Born December 19, 1902, Richardson was a Shakespearian actor who worked with Lawrence Olivier. He played Doctor Watson in a radio production which featured Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty.
Happy Birthday Sir Ralph Richardson!
Happy Birthday Chris Emmett!
Born on December 13, 1938, Emmett is a comedian known for The Burkiss Way, The News Huddlines, and Week Ending. He portrayed Watson in The Newly Discovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.
Toast at once if convenient, if inconvenient, toast anyway
We still need a toast to Medicine and a toast to Mary for this Saturday’s meeting!
Also, bring your Watsonian New Year’s Resolutions, your irrefutable opinion on Watson’s “third continent” and a hat.
podcast@johnhwatsonsociety.com if you need an invite.
Wanted: Treasure Hunt Master for 2021
The Watsonian Treasure Hunt is our signature event each year. It is a 100 point Watsonian quiz that challenges the best minds in our community. You can see our past Treasure Hunts on the website – they have run the gamut from very traditional quizzes to chains of deductions to punny story riddles. As long as it is challenging, fair and about our beloved Doctor and his flatmate we are open to it. The hunt takes place in the month of August, but ideally we would like to see a complete quiz sent to beta testers June-ish? Are you the Hunt Master we are looking for? Contact buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com.
Meeting of the John H Watson Society circa 1971
Watsonian Editor wanted
The Watsonian is the journal of the John H Watson Society. We publish scholarship, fiction and art and we are open to publishing even more! We are looking for someone who is excited about moving our journal forward and supporting all kinds of creative output from all sorts of voices. This is a real opportunity to shape how we engage with the wide world of Watsonians. If you are interested, please contact buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com.
Show us your Watson!
We are still so inspired by the art panel given by Talia Bordallo Mico “Brighton” and Chris Aa Bakkane! We want to see YOUR Watsons, too!
A Watsonian Salon: The Okay Mouse Detective
Today is Mickey Mouse’s 92nd birthday! Mickey has worn a deerstalker on several occasions and is even known in Europe as a detective! But the most important thing to think about on this day is who would be Mickey’s Watson and why? Discuss.
Wonderful Watsonians: Paul Thomas Miller
Name (or alias):
Paul Thomas Miller
Bullpup moniker (Contact us if you don’t know):
Buck
Who is your favourite Watson and why?
Today, James Mason just for the line “You squashed me pea.” But I reserve the right to change my mind constantly. They all have something to offer.
If Watson was writing a story about you, what would it be titled?
The Adventure of the Easily Distracted Moron.
Give us an improbable fact about yourself!
I’ve made it this far through 2020 without crying more than once a day.
Why did you join the JHWS?
It seemed like the inclusive, playful, friendly group, and I wanted some of that!
We want to feature all of our Wonderful Watsonians! Especially you! Why don’t you respond to the questions above (picture optional) to buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com?
Wonderful Watsonians: Margie Deck
Be your own Boswell and tell us a little about yourself!
1. Name (or alias): Margie Deck
2. Bullpup moniker (Contact us if you don’t know):
Mopsy
3. Who is your favorite Watson and why?
Beyond the original in the Canon, I tend to favor Jude Law’s interpretation—he presents exasperated enthusiasm better than any other in my view, and he has the “natural advantages” Sherlock Holmes said Watson has.
4. If Watson was writing a story about you, what would it be titled?
The Adventure of the Puzzled Imposter
Give us an improbable fact about yourself!
In 1995, while in London for a honeymoon, I rang the bell at Westminster Abbey for a call to a prayer service.
Why did you join the JHWS?
When the first treasure hunt was announced in 2013, I gathered some friends from The Sound of the Baskervilles to work on the thing as a team. I contacted Don ‘Buttons’ Libey and told him we were playing along just for the fun of it even though the treasure hunt was not a team competition. [The treasure hunt was originally planned as an individual competition only.] Buttons added the team competition because of the SOBs, and I’ve happily been a member since then.
We want to feature all of our Wonderful Watsonians! Especially you! Why don’t you respond to the questions above (picture optional) to buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com?
