Kolchak: The Night Stalker - His Gear
- Thread starter klung1
- Start date
Probe Droid
Master Member
FANATICO
Sr Member
When collecting and or cosplaying….the goal, in my opinion, is to be as close to exact as possible when attempting to re-create what is seen on the screen.
As have gotten in costumes through out the decades…..the CK project has got to be the most expensive (to echo other members here)
Having gone to Con’s I can say…..the lighter the costume and accessories, all the better throughout the entire day(s) for comfort.
The KC gear affords me what I would like to carry with me and what I don’t carry with me….externally, for me, I’ll carry the TC-55 and Rollei 16 with the E Flash which I already have.
So my current concentration is on “Pocket Props” that is to say, what can I carry in my pockets. I do have things in mind. Most recently I purchased from eBay, a working cordless shaver used in the Vampire episode. Fits in a pocket no problem and it works to demonstrate. They are inexpensive.
REMINGTON LEKTRONIC Cordless Electric SHAVER
As have gotten in costumes through out the decades…..the CK project has got to be the most expensive (to echo other members here)
Having gone to Con’s I can say…..the lighter the costume and accessories, all the better throughout the entire day(s) for comfort.
The KC gear affords me what I would like to carry with me and what I don’t carry with me….externally, for me, I’ll carry the TC-55 and Rollei 16 with the E Flash which I already have.
So my current concentration is on “Pocket Props” that is to say, what can I carry in my pockets. I do have things in mind. Most recently I purchased from eBay, a working cordless shaver used in the Vampire episode. Fits in a pocket no problem and it works to demonstrate. They are inexpensive.
REMINGTON LEKTRONIC Cordless Electric SHAVER
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FANATICO
Sr Member
About them Adidas…
I’m going with the Robert Haillet/Stan Smith “Trainer” style of shoes in reference to the TV series.
My loose understanding of the story is, that tennis star Robert Haillet was approached by Adidas to endorse a white green trainer tennis shoe design and be the poster boy for it, to which he accepted then known simply as Adidas Haillet. Upon Haillet retiring from tennis, Stan Smith was signed on to carry and endorse the Haillet white green trainer tennis shoe design forward. Stan’s name and picture got added to the shoe tongue with Haillet’s name ….on the ‘still’ original physical design, originally endorsed by Haillet.
Eventually the shoe’s design is modified and no longer a Trainer per se ….the heal now has a larger green padding design and embossed with the Adidas logo, and Stan Smith appears on the tongue of the shoe.
Within the last year or two, Homage was given to Robert Haillet’s mostly original design by Adidas. It is known as the Stan Smith H….the letter H is for Haillet. Stan is still on the tongue of the shoe, however, on heal it’s as the original design. Its a straight horizontal cut of green padding without the embossed Adidas logo…in essence just plain.
The Stan Smith H is still available at the Adidas website. These are the ones I recently ordered. For me, it’s the closest to the original Halliet design used in the 1970’s
What does this have to do with Kolchak? It is my belief that Kolchak used the Robert Haillet white green trainer design.
I’ve seen enough Kolchak TV episodes to convince me, as shown below.
Below the Haillet design and the Haillet design with Stan Smith endorsement
Below…the full Stan Smith design
Below…the current Stan Smith H a Homage to the original Haillet design style. IMO, Kolchak’s style.
Notice the screenshot on the shoe tongue of Kolchak’s shoe above….with the dark background, it appears to read Adidas, then Haillet in a smaller point size directly underneath. I suspect the Adidas leaf logo is then below that, just like the screenshot of full Adidas Haillet above. I also suspect that the Haillet/Smith endorsed shoe, was also used by Kolchak. Like everything else on the show….there have been backups. Also consider that the plain, straight cut, heal back, green padding of the Haillet design made sense when filming so as not to show a brand and avoid additional brand licensing, permissions, etc.
Hope this is helpful to those who have not yet bought the Adidas, or now might want to change up based on my opinion and screenshot references.
Who knows….one might luck out and find an original Vintage Haillet or Haillet/Smith endorsed pair that may show up at eBay, Etsy, etc in your size.
Good Luck
I’m going with the Robert Haillet/Stan Smith “Trainer” style of shoes in reference to the TV series.
