VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: [1], 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 22:09:52 09/18/13 Wed
Author: Trish
Subject: Re: Questionable Things in Westerns
In reply to: DAN 's message, "Questionable Things in Westerns" on 19:18:53 09/17/13 Tue

I guess it all boils down to one thing: suspension of disbelief, all in the name of fun.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Re: Questionable Things in Westerns -- Tim, 23:56:52 09/22/13 Sun [1]

I also have noticed the jail cell windows in westerns being used by the bad guys, particularly in Gunsmoke. Some type of screen could be added, but that might be easily cut. A pane of glass placed over the barred window would make more sense. A bad guy would have to break the window to get any contraband into the cell, and the Sheriff, Marshall or Deputy would likely hear the noise. Then again with the glass over the window there would be no ventilation, which I suppose was one of the purposes of the window in the first place. It could also provide light to the cell in the daytime.

I recall the two jails cells in The Andy Griffith Show having windows with bars, but you only see them in a few episodes. They were up rather high.

According to this link the cell windows in westerns were largely a creation of Hollywood.

http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/history/history/ask-the-marshall/2604-did-jail-cells-in-westerns-always-have-a-window-to-an-alley


Tim


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Re: Questionable Things in Westerns -- Ponderosa Pete, 12:00:01 09/24/13 Tue [1]

Good comments! think the writers and producers of BONANZA realized early on the problem of having the venerable Cartwrights jailed, so whenever they'd get in trouble, in was in a town far away (from Virginia City) where they were not known (at least by sight). Examples: "The Avenger," "The Gamble," "Hot Day for a Hanging," "Trouble Town," . . .

As far as the bright Ponderosa, I think the explanation is a practical one. BONANZA was (literally) pioneering new color film stock and in those days, the speed of the film was not great, so the cinematographer concluded lots of candle power was needed to see details in color. Today you have slower film speeds so you can see more detail with less light.


[ Edit | View ]


[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.