RTL Plus Brochure from Germany – Wer Ist Was: Das Geheimnis von Twin Peaks

In Germany, Mark Frost and David Lynch’s groundbreaking television series Twin Peaks aired on RTL Plus under the name Das Geheimnis von Twin Peaks (The Secret of Twin Peaks). In advance of the show’s debut on September 10, 1991, the network produced a brochure titled, “Wer Ist Was” (or “Who is Who?”), which profiled key details about major characters from the show.

TWIN PEAKS ON GERMANY’S RTL PLUS

The German television network RTL Plus bought 20 episodes of Lynch and Frost’s show, dubbed them into German and scheduled them for broadcast under the name “Das Geheimnis von Twin Peaks” (“The Secret of Twin Peaks”).

The pilot episode first aired at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 1991. Beginning September 13, 1991, a new episode would air every Friday at 9:10 p.m. It was Friday prime-time lead-in to the “Tutti Frutti” game show that aired 140 episode between 1990 to 1993. Hugo Egon Balder hosted this risqué show where female contestants removed clothing as a central part of the game.

DAS GEHEIMNIS VON TWIN PEAKS – “WER IST WAS” BROCHURE | COVER

The cover for this RTL Plus fold-over brochure contains a uniquely created logo for the show, a full page image of Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic, and a sepia-tone photo of David Lynch standing on the Reinig Road bridge in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The back cover of the brochure says this “Konzept and Text” (“Concept and Text”) was created by the Barbarella Entertainment Team. Launched in 1991 in Berlin as an artistic experiment by Mechthild Holter and three partners. The company originally served as a talent agency with an additional office in Cologne. The company still exists today as a public relations and artist agency.

The “Grafik” (or “graphics”) were created by Mühlhaus and Moers Medienservice. Today, the company provides strategy and consulting; content marketing; corporate communications; corporate reporting; and creation and design.

The sepia-toned image of David Lynch has the caption, “David Lynch / der Erfinder von ‘Twin Peaks'” which translates to “the creator of ‘Twin Peaks’.”

This is the original uncropped version of the photo. The bridge once serviced the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company but is now part of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. The trestle behind David Lynch no longer exists but you can see it in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

DAS GEHEIMNIS VON TWIN PEAKS – “WER IST WAS” BROCHURE | INSIDE

The inside of this brochure uses publicity photos from the show’s first season and pairs them with short bios about each character. I’ll list the bios and their translations below. The original German text is presented first followed by the English translation.

Dale B. Cooper: Der Spezialagent
ist: FBI Ermittler, Junggesefle and nie aus der Ruhe zu bringen
hat: ein vorspringendes Kinn, ein inniges Verhaltnis zu seinem Diktiergerät Diane and Vertrauen in übersinnliche Aufklärungsmethoden
liebt: Kaffee, sufies Backwerk und den Daft der Douglasfichten
Darsteller: Kyle Maclachlan

Dale B. Cooper: The Special Agent
is: an FBI investigator, a bachelor, and utterly unflappable
has: a jutting chin, an intimate relationship with his voice recorder – Diane – and faith in paranormal investigative methods
loves: coffee, sweet pastries, and the scent of Douglas firs
Actor: Kyle MacLachlan

Harry S.Truman: Der Sheriff
ist: Gesetzeshiiter and ein ausgesprochen netter Mensch
hat: tiefe Sympathie fur seinen Partner Dale Cooper and ein warmes lacheln
liebt: Josie Packard and ihre seidene Unterwasche
Darsteller: Michael Ontkean

Harry S. Truman: The Sheriff
Is: A lawman and a genuinely nice person
Has: Deep affection for his partner, Dale Cooper, and a warm smile
Loves: Josie Packard and her silk lingerie
Actor: Michael Ontkean

Pete Martell: Der Angler
ist: der Entdecker von Laura Leiche, gutmütig and in den Augen seiner Frau ein Trottel
hat: die Hoffnung oaf eine gluckliche Ehe nie aufgegeben and im Black Lake schon manchen dicken Fisch geangelt
liebt: offiziell seine Gattin, heimlich seine Chefin Josie Packard
Darsteller: Jack Nance

Pete Martell: The Angler (or The Fisherman)
Is: the discoverer of Laura’s body; good-natured and—in his wife’s eyes—a fool.
Has: never given up hope for a happy marriage, and has caught many a big fish in Black Lake.
Loves: officially his wife; secretly his boss, Josie Packard.
Actor: Jack Nance

