It’s been raining all day in Florida, which makes me want to curl up in a robe, grab a damn, fine cup of coffee and read a book about Tibet. I wish I had the option of sporting Dale Cooper’s Beacon Blankets robe from Episode 2011. I recently identified this prop with thanks to an unlikely source, The Big Bang Theory on CBS.
In Episode 2011, Cooper is in Room 315 at the Great Northern Hotel when he receives a call from Agent Denise Bryson.
We get a good look at the red-colored robe when he crosses the room to answer the phone. It’s the only episode where Cooper is seen wearing this robe. I had no idea who made it until this past weekend when my fiancee was watching a rerun of The Big Bang Theory on the television.
In Episode 2 of Season 9, Leonard Hofstadter (played by Justin Galecki) is seen wearing Cooper’s robe! In fact, Leonard wears this robe several times throughout the series. I quickly searched “Leornard’s Robe from the Big Bang Theory” and was directed to the Spotern website that identifies props.
According to the Vintage Traveler Blog, “The Beacon Manufacturing Company was located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and originally they made reprocessed yarn. In 1904, the comapny was bought by the Charles D. Owen family, who really began the blanket and fabric company. In 1923 they went in search of a location in the South in which to locate their spinning operation. They settled on Swannanoa, a farming community about ten miles east of Asheville, North Carolina. Ten years later they began the move to take the entire operation to North Carolina. At the time Beacon was the largest blanket maker in the world.”
A similar robe was offered for sale on Etsy in December 2013 by a seller named Dyenah. I believe the color has slightly faded in the seller’s image, yet the pattern and colors appear to match Cooper’s robe.
The seller provided a close up of the label which identifies it as a “Genuine Beacon” robe. The pattern name may be “Pilgrim.” It may have been manufactured in the 1940s or 1950s.
I’m looking for an x-large beacon blanket robe can you help me thanks
@Brent – Thank your for comment. I wish I could help but this site isn’t a store. My recommendation is to keep watch on online auction sites like eBay.com or Etsy.com. One may turn up in time. Good luck on your search.
Hi Brent, not sure if you’re still looking for the robe, but the pattern is available on other clothing items here: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/69784295
Thinking of getting the mug for myself to subtly show my love for Twin Peaks. 🙂
This was also a robe on Northern Exposure. Worn by Holling.
That’s a great show.