The Huge Gates Theory

[Royell Storing]

Why would the gates need to be “wide open”? Would it not be easier just  to leave them closed but UNLocked?

I’m not really sure why the west door of the TSBD would not be the easier escape rather than going thru this tunnel leading to the gate  unless the freight elevators can all the way down to  the basement floor beneath the 1st floor?

Did not BW Frazier say he went down to the “basement” after he went back into the TSBD?

   Using the door would make the assassin(s) visible to a lot of people. Their strange faces would attract the attention of people that work inside that building every day. Taking the stairwell down to the Huge Gates and out onto the Elm St Ext is quick and makes the assassin(s) almost invisible. Same goes for Entering the building and going up to the 6th floor in this same manner.

[Dan O'meara]

For his next trick, he’ll tell us about his Huge Ackman theory

 

[Robin Unger]

FWIW In Darnell the gates appear to be closed.

[James Hackerott]

FWIW In Darnell the gates appear to be closed.

Hi Robin,
The gate doors are open for Darnell and Couch. This graphic shows the approximate view of Darnell with the doors open and closed.

[Royell Storing]

FWIW In Darnell the gates appear to be closed.

   Robin - Thanks for posting this Darnell Snippet. The Huge Gates opened Inward. We are seeing from Darnell's position, an angled look at an inward pushed Gate. A "Reverse Negative" Couch Film  provides an even better look at the inward pushed/Open Gate. Hope that your JFK Assassination Image Library is OK. I frequently use it here.

[Royell Storing]

Hi Robin,
The gate doors are open for Darnell and Couch. This graphic shows the approximate view of Darnell with the doors open and closed.

  JAMES - Thanks for posting that visual aid. It drives the point home. I hope you post your work here more often. It is consistently Top Shelf.

[Dan O'meara]

Hi Robin,
The gate doors are open for Darnell and Couch. This graphic shows the approximate view of Darnell with the doors open and closed.

Excellent animation as per usual, James.
It highlights why Royell can't understand that the gates are wide open in the Martin film.
Towards the end of the clip below we see Sawyer, cigarette in hand, leading Brennan to his car where he briefly questions him.
For a second we see the gates in the closed position and I believe we also see the "citizen" that Mooney grabbed to make sure no-one went in or out.



I've watched this clip many times and get the impression that the gates have just been closed and the citizen is securing them (possibly)
We know from the photographic record the gates were wide open at 12:40pm (Hertz clock time)
I believe this actual moment can be pinpointed with some degree of accuracy.
After his conversation with Brennan, Sawyer contacts dispatch:



This transmission is timestamped 12:44pm
However, there is a slightly earlier transmission from Saywer.
At some point, just before a timestamp of 12:43pm, Sawyer contacts dispatch:

"We need some more men down at the Texas School Book Depository. We should have some on Main if we could get someone to pick up and bring them down here."

This transmission is made just before 12:43pm. We can assume Sawyer makes it as soon as he gets into his car and before he questions Brennan.
So we're looking at the closing of these gates around 12:41pm.
Exactly as you have marked in your animation.