The Baker Street Irregulars Trust

The 2007 BSI Dinner

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3RnopZbbVr5gcRW34kj7hzH7QzHZFKcZtYSfyovTzksw1R-BLN4SZ1K046ZVJXIlc8RvcaIbz4uFKELc-F93YK-3ubWt9o7D7E3Pju-MKzKCVaZ6k2M7xASJ2KK4gIw_LzdbGvODRV5f/s1600/bsi-dinner-2007-v1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The 2007 BSI Dinner group photo" border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3RnopZbbVr5gcRW34kj7hzH7QzHZFKcZtYSfyovTzksw1R-BLN4SZ1K046ZVJXIlc8RvcaIbz4uFKELc-F93YK-3ubWt9o7D7E3Pju-MKzKCVaZ6k2M7xASJ2KK4gIw_LzdbGvODRV5f/s640/bsi-dinner-2007-v1.jpg" title="Click this 2007 BSI Dinner photo to see a larger version" width="640" /></a></div>
 
The dinner celebrating Sherlock Holmes's 153rd  birthday saw an impressive array of presentations in various formats, affirming for all the guests that Sherlockians are talented in many arenas. Three of the traditional toasts were offered in verse. Dan Posnansky spoke about Holmes’s reference to “a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes” in “The Noble Bachelor.”  He also brought a number of treasures, including a copy of Beeton’s Christmas Annual, for audience delectation. 
 
Curtis Armstrong read the Constitution and Buy-Laws.  Jerry Kegley toasted Mrs. Hudson.  Mycroft Holmes was toasted by Regina Stinson.  Richard Olken toasted Watson's second wife.  Sue Vizoskie toasted Sherlock Holmes.  Burt Wolder led the annual recitation of the Musgrave Ritual.  The actor Paxton Whitehead, who appeared as Sherlock Holmes on Broadway in 1978, reminisced about the production of The Crucifer of Blood.  Steven Rothman offered the toast to an Old Irregular—actually the original Irregular—as he honored Christopher Morley. 
 
A bevy of deserving contenders competed in a game called Pericolo in which they had to identify Canonical quotations. “The Veiled Lodgers,” comprised of David Stuart Davies, Susan Diamond, and Al Gregory faced off against "The Cardboard Boxers,” featuring Scott Monty, Susan Rice, and Robert S. Katz. Worthy competitors, all! The Boxers emerged triumphant in the hard-fought game, which was judiciously adjudged by Les Klinger, Judge Andrew Peck, and Judge Albert Rosenblatt. 
 
This dinner also marked Michael Whelan’s 10th year as Wiggins. His opening remarks included an exhortation to Irregulars “to always remember the philosophy of Christopher Morley when playing the Game.” He acknowledged the contributions of <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/06/robert-thomalen-interview-oral-history.html">Bob Thomalen</a> to the leadership of the BSI. He also recalled his vision for the BSI as presented at the first dinner he oversaw, the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2016/08/the-1998-bsi-dinner.html">1998 BSI Dinner</a>. He emphasized the BSI’s core identity as a literary society. The evening’s chronicler notes: “The publishing accomplishments of the past decade speak to that orientation.” Honored guest Laurie R. King provided a copy of her latest novel The Art of Detection for each attendee. 
 
Wiggins introduced a new award, the Editor’s Medal (or “Eddies”), which was presented to Peter Blau, Steve Doyle, Mitch Higurashi, and Bill Hyder in recognition of their roles as editors for books published by the BSI in the Manuscript and International Series. Continuing the recognition of efforts, Al Rosenblatt received a walking stick in honor of his service to the BSI. 
 
Seven deserving Irregulars received their Shilling this evening. The following week, at the Sherlock Holmes Society of London dinner, Jonathan McCafferty was also invested in the BSI. 
 
Candace Lewis was toasted as <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">The Woman</a>. 
 
Paxton Whitehead concluded the evening’s program with a reading of Vincent Starrett's sonnet "221B." 
 
