TT-5 Surprise

[vts1134]

I settled in to watch a movie on Saturday evening and to my surprise Karl Wagner (played by the incomparable Bella Lugosi) has a familiar television attachment in his private office. He even uses it to "spy" on his employees at one point. The film is Bowery at Midnight (1942).

[rld-tv01]

It looks like when its on the picture fills the whole front glass including the mask?

[tubesrule]

Very cool find!

[decojoe67]

I've also seen the TT-5 used as a monitor on a Bowery Boys movie from the late '40's. In that one it has a larger prop "screen" attached to the front. I believe these are both Monogram "B" movies and likely the same set taken from the prop department.

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

...I believe these are both Monogram "B" movies...

It was definitely a B movie, but I enjoyed it.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by vts1134

It was definitely a B movie, but I enjoyed it.

Some of those '40's "B" movies are excellent, particularly the Film Noir one's. 1945's "Detour" by Edgar Ulmer is one of my favorite movies of all time, done on a shoe-string budget.

[Eric H]

The grain pattern on the side of that set is fairly distinctive, it would be interesting to compare it to the existing sets and see if there's a match.
Unfortunately I can't find any good side shots online.

As I recall, someone was able to do this with one of the TRK-12 consoles used in the promotional material and matched it with an existing set.

It's also interesting to see how bright and clear the control decals were back in 1942, they are usually dull and hard to read by now.

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by Eric H

The grain pattern on the side of that set is fairly distinctive, it would be interesting to compare it to the existing sets and see if there's a match...

Richard, care to compare your set with this one? Yours is the only one I know of that came from LA.

[rld-tv01]

I think mine is close but not the same.

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by rld-tv01

I think mine is close but not the same.

The one in the movie has the curved part higher up and farther forward I think.

It's a long shot to be sure but stranger things have happened.

the ETF lists 26 surviving sets, out of 587 produced, Math isn't my strong suit but those are pretty slim odds.

[ggregg]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

Some of those '40's "B" movies are excellent, particularly the Film Noir one's. 1945's "Detour" by Edgar Ulman is one of my favorite movies of all time, done on a shoe-string budget.

That the one with William Talman (Hamilton Burger from Perry Mason) as the bad guy? Very good.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by ggregg

That the one with William Talman (Hamilton Burger from Perry Mason) as the bad guy? Very good.

No, it's with Tom Neal and Ann Savage. I've yet to hear anyone I've recommended it to not absolutely love it. I highly recommend it to anyone who has never seen it. It's a quick movie that draws you in immediately and keeps you interested right to the end. A real gem.