The Secret City

The Secret City

  • 1985
  • 1 Seasons
  • 65 Episodes
  •  6  (3)
  •   Ended

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.

The Secret City
Seasons
Cartooning - Club Day
65. Cartooning - Club Day
November 29, 1985
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."}
Flying Animals
63. Flying Animals
November 27, 1985
Wishing Well
62. Wishing Well
November 26, 1985
Lettering - Club Day
60. Lettering - Club Day
November 22, 1985
People Moves
58. People Moves
November 20, 1985
Silhouettes
56. Silhouettes
November 18, 1985
Faces - Club Day
55. Faces - Club Day
November 15, 1985
Natural Design
51. Natural Design
November 11, 1985
Puppets - Club Day
50. Puppets - Club Day
November 08, 1985
Flying Bird - Club Day
40. Flying Bird - Club Day
October 25, 1985
Contraptions
38. Contraptions
October 23, 1985
Computer Color
37. Computer Color
October 22, 1985
Two-Headed Animal - Club Day
35. Two-Headed Animal - Club Day
October 18, 1985
Chain Power
34. Chain Power
October 17, 1985
Hot Dog Stand
33. Hot Dog Stand
October 16, 1985
City Art - Club Day
30. City Art - Club Day
October 11, 1985
Space Landing
29. Space Landing
October 10, 1985
Frog Family
27. Frog Family
October 08, 1985
Underground Village
26. Underground Village
October 07, 1985
Birthday Party - Club Day
25. Birthday Party - Club Day
October 04, 1985
Cake Decorations
24. Cake Decorations
October 03, 1985
Party Favors
23. Party Favors
October 02, 1985
Covered Cities - Club Day
20. Covered Cities - Club Day
September 27, 1985
Spaceships
18. Spaceships
September 25, 1985
Architecture
17. Architecture
September 24, 1985
Space Station - Platform
16. Space Station - Platform
September 23, 1985
Monorail - Club Day
15. Monorail - Club Day
September 20, 1985
Humanlike Hand Puppets
14. Humanlike Hand Puppets
September 19, 1985
Animal Hand Puppets
13. Animal Hand Puppets
September 18, 1985
US Log Line: How to create 3-D mazes.
Go Underground
12. Go Underground
September 17, 1985
Flip Book
11. Flip Book
September 16, 1985
Unibear - Club Day
10. Unibear - Club Day
September 13, 1985
Home
8. Home
September 11, 1985
US Log Line: Tips on drawing your home.
Optical Illusions
7. Optical Illusions
September 10, 1985
Moonbots - Club Day
5. Moonbots - Club Day
September 06, 1985
Observatory
4. Observatory
September 05, 1985
US Log Line: A segment on computer art. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #104: "Shooting Stars"
Mountains With Lids
3. Mountains With Lids
September 04, 1985
Flying Saucers
2. Flying Saucers
September 03, 1985
Moonscape Building
1. Moonscape Building
September 02, 1985
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.]
Description
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.
  • Premiere Date
    September 02, 1985
  • Rating
    6  (3)