Comments on: Props of Mad Men http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-902918 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-902918 From the Propmaster's Mouth: The couch is not a prop as in the domain of the prop department. Anything used on a set can be called a prop in a pop culture sense, but a couch (even if it is thrown) is set decorating. I was the propmaster on Mad Men and that is not just how it works on that show but all U.S films and TV. Props can also include all firearms, food, license plates on cars as well as decals to make a car a Police Car. Props also does, rings and watches. There are times when props and set decorating work together such as the throwing of a table lamp. Props may have the lamp copied in a breakaway material safe for on set throwing. Oh Yeah!! Scott From the Propmaster’s Mouth: The couch is not a prop as in the domain of the prop department. Anything used on a set can be called a prop in a pop culture sense, but a couch (even if it is thrown) is set decorating. I was the propmaster on Mad Men and that is not just how it works on that show but all U.S films and TV. Props can also include all firearms, food, license plates on cars as well as decals to make a car a Police Car. Props also does, rings and watches. There are times when props and set decorating work together such as the throwing of a table lamp. Props may have the lamp copied in a breakaway material safe for on set throwing.

Oh Yeah!!

Scott

]]> By: GeekMan http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614408 GeekMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614408 Awesome. I love Mad Men. And it's the kind of show prop masters must dream about. Awesome. I love Mad Men. And it’s the kind of show prop masters must dream about.

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615435 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615435 <blockquote>that is because the couch is set dressing, and the interview is with the Prop Master. If the interview was with the Set Designer, they might talk about that fainting couch.</blockquote> Incorrect. It's a prop if an actor interacts with it. Fail. <blockquote>tdawwg- you can bet there was a "discussion" in the production meeting about which department was going to have to find/make the vagina couch. If Buckwald didn't discuss it, he won. And by "win" I mean that couch did not have to come out of his budget or be found by his crew. No one argues to have to do more work. This show is a very heavy prop, costume and set show. There is WAY more work than there is time or budget. Your wiki "theatrical prop" definition would not win you many friends on set. No go run along and tell props and costumes which department has to deal with eye glasses and walking sticks.</blockquote> Oy. I don't care what you think you know about backstage politics on the show's set, or what the various employees of the show do or don't do: nice of you to offer ungrounded, fictional speculations, though. It's a prop, get over it. The point isn't who paid for it, or even who made it: definitionally, it's a prop.

that is because the couch is set dressing, and the interview is with the Prop Master. If the interview was with the Set Designer, they might talk about that fainting couch.

Incorrect. It’s a prop if an actor interacts with it. Fail.

tdawwg- you can bet there was a “discussion” in the production meeting about which department was going to have to find/make the vagina couch. If Buckwald didn’t discuss it, he won. And by “win” I mean that couch did not have to come out of his budget or be found by his crew. No one argues to have to do more work. This show is a very heavy prop, costume and set show. There is WAY more work than there is time or budget. Your wiki “theatrical prop” definition would not win you many friends on set. No go run along and tell props and costumes which department has to deal with eye glasses and walking sticks.

Oy. I don’t care what you think you know about backstage politics on the show’s set, or what the various employees of the show do or don’t do: nice of you to offer ungrounded, fictional speculations, though. It’s a prop, get over it. The point isn’t who paid for it, or even who made it: definitionally, it’s a prop.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614412 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614412 As has ben discused in other forums, the problem isn't so much that they were using Selectrics, which were only a year away, but that they were using SelectricII's that came out in the 70s. The Typewriter in the photo is a Selectric, but they had pleny of the boxier selectric IIs out in the office. As has ben discused in other forums, the problem isn’t so much that they were using Selectrics, which were only a year away, but that they were using SelectricII’s that came out in the 70s. The Typewriter in the photo is a Selectric, but they had pleny of the boxier selectric IIs out in the office.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-857869 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-857869 I guess that Set Dressing House doesn't roll off the tongue as well as prop house. Also, the original Time Life Chair that Don is leaning back in had a 4 star base not 5. I guess that Set Dressing House doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as prop house. Also, the original Time Life Chair that Don is leaning back in had a 4 star base not 5.

]]> By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614431 ROSSINDETROIT Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614431 Right or wrong, the Selectric is one awesome business machine. We bought a Correcting Model 2 in 1982 for a price that today would purchase a desk full of decent laptops. Right or wrong, the Selectric is one awesome business machine. We bought a Correcting Model 2 in 1982 for a price that today would purchase a desk full of decent laptops.

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614688 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614688 Err, no, I'm talking about a "couch," not a "coach." And properties are portable: they needn't be just be pick-up-able. Betty sits on and interacts with the couch a lot: it's her vagina couch! Do you even watch the show? Err, no, I’m talking about a “couch,” not a “coach.” And properties are portable: they needn’t be just be pick-up-able. Betty sits on and interacts with the couch a lot: it’s her vagina couch!

Do you even watch the show?

