The Tale of Three Utility Poles

The Utility Pole first seen at the Fat Trout Trailer Park in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me has fascinated since I first watched the movie in October 1993.  Perhaps that’s because it played a part in my favorite two-minute scene in Twin Peaks. Or it could be because I got to see the real utility pole during a visit to the now demolished Park Street Trailer Park in August 1996. Whatever the reason, I’m taking a closer look at the many appearances of this mysterious icon from Twin Peaks.

The utility pole is first seen in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Agents Desmond and Stanley were examining Teresa Banks’ trailer at the Fat Trout Trailer Park.  After a mysterious woman appears at the doorway to the trailer with an ice pack over her eye, Agent Desmond exchanges a look with Carl Rodd, the trailer park manager. The camera then pans down a brown utility pole and lands on a number “6” plaque. Small numbers above the plaque in black and yellow read 324810. The camera move is accompanied by a “whooping” sound (later identified as the sound of “The Arm”). Rodd then tells the FBI Agents that he’s already gone places and he just wants to stay right where he is.

I was curious what the Fat Trout Trailer Park utility pole would look like if I combined still shots from the camera pan down.

The next time the utility pole is seen is at dusk in the Fat Trout Trailer Park. Agent Desmond returned to the scene “looking for the Blue Rose.” Carl Rodd and he walk toward the utility pole before being interrupted by Margaret looking for her “goddamn hot water.”

Desmond looks to the sky and sees the top of the utility pole. The number “6” plaque is then shown bathed in the purple light of dusk.

The Fat Trout Trailer Park was filmed at the now demolished Park Street Trailer Park, located at 39531 SE Park Street in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Seeing the utility pole in person during the 1996 Fan Festival was one of the coolest Twin Peaks memories.

The second appearance of the utility pole was in Twin Peaks Part 6 on Showtime. It’s shown after Carl Rodd comforts a grieving mother following a horrible accident. This time the camera pans up from the number “6” plaque to the top of the pole.

Rather than ponder how the pole traveled from Deer Meadow to Twin Peaks, I’ll share a  collage of shots from the camera pan.

The scene was shot around 8400 Meadowbrook Way SE in Snoqualmie, Washington. The Google Street View image is from 2008 so the area looks a little different today.  In particular, the building to the left of the screen is now demolished by served as the location for Mo’s Motor in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

The third appears of the utility pole takes place in Twin Peaks Part 14 on Showtime. The Fireman shares a vision with Deputy Andy Brennan where the pole is shown first in black and white and then in color. At the time of broadcast, I didn’t realize that the pole in this vision would later be seen in Part 18.

The final appearance takes place in Part 18 on Showtime. Richard/Cooper arrives outside Carrie Page’s house in Odessa, Texas. The pole is seen to the right of the screen.

From his car, he spots the number “6” plaque and directs his eyes to the top of the pole. The number “6” plaque shot was the same color shot from Part 14. There wasn’t enough of a pan up to create a collage image as I did before.

The back of the utility pole is seen to the left of the screen as Richard approaches Carrie’s house.

The scene was shot in southern California, not Odessa, Texas. The number “6” plaque was added to the utility pole, but the top of the pole is the same as the one shown on screen.

[Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop Whoop]