The Mirage Factory : Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles

From bestselling author Gary Krist, the story of the metropolis that never should have been and the visionaries who dreamed it into reality Little more than a century ago, the southern coast of California--bone-dry, harbor-less, isolated by deserts and mountain ranges--seemed destined to remain scrappy farmland. Then, as if overnight, one of the world's iconic cities emerged. At the heart of Los Angeles' meteoric rise were three flawed visionaries: William Mulholland, an immigrant ditch-digger turned self-taught engineer, designed the massive aqueduct that would make urban life here possible. D.W. Griffith, who transformed the motion picture from a vaudeville-house novelty into a cornerstone of American culture, gave L.A. its signature industry. And Aimee Semple McPherson, a charismatic evangelist who founded a religion, cemented the city's identity as a center for spiritual exploration. All were masters of their craft, but also illusionists, of a kind. The images they conjured up--of a blossoming city in the desert, of a factory of celluloid dreamworks, of a community of seekers finding personal salvation under the California sun--were like mirages liable to evaporate on closer inspection. All three would pay a steep price to realize these dreams, in a crescendo of hubris, scandal, and catastrophic failure of design that threatened to topple each of their personal empires. Yet when the dust settled, the mirage that was LA remained. Spanning the years from 1900 to 1930, The Mirage Factory is the enthralling tale of an improbable city and the people who willed it into existence by pushing the limits of human engineering and imagination The Story Of The Metropolis That Never Should Have Been And The Visionaries Who Dreamed It Into Reality. Little More Than A Century Ago, The Southern Coast Of California--bone-dry, Harborless, Isolated By Deserts And Mountain Ranges--seemed Destined To Remain Scrappy Farmland. Then, As If Overnight, One Of The World's Iconic Cities Emerged. At The Heart Of Los Angeles's Meteoric Rise Were Three Flawed Visionaries: William Mulholland, An Immigrant Ditchdigger Turned Self-taught Engineer, Who Designed The Massive Aqueduct That Would Make Urban Life There Possible; D.w. Griffith, Who Transformed The Motion Picture From A Vaudeville-house Novelty Into A Cornerstone Of American Culture And Gave L.a. Its Signature Industry; And Aimee Semple Mcpherson, A Charismatic Evangelist Who Founded A Religion And Cemented The City's Identity As A Center For Spiritual Exploration. All Were Masters Of Their Craft, But Also Illusionists Of A Kind. The Images They Conjured Up--of A Blossoming City In The Desert, Of A Factory Of Celluloid Dream-works, Of A Community Of Seekers Attaining Personal Salvation Under The California Sun--were Like Mirages Liable To Evaporate On Closer Inspection. To Realize These Dreams, All Three Would Have To Pay A Steep Price In A Crescendo Of Hubris, Scandal, And Catastrophic Failure Of Design That Threatened To Topple Each Of Their Personal Empires. Yet When The Dust Settled, The Mirage That Was La Remained. Spanning The Years From 1900 To 1930, The Mirage Factory Is The Enthralling Tale Of An Improbable City And The People Who Willed It Into Existence By Pushing The Limits Of Human Engineering And Imagination.--jacket. Prologue: An Echo Of Dynamite ; Implausible City -- A Thirsty Place -- Alternate Realities -- Stories In Light And Shadow -- On Location -- A River Now Is Here -- The Birth Of An Industry -- Water And Celluloid -- Epic Times -- One Million Souls To Save -- A Drinking Problem -- Scandals In Bohemia -- Jesus, Jesus All The Day Long -- Thunder In The Valley -- A Sound Proposition -- The Missing Saint -- A Silent Twilight -- A Perfect Disaster -- Epilogue: World City. Gary Krist. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 307-381) And Index. "A vivid account of the creation of modern Los Angeles, a city born from the fantasies of strong-willed visionaries, from bestselling author and masterful storyteller Gary Krist. Little more than a century ago, the southern coast of California was sleepy semi-desert farmland. Then, as if overnight, one of the world's largest and most iconic cities emerged. At the heart of the seemingly impossible, meteoric rise of Los Angeles were the visions of three ingenious but deeply flawed people. William Mulholland, an immigrant ditch-digger turned self-taught engineer, designed the massive aqueduct that would make urban life possible in this water-starved corner of the country. D.W. Griffith, who virtually invented the basic grammar of moviemaking, would give Los Angeles the industry it needed to grow. And Aimee Semple McPherson, a young evangelist, faith healer, and radio preacher, would provide the city with its identity as a worldwide center for spiritual realization and reinvention. They were all masters of their craft--and each would self-destruct in spectacular fashion. Blinded by hubris, crucified in the tabloids, and confronted by literal, catastrophic failure of design, Mulholland, Griffith and McPherson would see their personal empires crumble even as the one they built collectively came into its own. Spanning the years from 1900 to 1930, The Mirage Factory is the enthralling tale of an improbable city and the people who willed it into existence by pushing the limits of human engineering and imagination"-- Provided by publisher