]]> By: IMSA12 http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615971 IMSA12 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615971 My father was a talented designer of consumer products for Corning Glass Works in the early 1960's and 70's. I've seen his now-iconic work appear in some movies that depict mid/upper class kitchens of the time, and now his designs appear in the Draper kitchen (last season) and on the stove of Don's girlfriend this season. I really enjoy all of the design/artistic references that get included in the whole Mad Men scene, but I wonder if any of the ad agencies of the time really were cool enough to be hanging the likes of Marc Rothko on their office walls. My father was a talented designer of consumer products for Corning Glass Works in the early 1960′s and 70′s. I’ve seen his now-iconic work appear in some movies that depict mid/upper class kitchens of the time, and now his designs appear in the Draper kitchen (last season) and on the stove of Don’s girlfriend this season.
I really enjoy all of the design/artistic references that get included in the whole Mad Men scene, but I wonder if any of the ad agencies of the time really were cool enough to be hanging the likes of Marc Rothko on their office walls.

]]> By: klg19 http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614693 klg19 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614693 I watch the show religiously, and I agree with Anonymous. The "fainting couch" is set dressing, and is the province of set design, not props. Furniture is not a prop. I watch the show religiously, and I agree with Anonymous. The “fainting couch” is set dressing, and is the province of set design, not props. Furniture is not a prop.

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614463 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614463 I want to know where Betty Draper's vagina couch, on display in current episodes, came from. It's lovely, haunting, and absurd all at the same time. The interview is lamentably silent on this point. I want to know where Betty Draper’s vagina couch, on display in current episodes, came from. It’s lovely, haunting, and absurd all at the same time. The interview is lamentably silent on this point.

]]> By: theturtle http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615497 theturtle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615497 In that time period it was much more likely you'd have had either manual Royals or, if it was IBM, an IBM Executive, which was a conventional type-bar unit. Selectrics were expensive and didn't replace manual typewriters completely until well into the 1970s. In that time period it was much more likely you’d have had either manual Royals or, if it was IBM, an IBM Executive, which was a conventional type-bar unit. Selectrics were expensive and didn’t replace manual typewriters completely until well into the 1970s.

]]> By: seandavid010 http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614478 seandavid010 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614478 Ah, the IBM Selectric (sigh) an amazing machine. I have a Selectric III that I use just about every day, and I adore it. There's something visceral about a typewriter that you just don't get in a computer. Ah, the IBM Selectric (sigh) an amazing machine. I have a Selectric III that I use just about every day, and I adore it. There’s something visceral about a typewriter that you just don’t get in a computer.

]]> By: Blue http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614737 Blue Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614737 >Furniture is not a prop. What if you hit someone with it? >Furniture is not a prop.

What if you hit someone with it?

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614483 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614483 I remember those old cans. Solid and heavy, with a seam. Pull-tabs were a new thing when I was a kid; many brands didn't have them. I'd love to see the Draper kids eating Drakes Cakes. I remember those old cans. Solid and heavy, with a seam.

Pull-tabs were a new thing when I was a kid; many brands didn’t have them.

I’d love to see the Draper kids eating Drakes Cakes.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614739 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614739 …or if you just use a chair to prop your tired ass up? …or if you just use a chair to prop your tired ass up?

]]> By: Jeff http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614484 Jeff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614484 Unfortunate, then, that they continually get their fonts wrong: http://www.marksimonson.com/article/236/mad-men-mad And it's continued this season. Anyone see that horrible desk plaque Trudy gave Pete? Unfortunate, then, that they continually get their fonts wrong:

http://www.marksimonson.com/article/236/mad-men-mad

And it’s continued this season. Anyone see that horrible desk plaque Trudy gave Pete?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614743 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614743 after the premier i quit watching mad men. i lived through all of that hype/misogynic era and i find the show depressing. in a way that's a tribute to the realism the producer has achieved. after the premier i quit watching mad men. i lived through all of that hype/misogynic era and i find the show depressing. in a way that’s a tribute to the realism the producer has achieved.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-620632 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-620632 Thank you for clearing up the Selectric issue, which along with the square-button key telephones, would not have been in Sterling Cooper's office in 1963. BUT, I agree that the Producer can have his creative way (just don't go on and on about spot-on accuracy)..by newark phone-guy. Thank you for clearing up the Selectric issue, which along with the square-button key telephones, would not have been in Sterling Cooper’s office in 1963. BUT, I agree that the Producer can have his creative way (just don’t go on and on about spot-on accuracy)..by newark phone-guy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615514 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615514 my dream job... my dream job…

]]> By: Chris Tucker http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614492 Chris Tucker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614492 A modular telephone handset and a pair of pantyhose DID find their way into Mad Men, but for the most part, they've done a fine job in keeping it accurate to the times. A modular telephone handset and a pair of pantyhose DID find their way into Mad Men, but for the most part, they’ve done a fine job in keeping it accurate to the times.

]]> By: TikiHead http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614767 TikiHead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614767 I have Don Draper's waste basket. I have Don Draper’s waste basket.