My loose understanding of the story is, that tennis star Robert Haillet was approached by Adidas to endorse a white green trainer tennis shoe design and be the poster boy for it, to which he accepted then known simply as Adidas Haillet. Upon Haillet retiring from tennis, Stan Smith was signed on to carry and endorse the Haillet white green trainer tennis shoe design forward. Stan’s name and picture got added to the shoe tongue with Haillet’s name ….on the ‘still’ original physical design, originally endorsed by Haillet.
Eventually the shoe’s design is modified and no longer a Trainer per se ….the heal now has a larger green padding design and embossed with the Adidas logo, and Stan Smith appears on the tongue of the shoe.
Within the last year or two, Homage was given to Robert Haillet’s mostly original design by Adidas. It is known as the Stan Smith H….the letter H is for Haillet. Stan is still on the tongue of the shoe, however, on heal it’s as the original design. Its a straight horizontal cut of green padding without the embossed Adidas logo…in essence just plain.
The Stan Smith H is still available at the Adidas website. These are the ones I recently ordered. For me, it’s the closest to the original Halliet design used in the 1970’s
What does this have to do with Kolchak? It is my belief that Kolchak used the Robert Haillet white green trainer design.
I’ve seen enough Kolchak TV episodes to convince me, as shown below.
Below the Haillet design and the Haillet design with Stan Smith endorsement
Below…the full Stan Smith design
Below…the current Stan Smith H a Homage to the original Haillet design style. IMO, Kolchak’s style.
Notice the screenshot on the shoe tongue of Kolchak’s shoe above….with the dark background, it appears to read Adidas, then Haillet in a smaller point size directly underneath. I suspect the Adidas leaf logo is then below that, just like the screenshot of full Adidas Haillet above. I also suspect that the Haillet/Smith endorsed shoe, was also used by Kolchak. Like everything else on the show….there have been backups. Also consider that the plain, straight cut, heal back, green padding of the Haillet design made sense when filming so as not to show a brand and avoid additional brand licensing, permissions, etc.
Hope this is helpful to those who have not yet bought the Adidas, or now might want to change up based on my opinion and screenshot references.
Who knows….one might luck out and find an original Vintage Haillet or Haillet/Smith endorsed pair that may show up at eBay, Etsy, etc in your size.
Good Luck
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FANATICO
Sr Member
For those of you who are DIYing your own CK hats….below is a helpful How To for making your own hat band.
Most helpful is how to shape a straight ribbon into a curved ribbon so it conforms to the tapered shape of the hat crown. When buying your ribbon make sure it’s 100% Rayon, as this particular fabric bends well under a hot iron, which the vid will show. You may have to pause at the captioned instructions…they seem to change quickly. The widths of the ribbons are your choice. For mine, the width of black is 2”….the red/burgundy 7/8”
Below also is a screenshot from when Kolchak was going up and down in an external elevator on a construction site.
At one point there’s a shot where the Sun is shining on the bow on the side of his hat. Bare in mind, as already mentioned by others…that multiple hats were used in the short lived series. And possibly up close details of the bow itself, differs from hat to hat. Nevertheless, I like the detail of the bow knot of the hat used at the construction site scene.
Notice the “knot” of the bow below…..on Kolchak’s construction site scene hat….the vertical red/burgundy is half the width of the red/burgundy width on the rest of the band. Also the vertical black width is the full width of the black width of the rest of the band.
Now, there is what appears to be yet a second vertical black width layered underneath the first top vertical black width staggered out some. This is done by taking a piece of the full width of the band, and folding it in half in the vertical perspective and by slightly offsetting the folded half, so that you achieve that layered staggered appearance. Also below is how it appears on my hat which was done by someone else for me.
Not exactly like CK’s….but close enough
Hopefully, what’s above makes some sense.
Good Luck
Most helpful is how to shape a straight ribbon into a curved ribbon so it conforms to the tapered shape of the hat crown. When buying your ribbon make sure it’s 100% Rayon, as this particular fabric bends well under a hot iron, which the vid will show. You may have to pause at the captioned instructions…they seem to change quickly. The widths of the ribbons are your choice. For mine, the width of black is 2”….the red/burgundy 7/8”
Below also is a screenshot from when Kolchak was going up and down in an external elevator on a construction site.