Catherine Martell: Die Gerissene
ist: Managerin der Packard Sagemiihle and Intrigantin aus Leidenschaft
hat: fur ihren Mann Pete nur Verachtung and eine Schwache fur Negliges
liebt: Benjamin Horne – aber nur aus Berechnung
Darstellerin: Piper Laurie

Catherine Martell: The Schemer
Is: Manager of the Packard Sawmill and an intriguer by passion
Has: Nothing but contempt for her husband, Pete, and a weakness for negligees
Loves: Benjamin Horne—but only out of calculation
Actress: Piper Laurie

Bobby Briggs: Der Luftikus
ist: Football-Star, Koksdealer and Liebhaber
hat: Scherereien mit der Polizei and wenig in seinem hubschen Kopf
liebt: Shelly Johnson
Darsteller: Dana Ashbrook

Bobby Briggs: The Airhead
Is: Football star, coke dealer, and lover
Has: Trouble with the police and not much in his pretty head
Loves: Shelly Johnson
Actor: Dana Ashbrook

James Hurley: Der Biker
ist: Halbwaise and Einzelganger
hat: eine Harley Davidson and eine tote Geliebte
liebt: manchmal Madeleine Ferguson, meistens Donna Hayward and immer die Einsamkeit
Darsteller: James Marshall

James Hurley: The Biker
Is: A half-orphan and a loner
Has: A Harley-Davidson and a dead lover
Loves: Sometimes Madeleine Ferguson, mostly Donna Hayward, and always solitude
Actor: James Marshall

Donna Hayward: Die Brave
ist: die baste Freundin von Laura Palmer and Voters liebling
hat: oft moralische Bedenken, immer ein schlechtes Gewissen and ein unschuldiges Gesicht
liebt: James Hurley, Lauras letzten Liebhaber
Darstellerin: Lara Flynn Boyle

Donna Hayward: The Good Girl
Is: Laura Palmer’s best friend and the town favorite
Has: frequent moral qualms, a perpetual guilty conscience, and an innocent face
Loves: James Hurley, Laura’s last lover
Actress: Lara Flynn Boyle

Benjamin Horne: Der Kapitalist
ist: Kaufhaus-, Bordellbesitzer and nie ohne Zigarre unterwegs
hat: kein Herz, keine Gefiihle fur seine Tochter Audrey and ein lauwarmes Verhaltnis mit Catherine Martell
liebt: Geld, Macht and die Madchen im “One Eyed Jack’s”
Darsteller: Richard Beymer

Benjamin Horne: The Capitalist
Is: Department store and brothel owner, and never seen without a cigar
Has: No heart, no feelings for his daughter Audrey, and a lukewarm affair with Catherine Martell
Loves: Money, power, and the girls at “One Eyed Jack’s”
Actor: Richard Beymer

Josie Packard: Die Witwe
ist: Erbin der Packard Sagemiihle and als Chinesin immer eine Fremde in Twin Peaks geblieben
hat: mit zwielichtigen Gestalten zu kampfen, ein grofies Herz and einen grofien Kleiderschrank
liebt: Einkaufsbummel in Seattle and Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Darstellerin: Joan Chen

Josie Packard: The Widow
Is: Heiress to the Packard Sawmill and—as a Chinese woman—has always remained an outsider in Twin Peaks
Has: To contend with shady characters, a big heart, and an extensive wardrobe
Loves: Shopping trips to Seattle and Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Actress: Joan Chen

Shelly Johnson: Die Ehebrecherin
ist: Kellnerin, liebreizend and unglucklich verheiratet
hat: Angst vor ihrem Ehemann and viele Hemden zu waschen
liebt: Bobby Briggs and ihren Job
Darstellerin: Mädchen Amick

Shelly Johnson: The Adulteress
Is: A waitress, charming, and unhappily married
Has: A fear of her husband and many shirts to wash
Loves: Bobby Briggs and her job
Actress: Mädchen Amick

Ed Hurley: Der Scharfschillze
ist: Besitzer von ”Big Ed’s Tankstelle” und ein Hijne mit Herz
hat: seiner Frau versehentlich ein Auge ausgeschossen, einen Schuldkomplex and vieles gutzumachen
liebt: die blonde Norma Jennings seit der Schule
Darsteller: Everett McGill

Ed Hurley: The Sharpshooter
Is: The owner of “Big Ed’s Gas Farm” and a good-hearted hick
Has: Accidentally shot out his wife’s eye, a massive guilt complex, and a lot of making up to do
Loves: The blonde Norma Jennings—ever since school
Actor: Everett McGill

