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General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '08 II => Topic started by: Lydia on December 11, 2008, 01:36:11 PM

Title: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on December 11, 2008, 01:36:11 PM

The prop in question is a picture of a dark-haired man with a fine mustache.  Frame and subject both look 19th century to me.  Subject looks constipated, frame does not.  Here's a capture in which the picture appears, from episode 621:
(http://www.dsboards.com/SMF/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=15173.0;attach=11920)

I've seen the picture in 1968 in both Professor Stokes's living room and Nicholas Blair's living room, suggesting that the subject was a man of local prominence. The picture next appears in Ezra Braithwaite’s shop in episode 684, and Ezra identifies the subject as his father, Ezra Braithwaite Jr.   Like our Ezra, Ezra Jr. was a silversmith, as was Paul Revere.  I am imagining Ezra Jr. becoming a local hero by riding and spreading the alarm to every Hancock County village and farm: “The Revenuers are coming! Hide your moonshine!”  Just one thing puzzles me: the matting on the picture is gold-colored.  I'm surprised to see such a thing around a picture of a silversmith.

I suppose this is a picture of a real man.  If the picture was done in the Dark Shadows studio, by dressing up one of the crew, we could conceivably find out who the subject was in real life, but if the picture was bought and brought in, he will probably remain forever a mystery.

Collectibles?  I can't imagine this picture selling for the $13,000 that the portrait of Barnabas fetched in the charity auction at the 2006 Dark Shadows Fest.  I can imagine a set of Dark Shadows portrait trading cards being produced, with this guy included, but I can also imagine the producer losing money on them.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 16, 2009, 06:07:58 PM

Today's slide show shows this picture in episode 1190, in the real time 1840 storyline.  It's hanging crookedly in a secret passageway, with cobwebs sticking to it.  Clearly it's no spring chicken in 1840, even though it looks to me as though it would have been in a later era.  Very strange.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on January 18, 2009, 01:14:50 AM

Quote from: Lydia on January 16, 2009, 06:07:58 PM

Today's slide show shows this picture in episode 1190, in the real time 1840 storyline.

Thanks for pointing that out (I haven't been checking out the Robs slideshows lately):

(http://www.dsboards.com/eventimages/0115ds_13.jpg)
1971: Ep #1190 - Having freed herself, Daphne searches
through a secret passageway for a way to escape.

Quote

Clearly it's no spring chicken in 1840, even though it looks to me as though it would have been in a later era.  Very strange.

That seems to be par for the course with most of the portraits. Isaac looks like he's dressed in Victorian garb, yet he was alive in the 17th century. Apparently many of the Collinses were VERY fashion forward.  [snow_cheesy]

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 18, 2009, 12:31:25 PM

Thanks, MB!

Something else that bothers me is that in episode 1190, the picture looks smaller to me than it did in the capture from episode 621.  I guess Nicholas is closer to the wall than he appears to be.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 18, 2009, 09:31:02 PM

I noticed this picture in episode 148, in Frank Garner's Collinsport office.  This is the same set that is used for Roger's office at the cannery, but the last time I saw Roger's office, I wasn't keeping an eye out for Mr. Mustache, so I don't know if he's there for Roger.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Midnite on February 12, 2009, 02:25:08 AM

The picture hangs in the hallway outside of Jamison's room in 1897.  It can be seen in #726 from inside the room when the door is opened.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on February 12, 2009, 07:48:02 AM

With all the paintings and severed-hand-boxes and staircases and afghans flying about I have to wonder if perhaps the bulk of Collinsport's supernatural activity just might be going on in the background, undetected by any of the characters...

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on April 04, 2009, 09:16:43 AM

Nice catch, Midnite.  The picture appeared for only a second or two in #726, and I'm not even sure that all of it is in view.

Magnus, that's a lovely idea.  I'm thinking about the Dark Shadows audio plays that have been done recently, and imagining a new Dark Shadows TV series about the thrilling adventures of the Collinwood furniture, while in the background we occasionally hear snippets of conversation along the lines of, “Oh, look, there's a supernatural something-or-other.  Save me, Barnabas!”  “Mrs. Johnson forgot to refill the decanters again.  What does she think we're paying her for?”  “Hey, Maggie, how about you and me, we go to the movies together tonight?  ‘Cause face it, Maggie, Joe's been at Windcliff for 40 years.  He's not gonna get out anytime soon.  I'm bettin’ he's got somethin’ goin’ with Dr. Hoffman.”

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on April 04, 2009, 08:19:56 PM

I like that, and I want to write it now, and would but for the prohibition against fanfic here.   There are always those fanfic sites Nancy spoke of....

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Midnite on April 05, 2009, 02:13:55 AM

Actually, about that made-up dialogue, [I'm just going to quote what was mentioned to Lydia before]...

Quote from: Midnite on April 12, 2007, 04:28:10 PM

The what if? dialogue is the same as fiction writing, and with it getting progressively longer, well, you know...

From the Forum Guidelines:  These forums also do not accept fan fiction and such works are subject to removal.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Midnite on October 19, 2009, 03:53:29 PM

It hangs outside Quentin's room in #832.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on October 19, 2009, 06:30:32 PM

Yes, I noticed that, but before I got around to posting on it here, I noticed the picture again in episode 838, and that perplexed me, because it was inside Quentin's room rather than outside, so I've spent the past few days wondering if I got mixed up.

Incidentally, apologies for my transgression of six months ago, and also for any I've committed before and since that time.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Midnite on October 19, 2009, 09:32:57 PM

Lydia, we might be talking about the same room but calling it something else.  In both eps, the picture hangs in the anteroom outside Quentin's bedroom, though not in the same spot.  That outer room has furnishings and a fireplace and stained glass window (it underwent a drastic change by 1969), but to get into the room with the gramophone and the other fireplace-- the one I call Quentin's room-- you have to go through another door.