At one point there’s a shot where the Sun is shining on the bow on the side of his hat. Bare in mind, as already mentioned by others…that multiple hats were used in the short lived series. And possibly up close details of the bow itself, differs from hat to hat. Nevertheless, I like the detail of the bow knot of the hat used at the construction site scene.
Notice the “knot” of the bow below…..on Kolchak’s construction site scene hat….the vertical red/burgundy is half the width of the red/burgundy width on the rest of the band. Also the vertical black width is the full width of the black width of the rest of the band.
Now, there is what appears to be yet a second vertical black width layered underneath the first top vertical black width staggered out some. This is done by taking a piece of the full width of the band, and folding it in half in the vertical perspective and by slightly offsetting the folded half, so that you achieve that layered staggered appearance. Also below is how it appears on my hat which was done by someone else for me.
Not exactly like CK’s….but close enough
Hopefully, what’s above makes some sense.
Good Luck
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FANATICO
Sr Member
About that ID wallet….
From my point of view, it is a black leather, bifold, double windowed wallet …approximately 3” wide x 4” in length, just enough of a compact size for licenses, business cards, and credit cards sizes. In fact, next to the Kolchak PRESS ID, in the other half of the bifold, is a Business card, not shown below. (To be expanded on, in a different post at some point)
Below CK’s wallet appears to also have varied in its design of the overall shape having squared or rounded leather corners.
The ID widowed viewing area also varied in its ID card displaying area, as far as the widths of the leather bordering around the clear plastic widowed viewing space.
So, as shown below….I came across those two black leather designs on eBay. Both having squared corners on the overall design. I couldn’t find any with rounded corners.
When zoomed even more than shown below the widths of the leather borders surrounding clear windowed viewing space….the boarding widths are different.
So which to choose?
I chose the bottom right version, for now, with the wider boarders around the clear windows. When I print out the PRESS ID and the Business card, I will make the print size adjustments of the ID and card, for optimum viewing within the leather borders, for displaying (only if I need to)
In searching on eBay, I used search words such as black leather ID holder or License holder, etc.. It took a few combinations to find what’s shown.
Note: I didn’t check Amazon or Etsy for a closer match to the CK versions….perhaps in the future.
Peace
From my point of view, it is a black leather, bifold, double windowed wallet …approximately 3” wide x 4” in length, just enough of a compact size for licenses, business cards, and credit cards sizes. In fact, next to the Kolchak PRESS ID, in the other half of the bifold, is a Business card, not shown below. (To be expanded on, in a different post at some point)
Below CK’s wallet appears to also have varied in its design of the overall shape having squared or rounded leather corners.
The ID widowed viewing area also varied in its ID card displaying area, as far as the widths of the leather bordering around the clear plastic widowed viewing space.
So, as shown below….I came across those two black leather designs on eBay. Both having squared corners on the overall design. I couldn’t find any with rounded corners.
When zoomed even more than shown below the widths of the leather borders surrounding clear windowed viewing space….the boarding widths are different.
So which to choose?
I chose the bottom right version, for now, with the wider boarders around the clear windows. When I print out the PRESS ID and the Business card, I will make the print size adjustments of the ID and card, for optimum viewing within the leather borders, for displaying (only if I need to)
In searching on eBay, I used search words such as black leather ID holder or License holder, etc.. It took a few combinations to find what’s shown.
Note: I didn’t check Amazon or Etsy for a closer match to the CK versions….perhaps in the future.
Peace
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FANATICO
Sr Member
About that Penlight Pocket Prop
CK’s Penlight plays a non-speaking role
…in episodes such as the Knightly Murders and The Devil’s Platform.
Below are the screenshots with a couple from KM and the rest from DP. In determining elements that get me close to matching to CK’s ….. in the KM’s, the penlight has a hard stepped taper in the metal body that narrows conically down to the very tip. The shine from the bulb is some what narrowly focused at the tip. Also while in his hand, it is noticed that the plunger on/off switch is somewhat cylindrical protruding from a black end that houses the rest of the on/off switch.
In the DP’s….. CK has the penlight off because he doesn’t want to be exposed by the “Devil” Character. So those screenshots shots show reflections of the stage lighting being used on the body. It gives perspective to the sizing of the penlight especially it’s slim chrome body.
At Etsy, I found such a close match, in my point of view, as shown. This particular penlight has a promotional name stenciled on with the name “Century”. Which can probably be removed with some solvent. It has that hard stepped taper and conically tapers down to the tip.
