One-story house with a white fence

Twin Peaks Prop – “Return From The Hunt” at The Roadhouse

For the past several years on Twitter, I’ve seen the iconic image of Special Agent Dale Cooper giving a thumbs-up at The Roadhouse every hour on my timeline. I’ve long wondered what painting is behind him in this shot from Episode 2.009 in Season 2. Today, I have the answer.

DALE COOPER HOUR ON TWITTER

A few years ago, I began following @DaleCooperHour on Twitter, which shared the same image of Kyle MacLachlan’s character Agent Dale Cooper sporting a thumbs up until June 17, 2021.

Screencap of Twitter account of DaleCooperHour

The scene is from Episode 2.009 shortly after he receives his pinky ring back from The Giant with the answer to “Who killed Laura Palmer?” It’s a silly account, but I love the image so much that I couldn’t resist following it.

Ben Horne leaving the Roadhouse
2.019

While researching another article for the blog, I stumbled upon a clearer image of this painting in Episode 2.019 as Ben Horne is leaving the Roadhouse. I cropped the image and used Google Image search. Bingo! I found something.

“RETURN FROM THE HUNT” BY FRANK TENNEY JOHNSON

Twin Peaks Prop - Bidsquare Frank Tenney Johnson
Bidsquare.com

A few years ago, The Coeur d’Alene Art Action offered this piece by Western artist Frank Tenney Johnson titled “Return From The Hunt.”

Twin Peaks Prop - Return From the Hunt

The painting was made in 1934 and is most likely a subject found in Yellowstone National Park. Johnson had a studio in Cody, Washington from 1931-1939 and he spent many hours in the park painting these images from the Western frontier.

The Coeur d'Alene Art Auction
cdaartauction.com

The original oil on canvas painting measured 25 x 30-inches and was signed and dated. At auction, it sold for $327,250! The Roadhouse set didn’t have the original piece. Most likely it was a reproduction lithograph, something you can still find today on various art sites.

ARTIST FRANK TENNEY JOHNSON

Frank Tenney Johnson
PhilStarkeStudio.com

Frank Tenney Johnson was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa in 1874. He was raised on his family’s farm along the old Overland Trail, near Big Grove, Iowa (now known as Oakland, Iowa). Johnson enrolled in the Milwaukee School of Art in 1893 and moved two years later to New York City to study art at the Art Students League of New York.

Johnson was an illustrator for several well-known publications including “Field & Stream,” “Boys’ Life” and “Cosmopolitan.” He also provided illustrations for Zane Gray’s Western novels. He lived in New York City from 1904 until 1920, making numerous trips out west to study subjects for his works.

"Somewhere On The Range"
“Somewhere On The Range”

Johnson was considered a “Master of the Moonlight” paintings. ArtistsNetwork.com best described his approach and style:

Johnson loved to paint cowboys and Indians going about their daily lives, especially the Navajo. On an early western trip, Johnson noticed that the Navajo Indians he had been studying preferred to stay indoors during the intense heat of the day and did their traveling and moving around at night. This crucial observation led him to draw and paint the Indians and cowboys who lived and worked in the western night, especially under the bright, clear moonlight. Using canvasses laboriously prepared with chalk and vermilion, and left to dry for up to a year, he developed techniques which allowed him to create stunning nocturne paintings of remarkable depth and color. He quickly realized that nocturnes were a subject that he could make his own.

These remarkable paintings often featured figures lit by moonlight, campfires, kerosene lamps or, as in one painting, a cowboy on a horse lighting a cigarette with a match. It wasn’t long before he abandoned commercial work to paint full time and sell his work in the top galleries of the day.

Sadly, Johnson died young on New Year’s Day 1939 in Pasadena, California. He attended a social event with his wife a few days earlier. He contracted spinal meningitis after greeting a socialite with a kiss on the cheek. His wife died a few days later then he succumbed to the disease.

APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS

Agent Cooper and Sheriff Truman at the bar
Episode 2.004

The painting is only seen in a handful of Season 2 episodes beginning with Episode 2.004. Sheriff Truman surprises Agent Cooper at the Roadhouse after asking for help from the Bookhouse Boys. I love how Cooper arranged the peanuts and shells on the bar top.

