Real Twin Peaks 2025 – “Let’s Talk About Props, Baby” Panel

As part of the Real Twin Peaks 2025 event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, a panel discussion about Twin Peaks props was held at No Boat Brewing Company in Snoqualmie, Washington. Titled “Let’s Talk About Props, Baby,” fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera and I spoke with Twin Peaks season two prop master Jeff Moore. He shared stories about working with David Lynch and other talented crew for 22 episodes during 1990-1991.

This is the entire hour-long panel discussion found on the Twin Peaks Blog YouTube channel.  This was the third time that Jeff Moore has attended the Real Twin Peaks event. He also discussed his work in 2023 and 2024.

NO BOAT BREWING COMPANY IN SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON

Located at 35214 SE Center St #2nd in Snoqualmie, No Boat Brewing Company taproom and brewery was founded in 2016 by David, Gary, and Mary Skiba.  No Boat’s location is both a destination brewery for folks hiking nearby mountain trails, and a place where locals share ales and lagers. With strong local ties in Snoqualmie Valley, and utilizing David’s background as a winemaker in both California and Washington, No Boat strives to provide a unique and quality experience through locale, community, and most of all, beer.

For the Real Twin Peaks event this year, the brewery created a West Coast Pale Ale called “The Hops Are Not What They Seem.” This beer was offered both in draft and silver 16-fl oz. cans (which is the reason I packed an extra suitcase for the event).

Since this panel discussion was held in a brewery, it made sense to enjoy a glass while speaking with Jeff Moore and Vinnie. Thank you to Scott Ryan for buying this round.

“LET’S TALK ABOUT PROPS, BABY” PANEL DISCUSSION

The panel discussion with Vinnie, Jeff and me began at 1:30 p.m. in the backroom of No Boat Brewing Company. The postcard created for this panel advertised screen used props would be on display.

An A-Frame sign was placed near the bar providing directions to Real Twin Peaks attendees.

Surrounded by wooden kegs, the three of us posed for a photo standing behind the prop-filled table. Jeff would soon discuss several items along with stories of working with David Lynch.

I enjoyed seeing Donna Hayward’s screen-used suitcase from Twin Peaks episode 2.022, the second season finale. Vinnie wrote about this item manufactured by New York-based Monarch Luggage Company only a few weeks prior to the Real Twin Peaks event.

Vinnie also brought along Bobby Briggs’ screen-used Olympus tape recorder from Twin Peaks episode 2.008 as detailed in this Twin Peaks Blog article.

I love the fact Vinnie reunited the tape recorder with Dana Ashbrook during an event at the historic Balboa Theatre in San Francisco, California on Nov. 6, 2022. When Vinnie showed Dana the prop, he said, “That was mine?! I have absolutely no recollection of that whatsoever.”

On the other hand, Jeff had plenty of memories to share during the panel discussion including the first film he worked on in the mid-1980s called Body Slam. The wrestling-themed movie was directed by Hal Needham and starred Dirk Benedict, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Tanya Roberts.

“I knew somebody and they said they needed somebody to set up the band because nobody in the Set Decorating department and nobody in the Prop department knew anything about bands or what they needed,” explained Jeff. “So I was hired to be a glorified roadie and that’s how I got into the business.”

Jeff explained the difference between a prop or or “property” versus set decorating. His team was responsible for any movable objects actors may used on set. Examples of these items include telephones, weapons, cups, reading materials, etc. Many times, these items are identified by name in scripted action.

Set decorating or set dressing, however, includes non-moving or background objects found on sets which are based on the production designer’s vision. These items may include furniture, collectibles, books, drapery, and other decorative products.

Vinnie asked about the Eat-It-All ice cream cone from the Double R Diner. For most of the series, it was considered set decor until director Diane Keaton had Shelly Johnson (Mächen Amick) and Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) share a moment on the diner floor with the cone. As soon as Diane provided direction about wanting to use it in the scene, the item became a prop that Jeff’s team handled.

COVERING LOGOS ON PROPS

Vinnie asked Jeff about how the crew covered logos seen on props throughout the series. He said at the time, the crew would squint to see if a logo could be seen on a prop. This was, of course, long before high-definition Blu-ray and 4K DVDs. For Vinnie and me, we love when we can spot a brand name as it helps us identify items for our ever growing list of props and set decor.