Audrey Horne: Das Friichtchen
ist: nosh Jungfrau, entschlossen, es nicht mehr lange zu bleiben and Erfinderin des Kirschstengel-Tricks
hat: einen Job im Bordell ihres Vaters, haut-enge Wollpullover and einen Schonheitsfleck
liebt: Dale Cooper and das Abenteuer
Darstellerin: Sherilyn Fenn

Audrey Horne: The Little Fruit
Is: still a virgin – determined not to remain one for long – and the inventor of the cherry-stem trick
Has: a job at her father’s brothel, skin-tight wool sweaters, and a beauty mark
Loves: Dale Cooper and adventure
Actress: Sherilyn Fenn

Norma Jennings: Die Gastronomin
ist: Besitzerin des “RR Dine’, Expertin fur Kirschkuchen und mit einer norgelnden Mutter gestraft
hat: einen kriminellen Ehemann and ihre gute Laune nie verloren
liebt: Big Ed, still und heimlich
Darstellerin: Peggy Lipton

Norma Jennings: The Restaurateur
Is: Owner of the “RR Diner,” an expert on cherry pie, and cursed with a nagging mother
Has: A criminal husband – yet has never lost her good spirits
Loves: Big Ed – quietly and secretly
Actress: Peggy Lipton

Leland Palmer: Der Voter
ist: Anwalt von Ben Horne, verzweifelt iiber den Tod seiner Tochter Laura and von allen guten Geistern verlasssen
hat: den Verstand verloren and eine Stimme wie Frank Sinatra
liebt: seine ermordete Tochter, seine Nichte Madeleine and seine Auftritte als Musical-Star
Darsteller: Ray Wise

Leland Palmer: The Father
is: Ben Horne’s lawyer, devastated by the death of his daughter Laura, and completely out of his mind
has: lost his sanity and a voice like Frank Sinatra
loves: his murdered daughter, his niece Madeleine, and his performances as a musical star
Actor: Ray Wise

Dr. Jacoby: Der Seelendoktor
ist: ein therapiebedijrftiger Psychiater und SijcIseefan
hat: eine Sonnenbrille, viele Hawaihemden and ein gestortes Verhaltnis zur Realitiit
liebt: alle Patientinnen und alles Bunte
Darsteller: Russ Tamblyn

Dr. Jacoby: The Soul Doctor
Is: A psychiatrist in need of therapy himself, and a surf fan
Has: Sunglasses, many Hawaiian shirts, and a disturbed relationship with reality
Loves: All his female patients—and anything colorful
Actor: Russ Tamblyn

Margaret: Die Seltsame
ist: nie ohne Holzscheit unterwegs and ein Medium
hat: die Gewifiheit, daft ihr Scheit irgendwann sprechen wird und starke Arme
liebt: den Holzscheit
Darstellerin: Catherine E. Coulson

Margaret: The Eccentric
Is: Never without her log, and a medium
Has: The certainty that her log will eventually speak—and strong arms
Loves: The log
Actress: Catherine E. Coulson

Leo Johnson: Der Brutale
ist: LKW-Fahrer, Koksdealer and priigelnder Ehemann
hat: Eifersuchts-anfiille, eine untreue Ehefrau and vial Pech im Leben
liebt: seine Frau Shelly, wenn er dariiber nachdenkt
Darsteller: Eric DaRe

Leo Johnson: The Brute
Is: A truck driver, coke dealer, and abusive husband
Has: Fits of jealousy, an unfaithful wife, and a lot of bad luck in life
Loves: His wife, Shelly—when he actually thinks about it
Actor: Eric DaRe

Laura Palmer: Die Tote
war: das beliebteste Madchen der Stadt, drogenabhangig, nymphoman und sozial engagiert
hatte: ein Tagebuch, viele Freunde and einen grausamen Tod
liebte: ihre Eltern und alle Manner
Darstellerin: Sheryl Lee

Laura Palmer: The Deceased
Was: The most popular girl in town; drug-addicted, nymphomaniacal, and socially active
Had: A diary, many friends, and a gruesome death
Loved: Her parents—and all men
Actress: Sheryl Lee

Lucy Moran: Die 3etriebsnudel
ist: Sekretarin im Sheriffburo, naiv and fiirsorglich
hat: zwei Voter fur ihr Kind, eine Babystimme and die Auszeichnunq “Angestellte des Jahres”
liebt: Hilfssheriff Andy and umstandliche Erklarungen
Darstellerin: Kimmy Robertson

Lucy Moran: The Office Dynamo
Is: A secretary at the Sheriff’s Department; naive and nurturing
Has: Two potential fathers for her baby, a childlike voice, and the “Employee of the Year” award
Loves: Deputy Andy—and convoluted explanations
Actress: Kimmy Robertson

