Following an intense fan campaign by C.O.O.P. – Citizens Opposing the Offing of Peaks – throughout February and March 1991, ABC Television decided to air the final six episodes of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks. There were C.O.O.P. chapters found throughout the United States who wrote thousands of letters to network executives. One chapter in Iowa City was rewarded for their efforts by Lynch-Frost Productions who flew Harry Goaz (Deputy Andy Brennan) and Frank Silva (Killer BOB) to attend a fan event held on March 28 in the former Wheelroom in the Iowa Memorial Union at the University of Iowa.
Fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera first reported on this event via his Instagram account on Dec. 27, 2023 to acknowledge Harry Goaz’s birthday. This article takes an in-depth look at what transpired during that wonderful and strange evening in Iowa.
BIZARRE BOB TO VISIT IOWA CITY AND ‘TWIN PEAKS’ FANS ON MARCH 28, 1991
On March 23, 1991, Cindy Cullen Chapman shared news about Silva and Goaz’s visit in her article for The Gazette titled, “Bizarre BOB to visit lowa City and ‘Twin Peaks’ fans.”
“Here comes BOB! BOB probably is the most bizarre murderer ever seen on the home screen in one of the most bizarre plots in one of the most bizarre television shows ever — “Twin Peaks.” He (it?) is the truly scary spirit (or whatever) that inhabited Leland Palmer (and, now, God knows who else), causing Leland to not only literally turn gray overnight (wouldn’t you?) but also to kill his own daughter, Laura Palmer. After Leland, er, I mean BOB (well, actually both, I guess), was revealed as Laura’s killer in one of the most hyped plot lines in TV history, BOB killed Leland (I think) and most likely went in search of his next “host” — but I’m not really sure.
Frank Silva and Harry Goaz were invited to Iowa City Thursday for a party at the Iowa Memorial Union at the invitation of C.O.O.P. (Citizens Opposed to the Offing of Peaks). C.O.O.P. is headed in Iowa City by University of Iowa senior Bob Cappel, a theater arts major.
Silva and Goaz were guests at a half-hour VIP reception at 6:30 p.m. and then joined a party in the Iowa Memorial Union’s Wheel Room. The Wheel Room served as the University of Iowa’s social and cultural center since 1925. The location closed its doors in 2008 after the ground floor of the union flooded. A remodeled location with a new name reopened in fall 2015.
On March 28, guests were encouraged to come costumed as Twin Peaks characters. Admission was $1.50 for those in costumes and $2.50 for those without. At 8:00 p.m., attendees would watch the James Foley-directed episode 2.017. Letters and petitions were also available at the party for fans to sign.
“It’s expected that everyone who comes in the door signs a letter, or they can write their own,” said Cappel.
The video for C.O.O.P.’s official theme song, “Give Peaks a Chance” debuted at the party starting at 8:00 p.m. Cappel said their chapter had cut a single of this fan parody which was being submitted to some area radio stations. Dr. Demento would later broadcast the anthem via his syndicated radio program on May 5, 1991.
The song was a parody of the John Lennon song “Give Peace a Chance.” In 1991, Yoko Ono had recorded a newer version of the song (and music video) with the Peace Choir in response to the Gulf War in the Middle East.
[Iowa City] is our most active chapter,” C.O.O.P’s founder Michael Caputo told Lark Borden with Gannett News Service in March 1991. “They drafted our theme song – ‘Give Peaks a Chance’ – with a 30-person chorus. Iowa City is David Lynch’s personal favorite chapter. When he first heard about it, he guffawed.”
The Iowa City chapter of C.O.O.P. was one of seven groups around the United States. Others were located in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York, Vermont, Florida and the San Francisco Bay area. At the time, Cappel estimated his Iowa group had around 175 Twin Peaks fans.
“As far as I’m concerned, ‘Twin Peaks’ is probably the best thing on TV in my lifetime,” Cappel told Chapman for her 1991 Gazette article.
Robert Dale Cappel was born January 3, 1968 in Atlantic, Iowa. He graduated from the Atlantic High School with the class of 1986, where he was active in debate, forensics, music, plays, and was a member of the golf team. He attended Simpson College where he traveled with the Madrigal Singers, and then attended the University of Iowa. On September 5, 1998, he married Heather Johnson in Eugene, Oregon.
Bob had a varied career including publishing Marquee movie magazine in Seattle, Washington, starting an e-commerce business in Schaumburg, Illinois, and pursuing freelance pursuits such as voice acting, computer consulting, and web development. Bob was passionate about cooking, movies, video games, and cat rescues. Sadly, he passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cappel speculated that Lynch-Frost Productions arranged for Silva and Goaz to attend the Iowa City party out of gratitude.
