Published in the Los Angeles Times, “Preserving Films’ Illusions” follows the Art Directors Guild Backdrop Recovery Project and its mission to preserve Hollywood’s painted scenic backdrops. Journalist Mary McNamara interviews production designer Thomas A. Walsh, scenic artist and educator Karen Maness, and J.C. Backings president Lynne Coakley. Together, they explain how preservation efforts saved hundreds of historic backdrops from being discarded.

The article also explores how scenic artists transformed studio sets into cities, landscapes, castles, and imagined worlds long before digital visual effects. In addition, it traces the history of J.C. Backings, the Coakley family’s role in scenic art, and the evolution of backdrop rentals as filmmaking technology changed.

The Backdrop Recovery Project

Thomas A. Walsh founded the Art Directors Guild Backdrop Recovery Project to identify, document, and preserve surviving Hollywood backdrops. Working alongside Karen Maness, Lynne Coakley, and many volunteers, the project cataloged more than 200 historic paintings and placed them with museums, universities, and cultural institutions. The University of Texas at Austin received dozens of backdrops, where Maness uses them to teach scenic painting, design, and Hollywood history.

The article highlights backdrops from Singin’ in the Rain, Forbidden Planet, Marie Antoinette, The Shoes of the Fisherman, The Sound of Music, North by Northwest, and Ben-Hur. Throughout the feature, McNamara emphasizes that these paintings represent both significant works of art and irreplaceable pieces of Hollywood history.

Read the Article

Read the complete Los Angeles Times feature to learn how scenic artists created Hollywood’s painted worlds and how preservation efforts continue to protect these remarkable works for future generations. Then, discover how preservation efforts continue to protect these remarkable works for future generations. Finally, explore the Hollywood Backdrop Collection to learn more about the artists, preserved backdrops, and educational programs featured in the article.