Bob and I had a question come in this week from a reader who wants to identify a structure on the wall behind the bar in several western shows and movies including the Long Branch on "Gunsmoke". I wa…

[Marshall Trimble]

Bob and I had a question come in this week from a reader who wants to identify a structure on the wall behind the bar in several western shows and movies including the Long Branch on "Gunsmoke". I watch the show on a regular basis but haven't spotted it so I thought I'd toss it out to you and ask for your help. I hate to admit it but this might be first time in a dozen years I've been stumped. Here's what she describes:

"I've seen something that puzzles me which you might be able to identify.  It looks like several tubes making a shape similar to a large crown.  It doesn't seem to have any spigots, and the number of tubes does vary.  Can you identify this for me? Joyce."

[Joyce & Jon Schneider]

These theories are interesting, but don't explain the same type of structure being behind the bar in other movies - except the glass holder possibility.

[Gold Lady]

Do you have photos of this in other movies?

[Joyce & Jon Schneider]

No, I don't, but I have seen it in a few other old westerns, with variations, one having quite a few of the vertical pieces.

[Gay Mathis]

Whatever it was, it does not appear it was used as a glass holder..It changed in appearance as time went on..

Joyce, do you remember what other shows you saw something like this in?

[Joyce & Jon Schneider]

No, I wish I could! We watch the Western Chanel a lot, and I'm afraid my mind is like a steel sieve!

[Gold Lady]

I think it's just a decoration to add a little pizzaz.  It doesn't seem to have a purpose in any of the photos. Real bars usually had a mirror there, but for filming, that would not work. 

[Joyce & Jon Schneider]

It seems strange that the same type of thing was used in several bars unless it had some purpose at some time. Also, the Long Branch had different versions over the years, as seen in these pictures.  Maybe it really was for glasses, but incomplete here.