“We were the third or fourth chapter to get mobilized, and we sort of mobilized with a vengeance,” he said. “I spent time on the phone with our contact at Lynch-Frost [Productions], and I got a personal letter from [Mark] Frost. I think the people at Lynch-Frost thought it was kind of funny that Iowa got behind the show so much and that we had such a loud voice. I think they just wanted to say thanks for the support.”
FRANK SILVA GETS CHICKEN POX
Like something pulled from Lynch and Frost’s strange world, Frank Silva contracted Chicken Pox while on his way to Iowa City. According to Dave Rhein’s article “Twin Peaks Rises Again” for The Des Moines Register on March 29, 1991, Silva began to see “scabs forming all over his body just as his plane was landing Wednesday.”
“So while Silva was confined to his room with a fever and was unable to attend the party in the University of Iowa Memorial Union, Harry Goaz, who plays Deputy Andy, carried the bulk of the star power.
‘I’m totally in shock,’ said Silva. ‘I really wanted to be part of this. It’s very disappointing.'”
There was talk that night of getting then former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to treat Silva. Koop was speaking at the University of Iowa one floor above The Wheelroom but the two never met.
DJ HARRY GOAZ ON KRNA AND BOOKSTORE SIGNING | MORNING OF MARCH 28, 1991
The morning of the event on Thursday, March 28, Harry supposedly joined the “Those Guys In the Morning Show” on KRNA 93.9 in Iowa (the station would later switch to 94.1 FM in October 1991). Frank was scheduled to attend before being quarantined at the hotel.
Greg Dwyer and Bill Michaels, known as Dwyer and Michaels, were hosts of the morning broadcast. On air together since the late 1980s, they write, host and produce a popular morning show in the U.S. Midwest currently originating from WXLP-FM in the Quad Cities. Their show was syndicated for over a year on KRNA-FM in Cedar Rapids.
Goaz was scheduled to be on the air from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. as a guest DJ. He also answered questions from callers while live on the air.
KRNA News Director Glen Gardner said, “It’s a great opportunity for our listeners to talk directly to some people they may have seen on TV.”
After the radio appearance, Harry Goaz visited Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City. He autographed Twin Peaks books while seated next to a small table with a stack of doughnuts.
Reporter Dave Rhein spoke to fans waiting in line including Diane Fowler of Riverside. She admitted she has become obsessed with all the subtle details of the show.
“Everything means everything,” said Fowler. “All of these things mean something to somebody. I take notes during each show.”
“It’s humorous, it’s sad, it’s scary but most of all it’s fun,” said Mush Zapf of Iowa City. “It’s so bizarre.”
Katie Lammers of Iowa City brought her daughter, Wendy, 4, to the bookstore to meet the stars. When word got around that BOB was in bed with the chicken pox, Lammers had an idea.
“Wendy hasn’t had the chicken pox yet and now would be a great time to expose her to them,” she said with a sly smile.
Rhein asked her, “Would you really want your child exposed to Killer BOB?”
“You bet,” shot back Lammers, looking for a way to meet Silva. “I dream about that man. He’s so scary.”
C.O.O.P PARTY FOR ‘TWIN PEAKS’ AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA – MARCH 28, 1991
More than 300 Twin Peaks fans filled The Wheelroom dressed as Log Ladies Leo Johnson, Dr. Lawrence Jacoby and more. Katie Lammers of Iowa City dressed as “dead Madeleine [Ferguson] – in a golf bag.”
“[Iowa City] C.O.O.P. president Bob Cappel described Thursday’s activities as a victory party of sorts,” wrote Rhein. “After ‘Peaks’ was taken off the air in February because of low ratings, a giant letter-writing campaign brought ABC to its knees — if you believe COOP officials. Goaz said the show’s cast and production crew were stunned when 300,000 letters arrived in one week. ABC officials said the tone of the mail ranged from despair (‘I want my “Twin Peaks.’ It’s all I have to live for.’) to downright menacing (cut-out letters that read: ‘Bring back “Twin Peaks, or else….’).”
Rhein interviewed several attendees who dressed in costume including Craig Stephenson of Cedar Rapids. He was an “amazing lookalike for Dr. Lawrence Jacoby in his tinted glasses, salt-and-pepper beard and outrageously loud shirt.”
“He’s a little crazy, just like me,” Stephenson admitted he kind of identifies with Jacoby. “The show is weird – great but weird.”
Tom Anglin, Gazette Iowa City columnist, described Stephenson’s outfit in his March 29 report.
“A gray-haired, Hawaiian-shirted chap, wearing glasses with yellow cellophane covering one lens and blue cellophane over the other, was the spitting image of Dr. Jacoby, psychiatrist and Timothy Leary retread.”
He also called out Barry Johnson from Iowa City who dressed as a recognizable FBI Agent – “A young man with a boyish face, Brylcreemed hair, and neatly pressed suit looked much like FBI agent Dale Cooper.”
