The TV Show The Prisoner was Based on Fact
Given the subject matter of the previous entry, I though I would celebrate with an un-edited extract from Secrets & Lies .
The TV Show The Prisoner was Based on Fact
Sometimes you can get away with revealing highly confidential information openly as long as you don’t tell people what you are showing them is classified. When it comes to revealing a secret to full public glare, no-one comes close to George Markstein.
Markstein had worked as a military correspondent during the start of the Cold War. Before moving into writing for television, he built up an incredible range of sources within the intelligence community. Through his contacts he heard about the ‘Mad Major’ – an ace British secret agent during World War II who was too much of an asset to kill but who had become too deranged be allowed to go back to occupied France.
The ‘Mad Major’ was taken to an establishment known as the ‘Cooler’ – a Scottish castle where he and other spies were to be held until the end of the war. Unfortunately, post-1945 some of them were then transferred to another facility for ‘prolonged secure retirement’.
Whilst working with Patrick McGoohan on the TV show Danger Man, Markstein told the star about the retirement home for spies and together they created the basis for the cult TV show The Prisoner – in which a British masterspy resigns and is taken to the mysterious Village where he is held against his will. Later, Markstein revealed even more about the ‘Mad Major’ in his best-selling novel entitled The Cooler.
Over the years research has shown that the original ‘Cooler’ was at Inverlair Lodge, in Inverness-shire, an establishment heavily guarded by the Cameron Highlanders during the war. In the early 1980s, Markstein would take close associates to his London gun club where a special firearm – a Walther PPK – was displayed. This gun had once belonged to the Mad Major himself.
Even 60 years after the end of the war, the full history of the ‘Cooler’ and the ‘Mad Major’ remain classified information. Given that some of the files have been categorised Maximum Burial – meaning they remain classified for 100 years – the secrets of the real life Village look set to be kept for some time to come.
The TV Show The Prisoner was Based on Fact
Sometimes you can get away with revealing highly confidential information openly as long as you don’t tell people what you are showing them is classified. When it comes to revealing a secret to full public glare, no-one comes close to George Markstein.
Markstein had worked as a military correspondent during the start of the Cold War. Before moving into writing for television, he built up an incredible range of sources within the intelligence community. Through his contacts he heard about the ‘Mad Major’ – an ace British secret agent during World War II who was too much of an asset to kill but who had become too deranged be allowed to go back to occupied France.
The ‘Mad Major’ was taken to an establishment known as the ‘Cooler’ – a Scottish castle where he and other spies were to be held until the end of the war. Unfortunately, post-1945 some of them were then transferred to another facility for ‘prolonged secure retirement’.
Whilst working with Patrick McGoohan on the TV show Danger Man, Markstein told the star about the retirement home for spies and together they created the basis for the cult TV show The Prisoner – in which a British masterspy resigns and is taken to the mysterious Village where he is held against his will. Later, Markstein revealed even more about the ‘Mad Major’ in his best-selling novel entitled The Cooler.
Over the years research has shown that the original ‘Cooler’ was at Inverlair Lodge, in Inverness-shire, an establishment heavily guarded by the Cameron Highlanders during the war. In the early 1980s, Markstein would take close associates to his London gun club where a special firearm – a Walther PPK – was displayed. This gun had once belonged to the Mad Major himself.
Even 60 years after the end of the war, the full history of the ‘Cooler’ and the ‘Mad Major’ remain classified information. Given that some of the files have been categorised Maximum Burial – meaning they remain classified for 100 years – the secrets of the real life Village look set to be kept for some time to come.
Labels: Secrets And Lies, The Prisoner
posted by David at 11:36 PM
4 Comments:
It's true, the best place to hid things is always in plain view. I've done it. People never take you seriously.. Either that, or they aren't paying attention.
It would be nice to know the secret...............
I never saw "The Prisoner." I will have to Tivo it.
You know the most interesting things David. I'm going to have to look this up and watch the movie. It's almost movie season.
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