T H E N E W A D V E N T U R E S O F
S H E R L O C K H O L M E S
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1946-1947 Season
Tom Conway / Nigel Bruce Version
First Show: Oct 12, 1946 Last Show: Jul 7, 1947
Number Shows: 38 Audition Show: none
Series Description:
From 1939 to 1946, Basil Rathbone played the role of Sherlock Holmes
opposite his friend, Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson, both on the
screen and on radio. On May 27, 1946, Mr. Rathbone portrayed Holmes
for the last time in the last show of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK
HOOMES 1945-46 season, "The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher".
Rathbone had been offered a seven year contract to continue in the
role, but he wanted to return to the theater and was honestly tired
of portraying the famous detective. (He did play Holmes twice more,
once on the TV version of SUSPENCE series, in "The Adventure of the
Black Baronet" (May 26, 1953) and in a stage production of Sherlock
Holmes, the Doyle/Gillette play (opened Oct. 30, 1953, NYC).
Besides the absence of Basil Rathbone, the 1946-47 season saw a
number of other changes. Without Rathbone, Petri Wine dropped
sponsorship. Kremel hair products became sponsor. The show moved
from Mutual to ABC. The announcer changed from Harry Bartell to
Joseph Bell, who had served in that role early in the Mutual run.
And, Sherlock Holmes was now played by Tom Conway.
Conway was a good choice for Holmes. He had played the role of the
Falcon in the movies and was a seasoned actor. He had a similar
clipped accent to Rathbone. Had it not been for audience acceptance
of the Holmes characterization by Rathbone, the Conway/Bruce duo may
have survived. Although there wasn't the Rathbone/Bruce interplay,
they performed their roles well. However, Nigel Bruce's role was
more prominent than it had been. In fact, he was given top billing.
Even with excellent scripts by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher, all
the changes to the series were too much for the audience to absorb.
At the end of one season, Conway and Bruce were replaced by John
Stanley and Alfred Shirley.
There were further changes in cast, but the series ended at the
close of the 1949-50 season on June 14, 1950.
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Replies
Listed below are a few links to articles/reviews about Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson. Enjoy.