices for those who attended. Eric Fite, Jim Perry, Bill Janssens, Stephanie Colburn, Nancy Laughrey, treasurer Sarah Hall, canonical names chair Brandi Blankenship, libations committee chair Dean Clark and Wilson ate every bit.
They also picked the stories to be discussed in 2026; those can be found on our meeting page
On 24 July, we had our 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 at Houligan Brothers restaurant and pub. Details about the fete are on the Fatal Battle of Maiwand page on this website.
On 24 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.
Since one goose plays prominently in the plot and another (broiler ... er, uh ... spoiler alert) is roasted, Wilson roasted a goose (above) and brought dozens of slices for those who attended. Eric Fite, Jim Perry, Bill Janssens, Stephanie Colburn, Nancy Laughrey, treasurer Sarah Hall, canonical names chair Brandi Blankenship, libations committee chair Dean Clark and Wilson ate every bit.
They also picked the stories to be discussed in 2026; those can be found on our meeting page
On 24 July, we had our 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 at Houligan Brothers restaurant and pub. Details about the fete are on the Fatal Battle of Maiwand page on this website.
On 24 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.