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CSPAN Q&A with Rick Beyer

Filmmaker and author Rick Beyer talked about the U.S. Army’s creation of a “Ghost Army” to deceive the Germans during World War II. The 1,100-man unit used inflatable rubber tanks, sound effects, fake radio transmissions, and performance art to fool the Germans into miscalculating the strength and location of American troops.

A top secret 'Ghost Army' of artist-soldiers fooled Hitler’s troops.

“(The Army was) looking for ways to give the Americans an advantage once they hit the beach,” Beyer said. “We’re going to be there, we’re going to be fighting in Europe and we’re going up against the Nazis, and they’re really great soldiers and what can we do to give our men every advantage?” The answer was a multimedia tactical deception unit set up to fool the eyes and ears of Nazis and their sympathizers.
– William Lee

Ghost Army of WWII: An incredible, secret story of wartime deception

The secret exploits of the Ghost Army – a special Allied Army tactical unit that waged wartime deception with inflatable tanks, audio and radio cover and more — escaped history for nearly 50 years after World War II. Now, author and documentarian Rick Beyer is doing his best to share the incredible story of the unconventional and heroic unit.

Rivals Unto Death: The Hamilton Burr Story You Thought You Knew

If you love reading about history but you don’t have the next three weeks free for a David McCullough tome, instead give Rick Beyer‘s latest book a try. Rivals Unto Death: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is less than 200 pages in length, and that includes the epilogue, acknowledgments, and a cast of characters section. So how is it that Beyer’s little book is not a historical lightweight? One word: focus.
– Steven John

Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, Andrew Lazar Tackle WWII Tale ‘Ghost Army’

Warner Bros has acquired rights to tell the story of Ghost Army, a squadron of recruits from art schools, ad agencies and other creative businesses who were tasked with fooling the Nazis into thinking the U.S. had larger troop numbers than it actually did. Bradley Cooper & Todd Phillips’ 22 & Green are teaming with Andrew Lazar, who just teamed with Cooper on American Sniper.

The old tavern debate: Which town fired first?

It took decades for the bickering to subside over whether Lexington or Concord had the bragging rights as the true birthplace of the Revolutionary War. But the skirmish may not be over just yet.
– Brock Parker, Boston Globe Photo by John Tlumacki

Ghost Army of WWII: An incredible, secret story of wartime deception

The secret exploits of the Ghost Army – a special Allied Army tactical unit that waged wartime deception with inflatable tanks, audio and radio cover and more — escaped history for nearly 50 years after World War II. Now, author and documentarian Rick Beyer is doing his best to share the incredible story of the unconventional and heroic unit.

World War II "Ghost Army" used decoy art to dupe the Nazis

Eighty-eight-year old Jack Masey's army job during World War II was to blow things up. But not the way one might think.
– Jim Axerod, CBS News

'The Ghost Army' Mesmerizing doc

Rick Beyer's mesmerizing documentary "The Ghost Army"...a kind of World War II version of "Argo.
– Dave Wiegand

Behind the music: M&Ms, astrophysics and the Post-It note

An effortless summer read for the music lover.
– Maggie Galehouse Book Editor, Houston Chronicle

Mining Nuggets of Music History

Rick Beyer has always been intrigued by the little-known anecdotes that his research turns up.
— – Nancy Shohet West, Boston Globe, Globe West

The Greatest Science Stories Never Told

True stories about scientists show that the path to innovation is rarely straight-forward.

Science Stories Untold

Lexington author Rick Beyer  attributes his lifelong interest in science and history to his father, the late Robert T. Beyer, a physicist who loved reading about the Civil War. Beyer combines these passions in his latest book, "The Greatest Science Stories Never Told: 100 Tales of Invention and Discovery to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy.''
– Cindy Cantrell

'First Shot' premieres at the Flick

"Rick is a creative filmmaker, a wonderful historical interpreter, and he knows Lexington's story inside and out," said Susan Bennett, executive director of the Lexington Historical Society.
– Lexington Minuteman

Now you tell us:

Just when we were certain that we knew everything about everything, Rick Beyer comes along and ruins it.
— – C. Mark Brinkley

'The Wright Challenge' soars through history

Where "The Wright Challenge" really soars is in transmitting the lunatic enthusiasm and sweaty devotion of the aviation geek. It's about something we all can understand — overcoming boundaries.
– Kaye McFadden

Historical tidbits that will whet your appetite

This little book is like an old-fashioned sweet shop, full of tasty morsels.
– Elizabeth Taylor, literary editor