A Watsonian Quiz
Raise a glass with us
For the upcoming meeting of the John H Watson Society (Saturday, November 14 at 9 AM PDT, 10 AM MDT, 11AM CDT, 12 Noon EDT, 5 PM BST, 6 PM CEST, etc.) we are looking for a few toasters with the most-ers. We traditionally toast Murray, Medicine and Mary and if you hurry I believe any of those three topics are up for grabs. Contact buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com if you would like to volunteer or if you need the Zoom link.
Wonderful Watsonians: Rich Krisciunas
Name (or alias): Rich Krisciunas
Bullpup moniker: Hector
Who is your favorite Watson and why? My first answer was the former hockey player, Bryan “Bugsy” Watson but I remembered who was asking the question, so it has to be Nigel Bruce because he was my first. He is also as fearless as Bryan Watson.
If Watson was writing a story about you, what would it be titled?
“The Romantic Adventure of the Tenacious Barrister and The Woman”
Give us an improbable fact about yourself!
In 1984, I attended the first Detroit Tigers fantasy camp which reunited the 1968 World Championship team and I hit a single off world series MVP Mickey Lolich and a double off Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. I was MVP of the Lawyer’s softball league in Detroit.
Why did you join the JHWS?Everyone in JHWS is very welcoming and knowledgeable. I want to be part of a group that takes the “game” seriously and I love “playing the game.” After retiring from a 37-year career as a criminal trial lawyer and law school professor, I had more time to re-read the Canon and attend local scion meetings; Ribston-Pippins, Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit and Greek Interpreters of East Lansing. I enjoy looking at the stories from a legal point of view and presenting papers, toasts and poems. I found the podcasts “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere” and “Trifles.” Then, I discovered the blog Sherlock Peoria and listened to the “Watsonian Weekly” and “Sherlock Holmes is Real” podcasts because they are clever. I’m hooked.
Best wishes. Thanks for asking. Let me know if you need anything else.
Rich Krisciunas JHWS Hector
Retired Professor Trial PracticeDetroit Mercy School of Law
734-620-1052Ribston-PippinsAmateur Mendicant Society of DetroitGreek Interpreters of East LansingCrew of the Barque Lone StarThe Fourth GarridebSherlockians of BaltimoreJohn H. Watson SocietyTankerville Club of Cincinnati Harpooners of Sea Unicorn St. CharlesBlue Carbuncle of PortlandWatson’s Tin BoxParallel Case of St. LouisOrder of the Last Bow
Cesspudlians of London (Ontario)Sherlock Holmes Society of London
We want to feature all of our Wonderful Watsonians! Especially you! Please feel free to answer the questions above and send the response (photo optional but we love to see your smiling faces) to buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com
Wonderful Watsonians Interview: Robert Perret
My dear Watsonians, we are starting a new feature all about you! At the end of this interview you will find a set of questions that we would love to hear your responses to, if convenient. If inconvenient, maybe come back to it in a little while all the same?
Be your own Boswell and tell us a little about yourself!
Name (or alias):
Robert Perret
Bullpup moniker (Contact us if you don’t know):
Sampson
Who is your favorite Watson and why?
I have never met a Watson I didn’t like. I think H. Marion Crawford is the happy medium of a lot of traditional Watsons. I think Lucy Liu is the most compelling of the modern Watsons. She really develops as a detective in her own right.
If Watson was writing a story about you, what would it be titled?
The Adventure of the Facetious Footnote
Give us an improbable fact about yourself!
I have a published Nancy Drew story.
Why did you join the JHWS?
I love the character and the stories of Dr. Watson (and that guy he lives with, I guess) and I want to celebrate him. I have yet to meet a Watsonian who isn’t friendly, engaged, creative and welcoming. I am very excited to serve as the new Buttons and hope to continue our great legacy as the open and inclusive worldwide online society! We need more Watson energy in the world!
We want to hear from all our Wonderful Watsonians! (Yes, especially YOU!) Please answer these brief questions so we can introduce the world to our friends.
Be your own Boswell and tell us a little about yourself!
Name (or alias):
Bullpup moniker (Contact us if you don’t know):
Who is your favorite Watson and why?
If Watson was writing a story about you, what would it be titled?
Give us an improbable fact about yourself!
Why did you join the JHWS?
Please feel free to include a picture that we can use alongside your interview. Or you may elect to see what sort of bullpup image we pluck from Sherman’s digital menagerie in lieu.
Send your responses to buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com