I ruled out the following, imo, none have that hard stepped taper in the metal body that narrows conically down to the very tip. The “Doctors” version below to the right, is more of a rounded bullet shape end.
Well, that’s my reasoning for searching and choosing a close match, to what I see in the zoomed in screenshots.
Peace
CK’s Penlight plays a non-speaking role
…in episodes such as the Knightly Murders and The Devil’s Platform.Below are the screenshots with a couple from KM and the rest from DP. In determining elements that get me close to matching to CK’s ….. in the KM’s, the penlight has a hard stepped taper in the metal body that narrows conically down to the very tip. The shine from the bulb is some what narrowly focused at the tip. Also while in his hand, it is noticed that the plunger on/off switch is somewhat cylindrical protruding from a black end that houses the rest of the on/off switch.
In the DP’s….. CK has the penlight off because he doesn’t want to be exposed by the “Devil” Character. So those screenshots shots show reflections of the stage lighting being used on the body. It gives perspective to the sizing of the penlight especially it’s slim chrome body.
At Etsy, I found such a close match, in my point of view, as shown. This particular penlight has a promotional name stenciled on with the name “Century”. Which can probably be removed with some solvent. It has that hard stepped taper and conically tapers down to the tip.
I ruled out the following, imo, none have that hard stepped taper in the metal body that narrows conically down to the very tip. The “Doctors” version below to the right, is more of a rounded bullet shape end.
Well, that’s my reasoning for searching and choosing a close match, to what I see in the zoomed in screenshots.
Peace
FANATICO
Sr Member
About that Compass Pocket Prop
In the episode They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be, about the marrow sucking Alien(s)…CK uses a compass to locate the Alien(s) who can cause magnetic field disturbances.
The compass was made by Taylor Instruments back in the day. This particular style was actually made one for regular sales, and made the same one but for The Boy Scouts of America, that I presently know of.
Below is Kolchak’s hand holding the compass in the palm of his hand …… look closely at the inside ring, within it, you can make out the word Scouts, and maybe even some of the word Boy, before it.
It is my belief that the compass for The Boy Scouts Of America was the compass used by Kolchak, instead of the compass version for regular sales.
I’ve purchased one from Etsy recently. They also show up in EBay. These are Vintage old and sell at various prices and conditions. To be screen accurate, I recommend getting the one with the Boy Scouts Of America version.
Imagine Kolchak as a Boy Scout….that’s funny. Bigfoot would have been his first monster to go after
I’m not used to seeing both sides of the compass needle in red…..but then for this compass an N is cut into one needle side…..that’s fine I guess.
From the picture below, it appears the compass is fluid filled.
Peace
In the episode They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be, about the marrow sucking Alien(s)…CK uses a compass to locate the Alien(s) who can cause magnetic field disturbances.
The compass was made by Taylor Instruments back in the day. This particular style was actually made one for regular sales, and made the same one but for The Boy Scouts of America, that I presently know of.
Below is Kolchak’s hand holding the compass in the palm of his hand …… look closely at the inside ring, within it, you can make out the word Scouts, and maybe even some of the word Boy, before it.
It is my belief that the compass for The Boy Scouts Of America was the compass used by Kolchak, instead of the compass version for regular sales.
I’ve purchased one from Etsy recently. They also show up in EBay. These are Vintage old and sell at various prices and conditions. To be screen accurate, I recommend getting the one with the Boy Scouts Of America version.
Imagine Kolchak as a Boy Scout….that’s funny. Bigfoot would have been his first monster to go after
I’m not used to seeing both sides of the compass needle in red…..but then for this compass an N is cut into one needle side…..that’s fine I guess.
From the picture below, it appears the compass is fluid filled.
Peace
FANATICO
Sr Member
About that Memo Pad Holder Pocket Prop
In the Werewolf episode, Kolchak is seen in his stateroom on board the Ocean Liner, and he takes out what appears to be a black leather memo pad holder which he flips open to use. I found on EBay what is a close enough match, in view of no name brand seen on the screen used version..(no name brands or covering up name brands are common while filming).
As you can also see, the holder appears to be holding a Spiral flip memo pad style.
The holder is sometimes used for law enforcement…they are either smooth leather or textured leather with a braid pattern. I’ve chosen the smooth version.
