The Secret City

⭐6.0(3 votes)

•1985

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Episodes

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.]

2. Flying Saucers

3. Mountains With Lids

4. Observatory

US Log Line: A segment on computer art. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #104: "Shooting Stars"

5. Moonbots - Club Day

6. Robot

7. Optical Illusions

8. Home

US Log Line: Tips on drawing your home.

9. Animation

10. Unibear - Club Day

11. Flip Book

12. Go Underground

13. Animal Hand Puppets

US Log Line: How to create 3-D mazes.

14. Humanlike Hand Puppets

15. Monorail - Club Day

16. Space Station - Platform

17. Architecture

18. Spaceships

19. Castles

20. Covered Cities - Club Day

21. SHOW: 21

22. Masks

23. Party Favors

24. Cake Decorations

25. Birthday Party - Club Day

26. Underground Village

27. Frog Family

28. Skylines

29. Space Landing

30. City Art - Club Day

31. Flags

32. Fences

33. Hot Dog Stand

34. Chain Power

35. Two-Headed Animal - Club Day

36. Coloring

37. Computer Color

38. Contraptions

39. SHOW: 39

40. Flying Bird - Club Day

41. SHOW: 41

42. SHOW: 42

43. SHOW: 43

44. SHOW: 44

45. SHOW: 45

46. SHOW: 46

47. SHOW: 47

48. SHOW: 48

49. SHOW: 49

50. Puppets - Club Day

51. Natural Design

52. Columns

53. Stripes

54. People

55. Faces - Club Day

56. Silhouettes

57. Disguises

58. People Moves

59. Spots

60. Lettering - Club Day

61. Igloo

62. Wishing Well

63. Flying Animals

64. Airplanes

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."}

Overview

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.