Logopolis Cloister Room pillars in 1977

[meantimebob]

You know you're a dyed in the wool Who nerd when you're watching something and instantly recognise a costume a prop or piece of scenery that had appeared in the show. In this case these columns were a few years away from making their Who debut. I was watching the first episode of the wonderful BBC series 'Supernatural' from 1977 (Ghost of Venice) and low and behold, there were the pillars from the Cloister Room as part of an Italian square in the 1800s. They must have been pieces pulled from stock. I wonder what other productions they had been in?

 

[rassilonsrod]

I was under the impression that they were used in Pertwee's era.... I may be mistaken.

But great to see them elsewhere too.

 

[meantimebob]

I was under the impression that they were used in Pertwee's era.... I may be mistaken.

But great to see them elsewhere too.

I had a quick look at a Pertwee story they'd most likely appear in and you're right. Here they are in the Time Monster.

 

[rassilonsrod]

I thought as much! Had a feeling I'd seen them recently. We started our marathon on 23rd Nov 2024 and we're up to Frontier in Space next

 

[Volpone]

I wonder what they're made of. It's a tricky balance--if you make them light they're more easily moved and set up and stored, but they're also more easily damaged and you need to be careful about the actors bumping into them or leaning on them or something, ruining the illusion when they wobble or tip over (and possibly damaging the prop/scenery).

 

[meantimebob]

I wonder what they're made of. It's a tricky balance--if you make them light they're more easily moved and set up and stored, but they're also more easily damaged and you need to be careful about the actors bumping into them or leaning on them or something, ruining the illusion when they wobble or tip over (and possibly damaging the prop/scenery).

I wonder if they were those thick cardboard inners of large industrial paper rolls that had then been added to and painted, or perhaps fibreglass. They survived too long to be just polystyrene. The bridging arches between them were probably wooden and they'd help stabilize them.

 

[Five Fingered Styre]

I wonder if they were those thick cardboard inners of large industrial paper rolls that had then been added to and painted, or perhaps fibreglass. They survived too long to be just polystyrene. The bridging arches between them were probably wooden and they'd help stabilize them.

Cardboard tubing was my first thought, too

 

[rassilonsrod]

Either that or sections of ply with slots ripped into it to make it more bendy, using a table saw set at a low height.

There was a nice photo of The Master's TARDIS from Timeflight, showing the inside of the pillar form that might give a clue.

 

[meantimebob]

Either that or sections of ply with slots ripped into it to make it more bendy, using a table saw set at a low height.

There was a nice photo of The Master's TARDIS from Timeflight, showing the inside of the pillar form that might give a clue.

I can't see the scenic dept doing that for so many background pieces. The Master's column was a hero prop, a lot wider and didn't it have a cut out section at the back?

 

[rassilonsrod]

A fair point