It stands to reason in the journalism profession that workers out in the field, would have memo/note pads.
I like to think of it as Old School external memory.
Kolchak’s version looks to be broken in with flexibility… perhaps a softer grain of leather.
The one I purchased is below, and is 3x5, paper ruled memo pad not included. Imo, it’s about the right dimensions based on the first top left picture above.
It’s going to need breaking in like when one gets a new baseball mitt.
Peace
In the Werewolf episode, Kolchak is seen in his stateroom on board the Ocean Liner, and he takes out what appears to be a black leather memo pad holder which he flips open to use. I found on EBay what is a close enough match, in view of no name brand seen on the screen used version..(no name brands or covering up name brands are common while filming).
As you can also see, the holder appears to be holding a Spiral flip memo pad style.
The holder is sometimes used for law enforcement…they are either smooth leather or textured leather with a braid pattern. I’ve chosen the smooth version.
It stands to reason in the journalism profession that workers out in the field, would have memo/note pads.
I like to think of it as Old School external memory.
Kolchak’s version looks to be broken in with flexibility… perhaps a softer grain of leather.
The one I purchased is below, and is 3x5, paper ruled memo pad not included. Imo, it’s about the right dimensions based on the first top left picture above.
It’s going to need breaking in like when one gets a new baseball mitt.
Peace
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FANATICO
Sr Member
About that Press ID and Business Card
To be or not to be…Carl’s Nephew from Chicago.
An identity crises?
It is evident to me that Kolchak used different wallets styles containing different obscurely written and formatted ID’s and Business Cards….as shown below.
With no real readable text……others such as Darth Saber from here and Prop Fiction Studios on Etsy, created there own versions of the Press ID as shown below.
Giving this some thought….I said to myself, “how do I keep the spirit of the Press ID but make it my own in terms of personality?”
I don’t have Kolchak’s overall Persona
I don’t look like Kolchak (McGavin)
I don’t speak like Kolchak
I don’t have Kolchak’s mannerisms and demeanors
I don’t have the same height and stature as Kolchak
I’m not Kolchak! ….So why should I carry an ID and Business Card bearing his name…..Carl Kolchak?
The answer is to create a family member with a different first name but the same last name who is related to Kolchak and in the tradition and inspiration of Carl Kolchak, as a Reporter (of weirdness), has followed in his footsteps.
A new persona emerges decades later….his name Nelson Kolchak (my choice to use for myself), nephew of Carl Kolchak.
So, inspired by the two previous versions of the Press ID’s mentioned above, I took the liberty of “artistic licensing” (borrowing from both), and created my own version using the name Nelson Kolchak (in a close match font of the opening credits in the tv series). Overall….look close for the differences.
You’ll also notice that Anthony Vincenzo had a son who also follows in his dad’s footsteps and is named Anthony Vincenzo Jr. …. now Bureau Chief in the continued family tradition at I.N.S.
As for the Business Card I created, it appears to me….what is perhaps consistent in both screenshot versions shown, is that Independent News Service is printed horizontally centerish on both cards. I chose to use a combination of both format layouts as a template, and as with the Press ID…..also done with the close match font of the opening credits to the tv series.
Reading from bottom up on the Business Card
Nelson Kolchak (Carl Kolchak is his Uncle)
Title - Reporter-At-Large (At-Large for purposes of a Reporter means that the reporter works on all types of stories rather than specializing in one area. In this context at large means someone who is out and about rather than deskbound. Sometimes it's just used when a publication is too mean to pay someone to be on staff permanently. It makes the job sound a bit more exciting without costing them any more. And it gives the readers the impression that the reporter/editor is out there where it all happens.
The Address comes from the actual building (Old Colony Building) address, 407 S Dearborn St in Chicago, which is depicted as the home to the I.N.S. Office, Suite 304 (3rd floor facing the train station).
Organization name - Independent News Service
Telephone numbers - I didn’t want to use bogus Hollywood style phone and fax numbers, i.e (555) 555-xxxx. The telephone number I used is actually to the Subway sandwich shop on the ground floor of the building. The fax number is not a true fax number, but instead, it’s the number to the Taco Bell Cantina which also is on the ground floor of the building. Both numbers, having true area codes of the Chicago area (312) (773).
