Were they there the whole time?

[Melchett]

I think for most of us, we think of the show linearly - characters come and go as the actors do. But something has occured to me: Were they there the whole time?

For instance...

The first character to "leave" was Mr. Mash. But did he really leave? We all know from later episodes that the Packing and Maintenance department was actually a team of fellows - Warwick, Seymour, etc. Perhaps we just didn't "see" Mr. Mash anymore in later episodes. Or maybe he did retire - we don't know.

Which naturally leads to... did Mr. Harmon work with Mr. Mash? Was he always there, even in Seasons 1 - 3? I don't think it says how long Mr. Harmon had been with Grace Brothers at any time, but one gets the feeling he's worked there for some time, as he has "his men" who move counters away and such. He kind of directs the other maintenance men. Did he direct Mr. Mash too?

We all know that Mr. Tebbs was with Grace Brothers during Seasons 1 - 6. While we didn't see him, he was there the whole time, "moving" to Mrs. Slocombe as they passed, and hanging out with "Stephen" well enough that they are on a first name basis with each other.

We presume that Mr. Lucas left, and there's nothing to indicate otherwise. But what if he was transferred to a new position in the company?

We all know that Mr. Spooner likely worked there while Mr. Lucas was working there - he came from the Paint department but was "thrown out" for some reason. Perhaps he and Mr. Lucas traded positions? After all, we know how easy it was to move around in various positions in the store: Mr. Spooner became a lift operator virtually immediately, and Mrs. Slocombe, in an effort to continue working at Grace Brothers, quickly became one of Mr. Harmon's maintenance assistants. What if Mr. Lucas was still there for Seasons 7 - 10?

Old Mr. Grace likely came around the store from time to time, as those who had worked there for some time (Captain Peacock and Mr. Grainger specifically) knew that he didn't get about much these days, implying that at one time he did. If Peacock had worked there for 20 years, he surely must have seen him around, even if they weren't formally introduced until 'Is It Catching?'.

To me this certainly broadens the show a bit.

What are your thoughts?

[Sienna]

I have to say this is a very interesting take on things, Melchett! Good thinking!

There's also Mr Grossman and Mr Klein, who were respectively working at the Shoe Department and at Cutting (whatever it was that they sold? :?). Did they retire, or just go back to their own departments? After all, Grossman was supposed to be there as long as the shoe department was, and Klein as long as the sale was going on.

[larsen525]

I have to say this is a very interesting take on things, Melchett! Good thinking!

There's also Mr Grossman and Mr Klein, who were respectively working at the Shoe Department and at Cutting (whatever it was that they sold? :?). Did they retire, or just go back to their own departments? After all, Grossman was supposed to be there as long as the shoe department was, and Klein as long as the sale was going on.

Cutting is the first stage in assembling a bespoke or made-to-measure suit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suit_(clothing)

We know that Grace Brothers offers at least made-to-measure suits, therefore the Cutting Department would take care of that part of making the suit before passing it on to Mens' Wear for fitting and final alterations.

- E.

[minki]

Except for the obvious departues, I like to think that they all were there in the GB milieu--they just worked varying schedules or were in different deparments. Maybe management just shuffled staff to where they were needed.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

The only flaw in imagining Mash & Harman coexisting is they they both were the union shop steward, so I would have to believe Mash left or was fired. I would imagine Harman was always there and advanced into Mr. Mash's position. I guess Mash could have moved to another branch.

As for Mr. Lucas, I always pictured him quitting for a better job and "burning the bridges" behind him. That is the only way I can picture the rest of the staff never talking about him again.

I like Sienna's thought of Mr. Grossman & Kline returning to their departments.

Spooner just has to have become a real pop star. I can't imagine anything else for him.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You've come up with the goods on this one Melchy !! Great thinking !!

[Sienna]

Cutting is the first stage in assembling a bespoke or made-to-measure suit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suit_(clothing)

We know that Grace Brothers offers at least made-to-measure suits, therefore the Cutting Department would take care of that part of making the suit before passing it on to Mens' Wear for fitting and final alterations.

- E.

