Setting the Stage – Traffic Lights in Twin Peaks

Setting the Stage - Traffic Lights in Twin Peaks

Special Agent Dale Cooper:  “Wanna know why I’m whittling?”
Sheriff Harry S. Truman: “Okay, I’ll bite again. Why are you whittling?”
Cooper: “Because that’s what you do in a town where a yellow light still means slow down and not speed up.”

The brief exchange in the Pilot Episode between Agent Cooper and Sheriff Truman about traffic lights in Twin Peaks was the perfect summation of what viewers could expect from the sleepy little town with a population of 51,201. To paraphrase Sheriff Truman in Episode 1003, Twin Peaks was “different” and a “long way from the world.” The pace of life was slower, which was indicated by the appearance of traffic lights (or stoplights if you prefer) seen throughout the series. So slow down. Stop and read this Setting the Stage article that takes a look at those lights, which surprisingly didn’t appear as many times as I remembered.

NORTH BEND TRAFFIC LIGHT

The intersection where the crew shot the traffic light most often seen in the series has a rather interesting history in the town of North Bend, Washington.

Traffic Light in North Bend, WA
September 2019

Located at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way in North Bend, Washington (next to the film location for the Double R Diner), the traffic light was one of the first to be installed in the small town. The coordinates are 47°29’43.7″N 121°47’13.0″W.

According to a Snoqualmie Valley Record article from October 12, 1978, the traffic light was first turned on at 3:00 p.m. on July 1, 1965.

Prior to its installation, traffic was regulated by a flashing light as the intersection which was a hotspot for accidents. For several years, the newly installed traffic light was manually operated on weekends due to the high volume of both pedestrian and automobile traffic. The I-90 bypass eventually helped diminish traffic yet many still recalled the long waits at this one intersection.

PILOT EPISODE

The traffic light first appears in the Pilot episode just after Special Agent Cooper addresses the town hall meeting.

Footage of this traffic light was captured during the first day of shooting on February 21, 1989.

Pilot
Pilot
Pilot - Traffic Light
Pilot
Pilot - Traffic Light
Pilot

A solitary light is shown changing from green to yellow to red.

Pilot - Red Light
Pilot

The red traffic light is seen again at the end of the Pilot Episode just before Sarah Palmer is shown resting on her couch.

Traffic Light in North Bend, Washington
September 15, 2019

Here’s a look at the same spot where this traffic light was shot for the Pilot.

EPISODE 1003

Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003

Traffic lights return in Episode 1003 in a transition scene just before Shelly Johnson reenacts Leland Palmer’s breakdown at his daughter’s funeral using a napkin dispenser.

Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003
Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003
Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003

The red stop light returns at the end of Episode 1003 after Leland Palmer is escorted out of The Great Northern Hotel by Deputy Hawk and Agent Cooper.

Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003
Episode 1003 - Traffic Light
1003

Some of the end credits are shown over the hanging red light. This the final appearance of the traffic light in Season 1.

EPISODE 2001

Episode 2001 - Traffic Light
2001

In Episode 2001 of Season 2, the red traffic light is superimposed over images of doughnuts when Agent Cooper “lays it all out” at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.

EPISODE 2003

The previously used green-to-yellow-to-red traffic light footage from the Pilot Episode is used again in Episode 2003

Episode 2003 - Traffic Light
2003
Episode 2003 - Traffic Light
2003
Episode 2003 - Traffic Light
2003

The light is shown just after James Hurley chases after Donna Hayward out of the Palmer house.

Episode 2003 - Maddy and the Traffic Light
2003

The traffic light transition fades into Maddy talking with Leland Palmer in Episode 2003.

EPISODE 2004

Episode 2004 - Traffic Light
2004
Episode 2004 - Traffic Light
2004

Episode 2004 offers a daytime/dusk look at the traffic light. Notice the snow–covered Mt. Si (aka the real “Twin Peaks”) in the background.

Bing Maps
Bing Maps

The vintage traffic light from the series has been replaced with a more modern version in North Bend.

EPISODE 2013

2013
2013

The same red light from 2004 returns in Episode 2013, just after James and Evelyn are seen in her garage, and before Nadine Butler Hurley speaks with Mike Nelson at the Double R Diner.

EPISODE 2020

2020
2020

The final appearance of the traffic lights in Season 2 is found in Episode 2020. They recycled the intersection shot from Episode 1003 for a montage of empty places throughout the town.

TWIN PEAKS – FIRE WALK WITH ME

Fire Walk With Me - The Intersection
Fire Walk With Me

In Twin Peaks – Fire Walk Me, there are few appearances by traffic lights beginning with the famous Intersection scene. I included this traffic signal, even though it’s different than the other traffic lights I’ve been discussing.

Intersection in Snoqualmie, Washington
September 2019

Today, the intersection contains a four-way stop, no traffic light can be found.

SPARKWOOD & 21

Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Fire Walk With Me

The traffic light most notable in the film is found at “Sparkwood and 21” (according to James Hurley from Episode 1001). This light is shown just after Laura asked James to take her home following an intense conversation in the woods.

Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Fire Walk With Me

Laura and James stop at the light around 12:30 a.m. and Laura proceeds to jump off the motorcycle.

Twin Peaks Film Location - Sparkwood & 21
January 2020

The real location for this intersection is found at 396th Drive SE in Snoqualmie, Washington. See this article for more details about this film location

There is no actual traffic light at this spot which means it was added for the scene. The road turns into Reinig Road, home of the Twin Peaks Welcome Sign. The spot covered by trees in the distance is actually Ronette Pulaski’s bridge.

Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Fire Walk With Me

This particular traffic light appears to be a command light with the words “Stop” and “Go” printed on the colored glass. It is most likely a Crouse-Hinds Type DT signal which were produced from 1952 to 1959.

Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Fire Walk With Me
Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Fire Walk With Me

The light changes to yellow then red before James rockets away in the dark on his bike. This is the final appearance of the traffic light in the motion picture.

SEASON 3 – PART 6

The traffic light first seen in the Pilot Episode returns in Twin Peaks Part 6 on Showtime.

Traffic Light - Part 6
Part 6
Traffic Light - Part 6
Part 6
Traffic Light - Part 6
Part 6

It follows a scene where Dougie Jones touches the Lucky 7 folder in his kitchen.

SEASON 3 – PART 17

Part 17 uses footage from Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me.

Traffic Light - Part 17
Part 17
Traffic Light - Part 17
Part 17

This time the traffic light from “Sparkwood and 21” is shown in black and white. The light is shown changing from green to yellow.

Sparkwood & 21
Part 17

Then it cuts to James and Laura stopping at the light. This is slightly different than how it was shown in the film.

Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Part 17
Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Part 17
Traffic Light - Sparkwood & 21
Part 17

After Laura departs, the same scene plays out from the film – James waits until the light changes to red before speeding away.

SEASON 3 – PART 18

Traffic Light - Part 18
Part 18
Traffic Light - Part 18
Part 18

The final time traffic lights are shown is in Part 18 when Cooper/Richard and Carrie Page cross a bridge into Twin Peaks.

Meadowbrook Bridge
September 2019

The bridge is located at 153 Meadowbrook Avenue in Snoqualmie, Washington. It’s the same bridge seen both in the Pilot Episode on in the background of the Fat Trout Trailer Part in the film. See this article for more details about this historic bridge.

OTHER TRAFFIC LIGHTS

When researching this story, I thought I would find more scenes with the traffic lights. They made such an impression on me when I first watched the series. Perhaps it was because no other television show that I can recall prior to Twin Peaks incorporated extended scenes of a traffic light changing colors.

Then I remembered the traffic light was included on the cover of several VHS releases of the series.

Pilot Episode
VHS cover of the Pilot Episode

The cover of the VHS release of the pilot episode contained a traffic light complete with what appears to be a red flame for the red light.

VHS Release
VHS Release of Episodes 1001-1005 from 1993

The cover for Episodes 1001-1005 of the 1993 VHS release of the entire series also contained a traffic light on the front AND back.

Twin Peaks Pilot - Laserdisc US Version

The laser disc release also had similar artwork. This is such a gorgeous cover.

For a great history of Twin Peaks on home video, read this article that was first published on Dugpa.com.

Next time you see a yellow light, just remember what Agent Cooper said – slow down.

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