This new Kolchak persona, Nelson Kolchak, is so inspired by his one and only favorite Uncle Carl, that he adopts to wear the same close matching attire and gear to make Unc proud of him.
For Uncle Carl……….
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it
Sidebar ….. So there’s a scene in a Three Stooges episode where they need access to enter a place where only Reporter’s are allowed….. so from a vending machine they tear off the vending machine selection handle buttons to get them in…. So Moe shows the person at the entry, holding the button and displaying it, he says Press, then Larry, he says Press…..then Curly, says Pull……his button said Pull…. Lol
Peace
To be or not to be…Carl’s Nephew from Chicago.
An identity crises?
It is evident to me that Kolchak used different wallets styles containing different obscurely written and formatted ID’s and Business Cards….as shown below.
With no real readable text……others such as Darth Saber from here and Prop Fiction Studios on Etsy, created there own versions of the Press ID as shown below.
Giving this some thought….I said to myself, “how do I keep the spirit of the Press ID but make it my own in terms of personality?”
I don’t have Kolchak’s overall Persona
I don’t look like Kolchak (McGavin)
I don’t speak like Kolchak
I don’t have Kolchak’s mannerisms and demeanors
I don’t have the same height and stature as Kolchak
I’m not Kolchak!
….So why should I carry an ID and Business Card bearing his name…..Carl Kolchak?The answer is to create a family member with a different first name but the same last name who is related to Kolchak and in the tradition and inspiration of Carl Kolchak, as a Reporter (of weirdness), has followed in his footsteps.
A new persona emerges decades later….his name Nelson Kolchak (my choice to use for myself), nephew of Carl Kolchak.
So, inspired by the two previous versions of the Press ID’s mentioned above, I took the liberty of “artistic licensing” (borrowing from both), and created my own version using the name Nelson Kolchak (in a close match font of the opening credits in the tv series). Overall….look close for the differences.
You’ll also notice that Anthony Vincenzo had a son who also follows in his dad’s footsteps and is named Anthony Vincenzo Jr. …. now Bureau Chief in the continued family tradition at I.N.S.
As for the Business Card I created, it appears to me….what is perhaps consistent in both screenshot versions shown, is that Independent News Service is printed horizontally centerish on both cards. I chose to use a combination of both format layouts as a template, and as with the Press ID…..also done with the close match font of the opening credits to the tv series.
Reading from bottom up on the Business Card
Nelson Kolchak (Carl Kolchak is his Uncle)
Title - Reporter-At-Large (At-Large for purposes of a Reporter means that the reporter works on all types of stories rather than specializing in one area. In this context at large means someone who is out and about rather than deskbound. Sometimes it's just used when a publication is too mean to pay someone to be on staff permanently. It makes the job sound a bit more exciting without costing them any more. And it gives the readers the impression that the reporter/editor is out there where it all happens.
The Address comes from the actual building (Old Colony Building) address, 407 S Dearborn St in Chicago, which is depicted as the home to the I.N.S. Office, Suite 304 (3rd floor facing the train station).
Organization name - Independent News Service
Telephone numbers - I didn’t want to use bogus Hollywood style phone and fax numbers, i.e (555) 555-xxxx. The telephone number I used is actually to the Subway sandwich shop on the ground floor of the building. The fax number is not a true fax number, but instead, it’s the number to the Taco Bell Cantina which also is on the ground floor of the building. Both numbers, having true area codes of the Chicago area (312) (773).
This new Kolchak persona, Nelson Kolchak, is so inspired by his one and only favorite Uncle Carl, that he adopts to wear the same close matching attire and gear to make Unc proud of him.
For Uncle Carl……….
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it
Sidebar ….. So there’s a scene in a Three Stooges episode where they need access to enter a place where only Reporter’s are allowed….. so from a vending machine they tear off the vending machine selection handle buttons to get them in…. So Moe shows the person at the entry, holding the button and displaying it, he says Press, then Larry, he says Press…..then Curly, says Pull……his button said Pull…. Lol
Peace
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FANATICO
Sr Member
I’m not familiar with the Windy City however…. Here’s the ground level floor plan
Cheers
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Mam
Manny’s was where Tony would order up a Pastrami on rye, or some other deli treat on the show!