For the most part, Jeff and his team were successful at covering or partially covering logos. He did receive one call from Production about the use of a Coca-Cola bottle in episode 2.017. While the bottle didn’t have the iconic red and white logo, the shape was noticeable. Yet the Coca-Cola representative for the region loved that the bottle appeared in the show. He even brought David Lynch a classic Coca-Cola vending machine from the late 1940s or early 1950s.

FOOD STYLING IN TWIN PEAKS

Jeff said he hired Cindy Lambert to serve as a food stylist on the show.

“I met Cindy just at the beginning of ‘Twin Peaks,'” explained Jeff. “I knew the [Double R] diner was there and I was facing a lot of food, so I hired someone.”

For the smiling breakfast plate, Jeff’s assistant prop masters, Rich and Stefan, created the silly face plate using food from the catering truck. Jeff was away from the scene as he was acquiring props for future set ups. If catering wasn’t available, Jeff would shop for groceries the night before the shoot.

He shared that the pies in the Double R Diner came from the now closed Du-Par’s Restaurant once located at 12036 Ventura Blvd Studio City, California. This place closed in December 2017 and is now a Sephora. This was the spot that, according to page 157 in “Lynch on Lynch,” Mark Frost and David Lynch met to create “Northwest Passage” which later became the “Twin Peaks” pilot.

“So one day Mark and I were talking at Du Pars [sic], the coffee shop on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura, and all of a sudden, Mark and I had this image of a body washing up on the shore of a lake.”

I only dined at this Du-Par’s once in April 2013. They wouldn’t let me take photos inside the location but I did snap this image of pies in their display case.

Jeff said the best example of seeing pies from Du-Par’s was in episode 2.021 when Norma Jennings presents three pies on a silver tray at the Double R Diner. I never realized until writing this article that the cherry and peach(?) pies on Norma’s tray are quite similar to the pies in the display case from my visit.

You can still find a Du-Par’s operating at the Farmers Market located at 6333 West 3rd Street in Los Angeles, California.

GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL ROOM KEY ON GOLD KEY CHAIN

Vinnie asked about the key chain from the Great Northern Hotel that looked similar to gold name tags worn by some of the hotel staff. Jeff confirmed the name covered on the golden oval is his sister, Toni.  This keychain was presented to Mr. Tojamura when “he” checks into the hotel.

“Names are very sensitive in film,” continued Jeff. “So I used Stefan’s name, Rich’s name, and my name. I used my sister’s name. I used any name that I knew that if they saw it, they wouldn’t get mad or come after the show and sue.”

CREATION OF CIRCLE BRAND

A highlight from the conversation was hearing Jeff tell a story how Circle Brand boots were created.

“David Lynch called me over and said, ‘Okay, I need you to make me a logo for the bottom of these boots … it has to be ‘Circle Brand’,” said Moore. Lynch originally wanted the logo to appear on the heel.

Jeff turned to Rich Robinson, the first property assistant, to create the logo as described and designed by Lynch. He was quite particular about the placement of the words, with “Circle” being arched above a round circle and the word “Brand” straight across underneath.

Jeff recreated the logo (with Vinnie’s assistance) for the Real Twin Peaks 2025 event.

To make the logo, Jeff pulled a small piece of cardboard from the grip truck. Rich then stacked letters to give the logo dimensionality. A round washer was added to the center of the square and the entire thing was painted black and distressed.

After the panel, Jeff sold a handful of Circle Brand logo t-shirts where were printed on a black blank. I love this shirt as it’s such a deep cut that observant Twin Peaks fans will recognize.

The entire hour-long conversation is filled with even more stories. Be sure to watch the entire replay on YouTube.

I’m grateful for Jeff being so willing to discuss his work on the show. He is currently writing a book titled, “Who Propped Laura Palmer?,” which will have even more stories from his wonderful and strange experience. I’m also thankful for my fellow prop hunter and blog author Vinnie Guidera who has been a joy to know for so many years. You can follow him on Instagram @TwelveRainbowTrout.

Finally, a big thank you to No Boat Brewing Company for hosting the panel and created the themed beer for this year’s event. Make plans to stop by the Brewery next time you’re in town.