The inventor of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, was, in his own life, a physician-adventurer whose experiences match those of the Wizard of Baker Street. John Lettenberg, in his biography of four years ago–and in this discussion recorded when he came to visit with us–puts forth a rich portrait of the fabulous Doctor Doyle.

…..may well be Venice, which may ultimately go fully underwater. But a thousand strange Venetian tales (all true) will persist. Of its many aberrant inhabitants was Ezra Pound the American poet and traitor who broadcast anti-American and anti-Semitic programs from Rome during the second world war. Released from a psychiatric hospital after seven years, he settled in Venice with the most loyal of his mistresses and some very rich supporters. The tale is told by John Berendt in a book published in 2005 and discussed with Berendt later that year on Extension 720.

A number of listeners over the years have remembered this one and asked that we put it up on podcast. Here in conversation with John Anderson of the Tribune we are recounting the great actor’s visit to the program on a decidedly wet St. Patrick’s Day.

AFTRA is the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG is the Screen Actors Guild.  And the Players are veteran performers who love the “old time radio” in which they performed as very young actors. They appeared with us many times doing wonderful bits (such as Bob and Ray) and whole programs (such as the Lux Radio Theater). Here is their first appearance  on our program as performed eight years ago.

What’s the connection? We assert nothing more than on one fine night in 2008 we did a two part program with two biographers who had done excellent and separate books about these two men of great (and incomparable) attainment. It rather makes one wish that we could get Disraeli and Buffett together in a live, trans-chronological radio discussion.