And thanks.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on October 20, 2009, 07:40:12 AM

I think Bushy Moustache Man is a time traveller.   Or maybe his portrait artist is.  Or maybe the artist's sales agent is.

 [candle_in_skull_2] [candle_in_skull_2]

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on October 20, 2009, 09:11:08 AM

Ah, thanks Midnite, I really wasn't sure.  I just remembered that in 832 the wall looked pretty blank and hall-like, whereas in 838 there was a bookshelf.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 12, 2010, 08:51:04 AM

Episode 910 features a scene in Stokes's house, and the picture of the man with the mustache was there as usual.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on February 09, 2010, 10:10:41 AM

This picture was in its usual place in Stokes's living room in episode in 928, and also in 931.  Then, at the end of that same episode, 931, it appeared in Professor Osmond's house.  There was a scene in Stokes's living room right before the scene in Osmond's house, and I was keeping an eye out for a second look at the picture, but the camera didn't look in that direction.  I'm thinking the picture had probably already been moved to the Osmond house set.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on May 21, 2010, 01:37:57 AM

The picture is seen, though not very distinctly, at Hannah Stokes's house in episode 1004, as she is talking on the phone.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on June 20, 2010, 10:42:22 PM

The picture is seen in episode 1025, in the room to which Angelique is moved after it is determined by the parallel time folks that Angelique's original room is not reliable.  Since the picture also appeared at Hannah's house, maybe in parallel time the mustachioed man is a beloved Stokes ancestor.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on June 21, 2010, 01:47:05 AM

Maybe it's a picture that comes with the frame when you buy it...

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on August 03, 2010, 05:29:18 AM

The picture is seen in Tim Stokes's house in episodes 1043-1044, in the same position as that in which it was seen in Hannah Stokes's house.

Do we have any proof that Tim Stokes and Hannah Stokes are not the same person?

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on January 04, 2011, 01:40:17 AM

I'm surprised no one mentioned that Mr. Mustache appeared in Ep #1119, hanging in the spot in Collinwood's foyer where Barn's portrait normally hangs:

(http://www.dsboards.com/images/1119-1.jpg)

If it weren't for the fact that I just recently went through captures from Ep #1119 to post on the CTP/FITBs-1840/41 board, I might never have noticed. And if he is a Collins (considering we now know his portrait will be hanging in at least two different places in 1840/41 Collinwood), how interesting is it that he also gets around to so many other Collinsport and surrounding area locations?  [santa_cheesy]

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 04, 2011, 09:50:20 AM

I did notice it, but have been very slow about adding stuff to the Prop Project topics lately.  What always bothers me about seeing this picture in 1840 is that it looks like a photograph to me, and photography was still in its infancy at the time.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on January 04, 2011, 05:09:28 PM

If it is a photograph, maybe that explains how Mr. Mustache is able to be in so many different locations - he had several copies made and handed them out to his friends (and he's hanging at Collinwood either because he's a Collins or an extremely well regarded friend).  [santa_wink]  All the better to show off the latest technology.  [santa_cheesy]

And as for photography being in its infancy, well, IF Mr. Mustachio is a Collins, he could have been tinkering in the process himself and, with the Collins money to back him, made strides that no one else had yet achieved. He decided to keep the actual process to himself but to show off the results nonetheless. We all know those Collins and their vanity.  [santa_grin]

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on January 05, 2011, 07:53:43 AM

But Ezra Braithwaite said that Mr. Mustache was his father!

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on April 07, 2011, 10:34:40 AM

We see Mr. Mustache in the courtroom in 1840 several times.  I've noted it in episodes 1153 and 1166, but I know it's shown more than that.  What's interesting is that, as I believe I've noted in the Watching Project, there's a judge in the 1840 trial who bears a passing resemblance to Mr. Mustache.  If I remember correctly, the first time that we see Mr. Mustache hanging in the courtroom, Judge Mustache isn't there, but he turns up later.

I can't help wondering if Mr. Mustache and Judge Mustache are related.  If that's the case, however, then Judge Mustache ought to be a Collins relation, since, as MB noted, Mr. Mustache occupied a choice position in the Collinwood foyer for a while.  And if Judge Mustache is a Collins relation, then he should recuse himself from the trial at which we see him.  But Judge Mustache doesn't look like the sharpest pin in the cushion, so maybe he just didn't notice that a relative of his was involved in the proceedings.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on April 26, 2011, 09:14:23 AM

Mr. Mustache was hanging in Justin's bedroom in episode 1200, and in the Collinwood study in 1201.  I think it is highly probable that if the missing wall of the drawing room in 1841 parallel time were ever shown, we would see Mr. Mustache hanging there.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on April 26, 2011, 07:47:53 PM

I think Mr. Moustache's portrait must come with the frame when you buy one.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on April 27, 2011, 09:06:31 AM

Or else it's the picture that you get when you buy the frame – the throwaway picture that you're expected to replace with a treasured picture from your own personal life.

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: MagnusTrask on April 27, 2011, 03:45:35 PM

Quote from: Lydia on April 27, 2011, 09:06:31 AM

Or else it's the picture that you get when you buy the frame – the throwaway picture that you're expected to replace with a treasured picture from your own personal life.

That's what I meant, actually!

Title: Re: Prop Project: Picture of the Mustachioed Man
Post by: Lydia on April 28, 2011, 09:57:46 AM

Oops, I was putting "one" together with the wrong antecedent.