The Secret City (1985)
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.
📺 Seasons & Episodes
Season 165 episodes
1. Moonscape Building
⏱ 27 minUS 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
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
3. Mountains With Lids
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
4. Observatory
⏱ 27 minUS Log Line: A segment on computer art. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #104: "Shooting Stars"
5. Moonbots - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
6. Robot
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
7. Optical Illusions
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
8. Home
⏱ 27 minUS Log Line: Tips on drawing your home.
9. Animation
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
10. Unibear - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
11. Flip Book
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
12. Go Underground
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
13. Animal Hand Puppets
⏱ 27 minUS Log Line: How to create 3-D mazes.
14. Humanlike Hand Puppets
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
15. Monorail - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
16. Space Station - Platform
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
17. Architecture
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
18. Spaceships
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
19. Castles
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
20. Covered Cities - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
21. SHOW: 21
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
22. Masks
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
23. Party Favors
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
24. Cake Decorations
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
25. Birthday Party - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
26. Underground Village
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
27. Frog Family
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
28. Skylines
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
29. Space Landing
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
30. City Art - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
31. Flags
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
32. Fences
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
33. Hot Dog Stand
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
34. Chain Power
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
35. Two-Headed Animal - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
36. Coloring
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
37. Computer Color
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
38. Contraptions
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
39. SHOW: 39
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
40. Flying Bird - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
41. SHOW: 41
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
42. SHOW: 42
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
43. SHOW: 43
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
44. SHOW: 44
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
45. SHOW: 45
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
46. SHOW: 46
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
47. SHOW: 47
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
48. SHOW: 48
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
49. SHOW: 49
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
50. Puppets - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
51. Natural Design
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
52. Columns
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
53. Stripes
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
54. People
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
55. Faces - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
56. Silhouettes
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
57. Disguises
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
58. People Moves
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
59. Spots
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
60. Lettering - Club Day
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
61. Igloo
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
62. Wishing Well
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
63. Flying Animals
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
64. Airplanes
⏱ 27 minNo description available.
65. Cartooning - Club Day
⏱ 27 minUS 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."}