Madeleine Ferguson: Die Doppelgangerin
ist: Laura Palmers Kusine und hilfsbereit
hat: Eine verbliiffende Ahnlichkeit mit der Toten, telepathische Fahigkeiten and eine ausgepragte Neugier
liebt: James Hurley, Onkel Leland and Tante Sarah
Darstellerin: Sheryl Lee

Madeleine Ferguson: The Doppelgänger
b: Laura Palmer’s cousin and helpful
Has: A striking resemblance to the deceased, telepathic abilities, and a pronounced curiosity
Loves: James Hurley, Uncle Leland, and Aunt Sarah
Actress: Sheryl Lee

Albert Rosenfield: Der Experte
ist: Gerichtsmediziner, herzlos and Perfektionist
hat: ein loses Mundwerk and keine Freunde
liebt: cues Leblose
Darsteller: Miguel Ferrer

Albert Rosenfield: The Expert
Is: A forensic pathologist, heartless, and a perfectionist
Has: A sharp tongue and no friends
Loves: The lifeless
Actor: Miguel Ferrer

Nadine Hurley: Die Hausfrau
ist: Fitnessfanatikerin, selbstmordgefiihrdet and eifersiichtig
hat: ein Rudergerat, einen Putzfimmel and ein Auge verloren
liebt: ihren Mann Ed and den lautlosen Vorhangstopper
Darstellerin: Wendy Robie

Nadine Hurley: The Housewife
Is: A fitness fanatic, suicidal, and jealous
Has: A rowing machine, a cleaning obsession, and is missing an eye
Loves: Her husband Ed and the silent drape runners
Actress: Wendy Robie

Andy Brennan: Der Hilfssheriff
ist: die rechte Hand von Sheriff Truman and eine Heulsuse
hat: eine Trompete und Angst, unfruchtbar zu sein
liebt: seine Kollegin Lucy
Darsteller: Harry Goaz

Andy Brennan: The Deputy
Is: Sheriff Truman’s right-hand man and a crybaby
Has: A trumpet and a fear of being infertile
Loves: His colleague Lucy
Actor: Harry Goaz

Phillip Gerard: Der Einarmige
ist: Schuhverkaufer, immer auf Drogen and ein wichtiger Zeuge
hat: zwei Personlichkeiten and sick selbst den Arm amputiert
liebt: inneren Frieden
Darsteller: Al Strobel

Phillip Gerard: The One-Armed Man
Is: A shoe salesman, constantly on drugs, and a key witness
Has: Two personalities and amputated his own arm
Loves: Inner peace
Actor: Al Strobel

Sarah Palmer: Die Mutter
ist: hysterisch and nicht zu beruhigen
hat: Beruhigungsmittel genommen and vom Leben nichts mehr zu erwarten
liebt: ihre Tochter Laura
Darstellerin: Grace Zabriskie

Sarah Palmer: The Mother
Is: hysterical and inconsolable
Has: taken sedatives and expects nothing more from life
Loves: her daughter, Laura
Actress: Grace Zabriskie

Tommy Hill: Der Indianer
ist: zweiter Hilfssheriff und wie ein Fels in der Brandung
hat: einen Hang zur Dichtkunst und Vertrauen in indianische 0.1 Weisheiten
liebt: Manitu und die Schonhei der Natur
Darsteller: Michael Horse

Tommy Hill: The Native American
Is: A deputy sheriff and a rock of stability
Has: A penchant for poetry and faith in Native American wisdom
Loves: Manitou and the beauty of nature
Actor: Michael Horse

Diane: Die Zuhorerin
ist: das Diktiergerat von Dale Cooper
hat: Einblick in das Denken and Fijhlen ihres Meisters and als Einzige einen Platz in Coopers Bett
liebt: Coopers Stimme

Diane: The Listener
Is: Dale Cooper’s dictaphone
Has: Insight into her master’s thoughts and feelings, and is the only one with a place in Cooper’s bed
Loves: Cooper’s voice

Der Riese: Das Orakel
ist: der gute Geist, den niemand rief and allwissend
hat: Agent Cooper einen Ring entwendet and ihm drei R’citsel aufgegeben
liebt: die Wahrheit
Darsteller: Carel Struyken [sic] (should be spelled “Struycken”)

The Giant: The Oracle
Is: the benevolent spirit whom no one summoned, and all-knowing
Has: stolen a ring from Agent Cooper and posed three riddles to him
Loves: the truth
Actor: Carel Struyken [sic] (should be spelled “Struycken”)

DOWNLOAD THE ORIGINAL BROCHURE

You can download the original full-sized brochure from my Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha75/albums/72177720333079375