Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 527, Sherlock Holmes, The Complicated Poisoning at Eeel Pie Island

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Good evening, and a warm welcome back to the show! I hope you’ve had a fantastic day and that you're ready to unwind with another journey into the golden age of radio.

I’m Brett, your host for this evening, speaking to you from my home by the beautiful Lyme Bay. It’s a perfect night looking out of my studio window across the bay, and I hope the week is treating you kindly wherever you’re tuning in from.

Tonight, we’re once again dusting off the old studio archives to bring you another classic gem from the world of Old Time Radio. So sit back, relax, and let’s step into a world of adventure, mystery, and timeless storytelling.

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Now, let’s turn the dial back in time and enjoy the show!

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The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Legacy in Sound and Mystery

In the golden age of radio, when families huddled around their receivers to be transported into worlds of intrigue and adventure, one voice cut through the static like a blade—Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. His clipped diction, sharp intellect, and unshakable confidence paired seamlessly with the warm, affable presence of Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. Together, they brought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective to life in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a radio drama that captivated audiences from 1939 to 1950. Over 374 episodes, this series wove a tapestry of mystery, deduction, and thrilling escapades, yet much of it has been lost to time, leaving behind an enigmatic collection of surviving recordings scattered across the internet, their audio quality often as weathered as an old case file.

A Broadcast Legacy Cloaked in Mystery

The series was more than an adaptation—it was a reinvention, a fresh interpretation of Holmes’s cases that introduced new stories, altered titles, and crafted original twists on familiar tales. Some episodes, such as the radio adaptation of The Adventure of the Red Circle, were rebranded (Mrs. Warren’s Lodger), while others bore completely original plots infused with the essence of Doyle’s world.

From its inception, the program underwent various rebrandings—Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, and other titles surfaced before it cemented itself as The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Its enduring popularity was fueled by its impeccable performances, immersive soundscapes, and writing that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

The Voices Behind the Violin

At the heart of the series was the unparalleled chemistry between Rathbone and Bruce, who played the famed detective and his loyal companion across 220 episodes. Week after week, the duo invited listeners into the fog-drenched streets of Victorian London, where peril lurked in every shadow, and the sharp mind of Holmes could unravel any enigma.

However, the role that defined Rathbone eventually became a gilded cage. Fearing typecasting, he stepped away from the show after The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher. The baton—or rather, the deerstalker—was then passed to Tom Conway, though Bruce retained top billing. Despite a valiant effort, their partnership lasted only 39 episodes before both actors exited, leaving behind a void that subsequent performers would attempt to fill until the series concluded in 1950.

The Pen Behind the Pipe: Writing the Adventures

The program’s early scripts bore the unmistakable touch of Edith Meiser, a passionate Holmesian who had already adapted Conan Doyle’s works for radio in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1930–1935). She masterfully balanced faithfulness to the original stories with the demands