]]> By: webmonkees http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615039 webmonkees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615039 It's also a bit fun to play propmaster/time warp at home; Slowly building a mid-70s office with a vintage electric typewriter, Texas Instruments LED calculator, etc. Side benefit is that it's both cheap (thrift shop) and durable (built better). Sure, there's ebay, but that takes the fun out of discovery at the dollar table or flea market. At worst, a day's worth of teardown and cleanup and it's good as new. And very fun to use a real stand mixer with metal mixing bowls. Just set that thing in motion and it's both kinetic and culinary entertainment. It’s also a bit fun to play propmaster/time warp at home; Slowly building a mid-70s office with a vintage electric typewriter, Texas Instruments LED calculator, etc. Side benefit is that it’s both cheap (thrift shop) and durable (built better).

Sure, there’s ebay, but that takes the fun out of discovery at the dollar table or flea market.

At worst, a day’s worth of teardown and cleanup and it’s good as new. And very fun to use a real stand mixer with metal mixing bowls. Just set that thing in motion and it’s both kinetic and culinary entertainment.

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614785 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614785 From Wikipedia: <blockquote>A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is any object held or used on stage by an actor for use in furthering the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table.</blockquote> There's not much mystery to this, folks: Betty's vagina couch is a prop, not mere set dressing. She practically makes love to the damn thing. From Wikipedia:
A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is any object held or used on stage by an actor for use in furthering the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as “hand props”. Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table.

There’s not much mystery to this, folks: Betty’s vagina couch is a prop, not mere set dressing. She practically makes love to the damn thing.

]]> By: Michael Leddy http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614542 Michael Leddy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614542 "Buckwald: Well, pencils are pencils." Well, sort of. Well-made pencils always had (and still have) distinctive ferrules — not the plain aluminum we now see on cheap pencils. Some great pencils, like the Blackwing and Mongol, are no longer made or not easily available. I'd like to see some in <i>Mad Men</i>. “Buckwald: Well, pencils are pencils.”

Well, sort of. Well-made pencils always had (and still have) distinctive ferrules — not the plain aluminum we now see on cheap pencils. Some great pencils, like the Blackwing and Mongol, are no longer made or not easily available. I’d like to see some in Mad Men.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615567 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615567 theturtle => yes, but there are good reasons for the producers to prefer Selectrics. You can have the actresses (and even the typewriter in Don's office would probably be used by his secretary) pretend to be typing with the machine turned off. You can't really do that with a moving carriage machine because the carriage would be still, a dead giveway. theturtle => yes, but there are good reasons for the producers to prefer Selectrics. You can have the actresses (and even the typewriter in Don’s office would probably be used by his secretary) pretend to be typing with the machine turned off. You can’t really do that with a moving carriage machine because the carriage would be still, a dead giveway.

]]> By: caipirina http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614816 caipirina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614816 I still can't explain WHY i (and many others) love this show so much ... I keep wondering ... it's a bit like watching the sims, 1960ies style ... or a very fascinating aquarium ... in terms of storylines, not much happens, or is left unresolved, just hinted at ... but maybe this is what makes it so great .. and just fun to watch! And it shows how well SNL can be used to promote shows (otherwise I would still not know who Jon Hamm is ... ) I still can’t explain WHY i (and many others) love this show so much … I keep wondering … it’s a bit like watching the sims, 1960ies style … or a very fascinating aquarium … in terms of storylines, not much happens, or is left unresolved, just hinted at … but maybe this is what makes it so great .. and just fun to watch!

And it shows how well SNL can be used to promote shows (otherwise I would still not know who Jon Hamm is … )

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-614566 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-614566 Tdawwg, the coach is set dressing, and would have been sourced and provided by the Set Decorator. Anything that gets picked up or "used" by an actor or extra would be a prop. Tdawwg, the coach is set dressing, and would have been sourced and provided by the Set Decorator. Anything that gets picked up or “used” by an actor or extra would be a prop.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615341 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615341 that is because the couch is set dressing, and the interview is with the Prop Master. If the interview was with the Set Designer, they might talk about that fainting couch. that is because the couch is set dressing, and the interview is with the Prop Master. If the interview was with the Set Designer, they might talk about that fainting couch.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615343 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615343 tdawwg- you can bet there was a "discussion" in the production meeting about which department was going to have to find/make the vagina couch. If Buckwald didn't discuss it, he won. And by "win" I mean that couch did not have to come out of his budget or be found by his crew. No one argues to have to do more work. This show is a very heavy prop, costume and set show. There is WAY more work than there is time or budget. Your wiki "theatrical prop" definition would not win you many friends on set. No go run along and tell props and costumes which department has to deal with eye glasses and walking sticks. tdawwg- you can bet there was a “discussion” in the production meeting about which department was going to have to find/make the vagina couch. If Buckwald didn’t discuss it, he won. And by “win” I mean that couch did not have to come out of his budget or be found by his crew. No one argues to have to do more work. This show is a very heavy prop, costume and set show. There is WAY more work than there is time or budget. Your wiki “theatrical prop” definition would not win you many friends on set. No go run along and tell props and costumes which department has to deal with eye glasses and walking sticks.

]]> By: jfrancis http://boingboing.net/2009/10/16/props-of-mad-men.html#comment-615362 jfrancis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-615362 Wow, mad props! :D Wow, mad props!

:D

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