SHERLOCK HOLMES RADIO SHOWS
Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective character created by Arthur Conan Doyle, has been reimagined and recreated countless times across various mediums. From books to films, TV shows, and even video games, Holmes’ sharp intellect, deductive reasoning skills, and distinctive personality have captivated audiences for more than a century. While each adaptation brings its own unique interpretation, the essence of the character remains consistent, underscoring his enduring appeal. However, the sheer number of recreations has led some to argue that we may have reached a saturation point. They contend that the constant reinvention risks diluting the original character’s charm and uniqueness. Nevertheless, as long as there are mysteries to solve, it seems likely that Sherlock Holmes will continue to be resurrected in one form or another, testifying to his timeless allure.
Collection of Classic Sherlock Holmes Radio Shows Listed by Actors.
Holmes has been recreated too many times to count, and each actor brings his own spin. The radio recreations of Holmes began October 20, 1930, when William Gillette, the great popularizer of Holmes, took the role to a new medium. It has continued off and on since them on a variety of networks including, NBC (1930-33) (1934-36) (1955), Blue Network (1939-42), Mutual Network (1943-46), (1947-49), ABC (1946-47) (1949-50) (1956), BBC (1954, and many more years.), BBC-WFMT Chicago (1959-69).
William Gillette (1853-1937): Gillette only made two radio appearances as Holmes. The first, the 1930 pilot for the Original Sherlock Holmes radio series, and in 1935 on Lux Radio Theater.
Louis Hector (1883-?): Louis Hector, often spelled Luis Hector, was the third radio voice of Sherlock Holmes and the first to portray him on television, appearing in a 1937 adaptation of The Three Garidebs. In the later Nigel Rathbone series, Hector would portray Moriarity. Hector was a Broadway veteran, playing his first role in a Broadway play in “Unwritten Chapter” and his last in “Inherit the Wind.” As with Gordon, biographical information is scarce. The date of his birth can be ascertained, but not the date of his death, leading me to wonder if there was more than fiction to his appearance on a “Tales of Tomorrow” episode where a doctor discovers a serum that would allow people to live forever.
Orson Welles (1915-85) I’m not even going to attempt to write a fitting biography to Orson Welles in this space. Welles was a pioneering star of radio and film, beginning with his role of the Shadow at age 22. His numerous credits include “The Mercury Theater on the Air” and its famous “War of the World” special. He also hosted “The Black Museum” and starred in “The Lives of Harry Lime” which was based on the infamous character from the movie, “The Third Man” for Towers of London Productions, which was a worldwide syndicator of radio drama. Welles played Holmes in a Mercury Theater adaptation of a William Gillette play. For “Towers of London” he took on the role of Professor Moriarity in The Final Problem. Thus, he joined Louis Hector in having the distinction of playing both Holmes and his arch-nemesis.
Basil Rathbone (1892-1967): More than 40 years after his death and more than 60 years after he last played Sherlock Holmes, Rathbone is viewed as the definitive Holmes by viewers around the world. However, Rathbone was more than just the movie face of Sherlock Holmes for fourteen movies and his voice for more than two hundred radio adventures, co-starring with his friend Nigel Bruce.
Tom Conway (1904-67): The Russia-born Conway was best known for replacing his brother, George Sanders and taking on the role of the Falcon on screen, as well as starring in two Bulldog Drummond movies. In addition to this, in the 1950s he starred in the Mark Saber TV series. Conway is well-remembered as the narrator in Peter Pan. He also succeeded Simon Vincent Price in the Saint.
Taking over for Basil Rathbone in Sherlock Holmes was a daunting task. Conway’s Holmes was quite like Rathbone’s, albeit some listeners see Conway’s portrayal as too sarcastic and caustic.
John Stanley (?-?): Little is known of Stanley, other than that he was the child of two Americans born in England and grew up half a mile away from Baker Street. He came to America and began to work on radio in Rhode Island as a singer and later an announcer.
Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000): Gielgud was a famous actor and director known for his Shakespearean performances as well as his association with Sherlock Holmes co-star Ralph Richardson. Gielgud is one of only eleven people to have won an Emmy (1991), a Grammy (1979), an Oscar (1981), and a Tony (1961). His first film appearance was in 1924 and his last was in 2000.