A great book called Secret Soldiers: How a Troupe of American Artists, Designers, and Sonic Wizards Won World War II’s Battle of Deception Against the Germans is about…well, just that. It covers the U.S. Army’s 23rd Special Troops and how they waged surreptitious “battles” against the Germans using deceptive techniques. These techniques were sometimes as… Continue reading Rubber Tanks and U.S. Army’s 23rd Special Troops
Author: Lee Wallender
Deception, influence, fakes, illusions, themed environments, simulations, secret places, secret infrastructure, imagined places, dreamscapes, movie sets and props, evasions, camouflage, studio backlots, miniatures.
Hindenburg “A” Deck Cutaway
One of the best, and cheapest, books that I have ever had about the Hindenburg is called Hindenburg: an Illustrated History, by Rick Archbold, with paintings by Ken Marschall. The art is too beautiful to even talk about in this space. But because one interest of Invisible Themepark is cutaways, let’s look at one cutaway… Continue reading Hindenburg “A” Deck Cutaway
The Moto Ritz Towers, 1937
Bruce McCall is the patron saint of secret infrastructure. His book, Zany Afternoons, is one of my most highly valued books. For some odd reason, most of my favorite books were on sale in the bargain bin at bookstores. This one was a mere ten bucks at Barnes & Noble. While there are too many… Continue reading The Moto Ritz Towers, 1937
Disneyland Main Street: Fake, Well-Done, Increasingly Insignificant
One of the most prominent, yet ignored, features of Disneyland is its Main Street. Even though thousands of people walk through Main Street every day, it is vastly ignored. Too bad, because Main Street is one of the best features of Disneyland. The main elevations for Main Street were drawn up by a former art… Continue reading Disneyland Main Street: Fake, Well-Done, Increasingly Insignificant
Timberline Twilight Zone Video
In the movie The Shining, Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, and his wife and son drive up to The Overlook Lodge for a peaceful winter rest. The Overlook Lodge is actually the Timberline in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Exterior shots for The Shining were filmed at the real-life Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon. Find out… Continue reading Timberline Twilight Zone Video