Really? Oh, thanks for explaining that :D And here I was thinking it was a department dedicated to selling scissors. :shrug:

[Melchett]

I have to say this is a very interesting take on things, Melchett! Good thinking!

There's also Mr Grossman and Mr Klein, who were respectively working at the Shoe Department and at Cutting (whatever it was that they sold? :?). Did they retire, or just go back to their own departments? After all, Grossman was supposed to be there as long as the shoe department was, and Klein as long as the sale was going on.

Good thinking! For some reason, I had forgotten all about Grossman and Klein ;) - but it makes sense they would go back to their respective departments. In theory they too could have been at Grace Brothers all the way through the entire series.

[Red Shadow]

Wow. What a great line of thinking, Melchett! You are so correct too. There were lots of employees in the store we never saw or only saw once or twice. That doesn't mean they weren't there all along.

Perhaps Mr. Lucas transferred to the Bristol City branch?

[larsen525]

Perhaps Mr. Lucas transferred to the Bristol City branch?

I'm sure he would've been very happy there. ;)

:lucas01: : "I've come across a few in my travels, but this is the first time I've seen any take evasive action!"

- E.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I always took it as Lucas getting canned from the conversation that Peacock has with Spooner about "figures being so low that they fired the junior".

[Lucas The Tucas]

Naw !

They sent Mr. Lucas to be ........ The Floor Walker @ Munich. :D

:lucas01:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Naw !

They sent Mr. Lucas to be ........ The Floor Walker @ Munich. :D

:lucas01:

To relax in room fumf to play za pong mit der ping ? :lol:

[Lucas The Tucas]

Knowing Mr. Lucas :D

He was checking out the koal karriers. :lol:


:lucas01:

[sonosun]

Knowing Mr. Lucas :D

He was checking out the koal karriers. :lol:


:lucas01:



:emotlol:

[Red Shadow]

I wish the writers would have thought of this concept. They could have said Mr. Lucas was now working in Bathroom Fittings or some other department. Then Trevor Bannister could have made a few guest appearences on the show.

[minki]

I always took it as Lucas getting canned from the conversation that Peacock has with Spooner about "figures being so low that they fired the junior".

I always read that line as Peacock just tormeting Spooner...never thought of it like you did though. Interesting :yes:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I wish the writers would have thought of this concept. They could have said Mr. Lucas was now working in Bathroom Fittings or some other department. Then Trevor Bannister could have made a few guest appearences on the show.

Ahhh what could have been. :yes:

[BasilBJr]

Good points all around.

I believe that Mr Harmon took over from Mr Mash, as they both described themselves as Shop Stewards and heads of their union. I believe that Mr Mash left of his own choice, probably bought out. Even the clueless Grace Bros. management would realize that this would be the least expensive option. I think the change-over occurred at the tme of the episode "No Sale", when there was no maintenance man. There was an after hours party and Mr Mash made a speech where he said something like that from now own they would have to call on Mr Harmon. Then he blew his trademark raspberry at Capt Peacock.

I am of the opinion that Mr Lucas didn't really have to work as a Junior Salesman. Living in the upscale neighborhood of Highgate, he was probably rather well off. How else could someone who made 11 pounds a week have so many girlfriends? He probably left for bigger and better things, like to work for a rich relative. Or there is also my post in the Conspiracy Theories thread.

As for Old Mr Grace, what did he do before taking charge og GB? Did he get anything from uncel Mr Grace Senior? G&F says that YMG was in charge when the store closed. When did he finish his book on birdwatching and return to the helm?

I think that Grossman and Klein were meant to be temporary, to groom Mr Humphries for his eventual rise to Head of the Men's Counter. But the question is, who worked in Menswear while he was in Australia?

Did Mr Moulterd ever come to the store for any reason, possibly bringing a toddling Mavis along. Or was he like many yokels who had a aversion to cities?

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I think that Grossman and Klein were meant to be temporary, to groom Mr Humphries for his eventual rise to Head of the Men's Counter. But the question is, who worked in Menswear while he was in Australia?



Good one. :thumbup:

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

I agree! Well thought out Baz!:clap: