1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER [ghostofradio.com], [oldtime.radio]
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Original Broadcast: November 5, 1945
Episode: #191 in this surviving-episode chronology
Running Time: Approximately 29 minutes
Sherlock Holmes: Basil Rathbone
Dr. John Watson: Nigel Bruce
Announcer: Harry Bartell
Sponsor: Petri Wine [archive.org] [youtube.com]
Remember, remember...the Fifth of November!
On Guy Fawkes Day, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson become involved in a bizarre case that seems to recreate Britain's infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
A frightened gentleman named James Stewart arrives at Baker Street convinced that his cousin intends to blow him up and claim an inheritance. And there is frightening evidence to support his story. A neighboring house has been rented, strange work has been taking place in its cellar, and Holmes and Watson discover a tunnel, barrels of gunpowder and a fuse.
It certainly appears that someone intends to celebrate November 5th in spectacularly deadly fashion.
But appearances can be deceiving, particularly when Sherlock Holmes is examining the evidence. One seemingly unimportant clue found in the cellar causes Holmes to reconsider the entire story, leading to a wonderfully clever reversal in which the supposed victim may not be quite what he seems. [oldtime.radio]
It's a terrific example of the original mysteries created specifically for the radio adventures of Holmes and Watson, with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce bringing their familiar chemistry to Baker Street.
THE SPECKLED BAND [arthur-con...-doyle.com]
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Original Broadcast: November 12, 1945
Episode: #192 in this chronology
Running Time: Approximately 29 minutes
Network: Mutual
Sponsor: Petri Wine
Sherlock Holmes: Basil Rathbone
Dr. John Watson: Nigel Bruce
Announcer: Harry Bartell
Writers/Adaptation: Denis Green and Anthony Boucher
From the story by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [arthur-con...-doyle.com], [archive.org]
And now we turn from an original radio mystery to one of the greatest Sherlock Holmes adventures ever written.
A terrified young woman named Helen Stoner comes to Baker Street convinced that her life is in danger.
Her sister died mysteriously at the family's Stoke Moran estate after uttering the strange final words:
"The speckled band."
Now Helen is being forced to sleep in the same room where her sister died. Stranger still, mysterious sounds are being heard during the night. And looming over everything is her violent and intimidating stepfather, Dr. Grimsby Roylott. [oldtime.radio]
When Holmes and Watson investigate the bedroom, several details immediately arouse Holmes's suspicion: a bed fastened in place, a bell rope that doesn't ring a bell, and a ventilator connecting the room to Roylott's adjoining chamber.
Holmes realizes that Helen may be in immediate danger.
What follows is one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most atmospheric Holmes mysteries, culminating in a nighttime vigil at Stoke Moran as Holmes waits for the meaning of those mysterious words to reveal itself. [oldtime.radio]
Originally published in 1892, The Adventure of the Speckled Band was adapted for this November 12, 1945 radio broadcast by Denis Green and Anthony Boucher. [arthur-con...-doyle.com]
ABOUT THE SERIES
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes brought Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce from their enormously popular Holmes films to American radio as Holmes and Watson. Their partnership became one of the most recognizable interpretations of the detective and his faithful companion during radio's golden age. [en.wikipedia.org]
So settle into Baker Street with Holmes and Watson for two terrific mysteries: THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER and the Conan Doyle classic THE SPECKLED BAND, right here on 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Two great Sherlock Adventures from 1946 radio "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'

LOT NO. 249 (PT. 2) by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The mystery of Lot No. 249 reaches its chilling conclusion!
In Part One, Oxford medical student Abercrombie Smith became increasingly convinced that his sinister neighbor, Edward Bellingham, had discovered something no rational man should believe possible: a way of bringing an ancient Egyptian mummy back to life.
And worse, Smith believes Bellingham isn't merely experimenting with the dead. He may be using the creature against his enemies. [en.wikipedia.org]
In Part Two, suspicion turns to confrontation.
After another frightening incident, Smith decides that waiting for proof may prove deadly. He confronts Bellingham and demands an end to the terrifying experiments involving the mummy known only by the auction number printed upon its case:
LOT NO. 249
What follows is a showdown between Victorian reason and something horrifyingly beyond reason, as Smith determines that the mummy and the secrets surrounding it must be destroyed. [bookey.app]
FROM LOT NO. 249 TO THE CURSE OF TUTANKHAMUN
There's an irresistible historical connection surrounding this story.
Arthur Conan Doyle published Lot No. 249 in 1892, decades before the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb made Egyptian curses and supernatural vengeance an international sensation. The story became especially influential because it presented the resurrected mummy not simply as an archaeological curiosity, but as a genuinely dangerous figure of horror. [en.wikipedia.org], [oldstyletales.com]
And listeners to our 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries podcast will remember that Arthur Conan Doyle recently played an important part in our two-part investigation:
THE CURSE OF TUTANKHAMUN (PT. 1)
THE CURSE OF KING TUT (PT. 2): THE DEFENSE SPEAKS
That makes Lot No. 249 an especially fascinating companion story.
Long before the newspapers were debating the Curse of Tutankhamun, the creator of Sherlock Holmes had already imagined a terrifying question:
What if disturbing the ancient Egyptian dead carried consequences?
Enjoy the exciting conclusion of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tale of supernatural terror:
LOT NO. 249 (PT. 2)
Right here at 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

