Travel in Time Interview – Chapter 7: “Visionaries Build What Others Can’t Yet See”
Location: Gillette Castle, East Haddam, CT
Guests: Dan Blanchard & William Gillette
Dan Blanchard:
Good afternoon, Mr. Gillette. What a surreal experience it is to be here, sitting inside this fantastical castle of yours! Before we dive in, can I ask—why a castle, and why here?
William Gillette:
(laughs softly) Why not? I spent years in the public eye, dear Dan—bright lights, long tours, every hotel room like the last. I needed a sanctuary. And I didn’t want a dull country house like everyone else. I wanted something… uniquely me. This bluff overlooking the Connecticut River? The perfect canvas.
Dan:
You certainly made a masterpiece. Forty-seven different doors, trick locks, secret passages, and mirrors—were those just for fun, or was there a deeper purpose behind the eccentric design?
William Gillette:
Ah! Both. Life is far too short for ordinary doors, my friend. The truth is, I wanted to amuse myself. But also—this castle reflects the inner workings of my mind. Creativity, privacy, control… perhaps a hint of mischief. It’s a reflection of a life lived on my own terms.
Dan:
You definitely lived boldly. But I heard your path to success wasn’t easy. Your parents didn’t support your dream of acting. How did you keep going?
William Gillette:
They thought acting was a fool’s errand. Wanted me to follow politics or law. But I had no interest in becoming a replica of someone else’s expectations. I had a voice. I had a vision. And when Mark Twain—dear neighbor from Nook Farm—offered me a role in The Gilded Age, well… that was the match to my fire. I seized it.
Dan:
And it led to your legendary portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Some say you defined the detective as we know him.
William Gillette:
A curious turn, isn’t it? “Elementary, my dear Watson”—yes, that line was mine. The pipe, the posture, the mysterious demeanor… I invented what the world now imagines when they think of Holmes. But more than that, I proved that an American actor could lead the world stage. That hadn’t been done before.
Dan:
You truly put America on the theatrical map. And then you retreated here, to build what many called your “castle of dreams.” What leadership lesson do you think your life and this home teach?
William Gillette:
Vision, Dan. Leadership is vision. Everyone sees what is. But leaders? We build what others can’t even imagine yet. You don’t ask for permission. You create. Boldly. Unapologetically. Even eccentrically.
Dan:
I love that. “Build what others can’t yet see.” Now… what’s the deal with the train that once ran around the property?
William Gillette:
Oh, yes—the miniature steam train! Delightful, wasn’t it? Three miles of track winding through woods and tunnels. I built it to entertain guests, but honestly, it delighted me most of all. It was playful. Mechanical. Joyful. Why not indulge in wonder?
Dan:
It’s like you built your own leadership playground. You even had early Hollywood legends visit here, didn’t you?
William Gillette:
Indeed. Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and others. This place wasn’t just a retreat—it was a lab. I dabbled in lighting experiments, reflections, and shadows. Silent films were rising, and I wanted to understand how visual storytelling could move an audience, just like theater did. Film needed new tools. I was happy to invent some.
Dan:
A visionary, an innovator, and an artist. Mr. Gillette, what would you say to young people today—especially those told their ideas are “too different” or “too impractical”?
William Gillette:
(smiling) I’d say: nonsense. If people understand your vision right away, it probably isn’t bold enough. Build it anyway. Create what you must create. And remember—every door can open to something wondrous, even if the lock looks peculiar.
Dan:
I think you just gave us all permission to get a little more creative and a little less conventional. Thank you, Mr. Gillette—for your time, your legacy, and for teaching us that real leadership doesn’t just follow the script—it writes the next act.
William Gillette:
Well said, Mr. Blanchard. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I have a few guests still trying to figure out how to open the liquor cabinet.
(both laugh)
