The evolution of the TV talk show set only lightly mirrors design changes that were going on in the rest of the world at the time. Plaids, bold colors, African tribal prints, rubber plants–whatever was happening at the world outside migrated into the studio set. But for the most part, these are not meant to be real. They are surreal environments, where everyone sits facing one direction. Where one man has a desk yet no one else does. Where the person in the chair closest to that man’s desk is the favored one, and everyone else is pretty much ignored. This is the world of the TV talk show.
Fake cities exist for many reasons: training, propaganda, subterfuge, filming, tourism. Few are meant to be 100% realistic, but some are definitely more realistic than others. Here are our top most realistic fake cities, current and past. Fake cities designed to pull in tourists are left off this list (except for one notable exception in Wales).
Hogan’s Alley: FBI’s Fake Training City
Hogan’s Alley, FBI Training Academy
It’s Faking: Any generic small town in the U.S.
It’s Really: A tactical training facility located at the FBI Academy, Quantico, VA
How Realistic? Very realistic, though a bit outdated now, with movie theaters and phone booths a rarity on the American landscape now.
Details: Tactical training fake cities tend to be light on realism and details. Trainees just need the basic physical elements blocked out for them–streets, storefronts, doors, halls, and alleys. Realistic signage and other real-world details tend to go by the wayside. Surprisingly, the FBI’s Hogan’s Alley training facility is heavy on detail, with small-town features like a coin-op laundry, bank (Bank of Hogan), hotel (Dogwood Inn), movie theater (Biograph Theater, where John Dillinger was taken down by the FBI in 1934), and row houses.
It’s Faking: A quiet, peaceful, orderly North Korean village.
It’s Really: An unoccupied set of buildings located in North Korea, within the DMZ, apparently meant to spread propaganda and to create an illusion of North Korean prosperity.
How Realistic? Very realistic in the sense that these are real buildings that could be occupied. Unrealistic in the sense that they are occupied by only 200 people (if that).
Details: Controlled by North Korea, Kijong-dong is marooned within the DMZ between South and North Korea. In a U.S. Army publication, Susan Silpasornprasit says
The village maintained by the North (“Propaganda Village”) appears to be merely a facade–mirage of prosperity. No residents have been spotted in its streets. People periodically turn the lights on and off in the buildings and sweep the sidewalks to keep up the ruse. Although, the village keepers apparently forgot to install glass in the windows.
Operation Camouflage: Lockheed’s Fake City on Top of Its Burbank Plant
Lockheed Burbank Plant Operation Camouflage
It’s Faking: “An ordinary California suburb,” according to Lockheed’s official statement. More accurately, tiny hamlets spread out across an American rural landscape.
It’s Really: Lockheed’s Burbank, CA airplane manufacturing plant.
How Realistic? Realistic enough from a 5,000 ft. altitude to pass. From the ground, not realistic at all.
Details: In a departure from the usual city-built-on-ground type of thing, which is the way most cities–real or fake–are built, is one of the more extraordinary World War II camouflage efforts. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 and Lockheed went into full production, they also needed to hide their extensive Los Angeles area facilities from enemy attack. Col. John F. Ohmer, stationed at March Field, near Moreno Valley, CA, was asked to oversee camouflaging of the entire Burbank plant. Giant expanses of camouflage netting was nothing new, but acres of it certainly was. To add to the realism, fences, fake trees, barns, meandering country roads, and even clotheslines were added to the top of the netting.
It’s Really: A “dementia village” in Weesp, Netherlands.
How Realistic? Very realistic, since it is a functioning “town” for Alzheimer’s patients.
Details: In Dutch, A weyk or wijk being a group of houses, similar to a village. Hogewyck has, according to its site, “streets, squares, gardens and a park where the residents can safely roam free. Just like any other village Hogeweyk offers a selection of facilities, like a restaurant, a bar and a theatre.”
