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November 27, 2004
'West Wing' gathers authentic NH items for episode
By MICHAEL COUSINEAU
Union Leader
MANCHESTER — NBC's "West Wing" is rounding up items from around the city so its make-believe Manchester appears more authentic in a television episode expected to air in February.
Everything from a Union Leader vending box to a New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball cap to a Manchester Monarchs hockey jersey could appear on the show, according to Lloyd Brown, the show's set decoration buyer.
The producers of "The West Wing" are gathering N.H. items that would look familiar to President Bartlet (played by actor Martin Sheen) for use in location filming. (AP)
"I'm actually dealing with a lot of different companies in Manchester to acquire things," Brown said in a phone interview from the Toronto area yesterday. "Basically, I can end up using it in a number of scenes. Some things will end up on a bulletin board. Some things will end up on cars."
The show's crew is "doing some shooting north of Toronto that's doubling for Manchester and a few other towns in New Hampshire, as well as Iowa, for a story line that they're developing," Brown said.
The show called the Hatfield Gallery on Elm Street Tuesday.
"I was so excited," said co-owner Diane Boucher. "I watch the show all the time."
Brown was interested in seven photographs that her husband, Ron, shot.
"The thing that excited me the most is he has panoramic shots," Brown said.
Ron Boucher said the item Brown liked the most contains three panels. One contains a 1903 panoramic shot of downtown Manchester that mill worker Alphonso Sanborn took from the roof of Millwest, a building directly across from Catholic Medical Center on the West Side.
Boucher shot the identical picture in 2003, and he left an empty panel for someone else to photograph the same scene in 2103.
The show wanted other downtown scenes, including the Palace Theatre. Boucher also picked up an assignment to photograph street signs to give added authenticity to the political drama.
In 2002, the city sent six voting machines for the "West Wing" to use in an election episode.
The Fisher Cats shipped two shirts, three hats, three pennants, four bumper stickers, programs and other gear to the show, which insisted on buying the items.
"They're filming in Toronto and, ironically enough, it's the home of the parent club of the Fisher Cats," said team spokesman John Zahr.
Monarchs public relations director Mike Kalinowski said the show wanted to borrow items. The team sent a replica jersey, a few player photos, a stuffed Max mascot doll, a license plate cover and a Monarchs flag.
"Part of the episode is going to appear in a hockey rink," said Kalinowski, a fan of the show. "We gave them what we think will look good on TV, based on what they told us and what will represent the organization."
And forget about using a generic newspaper on "West Wing."
"Your newspaper boxes will be appearing in the television show — and your actual newspaper," Brown told The Union Leader.
Posted by Jo at November 27, 2004 08:08 AM