Love is Hell and a Warm Glass of Milk

In Twin Peaks Episode 2019 from Season Two, Special Agent Dale Cooper is seen sitting by a fire place enjoying a glass of warm milk. He’s joined by John Justice Wheeler and the two have an exchange about love.

For years, I wondered what glass Cooper used in this scene. It wasn’t until Twin Peaks was released on Blu-ray that I was able to identify it.

To find the glass, I closely examined shots of the glass from the scene. It appeared to be some kind of measuring glass.

After taking close up images of the glass, I searched on eBay for vintage glasses with key words like “Western Stores” or “In The West.” After a few searches, I located a match in February 2017 which I ordered for $12.00. I subsequently shared the news on the incredible Twin Peaks Props website.

Here’s a closer look at the glass with and without milk. I’m still unsure why The Great Northern Hotel was using a measuring glass to serve milk.

I’ve been unable to identify the exact history of this glass. From what I have discovered, the glass could have been a promotional items for “Its Western Stores” released in 1947. I’ve found some listings stating “Its Western Stores” were a part of T.G.&Y. stores, a five and dime or variety store that originally opened in Norman, Oklahoma during in the 1930s.

Additional searches on eBay uncovered a color variation with red and yellow artwork, and a glass that may have been released in 1948.

Regardless of its history, I love this scene for so many reasons – the sultry saxophone heard in the song “Josie and Truman,” the glowing orange hue of the fireplace, musings about love, Billy Zane(!!).

The episode was with several script revisions made in late January 1991. The episode was directed by Jonathan Sanger and it aired on April 11, 1991.

Being a helpless romantic, I adore Cooper and Wheeler’s exchange.

WHEELER: Love is hell.
COOPER: Sorry?
WHEELER: Love. It’s hell.
COOPER: The Hindus say love is the ladder to heaven.
WHEELER: The Hindus have also been known to take a hike on hot coals for recreational purposes.
COOPER: (a mild correction) Self-discipline.
WHEELER: Self- discipline and love, there’s a bad match.
COOPER: (agreeing; what he’s facing) Earthly love.
WHEELER: What other kind is there?
COOPER: When you’re in it, no other.
WHEELER: It hits you like an eighteen-wheeler. And there’s no relief.
COOPER: It makes you feel more alive.
WHEELER: And you feel more of everything. Pain included.
COOPER: Especially pain.
WHEELER: I can’t stop thinking about her.
COOPER: (a look at him) Sounds like you’ve got a pretty serious case.
WHEELER: I am roped, tied and branded.
COOPER: She feel the same way?
WHEELER: (lifts his drink) Here’s hoping.
(Cooper lifts his drink in support.)
WHEELER: How ’bout you? You on the critical list, too?
COOPER: (considers, then) I feel like someone’s taken a crowbar to my heart.
WHEELER: That’s not bad.
COOPER: No. I think it’s been locked away long enough.
WHEELER: Then that’s good.
COOPER: (lifts his drink) Here’s hoping.
WHEELER: Here’s to you.