At the next day’s Sherlockian Cocktail Reception at the New York City Bar Association, Judge Albert Rosenblatt and his daughter, Betsy Rosenblatt, once again performed their remarkable rhyming summation of the previous year and of the Festivities. 
 
Dinner Details: January 12, 2007 
Union League Club, New York 
 
<h4>
Dinner Photo Information</h4>
Click on the above photo to see a larger version of it, and maximize your browser window to see the most detail. 
 
Key to People in the 2007 BSI Dinner photo (not available at this time) 
 
 
<h4>
BSI Honours List</h4>
Investitures: 
Marshall S. Berdan as Henri Murger 
Mattias Boström as The Swedish Pathological Society 
Michael Homer as Enoch J. Drebber 
Elaine McCafferty as Eliza Barrymore 
Jonathan McCafferty as Barrymore * 
Dayna Nuhn as Lady Clara St. Simon 
Warren Randall as Harold Stackhurst 
Maggie Schpak as The Soup Plate Medal 
* received Investiture at another event during the year 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is an Investiture?</a> 
 
 
Two-Shilling Award: 
The Two-Shilling Award was not given in 2007. 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is a Two-Shilling Award?</a> 
 
The Woman: 
Candace (Mrs. Lou) Lewis 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is The Woman honour?</a> 
 
"Stand with me here upon the terrace..." 
(as named at this Dinner, not their year of passing) 
Robert Douty (The Priory School, 1980) 
Ronald Mansbridge (A Case of Identity, 1998) 
Robert Schultz (The Gloria Scott, 2002) 
Maureen Green Van der Flaes (Kitty Winter, 1992) 
Alan Foster (A Commission from the Sultan of Turkey, 1965) 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the origin of “standing on the terrace?”</a> 
 
Morley-Montgomery Award: 
Harold Billings, "The Materia Medica of Sherlock Holmes" 
The Baker Street Journal v56 n3 (Autumn 2006) pp. 37-46 (available in the eBSJ). 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the Morley-Montgomery Award?</a> 
 
The BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture: 
Laurie R. King, “Meeting Mister Holmes” 
The Baker Street Journal v57 n1 (Spring 2007) pp. 43-51 (available in the eBSJ). 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture?</a> 
 
 
<h4>
Reports on the Dinner</h4>
The Baker Street Journal v57 n1 (Spring 2007): 6-13 (available in the eBSJ). 
 
Blau, Peter, <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/links.html#news">Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press</a>, (January 2007): 1. 
 
List of 2007 BSI Dinner Attendees (not available at this time) 
 
 
<h4>
Recordings </h4>
A recording of portions of the 2007 BSI Dinner is available at Harvard as part of the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/archive.html">BSI Archive</a>. 
 
 
<h4>
Related Material</h4>
Rosenblatt, Albert M., and Betsy Rosenblatt, “The Sherlockian Year In Verse: 2007,” The Baker Street Journal v57 n1 (Spring 2007): 13-16 (available in the eBSJ). The Rosenblatts’ rhyming retrospective, delivered at the January 13, 2007 Sherlockian Cocktail Reception. 
 
Previous dinner: the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2016/12/the-2006-bsi-dinner.html">2006 BSI Dinner</a> 
 
Next dinner: the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2017/01/the-2008-bsi-dinner.html">2008 BSI Dinner</a> 
 
For an index to all BSI Dinners and photos, see our<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/dinner-summary.html"> BSI Dinner Summary</a> list. 
 
 
The BSI Archive is located at the Houghton Library at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Archival material may be used by any qualified scholar, subject to the normal rules and regulations of the Library. For links to a detailed finding aid and related information, see our <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/archive.html">BSI Archive at Harvard</a> page. 
 
Page composed on 12/1/2016 by Tamar Zeffren 
This page last updated 12/14/2016 by Andrew Solberg.

The 2007 BSI Dinner

The dinner celebrating Sherlock Holmes's 153rd birthday saw an impressive array of presentations in various formats, affirming for a...

