From September 1901 to around April 1902, William Gillette performed as Sherlock Holmes in... well..... Sherlock Holmes. Here's what the program looked like - attendees could pick up a copy for free.
My copy has folds because whoever picked it up did what I would do - folded it and placed it in a jacket pocket.
The program consists of eight pages, including three pages of advertising, and one page advertising the sale of souvenir editions of Sherlock Holmes volumes.
Of the remainder, they include a synopsis of Act 1, and a cast list.
Transcribed cast and synopsis of first act
SHERLOCK HOLMES WILLIAM GILLETTE
DOCTOR WATSON PERCY LYNDAL
JOHN FORMAN SYDNEY HERBERT
SIR EDWARD LEIGHTON J. A. ROSIER
COUNT VON STAHLBURG WILLIAM S. PARKES
PROFESSOR MORIARTY W. L. ABINGDON
JAMES LARRABEE RALPH DELMORE
SIDNEY PRINCE HARRY PAULTON, JR.
ALFRED BASSICK HENRY HARMON
JIM CRAIGIN GRIFFITH EVANS
THOMAS LEARY HENRY J. HADFIELD
"LIGHTFOOT" MC TAGUE HAROLD HEATON
JOHN DAVID CAMPBELL
PARSONS SOLDENE POWELL
BILLY HENRY McARDLE
ALICE FAULKNER MAUDE FEALY
MRS. FAULKNER CLAIRE PAUNCEFORT
MADGE LARRABEE CHARLOTTE GRANVILLE
THÉRÈSE LOUISE COLLINS
MRS. SMEEDLEY ETHEL LORRIMORE
THE PLACE IS LONDON THE TIME TEN YEARS AGO
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE FIRST ACT OF "SHERLOCK HOLMES"
The scene is laid in the London House of the Larrabees, a pair of unscrupulous adventurers. While abroad, they have made the acquaintance of Mrs. and Miss Faulkner, whom they have invited upon a visit, and who are now practically prisoners in their house. Miss Faulkner has certain papers which may be of great value in the future. The Larrabees have done this, because they are aware that these papers are love-letters, photographs and other compromising documents, which have been sent by a certain very exalted foreign personage to Miss Faulkner's sister. This poor girl was betrayed by her titled lover, and died of grief and shame. Miss Faulkner retains the evidence of the man's guilt with the intention of using it against him when he should himself desire to marry. The Larrabees are anxious to gain possession of these papers for purposes of blackmail, but Miss Faulkner has removed them from the safe in which they were kept, and concealed them elsewhere. All the brutality of the Larrabees fails to discover where they are. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, however, has been commissioned by the foreign nobleman to secure the compromising. papers. He has already managed to place one of his own agents as butler in the house. He calls, insists upon seeing Miss Faulkner, and by an ingenious stratagem succeeds in laying his hands upon the papers. Having got them, however, his first act is to return them to Miss Faulkner. His reason for doing this is not a sudden impulse of generosity, but it is because it is the best means of attaining his design. He cannot take her property against her will, without actually breaking the law. If he can gain her confidence and put her under an obligation he may soften her bitterness and prevail upon her to voluntarily give up her plans of revenge. Before leaving the house, Sherlock Holmes, who is much interested in the young lady, takes steps to secure her in future from the brutality of the Larrabees.
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