With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
William Gillette
Theatre/Dance/Film, Drama
1853 – 1937
- Biography/Description of Work
Though Gillette is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Homes whom he brought to life in theaters starting in 1899, he pioneered a more natural and less melodramatic style of acting. His acting career as Holmes and in other roles lasted through 1936. He was also a playwright, and introduced realistic sets and created new sound effects for the stage. Born and raised in Hartford, he maintained a Connecticut presence at his 1919 mansion ‘Seventh Sister’ in Hadlyme, now a state park.
- Sources view
- Gillette, William biography. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/hbs/nook/gillette.shtml
Zechler, Henry. 2006. William Gillette: a short biography. Accessed 12/30/2015 at http://www.henryzecher.com/gillettebio.htm .
Cullen, Rosemary and Don B. Wilmeth, editors. 1983 Plays by William Hooker Gillette. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. - Associated Resource(s)