James J. Rowley Training Center: Urban Fakery for U.S. Secret Service
James J. Rowley Training Facility Beltsville MD 2017
It’s Faking: An urban street with three story buildings and a replica White House
It’s Really: A training facility for Secret Service in the Beltsville/Laurel area of Southern Maryland.
How Realistic? The White House replica portion is hardly realistic at all, plus it only covers the southern side of the White House. The urban street is not highly detailed.
Details: This replica was built in 1982 at a cost of $381,000, roughly the same as it cost to build the original White House. Plans included a Blair House, too. But judging from the photographs, this was never built.
Depicting a harsh and dystopian world (at least for the humans), “Planet of the Apes” has become an unlikely film franchise spanning over half a century. The original “Apes” from 1968 has some of the most fantastical, caveman-chic sets of any of the films. Art Directors William Creber and Jack Martin Smith were charged with the difficult task of building an entire futuristic world while limited by the budget of the first in an unknown, untested yet-to-be movie franchise.
Forbidden Zone
Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Forbidden Zone – Mentor Huebner
Ape Village
Planet of the Apes Village Set
As a result of the film’s lower budget, the centerpiece of the film, Ape Village, was filmed at 20th Century Fox’s movie ranch (now Malibu Creek State Park) less than an hour from its Century City studio. Except for a wide establishing shot (below) that shows just how small the set was, all other shots were kept tight and low by director Franklin J. Schaffner to disguise its tiny stature. Used also for “The Left Hand of God” with Humphrey Bogart the lake was dredged and enlarged by Fox over its early years of ownership.
Concept Sketch of Ape Village
Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Ape Village – Mentor Huebner
Mentor Huebner depicted a Gaudi world of craggy, skull-like buildings carved from stone.
Buildings Surrounding the Village
Planet of the Apes Set Surrounding Village
To give Ape Village a greater sense of size, additional buildings were constructed on the hills surrounding the town. Forced perspective likely was used to make the buildings look larger and farther away than they really were.
Stone Sky Bridge
Planet of the Apes Village Bridge Set
Amphitheater
Planet of the Apes Set Amphitheater
Church and Unique Circular Room Divider
Planet of the Apes Set Church and Circular Room Divider
The Apes’ church was enclosed by a semi-circular room divider made of stacked stones.
Museum of Man
Planet of the Apes Set Museum Interior
Hallway
Planet of the Apes Set Hallway
Another Hallway
Planet of the Apes Set Hallway
Courtroom
Planet of the Apes Set Courtroom
Courtroom Room Divider
Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 1Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 2 Close Up
The Tiki Torch is both older and newer than you might think. It’s newer in the sense that the tiki torch–or let’s use the brand name, Tiki Torch–burning in your backyard, the bamboo kind with a reservoir filled with petroleum-based fuel, has no basis in true Polynesian history. It’s older in the sense that those torches you see every spring and summer at Home Depot or Lowe’s go back to the 1950s.
Tiki Torch Original Package and Artwork
Summary
Tiki Torch is a brand name currently owned by Lamplight Farms, Inc., a “leisure and lifestyle brands” company.
Its initial MSRP was $4.99. Many Tiki Torch brand torches today cost around that same amount.
Tiki Torch was originally produced in Belgium, Wisconsin.
The 1947 voyage of Kon-Tiki was the basis for the word “tiki.”
1956 was Tiki Torch’s first year, but it was a slow one, with products only being sold in the Los Angeles area.
Between 1957 and 1960 were Tiki Torch’s biggest years before interest began to wane.
1956: The Torch Is Lit
The word tiki is ambiguous, but it likely stems from the 1947 Thor Heyerdahl expedition of the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki. The point was to prove the theory that Polynesia was settled by South Americans. Heyerdahl derived the name from the Incan god Viracocha, also spelled Con-Tici or Kon-Tiki.