Matt Nelson, a University of Iowa junior from Alta, was the only male bold enough to come to the party as Laura Palmer – complete with a plastic bag surrounding his head.
“Because I had the bag,” deadpanned Nelson while explaining his costume. “Every time I see any kind of plastic product I grieve for Laura.”
A more conventional Laura Palmer costume was worn by Mary Williams of Cedar Rapids. She wore white long underwear from head-to-toe, then covered the long johns with a huge, clear plastic bag. Only her face was uncovered.
“Tm a huge fan, a fanatic,” said Williams. “I have every episode on tape.”
Columnist Anglin was also impressed with another guest who dressed as Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic.
“Most stunning, though, was a woman in the visage of Laura Palmer, the larger-than-life murder victim. She was wrapped in clear plastic from the neck down, with sand adhered to her forehead, stringy tresses stiffened by hair spray, and makeup creating a convincing death mask. Just the look Laura had when found, which is more than I can say for the guy who simply tossed a plastic sheet over his head.”
Liz Howe, a senior from Hawarden, and Susie Stefanowicz, a law student from Springfield, Mo., arrived as twin Log Ladies.
Asked what her log was telling her on this festive night, Stefanowicz said: “The log wants a beer. It’s very dry.”
Jennifer Lemish, a master’s degree candidate from Ames, came as Nadine Hurley. She apologized for having her patch over the wrong eye.
“The patch feels more comfortable on the right side,” she said.
Lemish originally thought of dressing as silent drape runners but “she didn’t have time to take down her curtains.”
Diane Fowler, who attended the book signing earlier in the day, arrived at the party later also dressed as the Log Lady. Mush Zapf, who was also at the Prairie Lights Bookstore, said she planned to come as Leo Johnson, “but I have to find a dog collar first.”
The student-run radio station KRUI 89.7 FM appears to have broadcasted from the gathering of Twin Peaks‘ most passionate fans.
Harry Goaz received a standing ovation and a rush for autographs when he appeared at the party. Reporter Anglin said Harry was “endearingly aw-shucks and had the crowd in the palm of his hand for 30 minutes.”
“Goaz willingly fielded questions from the audience,” wrote Trish Mehaffey for The Dispatch on March 29, 1991. “He also signed countless autographs for about three hours during the viewing of a previous ‘Twin Peaks’ episode and [last night’s] new episode.”
Mr. Goaz said fame hasn’t changed him much, but he kiddingly told the roomful of fans that he knew he was “gonna steal the show and be the biggest star.”
The crowd also wanted to know which “Peaks” character Mr. Goaz liked best.
“Dick Tremaine,” he answered as described in an article published in The Dispatch on March 29, 1991. “Here are all these other people, and then there’s Dick. The head of men’s fashions at Horne’s Department Store. He’s a dandy. He’s very eloquent and outrageous. I think he’s someone that Andy’s infatuated with. And Ian Buchannan (the actor who plays Tremaine) is hilarious in real life.”
He continued describing the scene as episode 2.017 (#24) aired:
“Before long, a hush fell over the gathering as the return episode of ‘Twin Peaks‘ began on the big-screen television. The crowd, starving for quirky entertainment, ate it up with relish. There was appreciative applause for the first appearances of Dale Cooper and the Log Lady, fingers snapping along with one of several similar-sounding dance tunes from the soundtrack, and loud whoops when Deputy Andy came on screen.”
HARRY GOAZ SPEAKS ABOUT ANDY BRENNAN, TWIN PEAKS AND THE C.O.O.P. EVENT
When asked about his visit to the Midwest by The Dispatch‘s Trish Mehaffey, Harry responded he loved his visit.
“Mr. Goaz, who arrived in Iowa City on Wednesday, said he ‘loved’ Iowa and the Midwest,” wrote Mehaffey. “He regarded it as a nice change from Los Angeles, or, as he refers to it, ‘Magic in Hell.’ ‘C.O.O.P. has been fantastic, and the pace is so comfortable out here,’ he said. ‘I didn’t really expect this kind of reception in the Midwest. I didn’t realize we had such a following out here.'”
“I knew [Twin Peaks] would create a lot of attention only because David Lynch was doing it,” Goaz told reporter Dave Rhein. He was surprised at fans’ reaction to the show.
David Lynch discovered Goaz while he was working for a sedan service and happened to be driving Mr. Lynch one day. They started talking about cars and the next thing he knew, he was being cast as Deputy Andy Brennan.
“All I knew about the character was that Andy cried,” he said with the hint of a Southern drawl. “Andy is great. He cries. He has a child-like character, full of wonder, which most call thick. Andy is a lot like me. I grew up in Beaumont [Texas] and have that sense of openness.”
