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Russelling Up Another For The Ostrom Collection

20/3/2013

Can we Russell up another? Of course we can!
New today in the Howard Ostrom Holmes and Watson autograph collection comes William Russell from the 1918 U.S silent film "The Midnight Trail".

The film made by The American Film Co. Inc. and directed by Edward Sloman sees "Big Bill" as he was known by admirers play a young man of virile and volatile temperament who the spirit of adventure and romance is rampant .
So when a jewel theft takes place he becomes inspired by the thrillers of his favorite author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to pose as an up-to-date Sherlock Holmes in a bid to sleuth the trail left by the jewel thieves.

For more Holmes and Watsons from the Big Screen be sure to check out
the rest of the film collection page.

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H.A Saintsbury in the H.O Collection

17/3/2013

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A very rare addition into the Howard Ostrom Autograph Collection today with Harry Arthur Saintsbury (H.A Saintsbury) whom played Holmes in a 1903 production of William Gillette's play which included a very young Charlie Chaplin playing the role of Billy The Pageboy.

Saintsbury would then go on to reprise the role for 5 months in a 1910 production of "The Speckled Band" penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself .

The role was taken over by Charles Millward when the play went to New York but Saintsbury would take it up once more when the play returned for a revival on Broadway in 1921.
By the time this came to a close he had performed more than a staggering 1400 productions as Holmes on stage .

Aside from his stage works Saintsburys also ventured into film as Holmes, playing him in a 1916 adaption of The Valley of Fear alongside Booth Conway as Moriarty but this film sadly is believed to have been lost to the sands of time.

Saintsbury was very highly regarded in his performance particularly by Charlie Chaplin who once said of him "Mr. H. A. Saintsbury, who played Holmes on tour, was a living replica of the illustrations in The Strand Magazine. He had a long sensitive face and an inspired forehead. Of all those who played Holmes, he was considered the best, even better than William Gillette, the original Holmes and author of the play".

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Russelling Up Another For The Ostrom Collection

H.A Saintsbury in the H.O Collection

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