The Birthplace of Mid-Century Modern Polynesian Popular Culture: Wisconsin
600 Park Street Belgium WI Original Location of Tiki Torch
In 1956, Tiki Torches began to be produced in the most un-Polynesia of all places: Belgium, Wisconsin. The original location–600 Park Street–is now occupied by Holiday Trims, Inc.
In June 1956, the first Tiki Torches began to be sold around the Los Angeles, CA area for $4.99 per torch and $0.99 for a quart of the safety fuel. It was a slow start for Tiki Torch, with products sold only in the L.A. area that first summer.
Surprisingly enough, the bamboo poles and reed housings that we are familiar with today were not present at that time. The original Tiki Torches were constructed of 100% aluminum, in Antique Copper, Antique Brass, and Satin Ebony finishes. The poles came in separate sections that were fitted together to form a single 6 ft. pole. From an ad:
Enjoy the decorative mood set by this new lighting. This smart-looking TIKI TORCH will keep away annoying insects while adding a touch of scenic glamour that is reminiscent of the enchantment of the South Seas. “Welcome, have fun…” that’s what your TIKI TORCH will say to friends who call…
By the end of summer 1956, LA-based pharmacy Thrifty had slashed the price by a dollar. By September, Tiki Torches had pretty much disappeared from stores for that summer season.
It wasn’t until December 25, 1956 that Tiki got around to filing the trademark on the name Tiki Torch.
In the 1960s, Interest Wanes
Next summer, Tiki Torches began to be sold across the United States. That $4.99 MSRP held firm for about three years, until interest began to wane around. By 1960, Tiki Torches could be scooped up for as little as $0.99 in some California stores.
Other brands, such as NOMA Luau Torches, Tonga Torches, Mai Kai Torches, and Tropic Torches, began to dilute the market, as well.
Tiki Torches and tiki culture in general were moribund through the period 1965 to 2003. Interest in mid-century modern Polynesian culture rose again in the mid 2000s when Sven A. Kirsten published the Taschen book The Book of Tiki. The Mad Men series also helped contribute to this mid-2010s interest in Polynesian pop culture, especially in Season 6, when Don and Megan go to Hawaii.
Tiki Torch Advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, July 2, 1961
Everyone loves the actual Eiffel Tower so much, some builders have found it worthwhile to build Eiffel Tower replicas. This iron structure is found in replica form all around the world. Eiffel Tower’s monumental 984 foot height has not even been closely matched by any of the replicas. However, there are sizes ranging from a puny 1:16 to the impressive 1:2 (half-scale) replica in Las Vegas.
Eiffel Tower vs. Replica Eiffel Towers by Height
Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Replica
Paris Las Vegas Replica Eiffel Tower
Scale: Over 1:2
Height: 540 feet
Why So Great: Paris Las Vegas’ sheer height makes it the best replica on the planet.
Why You’ll Never Be Fooled It’s the Real Thing: The great aspect that contributes to the visual appeal of the real Eiffel Tower is that it is on its own, with no competing elements. By contrast, Paris Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower gets lost in the clutter of the hotel and casino buildings behind it. Not only that, half of the tower (the back two legs) rest inside the casino buildings.
About It: At 46 stories high, Paris Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower replica is available for touring to the general public. Tickets for The Eiffel Tower Experience cost between $16 and $22.
Tianducheng, China
Tianducheng China Eiffel Tower Replica
Scale: 1:3
Height: 354 feet
Why So Great: The Tianducheng Eiffel Tower replica is the only one in the world that is couched within a reasonable replica of Paris itself.
Why You’ll Never Be Fooled It’s the Real Thing: For now, Tianducheng is a ghost town, awaiting a population that may never come.
About It: Located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Window of the World Eiffel Tower
Schenzen Window of the World Eiffel Tower Replica
Scale: 1:3
Height: About 328 feet
Why So Great: Like the Tianducheng Eiffel Tower, this one is an impressive 1/3rd the size of the real thing. It also helps that this tower is on the grounds of a large themepark, Winddow of the World.
