Episode 287: Legends of the BSJ: Edgar W. Smith

by Scott Monty May 15, 2024

“I wanted to speak with Mr. Smith” [SIGN]

This is the third in our series on Legends of the Baker Street Journal; we've previously explored publisher Ben Abramson (Episode 269) and BSI founder Christopher Morley (Episode 272).

This time, we'll be looking at wordsmith and able administrator, Edgar W. Smith. It was Smith who deftly managed the operations of the Baker Street Irregulars and whose own interest in Sherlockian scholarship (his own and others) caused him to promote books and eventually found The Baker Street Journal.

We follow Edgar's Sherlockian journey from his early correspondence with Vincent Starrett and Christopher Morley, to the 1940 dinner that brought the BSI roaring back to life, the Trilogy Dinner where three significant Sherlockian books were launched, the founding of the BSJ, and the addition of the Christmas Annual tradition.

We have Sherlockian news, a special announcement, and of course the Canonical Couplet quiz. We thought last episode's was easy, but it looks like we tripped some people up. The winner, chosen at random from all correct answers, will receive one of the Old Series BSJs from the 1940s. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock .com by May 29, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. EDT. All listeners are eligible to play.

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