On Oct 29, Vlad asked
Could the hooded actor have been Keene Curtis, and then when there was a cutaway, was he then substituted with McGuire in the cut where Judah Zachary removes the hood? THAT actor didn't look like McGuire to me, though -- was it Keene Curtis?
I have viewed that episode several times and have always been under the belief that the masked figure is indeed played by Keene Curtis while the unmasked Judah, aka the Judah in the box, is Michael McGuire. Aside from the fact that their is dual billing for the character in that episode, the other main clue is the shape of the actor's head. The late Keene Curtis was perhaps best known as Broadway's Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" as well as also appearing quite a few times on "Cheers" as John Allen Hill. His head has a more oval shape from the round, rather (all puns intended
) Phil Collins shape of Michael McGuire. The mask is pretty tight on Judah in the courtroom scene, and if you look at pictures of Curtis, his head shape really matches up to the speaking Judah. He's also thinner tha Maitland.
As to why they set it up that way, it's lost to history.
I doubt Dan Curtis ( no known relation) would probably remember. Most likely, it allowed them to record Keene's voice when he was available, and not to have to pay Michael McGuire for the days the wax head was used. Likewise, I would have to also concurr that for whatever reason, McGuire's voice did "sound right" for the character.
. It all probably fall in line with the fact DS's budget allowed them to pay non-speaking actors less, hence all the silent ghosts, and that an actor who's voice only was being used also got a voice pay which was less than a full performance. Also, you will note by the time the 1840 story was being filmed, they apparently could edit videotape much more easily. There are many more cuts, even though there are still bloopers.
But I'd bet a mint copy of Gold Key # 3 that that is Keene Curtis under the mask in the courtroom when speaking.