Does anybody know any details or history of the treasure hunts that Steven Sondheim used to throw during the 1960s?
The details: I’m a big fan of a type of treasure hunt known collectively as a “puzzle hunt”. This encompases the MIT Mystery Hunt, the Microsoft Puzzle Hunt, The Game, BATH, BANG, etc. I’ve also developed an interest in tracing puzzle history and origins.
People in the community have know that Joe Belfiore (now VP of Microsoft) was the originator many of the modern day events (though I think the Mystery Hunt evolved separately). He was inspired by the movie Midnight Madness by Disney while in high school and it grew from there. A few years ago, reseach revealed that Midnight Madness was based on real life events of an event created by Don Luskin and a few friends. I was able to track down some newspaper clippings. In an interview, Lusken revealed that his main inspiration was a movie called The Last of Sheila.
The Last of Sheila was written by Steven Sondheim and Anthony Perkins. The commentary and Wikipedia say they were inspired by the hunts that they used to throw in New York. I’ve found only a few details about these, and then only about the last one he threw.
There, the trail goes cold. I’ve written Sondheim at the only address I could find, but the letter was returned, saying the person didn’t live there. The few people I know that played in his hunts are dead.
Anyone know more details? Or have ideas? Or suggestions on how to continue?
I don’t have any exact details on the treasure hunts, but I read this biography of Sondheim last year and I remember they talked about the treasure hunts and the genesis of “The Last of Sheila” (great movie, btw) in several chapters.
Might wanna spell his name correctly if you write to him! It’s Stephen, not Steven. (Probably just a typo…)
Seriously, this is extremely interesting info, Skott. I had no idea Sondheim edited the Times crosswords back in the '60s, however briefly. It does fit his love of words.
Probably an obvious suggestion, but have you tried posting on Finishing the Chat? There are some serious Sondheimphiles there who have probably read every bio on him and may have info about the parties.
Also, maybe you can try contacting this gentleman, Thomas Hasselwander, who – according to this thread on BroadwayWorld claims to have been to one of the Halloween parties. He could be a liar / namedropper but can’t hurt to check. He also has a Facebook profile if you wanna contact him that way.
BTW, your website is very very interesting. I’ll definitely be taking a gander at it! I love treasure hunt type games, ever since my pop used to create little rhyming puzzles for me and my sister to solve and hunt through our house to find a little prize. Other than that, my only real experience is the annual Games magazine treasure hunt from the early 1980s.
Anyway, I hope this helps and do wish you luck – and thanks again for sharing this tidbit about Sondheim. I adore his music and had no idea about this side of him. Very cool indeed.
Damn it, too late to edit. But yes, I realize Sondheim didn’t do the Times crosswords but rather the New York magazine crosswords. I’m sitting here looking at my omnibus edition of 500 Sunday puzzles from the New York Times, so that’s where my head was.
Thanks for the great ideas. I’m reading Stephen Sondheim: A Life (spelled that correctly heh) right now. It mentions an article written in the Sunday Times about the 1968 Halloween Hunt… if only I can get my hands on it!
It’s funny, I had searched the boards earlier, but for some reason it never crossed my mind to actually post there… and for some reason I assumed there were no biographies about him out yet since he’s still alive.
Thank you! I’ve become addicted to them myself, as you may have noticed :). I’m helping out with one tomorrow (the Shinteki Decathlon) and look forward to playing in a 24-themed hunt in July (24: The BANG).
Glad to help! Can you hie thee to a library? They should have it on microfiche.
I think there are a couple, right? I really want to read his bio too. He fascinates me as an artist/writer.
This is probably old news to you, but: I found two more mentions of another treasure hunt he created in 1995, this one as a benefit –
This may be a long shot, but maybe you can write Will Shortz. I know he’s ridiculously busy but hey, it might be something interesting he could use for his NPR show. And maybe if you get in touch with the Millay Colony development (i.e. fundraising) staff they might have a program or newsletter to send you. Nonprofit folks are often very helpful and interested to talk about past events.
Good luck with Decathalon5 tomorrow! That sounds like a lot of fun.
Sadly, they only have it back to 1992. The Times Online has a tremendous archive, going back to its beginning; however, if you read carefully enough (it took me a few hours), they don’t have the Sunday Times archive available yet.
Actually, hadn’t heard that, thanks! I’d been looking for pre-1973 puzzle hunt occurances and had read that at some point he gave puzzles up because they were taking over his life. More to read about!
Bumping the thread 'cause I’m currently listening to this BBC broadcast of excerpts of Stephen Fry’s autobiography, The Fry Chronicles. Fry (British author, actor/comedian, TV presenter, internet personality, national treasure) is recounting some experiences of his early career, including the 1984 adaptation of the musical Me and My Girl, for which he revised the book. The show ran in the West End and eventually moved to the U.S.
Anyway, he mentions an incident where after a performance, he learned from a colleague that Stephen Sondheim had attended and enjoyed the show, and wanted to get in touch with Fry. But, oddly, Sondheim was particularly interested to know if Fry had a fax machine. Fry, very young and a huge Sondheim fan, was thrilled of course, though curious about the fax machine question. His mind started racing with fantasies about Sondheim asking him to write the book of his next musical, and maybe they’d collaborate via fax…
However, in fact, Sondheim was interested in the fax machine relating to plans for a treasure hunt he was holding at his country house in CT; he told Fry he was holding one the next Saturday and wanted to use a long number as a clue, which would turn out to be a fax number instead of a phone number. Sondheim wondered if Fry would be willing to play along and fax clues back to the party guests. (Fry was, and did. But he was awfully disappointed not to be collaborating with Sondheim on a much grander scale! At least he got a good bottle of claret a week later in thanks.)
Anyway it’s just a brief mention, but after hearing this anecdote I immediately thought of this thread. The timeframe of Me and My Girl’s run would date the party from 1984 - 1993. You can listen to the interview at the link for another week, if you’re interested in the whole tale.
Damn, I wish I were still in touch with one of my exes, who has known Sondheim since the late 50s, and would definitely have known about the treasure hunts.
But I have no intention of getting in touch with him, for any reason.
Does NO ONE think this is a bit… odd? Suspicious? Downright creepy?
I mean, if one of your neighbors spent years studying The Phantom Of The Opera… and claimed to be writing a musical about him… and then gave mysterious parties, with some sort of hunt? And where every single one of his “mystery guests” died… EVERY ONE of them?
YOU do the research. I’m staying away from this Sondheim (even sounds like a mad scientist) character. But tell us when you find the bodies piling up…
Sondheim is also credited with introducing cryptic crosswords – an Americanized version of British crosswords – to the U.S., for which I am eternally grateful.
Anyway, I think this might do better in The Game Room, where the puzzle folks hang out, so I’ll move it thither.
It’s Stephen, not Steven. 
(Probably just a typo…)
I’ll have to listen.