+ Read more »

The 2006 BSI Dinner

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKt8E36HOojN__yvH4NDdWol6CTMHTBd-4GtpjJm-3QDE9Qg3V4kPI-6dwJibCl4GBralMkYqVs4UQV0GgSeTDIZGIkG8-DbG7c2b6bNBMFWHxYxFz7w7a1kKHDsDMM1WA7WQYDKWvP9C/s1600/bsi-dinner-2006-v1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The 2006 BSI Dinner group photo" border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKt8E36HOojN__yvH4NDdWol6CTMHTBd-4GtpjJm-3QDE9Qg3V4kPI-6dwJibCl4GBralMkYqVs4UQV0GgSeTDIZGIkG8-DbG7c2b6bNBMFWHxYxFz7w7a1kKHDsDMM1WA7WQYDKWvP9C/s640/bsi-dinner-2006-v1.jpg" title="Click this 2006 BSI Dinner photo to see a larger version" width="640" /></a></div>
 
The Baker Street Irregulars and invited guests assembled Friday evening at the Union League Club to celebrate the 152nd birthday of Sherlock Holmes.  Peter Blau, in his report on the weekend in his Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, noted that attendees at this year’s birthday festivities were greeted with “clear skies and pleasant temperatures.”  After Wiggins (Michael Whelan) opened the proceedings, Bob Coghill read the BSI Constitution and Buy-Laws.  Barbara Roden offered a witty canonical toast to Mrs. Hudson.  Other toasts followed, including ones to Mycroft by Joe Coppola, to Watson's second wife by Francine Kitts, and to Sherlock Holmes by Lou Lewis.   Ken Lanza led the throng in the reading of the Musgrave Ritual. 
 
David Musto led off the program with commentary on the many incidents of atavism in the Canon. Terry Belanger gave his perspective on collecting rare books.  Lloyd Rose analyzed the spate of detectives portrayed on current popular television programs.  For the evening's musical entertainment, pianist Tyke and vocalist Teddie Niver treated Irregulars and guests to song and dance in the style of music hall circa 1900. 
 
Attendees were treated to a fascinating “Tribute to an Era of Old Irregulars” by <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2016/10/arthur-levine-interview-oral-history.html">Art Levine</a>, who gave an engaging account of the Edgar W. Smith era, rich with detail, from his unique perspective of having been invested fifty years ago. 
 
Norma Hyder was toasted as <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">The Woman</a>. Seven Irregulars received their Shilling at the Dinner. 
 
Roy Pilot concluded the evening’s program with a reading of Vincent Starrett's sonnet "221B." 
 
At the next day’s Sherlockian Cocktail Reception at 24 Fifth Avenue, Judge Albert Rosenblatt and his daughter, Betsy Rosenblatt, once again, performed their remarkable summation of the previous year and of the Festivities in verse. 
 
Dinner Details: January 13, 2006 
Union League Club, New York 
 
<h4>
Dinner Photo Information</h4>
Click on the above photo to see a larger version of it, and maximize your browser window to see the most detail. 
 
Key to People in the 2006 BSI Dinner photo (not available at this time) 
 
 
<h4>
BSI Honours List</h4>
Investitures: 
Curtis Armstrong as An Actor and a Rare One 
Paul G. Churchill as Corot 
Jerry Kegley as Nathan Garrideb 
Richard M. Olken as Bob Carruthers 
Jennie C. Paton as Laura Lyons 
Trevor S. Raymond as Horace Harker 
Regina Stinson as A Little Ribston Pippin 
* received Investiture at another event during the year 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is an Investiture?</a> 
 
 
Two-Shilling Award: 
The Two-Shilling Award was not given in 2006. 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is a Two-Shilling Award?</a> 
 
The Woman: 
Norma (Mrs. William) Hyder 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is The Woman honour?</a> 
 
"Stand with me here upon the terrace..." 
(as named at this Dinner, not their year of passing) 
Not named in the 2006 BSJ report of the Dinner. 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the origin of “standing on the terrace?”</a> 
 
