Art Peaks – Tom Kerr’s ‘Twin Peaks’ Poster in ‘Asbury Park Press’ on Sept. 26, 1990

Excitement was in the air leading up to the second season premiere of Twin Peaks in September 1990. Countless newspaper articles recapped David Lynch and Mark Frost’s wonderful and strange show and made predictions about what might happen when the show returned. For Asbury Park Press illustrator Tom Kerr, the show’s return was an opportunity to create a souvenir poster for the September 26, 1990 newspaper.

WHO IS ILLUSTRATOR TOM KERR?

Illustrator Tom Kerr began his drawing career working for the Australia’s Melbourne Sun while also moonlighting in animation and illustrating books. He published a weekly cartoon strip titled, “Gastauve” that ran in both the United States and Australia for 16 years.  It appears he joined Asbury Park Press as an illustrator around 1988. In 1995, he left the New Jersey paper for a role as an illustrator and cartoonist for the Omaha World-Herald. In 2016, Tom formed his own company, Tom Kerr Creative, Inc.

One of his most notable works was drawing the iconic “McGruff the Crime Dog,” and helping develop his nephew “Scruff” for the National Crime Prevention Council. He’s also illustrated more than 45 books, and his artwork has appeared in numerous publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Detroit Free Press and more.

TEASER FOR ‘TWIN PEAKS’ POSTER IN ASBURY PARK PRESS ON SEPT. 24-25, 1990

The Asbury Park Press ran two teasers for Tom Kerr’s Twin Peaks poster on September 24 (top) and September 25, 1990.

For Peak’s Sake
Everything you need to know about Twin Peaks. Full page poster of who’s who on Wednesday in The Press.

The September 25 teaser included a Welcome to Twin Peaks sign with the population listed as 51,200. I always thought this graphic was created for the Japanese market but it appears it was part of original publicity for the United States broadcast. Now I’m thinking it was created for the show’s second season, hence why the population is missing the “1” from the 51,201 found on the original Welcome to Twin Peaks sign.

‘TWIN PEAKS’ POSTER IN ASBURY PARK PRESS ON SEPT. 26, 1990

The Asbury Park Press masthead for September 26, 2026 contained Tom Kerr’s drawing of Laura Palmer’s Homecoming Queen portrait. The masthead for Section C also contained a teaser to the artwork: A Purloined peek Our unofficial poster of Twin Peaks sets stage season opener Sunday – page C9.

The News Summary & Index on page 2 also contained a teaser to this artwork found in their Panorama section: “TWIN PEAKS” is a mythical TV town. But, staff artist Tom Kerr came up with some realistic icons in a souvenir poster.

Kerr’s poster is found on Page 39 of the paper. This full page wonder uses publicity photos mixed with drawings of locations and icons from the show. The poster’s title appears to be “Purloined Peek” and includes this description:

Ahhh! Smell that damn good coffee mixed in the Douglas-fir-filled air. You’re in a cozy burg hard by the Canadian border, maybe a bit too cozy for anyone’s comfort…

I love early 1990s unofficial posters and drawings as they show what really resonated with viewing audiences. Kerr’s illustrations included the Packard Sawmill, the Double R Diner, White Tail Falls, the abandoned train car, the Roadhouse, Easter Park Gazebo, the Palmer house and more. Icons are the One Eyed Jacks poker chip, Audrey Horne’s tied cherry stem, Hank Jennings’ domino and even the Indian Head gas pump. A dancing Little Man From Another Place and a deer head also make a cameo.

Each publicity photo has a short character description listed below:

• FBI Agent Dale Cooper – Damn good coffee drinker.
• Sheriff Harry S. Truman – Strong and silent.
• Josie Packard – Mill widow.
• Bobby Briggs – QB sacked by Laura.
• Audrey Horne – Cherry stem twister.
• Dr. Lawrence Jacoby – Psychedelic videotaper.
• James Hurley – Hangdog biker.
• Hank Jennings – Has his own domino theory.
• Shelly Johnson – Tied by Leo.
• Benjamin Horne – Greedy moneybags.
• Donna Hayward – Best buddy.
•  Leland Palmer – Nightmare dancer.
• Madeleine Ferguson – Laura’s cousin?
• Dr. William Hayward – Nicest guy.
• Leo Johnson – Trucker with a temper.
• Norma Jennings – Saucy diner owner.
• Nadine Hurley – With her, it’s curtains.
• The Log Lady – Wooden woman.
• Ed Hurley – Gasses ’em up.
• Deputy Hawk – Excellent track record.
• Lucy Moran and Deputy Andy Brennan – Cryin’ lovebugs.
• Catherine Martell – Mill crazy.

What a delightful surprise to find this poster while researching something completely unrelated. I wish I could find the original newspaper containing Kerr’s work. Until that day, I’ll have to settle for this digital copy (visit my Flickr account to download a high-resolution version).