The Secret City (1985)
Synopsis
The Secret City was a television program designed to teach children how to draw, starring Mark Kistler as as the fictional ‘Commander Mark’ who led viewers and in-studio club members through various drawing exercises in a sci-fi clubhouse setting full of fun, fantasy, and adventure. While the show’s format essentially prioritizes instruction over narrative, ongoing ‘drama’ is created by the frequent addition of new key features to the emerging scenery of the giant Secret City mural. Often Special Guests would appear on the show to demonstrate other art forms or practical applications for drawing skills. The show was created by John Price & Mark Kistler, based on Bruce McIntyre's AVDP. Much of the series was edited live in-camera and was shot in a somewhat semi-scripted format. It was produced at Maryland Public Television through private funding by Children's Video Associates, and intended for broadcast via national PBS syndication. It also aired on TVOntario.
First Air Date: 1985-09-02
Last Air Date: 1986-11-18
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 65
Networks: PBS, TVOntario
Top Cast
- Mark Kistler as Commander Mark
- Joel Gori as Cindy/MetaMan/Zebtron
- Joan Boccino as Special Guest
- Fred Miles as Special Guest
- Dick Schaefer as Special Guest
- Al Grosso as Special Guest
Seasons
Season 1 (1985)
Mark Kistler starring as 'Commander Mark' Teaches children perspective drawing using the '7 Magic Words of Drawing' techniques pioneered by Bruce McIntyre in his long-standing classroom curriculum, the Audio-Visual Drawing Program (AVDP).
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Moonscape Building
US Log Line: [ Debut: "Fun, fantasy and adventure" are the tools used by host Commander Mark to teach youngsters the joys of drawing. First up: using squares to create a table, wedding cake.]
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Ep. 2: Flying Saucers
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Ep. 3: Mountains With Lids
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Ep. 4: Observatory
US Log Line: A segment on computer art. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #104: "Shooting Stars"
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Ep. 5: Moonbots - Club Day
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Ep. 6: Robot
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Ep. 7: Optical Illusions
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Ep. 8: Home
US Log Line: Tips on drawing your home.
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Ep. 9: Animation
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Ep. 10: Unibear - Club Day
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Ep. 11: Flip Book
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Ep. 12: Go Underground
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Ep. 13: Animal Hand Puppets
US Log Line: How to create 3-D mazes.
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Ep. 14: Humanlike Hand Puppets
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Ep. 15: Monorail - Club Day
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Ep. 16: Space Station - Platform
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Ep. 17: Architecture
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Ep. 18: Spaceships
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Ep. 19: Castles
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Ep. 20: Covered Cities - Club Day
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Ep. 21: SHOW: 21
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Ep. 22: Masks
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Ep. 23: Party Favors
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Ep. 24: Cake Decorations
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Ep. 25: Birthday Party - Club Day
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Ep. 26: Underground Village
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Ep. 27: Frog Family
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Ep. 28: Skylines
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Ep. 29: Space Landing
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Ep. 30: City Art - Club Day
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Ep. 31: Flags
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Ep. 32: Fences
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Ep. 33: Hot Dog Stand
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Ep. 34: Chain Power
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Ep. 35: Two-Headed Animal - Club Day
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Ep. 36: Coloring
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Ep. 37: Computer Color
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Ep. 38: Contraptions
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Ep. 39: SHOW: 39
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Ep. 40: Flying Bird - Club Day
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Ep. 41: SHOW: 41
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Ep. 42: SHOW: 42
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Ep. 43: SHOW: 43
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Ep. 44: SHOW: 44
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Ep. 45: SHOW: 45
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Ep. 46: SHOW: 46
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Ep. 47: SHOW: 47
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Ep. 48: SHOW: 48
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Ep. 49: SHOW: 49
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Ep. 50: Puppets - Club Day
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Ep. 51: Natural Design
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Ep. 52: Columns
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Ep. 53: Stripes
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Ep. 54: People
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Ep. 55: Faces - Club Day
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Ep. 56: Silhouettes
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Ep. 57: Disguises
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Ep. 58: People Moves
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Ep. 59: Spots
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Ep. 60: Lettering - Club Day
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Ep. 61: Igloo
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Ep. 62: Wishing Well
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Ep. 63: Flying Animals
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Ep. 64: Airplanes
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Ep. 65: Cartooning - Club Day
US Log Line: The Secret City mural is completed. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #165:"Cartooning" {Note: The Log Line as printed in TV Guide was inaccurate. Episode 65 was a Club Day and there are no mural segments on Club Days. The mural was completed the prior Thursday in episode 64. This error likely originates with the pre-production Program Listings developed for the show by Adler Video Marketing which stated "#165: "Cartooning." Cartoonist Al Grosso helps Commander Mark finish the secret city mural."}
Trailers & Videos
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