The Criterion Bar Association was among a number of Midwest-based BSI scion societies that "adopted" the Villa's Sherlock Holmes as their very own, inviting him on two occasions to address the society's meetings in Chicago -- at which time, the Villa's own "Irene Adler" was able to attend as well. Sherwood also arranged for Holmes to attend a gathering of the Stormy Petrels of Maumee Bay in Toledo, Ohio -- members of which visited the Villa frequently for weekends and dinners -- and on another occasion several members of the Ribstons'-Pippins of Royal Oak, Mich., booked the Villa for a mysterious visit with their hero.
Sherwood's Holmes also was asked to be present at a variety of other special non-mystery events at the Villa, including other weddings and gatherings of gifted-and-talented program participants. As a result of his work with gifted-and-talented programs and in creating "mystery events," Sherwood served as a special consultant to the Indiana public schools' statewide annual gathering of gifted and talented program participants, and helped to create non-Sherlockian mystery events in a variety of venues in Michigan and Indiana. He also served as a consultant on interactive mysteries to private entertainment-based businesses in other states. And when a program sponsored by Maryland public television taped one in a series of shows at the Villa, Holmes was asked to make an onscreen appearance to solve a brief mystery that Sherwood concocted especially for the show.
A casual vote taken in 1997 among participants in the Hounds of the Internet scion society included Sherwood in a ranking of favorite Holmes imitators. He tied at No. 16 of 26 "top Sherlocks" of all time, with George C. Scott (from "They Might be Giants") and Michael Caine (in "Without a Clue"). Brooks Grantier actually fared far better in a similar vote, being ranked No. 8 among 18 "top Watsons" of all time.
While a limited clientele at the Villa has kept Sherwood and Grantier from the limelight of the best-known Sherlocks, they still can claim a record for the amount of time spent "in character" in some 100 appearances at the Villa, most of them stretching over two days. Since 1987, Sherwood was spent approximately 1,800 hours in the guise of Holmes, a figure that surpasses the length of time even Rathbone and Brett spent in character, combined, even when considering Rathbone's hundreds of half-hour radio programs.
"There's no doubt that William Gillette beats us all, hands down," Sherwood said. "He was the first professional Holmes impostor to gain notoriety, and he wrote a play that he performed hundreds of times over many years. I'm not certain that anyone knows precisely how many hours he spent in the role, but I'm all too happy to give him the benefit of the doubt."
In July 1998, at a joint meeting of East Coast scion societies in Washington, D.C., fellow journalist and eminent East Coast Sherlockian Peter Blau introduced Sherwood not as an actor, but as Sherlock Holmes, calling it a privilege (for his part, Sherwood said it was a privilege just to meet Blau). The following year, Sherwood -- as Holmes -- was permitted to greet visitors to the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street in London, England, an honor rarely bestowed on professional Holmes imitators.
But Sherwood said that, for honors and distinction, nothing can surpass a curious incident that occurred to him at the Villa during one of the mystery weekends.
A few years ago, a fellow guest was a distinguished retired judge in his mid-70s. He had spent many hours taking part in the mystery that weekend. On the second day, he and Sherwood were seated alone in the Villa parlour while the rest of the guests were "out sleuthing."
"Mr. Holmes," the judge said. "I have something to say to you."
"I am all attention," Sherwood replied as Holmes
"When I was a boy," he said, "I discovered Dr. Watson's accounts of your career, and I read every one. Your adventures were an inspiration. They were so exciting, and the way in which you solved each case so plausible and understandable, that I made up my mind then and there, as a boy, that I would study criminal law.
"I firmly believe that reading those stories helped me to choose my career. And, long ago, I vowed that, if I ever had the opportunity to meet you, I would tell you how grateful I am to you for having put me on the right track. So, Mr. Holmes, thank you -- thank you very much."
"I was utterly thunderstruck, almost immobilized," Sherwood said. "On the outside, as Holmes, I was gracious, and thanked him for his kind words. On the inside, I realized that something magical had happened. My own self, as an actor, had disappeared. I was serving as a conduit to this man's boyhood, his memory of his aspirations, and his self-understanding. I was flabbergasted. I then heard myself saying that, given this man's nature, he would have found his proper course -- whether or not 'I' (that is, Holmes) ever had existed. As I say in a little speech that I give as Holmes, 'He thanked me profusely, and at that moment he appeared so much like a boy, as if the years had melted from his face.'
"Such an extraordinary experience doesn't happen to actors on a stage. They can only hope to hear appreciative applause and perhaps get some thanks. To have such words said to me by a person who is, however fanciful, utterly in earnest is stunning and unforgettable."
221B Baker Street - Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London
Go to John Sherwood's performance credits.
� Text by MysteryVisits.com, Kennett Square, PA
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