The Mirage Factory

Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles

By: Gary Krist

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

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.

Very interesting and enjoyable!

I learned a lot from this book that I didn’t know and the narration and writing made for a very enjoyable day listening to this book straight thru which is something I rarely do. If your a fan of history then I think you would enjoy this book.

Fascinating!

An amazing intertwining of the several makor enterprises that created Los Angeles and the people who made it happen!

AMAZING BOOK

Somehow, this author wrote the most amazing history book that delves into the history of film, natural resources and religion of Los Angeles. I particularly loved how much he wrote about Aimee Semple McPherson - the evangelical Pentecostal minister who probably has more influence on southern California’s conservative religious population than you realize. The film stuff was so interesting and the water battles play out like a movie. I loved it all.

A great story about history

This book was pieced together so well it flowed from one topic to another. The research done to write this book was staggering. I really like the fact the story was told only on documented facts, no added impressions or guesses.

Transplanted to LA

As an immigrant to Los Angeles 50 years ago, I was knowledgeable enough about the three stars of this extravaganza but very ignorant of the specifics of the County, City, suburbs and history of the people & places & how they got to be what they have become in 2022. The fact that the DWP is still corrupt, that enough water for a growing community is an ever present problem & that pervasive racism still abounds is amazing. “Hollywood” now is more a concept than a specific place is also apparent.
I loved the story; the presentation is exquisite & the future is still cloudy. It is well written if a little bit jumpy from place to place & time period to time period.
I highly recommend this tome to everyone interested in this magnificent country of ours & specifically LALA LAND.