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Toby mug spotted in another 20th Century Fox movie


Several years ago, I spotted what I think is either THE original Robin Hood Toby mug prop from "Twelve O'Clock High!" or one of its duplicates (if duplicates were made) in another 20th Century Fox film.

The film is "Valley Of The Dolls" (1967), and the mug appears as a decorative flower vase, on the middle of the top shelf of an open wire shelving unit against the wall in the background of several scenes. The scenes are in one of the "Doll's" (Sharon Tate) homes, and ironically, the actor Paul Burke, who played the "Colonel Gallagher" character in the "12 O'Clock High!" TV series, is also in one of the scenes.

I guess the Toby was just another prop, and kept around 20th Century lot for years. I can't remember if the Robin Hood Toby was used in the TV series or not -- maybe someone knows?

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[deleted]

Oh yeah, the Toby was DEFINITELY used in the TV series and it is identical to the original prop that Henry King gave to General Frank Armstrong after wrapping the movie in 1949. This is why I believe there were two original jugs. When I became a licensee to produce the Jug in 1993, the Fox archivist and I searched for any evidence of molds, extra Jugs... anything... and found only a couple of studio stills. No one there at Fox seems to know where the TV series Jug went. I know Paul Burke doesn't have it but he does have one of our replicas. You are the second person that has told me that it appears in "Valley of the Dolls" .... interesting.

There are several episodes of the TV series that show the 918th's jug but the best one has to be "The All American". It was shown in living color and was actually the only method by which I could verify the proper colors for our reproductions. An interesting note though: as we all know, the "original" 918th Bomb Group's Toby Jug was turned to face the room when they were alerted for a mission, right? Well, in "The All American" (and others episodes of the TV series) the Jug was turned to face the wall when they were alerted! A small slip-up on someones part. Thanks for the heads up on the most famous Toby Jug ever!

Pete Plumb
Fox Licensee #4892
918th Bomb Group Toby Jug

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