Spock may have had a touch of the Irish
Sunday June 01 2008
A painting which hung on the walls of a variety of Dublin pubs and private houses since the 1940's may have been the inspiration for Star Trek's Mr Spock.
The pointy-eared Spock from the planet Vulcan is clearly depicted in Harry Kernoff's famous painting -- A Bird Never Flew on One Wing -- which was commissioned in late 1930's and sold earlier this week by Dublin auction house Adams on the Green for €180,000.
The oil painting depicts a portly red-faced man in a bowler hat having a pint with his trusty companion, a devious looking elf-like wizen-faced scoundrel.
Boasting Spock's trademark pointed twirling ears, straight haired fringe, high cheekbones and horizontal jet black eyebrows, all that is missing from the mysterious character is a handheld Phaser, set to stun.
For almost 70 years, art historians and aficionados have pondered the mysterious identity of the two drinkers depicted in Kernoff's work.
Many believe that the character in the bowler hat is none other than the former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alfie Byrne. His drinking buddy is said to be 'The Toucher' Doyle, a well-known Dublin character who spent most of his life sitting in one or other of the city's bars, cadging drink from whoever was flush.
Ted Morrison, a former Hollywood set designer and master prop maker, is firmly of the belief that 'The Toucher' Doyle's greatest claim to fame is that he may well have been the inspiration for Mr Spock:
"A story doing the back lots of the studios in Culver City outside LA in the 1960's was that Leonard Nimoy's character, Mr Spock, was inspired by a painting which hung in a Dublin Bar.
It is a great story and having seen the painting myself the resemblance is astonishing."
"Mr Spock was a truly iconic image. Before Spock, aliens were either depicted as killer blobs from outer space or slithery-eyed monsters with six arms. Whereas Mr Spock in contrast was cool and sophisticated with a hint of irony. He was quite a departure and there really hasn't been anyone like him since. Nowadays, the standard aliens are either carbuncle covered Ferengis or heavy metal inspired leather- clad galactic warriors with no sense of humour," joked Ted Morrisson.
Famously Star Trek hit the screens in 1966 promising to go boldly go where no man had gone before. Created by Gene Rodenberry, the TV show went on to become the most successful television series of all time.
Commenting on 'The Toucher' Doyle's astonishing resemblance to Mr Spock, Stuart Cole of Adams Showrooms said: "Yes the brooding menace of Spock, he (Doyle) has pointy ears all right. It is a good story, but I have to admit I never heard it before, but I am glad I did. The painting is one of those great Dublin pub images -- it is very iconic. We believe the painting was done in the late 1930's and it hung in O'Briens Pub on Leeson Street since we last sold it in the 1970's."
- Tom Prendeville