Morley-Montgomery Award: 
Catherine Cooke, "Mrs. Hudson: A Legend in Her Own Lodging-House" 
The Baker Street Journal v55 n2 (Summer 2005) pp. 13-23 (available in the eBSJ). 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the Morley-Montgomery Award?</a> 
 
The BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture: 
Leroy Lad Panek, “Sherlock Holmes and the Emergence of the American Detective Story” 
The Baker Street Journal v56 n2 (Summer 2006) pp. 17-24 (available in the eBSJ). 
<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">What is the BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture?</a> 
 
 
<h4>
Reports on the Dinner</h4>
The Baker Street Journal v56 n1 (Spring 2006) pp. 6-13 (available in the eBSJ). 
 
Blau, Peter, <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/links.html#news">Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press</a>, (January 2006): 1. 
 
List of 2006 BSI Dinner Attendees (not available at this time) 
 
 
<h4>
Recordings</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyJDqtCVIQSQYzuCkLk01g4UGWacx4dAdwgvdf0VqqtEK9NaclmXLBc14zIFaax9ZBX4l4wxEi1UWq5i7Q9Rf_bYRGlpz6gbLJYDszX3zNzoIYeQ_KOfgTD7nebtqtdV06ARN9pZHeuox/s1600/bsi-the-woman-2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyJDqtCVIQSQYzuCkLk01g4UGWacx4dAdwgvdf0VqqtEK9NaclmXLBc14zIFaax9ZBX4l4wxEi1UWq5i7Q9Rf_bYRGlpz6gbLJYDszX3zNzoIYeQ_KOfgTD7nebtqtdV06ARN9pZHeuox/s200/bsi-the-woman-2006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Michael Whelan, Norma Hyder, William Hyder, and Peter Blau</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Woman Ceremony, 2006</div>
 
Immediately prior to the BSI Dinner, a reception is held for BSI members and guests, at which the attendees honor that year’s <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/glossary.html">The Woman</a>.   In 2006, the honoree was Norma Hyder, wife of the dean of the Baltimore Sherlockian community, William Hyder, and a constant supporter of Sherlockian activities in Baltimore.  James Saunders presented Norma with a corsage, as he has to The Woman for the past 31 years.  Following the ceremony, The Woman is escorted to a gala dinner at which prior honorees are in attendance, and The Woman from the previous year serves as hostess.  You can hear this ceremony in this 5 minute vignette from the 2006 BSI festivities. 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="45" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4866862/height/45/width/250/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/no/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/no-cache/true/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="250"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click to play this recording</div>
 
A recording of portions of the 2006 BSI Dinner is available at Harvard as part of the<a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/archive.html"> BSI Archive</a>. 
 
 
<h4>
Related Material</h4>
Rosenblatt, Albert M., and Betsy Rosenblatt, “The Sherlockian Year In Verse: 2006,” The Baker Street Journal v56 n1 (Spring 2006): 14-16 (available in the eBSJ). The Rosenblatts’ rhyming retrospective, delivered at the January 14, 2006 Sherlockian Cocktail Reception. 
 
Previous dinner: the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2016/11/the-2005-bsi-dinner.html">2005 BSI Dinner</a> 
 
Next dinner: the <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2016/12/the-2007-bsi-dinner.html">2007 BSI Dinner</a> 
 
For an index to all BSI Dinners and photos, see our <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/dinner-summary.html">BSI Dinner Summary</a> list. 
 
 
The BSI Archive is located at the Houghton Library at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Archival material may be used by any qualified scholar, subject to the normal rules and regulations of the Library. For links to a detailed finding aid and related information, see our <a href="http://www.bsitrust.org/2015/01/archive.html">BSI Archive at Harvard</a> page. 
 
Page composed on 11/29/2016 by Tamar Zeffren 
This page last updated 12/2/2016 by Andrew Solberg.

The 2006 BSI Dinner

The Baker Street Irregulars and invited guests assembled Friday evening at the Union League Club to celebrate the 152nd birthday of Sherl...

+ Read more »