Basil Rathbone appeared in a series of TV commercials for Getz Exterminators ("Getz gets 'em, since 1888!'"). Rathbone also brought Holmes to the stage in a play written by his wife Ouida. Thomas Gomez, who had appeared as a Nazi ringleader in "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror", played the villainous Professor Moriarty. Nigel Bruce was slated to portray Dr Watson once more but became too ill and the part was played by character actor Jack Raine. Bruce's absence depressed Rathbone, particularly after Bruce died on 8 October 1953, while the play was in rehearsals. The play ran for only three
Sherlock Holmes: The Musical revised version, entitled 'The Revenge of Sherlock Holmes' included some new material never previously performed. This new version opened to critical acclaim. "Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" was at least the second musical to be based on Sherlock Holmes, after "Baker Street" in 1965. It is also one of over 50 stage productions based on the Holmes character; see adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. The play opens after Professor Moriarty's death and Sherlock Holmes' miraculous return to life. As Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson describe the many eccentricities on their friend ("Sherlock Holmes"), we find that Holmes is, to Watson's disbelief, missing