EPISODE 2.007

Log Lady and Law Enforcement at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.007

When the Log Lady joins Truman and Cooper at the Roadhouse in Episode 2.007, we see the painting as they enter the room.

Log Lady and Law Enforcement at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.007
Log Lady and Law Enforcement at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.007

It remains in the background through Julee Cruise’s musical performances and the old waiter sharing his condolences with Agent Cooper.

EPISODE 2.009

Agent Cooper and Big Ed at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

Episode 2.009 is the one where the image is most often seen, starting with Agent Cooper speaking with Big Ed at The Roadhouse.

Deputy Hawk, Bobby Briggs and Leo Johnson at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

It’s mostly seen as there are so many players who enter through the main doors of The Roadhouse.

Agent Cooper at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.009
Lightning Fills The Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

Even when lightning flashes fill the Roadhouse set, we can see parts of the painting in the entryway.

Major Briggs at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.009
Ben Horne Being Escorted Out
Episode 2.009

Whether coming or going from the Roadhouse, the painting is still there.

Leland and Albert Rosenfield Leaving
Episode 2.009
Agent Dale Cooper Leaving the Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

These two shots show the entire entrance to the Roadhouse. I really would love to find those additional images in this scene (one day!).

Agent Dale Cooper at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

Here it is! The shot that started my quest.

Agent Dale Cooper at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

Thumbs-up!

Agent Dale Cooper at The Roadhouse
Episode 2.009

Thumbs-up with faux lightning.

REST OF TWIN PEAKS SEASON 2

Ben Horne Addressing the Committee
Episode 2.019

We don’t return to The Roadhouse until Episode 2.019 when preparations are being made for the Miss Twin Peaks Contest. The painting is in the background when Ben Horne addresses the committee.

Ben Horne leaving
Episode 2.019

As mentioned, we get a great shot of the painting when Ben leaves. Interestingly, the two images next to the wooden contraption on the wall are missing in this shot but they are seen in the previously shared wide-angle.

Lana addresses the committee
Episode 2.019
Nadine and Mike arrive at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.019

We see it two more times in Episode 2.019 – when Lana addresses the committee and when Nadine and Mike arrive. Notice the other woman at the table in the bottom image – that’s the hand-shaking pie girl from the next episode (there is a whole article waiting to be written about her as she is in several additional episodes).

Mayor Milford at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.020

A brief appearance of the painting is found in Episode 2.020 when Mayor Milford arrives.

FINAL APPEARANCE

Crowd at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.021

Episode 2021 contains the final appearances of this Johnson painting. It begins with an image of the crowd reacting to the Miss Twin Peaks contest.

Sheriff Truman Arrives at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.021
Deputy Andy Arrives at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.021

It’s also found when Agent Cooper, Sheriff Truman and Deputy Andy arrive.

Audrey Horne speaking at Miss Twin Peaks Contest
Episode 2.021

A wide-angle shot from behind Audrey Horne shows the painting in the distance.

Lights out at the Roadhouse
Episode 2.021

Even when the lights go out at The Roadhouse, we can see the painting.

TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

Laura Palmer at the Roadhouse
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

The painting is nowhere to be found when Laura Palmer enters the Roadhouse inĀ Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

Laura Palmer at the Roadhouse
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

I love this shot of her – it’s perfect. While Frank Tenney Johnson’s image wasn’t included on this set, a different image from the Double R Diner makes another appearance.

Norma Jennings at the Double R Diner
Episode 2.017
Laura Palmer at the Roadhouse
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

Norman Yeckley’s “Spring Formal” makes the leap from one set to another as documented in this story.

Author

  • Steven Miller at Twede's Cafe enjoying cherry pie and coffee

    A "Twin Peaks" fan since October 1993, Steven Miller launched Twin Peaks Blog in February 2018 to document his decades-long fascination with David Lynch and Mark Frost's wonderful and strange show. With his Canon camera in hand, he's visited numerous film locations, attended Twin Peaks events and conducted extensive historical research about this groundbreaking series. Along with fellow Bookhouse Boys, he dreams of creating a complete Twin Peaks Archive of the series and feature film. Steven currently resides in Central Florida.

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