LOT NO. 249 (PT. 1) by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Long before the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb helped ignite the world's fascination with the so-called mummy's curse, Arthur Conan Doyle had already imagined something terrifying awakening from ancient Egypt.
In LOT NO. 249, first published in 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle takes us to Oxford University, where medical student Abercrombie Smith becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange and secretive neighbor, Edward Bellingham, a student of Egyptology surrounded by ancient artifacts and possessing one particularly disturbing acquisition: an Egyptian mummy purchased at auction and identified simply as Lot No. 249. [en.wikipedia.org], [arthur-con...-doyle.com]
Soon, strange sounds begin coming from Bellingham's rooms. The college servant reports hearing something moving around when Bellingham isn't there. And when one of Bellingham's enemies is attacked by a mysterious figure possessing seemingly unnatural strength, Smith begins wondering whether the impossible might actually be true. [en.wikipedia.org]
Could Bellingham have discovered a way of bringing the ancient dead back to life?
And if so, what exactly is he using Lot No. 249 to do?
Today the tale is regarded as an important early landmark in mummy horror. Although reanimated mummies had appeared previously in literature, Doyle's story helped establish the mummy as something genuinely threatening and dangerous, an idea that would become a fixture of horror fiction and movies in the decades that followed. [en.wikipedia.org]
AND THERE'S A FASCINATING 1001 CONNECTION...
We recently discussed Arthur Conan Doyle and the extraordinary controversy surrounding the supposed curse of Tutankhamun in our two-part 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries presentation:
THE CURSE OF TUTANKHAMUN (PT. 1)
and
THE CURSE OF KING TUT (PT. 2): THE DEFENSE SPEAKS
In those episodes, Arthur Conan Doyle's own interest in supernatural explanations became part of our examination of the curse controversy.
And that makes LOT NO. 249 especially fun to revisit.
Here was Arthur Conan Doyle writing a chilling tale about ancient Egypt, mysterious powers and a mummy that may not be quite as dead as everyone assumes 30 years before the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. [en.wikipedia.org], [arthur-con...-doyle.com]
If you enjoyed our King Tut investigation at 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries, don't miss this opportunity to hear Arthur Conan Doyle explore some remarkably similar territory through fiction.
But be warned...
Lot No. 249 may have been sold at auction. Whatever came with it was definitely not part of the bargain.
Join host Jon Hagadorn for LOT NO. 249 (PT. 1) by Arthur Conan Doyle, here at 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What I changed: I made the King Tut connection a prominent promotional hook without allowing it to overwhelm the Lot No. 249 story itself. The notes establish the Oxford setting and mystery first, then use your recent Tutankhamun episodes as a natural cross-promotion.

🎙️ SHOW NOTES SUMMARY
THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON
1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Few villains in the Holmes canon inspire more disgust than Charles Augustus Milverton, the master blackmailer of Hampstead. Holmes calls him "the worst man in London" — a predator who profits from human weakness, collecting private letters and selling reputations to the highest bidder.
When Milverton threatens to destroy the life of a young society woman unless she pays his outrageous demands, Holmes takes matters into his own hands. Disguised and determined, he infiltrates Milverton's home with Watson at his side, intent on recovering the incriminating letters. But what they witness inside that house — a confrontation, a gunshot, and a swift, silent justice — leaves even Holmes shaken.
This story blends espionage, moral ambiguity, and revenge, showing Holmes at his most daring and human. It's a tale of secrets, power, and the thin line between justice and crime.
 
🔎 ALSO FROM THE 1001 STORIES NETWORK
If you love historical intrigue and real‑world mysteries, join us at our sister show:
1001 TRUE CRIME FROM ANOTHER TIME
Each episode brings you a gripping case from history — crimes that shaped eras long before modern forensics.
Past Episodes:
🕯️ The Murder of Grace Brown — The Adirondack Tragedy (1906) A young woman's dream of love ends in betrayal and murder on Big Moose Lake — a haunting case that inspired An American Tragedy.

⚖️ The Trial of Lizzie Borden (1892) The shocking double murder that divided a nation — was Lizzie guilty, or the victim of Victorian prejudice? coming soon...

🚂 The Vanishing of the Adams Express Messenger (1889) A mysterious disappearance aboard a train carrying gold shipments — a case that baffled detectives and captivated newspapers across America. coming soon

Each story is told in the immersive, cinematic style you expect from the 1001 Stories Network — where history, mystery, and human drama meet.

⭐ SHOW NOTES SUMMARY
THE ADVENTURE OF THE NORWOOD BUILDER
1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A young solicitor named John Hector McFarlane arrives at Baker Street in a state of panic. He has been accused of murdering Jonas Oldacre — a wealthy, eccentric builder from Norwood — after Oldacre's will mysteriously leaves his entire estate to McFarlane. The evidence seems overwhelming: bloodstains, burned remains, and a motive that appears tailor‑made for scandal.
But Sherlock Holmes senses something wrong. The clues feel too neat, too convenient, too perfectly arranged. As Holmes and Watson investigate, they uncover a web of deception involving a vindictive old man, a forged will, and a staged crime designed to ruin an innocent life.
Holmes's reconstruction of the crime — and his dramatic reveal of Oldacre's hiding place — make this one of the most satisfying reversals in the entire Holmes canon. It's a story of revenge, misdirection, and the danger of believing evidence that seems too perfect.
 
⭐ ALSO FROM THE 1001 STORIES NETWORK
If you enjoy classic mysteries and historical intrigue, be sure to check out our newest show:
1001 TRUE CRIME FROM ANOTHER TIME
Our latest episode, THE MURDER OF GRACE BROWN — THE ADIRONDACK TRAGEDY (1906) dives into one of the most heartbreaking and sensational cases of early American true crime — a young woman's hopes, a lover's betrayal, and a trial that captivated the nation.
A beautiful lake. A doomed romance. A crime that inspired An American Tragedy.
Now playing at 1001 True Crime From Another Time.