Twin Peaks Set Decoration – Falstaff Beer Sign ‘Sunset’ by Lloyd R. Jones at the Double R Diner

The Double R Diner set in the first two seasons of Twin Peaks is filled with wonderful set decorations that make it feel like an actual working diner. Some of the earliest articles on Twin Peaks Blog identified artwork hanging above the diner’s booths were action took place. I’m happy to identify another set decoration found on the opposite of the diner set once constructed in Van Nuys, California. This slightly, out of focus, vintage beer advertisement appears in the background of several scenes during the show’s first two seasons. Not surprisingly, it comes from the 1950s like so many other items seen in David Lynch and Mark Frost’s wonderful and strange show.

FALSTAFF BEER SIGN | “SUNSET” BY LLOYD R. JONES AT THE DOUBLE R DINER

In Twin Peaks episode 1.004, Shelly Johnson is seen standing in the Double R Diner while speaking with Norma Jennings. In the background, you can spot an out of focus image hanging above the coffee and beverage station.

The image, titled “Sunset” is an 1950s advertisement for Falstaff Beer. The painting by Lloyd R. Jones shows duck hunters enjoying the last moments of the day as the sun falls from the sky. Drawings of ducks, the Falstaff Beer shield and company logo frame the image that measures approximately 30-inches wide by 20-inches tall. The advertisement may have been created in 1957 as I found several similar advertisements with more Western motifs.

The American brewery, Falstaff Brewing Corporation, was located in St. Louis, Missouri. With roots in the 1838 Lemp Brewery of St. Louis, the company was renamed after the Shakespearean character Sir John Falstaff in 1903.

When Prohibition in the United States was repealed in 1933, the first two cases of beer made by the Falstaff brewery were sent by air from Curtiss Stienberg Airport to the governors of Illinois and Missouri. The company expanded from 1936 to the mid-1950s, acquiring a number of smaller breweries throughout the United States. By the 1960s, Falstaff was the third-largest brewer in America.

Business declined in the 1970s as consolidation forced smaller breweries to join larger companies. In April 1975, the S&P Company, owned by Paul Kalmanovitz, bought Falstaff. This led to the closure of several plants throughout North America. The Vancouver, Washington, brewery that began producing Falstaff in 1975 closed in 1985, with the entire operation relocated to Zhaoqing, China, and reopened there as a Pabst brewery (yes, that Pabst Blue Ribbon that Frank Booth loved so much).

After the 1990 closing of the last Falstaff brewery in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the brand name became a licensed property of Pabst, which continued to produce Falstaff beer through other breweries. Selling only 1,468 barrels of Falstaff in 2004, Pabst discontinued production of Falstaff in May 2005.

We don’t see the back of the frame on screen. It contains a handy duck identification chart titled “Know Your Ducks.” All I can hear is Special Agent Dale Cooper yelling “DUCKS!” as he visits Leo Johnson with Sheriff Harry S. Truman.

There is little information available about the artist Lloyd R. Jones. I found a brief mention in the June 22, 1952 edition of The Chicago Tribune.

“Lloyd R. Jones, Des Plaines, Ill., artist who is associated with Bielefield Studios, Inc. Jones, who was born in Cleveland, O., studied at the Art museum in that city and at the Art Institute of Chicago. His paintings have hung in exhibits in many cities. He is married.”

The Art Institute of Chicago says he lived from 1890 to 1934. His works were shown at the institute in 1928, 1930, and from 1930 to 1935.

FALSTAFF BEER’S “SUNSET” APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS

The “Sunset” image turns up again in Twin Peaks episode 1.004 when James Hurley sees Maddy Ferguson at the Double R Diner counter while he  is speaking with Donna Hayward on the phone.

It’s great seeing the image so early in the series. Richard Hoover served as Production Designer with Okowita acting as the Art Director. Brian Kasch was the set decorator for this particular episode. The advertising image selected stays all the way through the second season.

The image is seen again in episode 1.006 when Shelly Johnson greets Sheriff Harry S. Truman and Special Agent Dale Cooper at the Double R Diner. This is just before Cooper says his now iconic line about giving yourself a present every day. This is the last time we’ll see the image during the first season.

In episode 2.004, “Sunset” is seen in the background as Hank Jennings carries Meals on Wheels food dishes to Donna Hayward patiently waiting at the counter.

The image continues being seen when Norma and Hank discuss the mysterious food critic arriving into town.

We get one of the better looks at the image when Hank grabs his jacket from the kitchen. This was the image I used to perform a reverse image search that eventually uncovered the original image.

As Norma watches Hank leave, she stands directly in front of the out of focus artwork.

Later in episode 2.004, we get another outstanding shot of the Jones’ “Sunset” artwork as Norma Jennings chases after Toad who is helping himself to food in the Double R Diner’s kitchen.

The “Sunset” image has a lot of screen time during episode 2.004. After Hank Jennings swipes District Attorney Daryl Lodwick’s wallet, the camera moves over to Donna Hayward and Maddy Ferguson speaking while seated in a booth. The Falstaff Beer ad hangs silently in the distance.

The image appears out of focus again a few episodes later when Norma is speaking with her mother Vivian in episode 2.008.

As Hank Jennings carries plates with sliced pie in episode 2.013, you can see the “Sunset” image in the distance.

The “Sunset” image returns in episode 2.016 when Shelly Johnson helps a patron at the cash regsiter.

When Annie Blackburn and Norma Jennings share a warm embrace during episode 2.017, you can see the “Sunset” image in the distance.

The vintage ad remains out of focus when Annie is speaking with Shelly Johnson during the same episode.

As Sheriff Harry S. Truman heads for the Double R Diner bathroom in episode 2.018, you can catch a glimpse of the “Sunset” image.

The final appearances of the Falstaff Beer advertisement take place in episode 2.019. The first time is when Annie Blackburn and Shelly Johnson are behind the counter as Annie clears dirty dishes.

The final time is when Special Agent Dale Cooper gets coffee to go from Annie and Shelly.

You can see even more identified props and set decoration on this dedicated webpage.