FANATICO
Sr Member
About that Zombie Needle Book Pocket Prop
In the Zombie episode, Kolchak uses a kit of items in order to stop the Zombie from further killing.
This focus is on the un-branded, zipper-less, Needle Book which is certainly doable as an DIY project, requiring racetrack oval cut pieces of:
Tannish Leather - qty. 1
Green Felt - qty. 2-3
Leather Sewing Thread - as required
Craft / Sewing Supply shops would have these items.
After experimenting with different size pattern cutouts by looking at Kolchak’s hand holding the needle book, and my un-calibrated eyes…..the length and width of the 1 piece (to fold in half) Leather cover, imo, is approximately
10” x 4.5”. The length of the 2-3 pieces (to fold in half) Green felt is approximately 9” x 4”. Folding the 2-3 felt lengths will give you 4-6 felt pages approximately 4.5” x 4” each. The sizes of the round/curved needles need to fit within the page approximate dimensions. Perhaps getting needles first, helps determine whether it fits within the dimensions I suggested, or the dimensions of the leather cover and felt pieces need to be adjusted to accommodate the true needle sizes.
Round or curved needles are often used in the Upholstery business, again perhaps in craft or sewing supply stores. The overall size of the Needle Book should fit comfortably in one of the Seersucker suit pockets.
Of the Zombie stopping items Kolchak had, imo, the act of sewing the Zombie’s mouth shut (with salt inside) was the most important. Put it this way….you could have put Mothballs in the Zombie’s mouth, but without sewing the mouth shut, it’s still animates. Luckily for Kolchak, he managed to shut the Zombie’s mouth, by hanging him.
I’m not sure, I’ll attempt to make one of these Needle Books myself … Time will tell.
Kindly post pics if anyone here makes one. Think of this, if you will….No sewing machine to sew in the felt pages?? Try hand sewing with the needles that were bought for the book
As for tracking down approximate “on screen” matches for the yellow/red Plain Salt container, large box of kitchen matches, and candles…….ehhh… not in my focus of Kolchak Pocket Props.
Here’s a YouTube vid on Needle Books….gives you an idea of what a Needle Book is, if it wasn’t known or heard of before.
Needle Book - EASY Sewing Project
Peace
In the Zombie episode, Kolchak uses a kit of items in order to stop the Zombie from further killing.
This focus is on the un-branded, zipper-less, Needle Book which is certainly doable as an DIY project, requiring racetrack oval cut pieces of:
Tannish Leather - qty. 1
Green Felt - qty. 2-3
Leather Sewing Thread - as required
Craft / Sewing Supply shops would have these items.
After experimenting with different size pattern cutouts by looking at Kolchak’s hand holding the needle book, and my un-calibrated eyes…..the length and width of the 1 piece (to fold in half) Leather cover, imo, is approximately
10” x 4.5”. The length of the 2-3 pieces (to fold in half) Green felt is approximately 9” x 4”. Folding the 2-3 felt lengths will give you 4-6 felt pages approximately 4.5” x 4” each. The sizes of the round/curved needles need to fit within the page approximate dimensions. Perhaps getting needles first, helps determine whether it fits within the dimensions I suggested, or the dimensions of the leather cover and felt pieces need to be adjusted to accommodate the true needle sizes.
Round or curved needles are often used in the Upholstery business, again perhaps in craft or sewing supply stores. The overall size of the Needle Book should fit comfortably in one of the Seersucker suit pockets.
Of the Zombie stopping items Kolchak had, imo, the act of sewing the Zombie’s mouth shut (with salt inside) was the most important. Put it this way….you could have put Mothballs in the Zombie’s mouth, but without sewing the mouth shut, it’s still animates. Luckily for Kolchak, he managed to shut the Zombie’s mouth, by hanging him.
I’m not sure, I’ll attempt to make one of these Needle Books myself … Time will tell.
Kindly post pics if anyone here makes one. Think of this, if you will….No sewing machine to sew in the felt pages?? Try hand sewing with the needles that were bought for the book
As for tracking down approximate “on screen” matches for the yellow/red Plain Salt container, large box of kitchen matches, and candles…….ehhh… not in my focus of Kolchak Pocket Props.
Here’s a YouTube vid on Needle Books….gives you an idea of what a Needle Book is, if it wasn’t known or heard of before.
Needle Book - EASY Sewing Project
Peace
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