He said security was so tight during filming of last spring’s “Who Killed Laura Palmer?” episodes that the actors didn’t really know what was happening. Three different versions of the scenes unveiling the killer were filmed in order to protect the real story. And the scripts were sometimes shredded after parts of them were leaked to magazines, Mr. Goaz said.
At the time of the event, it was unclear if ABC Television would pick up the show for a third season. Harry denied the possibility of Twin Peaks not being renewed next season.
“I feel sure it’s going to be picked up because of the success in other countries,” he said to Dave Rhein. “The show is ranked No. 1 in England, France, Italy, Spain and Australia. Even the King and Queen of Spain watch it. I was just over in Madrid and I was told that when the royal family missed an episode, they asked for a tape of the show.”
“It’s the most videotaped show in the U.S., and we are big in Europe and get 62 percent of the market in Spain,” Mr. Goaz said in The Dispatch article. “The Queen (Elizabeth of England) is a big fan of the show. I’m serious. She’s been calling Gay (Pope, publicist for ‘Peaks’) begging for a part. It would be very strange if ABC didn’t bring it back. We’ll come back in some form. If not ABC, then on Fox (network) or some other cable station. Now, this is no authority. I’m just telling what I think.”
As for upcoming episodes, whether dispatcher Lucy and Andy will ever get together depends on “my contract negotiations,” Mr. Goaz said. Harry coyly responded to other questions about what happens in the final six episodes.
“Expect some cliff-hangers,” Mr. Goaz said as they have finished filming all of this season’s “Peaks” episodes. He wouldn’t tell any juicy secrets, except that there will be several cliff-hangers.
“I can tell you this much,” said Goaz of the season finale scheduled to air in May (Ed. Note – it was pushed to a two-hour movie of the week on June 10, 1991 following a significant decline in ratings). “When they gave us the script for the show, the entire fourth act was missing. When I asked about it, I was told that the end of the show already had been filmed. Everyone was told that. That means we were shooting scenes earlier that we didn’t know would be used later, or they are going to use outtakes. Only David Lynch, (co-producer) Mark Frost and Dwayne Dunham know for sure.”
Looking for a new role Mr. Goaz hasn’t been just loafing during his time off from Twin Peaks. He said he’s been reading several scripts, looking for something that will catch his eye.
“I’m also working with a friend on producing a show. I’ll only say it’s for a network project. I’m outrageously ambitious and want to aspire to everything,” he said.
Mr. Goaz said he was eager to play a character different from the mild-mannered Andy.
“I would love to go out and play a maniac killer or something. That would be great. I want to be menacing. That would be wild, wouldn’t it?”
HARRY GOAZ VISITS THE BLACK ANGEL OF OAKLAND CEMETERY
“I’m going to go over and see the Black Angel at midnight,” he said earlier in the evening, bubbling over with Deputy Andy enthusiasm. “This will be great. I’m so excited. And I’m going to kiss it. I grew up across from a graveyard in Beaumont (Texas).”
Details magazine was planning an interview with him, and he was asked to pose for photos with the statue to accompany the story. He heard about the infamous angel before he left Los Angeles for Iowa City.
Actor Harry Goaz seemed to be quite comfortable kneeling beneath the legendary Iowa City graveyard monument, the Black Angel, unlike his Twin Peaks alter ego, Deputy Andy Brennan, who probably would have cried.
After the party, Mr. Goaz stood on the huge monument, posing for pictures and even kissing the marble angel, in defiance of the legend which predicts death within a year for anyone who dares to smooch with the statue. The only sounds in the haunting graveyard were whispers and occasional clapping and laughing from the small crowd of fans gathered around the clowning actor.
According to Atlas Obscura, the Black Angel was built as a beautiful yet mournful burial monument for the resting place of the Feldevert family, and erected in a quiet Iowa City cemetery in 1912.
“At 8 1/2 ft. tall, the broad-winged angelic statue stands out amongst rows of simple gravestones, and enjoys very large recognition in the area—not for its finely-crafted sorrowful visage, but for its insistence on appearing eerily black. Regardless of being a simple case of bronze oxidizing, the effect is pretty creepy, and one can’t be blamed for letting their imagination off the leash a little. The angel was designed by artist Mario Korbel, and stands watch over Theresa and Nicholas Feldevert, as well as Theresa’s son from her first marriage, Edward Dolezal. Over the years, the angel turned darker and darker, a greenish-black patina effect that made the statue creepier and creepier.”
At Halloween, students and residents gather around the statue, some test their luck by touching or kissing the statue. It is said that if one touches or kisses the statue they will be struck dead unless that person is a virgin. (Iowa Roadtrip, Facebook, July 24, 2024).
ORIGINAL NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ABOUT IOWA CITY C.O.O.P. EVENT
Here are three original articles used to write the event recap. They come from The Des Moines Register, The Dispatch and The Gazette
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