What a year! As the last seconds of this unprecedented and surreal year tick away, I’m reflecting on the highlights for TwinPeaksBlog.com in 2020. This year marked the 30th Anniversary of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s masterpiece, and despite the challenges we all faced, there were damn fine moments that kept me connected with fellow Bookhouse Boys and Gals around the world who love this show as much as I do.
BY THE NUMBERS
TOTAL ARTICLES – As of December 31, 2020, there are 515 articles published, with 167 of those articles published this year. June was the busiest month with a record-breaking 45 articles, while November had the fewest with only five stories.
FILM LOCATIONS – In 2020, more than 48 locations were identified and added to the ever-growing list of 259 locations. Currently, I’ve identified 117 from Washington State, 129 in Southern California and 13 from other locations around the world.
The Complete Guide to Twin Peaks Film Locations page is fantastic resource and I’ve been updating the Google Map below with ALL : – ) locations.
ART PEAKS – I launched a new recurring series this year titled Art Peaks. In June 2020, Society6 partnered with Showtime to release Twin Peaks-inspired artwork everyday celebrating the show’s 30th Anniversary. I wrote 30 stories that month – one every day highlighting the artists and artwork released.
I also upgraded my scanner which allowed me to produce some pretty awesome high-res images of my Twin Peaks home media and collectibles.
Look for more articles with stellar artwork in 2021.
PROP IDENTIFICATION – There were 35 articles about the props used in Twin Peaks.
Highlights include the photos used to create the Bushnell “Battling Bud” Mullins poster at Lucky 7 Insurance, the Currier and Ives artwork in the Double R Diner and the CCX Trucking Mug at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.
One of the best things to happen this year was fellow prop enthusiast Vinnie Guidera began writing articles for the Blog. He’s shared several stories about his extensive replica prop collection including Dale Cooper’s tape recorders, Donna Hayward’s cassette player or the Johnson’s snowball candy jar.
COSTUMING PEAKS – In May I launched a new recurring series that examines the costumes worn by various characters such as Dick Tremayne, Audrey Horne, Leland Palmer and Andy Brennan.
FAN SPOTLIGHTS – The spotlight was turned on Simon O’Connor who manages the incredible The Plaid of Twin Peaks Instagram account.
Thanks to Ben and Bryon from Twin Peaks Unwrapped, I caught up with the legendary Bruce Phillips who has been collecting and selling Twin Peaks memorabilia for years.
I’d also like to thank the dynamic Twin Peaks Unwrapped team. It was a pleasure speaking with them on February 23 and they held amazingly fun weekly viewing parties throughout the year. Their book is a must-have for any Twin Peaks fan (see BlueRoseMag.com to order).
In addition to Vinnie, fellow Twin Peaks-fan Jason McMahan also began writing for the Blog. He’s published one article so far but I look forward to reading more about his experiences with the show.
FAN GATHERINGS – While the official 30th Anniversary event at Graceland was canceled due to the pandemic, Twin Peaks fans from around the world attended the Fayetteville Comic Show in Fayetteville, Arkansas from February 28-March 1.
Truly a last hurrah before the world changed. Read the three trip reports here – Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3.
There were so many incredible things that happened during that trip including meeting the stars of my favorite television series.
I loved joining other fans as we paid tribute to the late Catherine Coulson who played The Log Lady.
The best ending to the trip was hanging out with Shea Mathis, owner of Arkadia Retrocade and fellow Twin Peaks fan. He was incredibly generous with his time and his arcade is a must-see place in Arkansas.
TEN MOST POPULAR STORIES
Let’s revisit the 10 most popular stories published this past year beginning with something I didn’t think I’d still be wearing at the end of December – face coverings.
Round-Up of Twin Peaks-Themed Face Coverings – The most popular story for the year featured the various Twin Peaks and David Lynch-themed face coverings currently available in the marketplace. Please continue to wear one (over your nose) when in public and, as Leland Palmer would say, “Wash your hands!”
Miss Twin Peaks Contest – Dark Frames Removed – As an experiment, I removed all the dark frames during the strobe light sequence from the Miss Twin Peaks contest in Episode 2021. The results were surprising and the video on the Twin Peaks Blog YouTube channel was popular.
Enjoy Twin Peaks 30th Anniversary Blend by Allegro Coffee – Allegro Coffee released a 30th Anniversary blend to celebrate this wonderful and strange show. Sadly it’s no longer available but memories of damn fine cups of hot, black coffee linger.
All in the Details – The Owls of Twin Peaks – For Super Bowl Sunday, I examined all of the “Superb Owls” found in the show.
Costuming Peaks – Audrey Horne in Season 1 – As previously mentioned, the Costuming Peaks series launched in May with a look at Audrey Horne. The amazing Sherilyn Fenn responded to my tweet indicating that she wore clothes from her wardrobe for the most part in the Pilot. Wow!
Quotable Peaks – Albert’s Philosophy – The best quote by Albert Rosenfield, particularly relevant for this year.
Ultimate Twin Peaks Gift Guide for 2020 – If you received any gift cards or if you are still seeking the perfect Twin Peaks-themed gift for a loved one, check out this ultimate guide for 2020.
Thirty Things I Love About the Twin Peaks Pilot – For the actual 30th Anniversary of the show on April 8, I selected 30 things I love about the Pilot Episode. The Bromance between Sheriff Truman and Agent Cooper is definitely on the list!
Quotable Peaks – If Jupiter and Saturn Meet… – The great conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn happened on December 21. I examined the scene in Episode 2020 where Windom Earle references this conjunction as related to the Black Lodge. Vinnie followed up with a story about Dale Cooper’s prop book seen in Episode 2021.
Twin Peaks Film Location – Palmer House in Everett, Washington – I took an amazingly deep dive into the history of the Palmer House in Everett, Washington. Special thank you to Mary Reber (Mrs. Tremond in Part 18) for her hospitality. Stay tuned for Take The Ring’s video about this iconic location.
There are more ways to follow my journey with Twin Peaks. I’d love to connect with you in 2021. See this article for all the details.
Thank you for stopping by TwinPeaksBlog.com during this year. This was a record-breaking year for the site, with traffic more than double from 2019. I hope the stories I’ve shared have offered relief from the realities of this current time. Things will get better in the coming year, and I look forward to seeing you in the trees.
