Town Crier
In last night's episode, there was the town crier again. I think he said "10 o'clock and all is well."
Several questions:
1. How did he know the time?? If from hearing the church bells, how did THEY know the time??
2. What was the purpose of this character?? Were there REALLY 'town criers'?? Is it a custom brought over from Europe??
3. What did he say if all WASN'T well?
Ms. Randi Scott Zorro-R@webtv.net
Here are some answers:
Q: How did he know the time?
A: From the position of the moon.
Q: How did the church bells know the time?
A: From the position of the moon.
Q: What was the purpose of this character?
A: To provide a transition from one scene to another, guard against bears and to confirm the position of the moon.
Q: Were there really town criers?
A: Maybe yes, maybe no. But what's really important is, do we, in our hearts, believe in a town crier? If so, then yes, there really was--a--town--crier. What do you think, Spock?
Spock: Logically, it depends on the position of the moon.
Kirk: What?
Q: Is it a custom brought over from Europe?
A: No, clearly he bought his outfit in Los Angeles.
Q: What did he say if all WASN'T well?
A: "Hey, it's ten o'clock and everything sucks." or
"Hey, can anybody see the moon from here?"
From: Pat Jeffries
This is a classic!!! It is wonderfully funny, worth saving to read again and again.
Sue, "LOL" does not begin to express how funny this is: "Someone just ran over my cat with their horse" OR "Monastario jailed my wife..." OR
Funny funny funny!!!
You are right - it's lucky that all he ever had to say is "All is well".
Ms. Randi Scott
"It's a heck of a night....." LOL LOL
Since the town crier worked at night, I think the sundial is PRECISELY what he used! Then he could say it was whatever time he wanted and anyone checking the
sundial would have to agree. 'Banditos are comming' is the same number of words as "All is well" so I'm SURE the town crier could increase his vocabulary that much, and learn a new line!!
1. How did he know the time?? If from hearing the church bells, how did THEY know the time??
Sun dial?
3. What did he say if all WASN'T well?
Banditos are coming! Banditos are coming!
Z forever,Chris Minter
They either were well versed with the stars.... or they had a watch like Diego did, or they listened to the bells, in which case, why would you need someone to repeat what was just heard in the bell tower?
2. What was the purpose of this character?? Were there REALLY 'town criers'?? Is it a custom brought over from Europe??
That is a good question. Of course, Spain is part of Europe, so the question is, if they did that in Spain....
3. What did he say if all WASN'T well?
Perhaps, he might say, "It's a heck of a night. Monastario jailed my wife and kids and I don't have the money for bail." Or, "It's raining gatos y perros, and I wish someone would bring me an umbrella."
Or, "Basilio bled me dry, it's a horrible night." Or, "The tannery overflowed and it smells tonight." (in my case, the wind is blowing from the south and we can smell Bowater again...) Or, "Someone just
ran over my cat with their horse.... sniff, sniff." In the case of one or three, he might end up in the carcel.... So maybe that was why it was always a good night.....
Sue Kite
(Sue Schuck worked on the Zorro set, and knows many inside details. This is what she says about the town crier:
The town crier (as the director saw it) established night, and got his time from the church bells, which (according to Walt) rang every hour. Frankly, he had no clue! Diego had a watch, but you are right, the
average lamp lighter (town crier) did not.
It is a TV show. They filmed in the day with a day for night lens on the camera....even Britt says it in his book. They did everything they could to make the viewer think it was night.
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