Lexington Filmmaker’s ‘Ghost Army’ to Ride Again in Salem

After overwhelming response to the premiere screening, the Salem Film Festival has added a second showing of Rick Beyer’s ‘Ghost Army.’

  It was around this time last year—a few weeks earlier, if we’re being honest—that Lexington filmmaker Rick Beyer brought inflatable tanks, vintage photographs and other decades-old artifacts to Lexington Depot as a local promotion for his then-in-the-works documentary project on the Ghost Army. A WWII unit full of artists specializing in deception, the Ghost Army crisscrossed the European Theatre in an effort to dupe the Germans and save lives. Beyer first heard about the so-called Ghost Army about eight years ago; last year, he was in a final state of fundraising and hoping to get his documentary onto PBS or some other venue. Part of that effort included an exhibit at the Lexington Depot, followed by a surreal and hilariously one-of-a-…

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Past Blasts Prank Tank in April Fool's Faceoff (PHOTOS)

In an only-in-Lexington April Fool's Day prank for the ages, inflatable armored forces supplemented colonial firepower at rehearsal for Patriots' Day 2012 on the Battle Green.

The following recap was provided by Marilyn Rea Beyer. It was a covert operation employing a time-honored military tactic – the element of surprise. On the Battle Green this past Sunday, Lexington Militia Capt. Bill Mix gave orders to Lexington militia man Bruce Leader, and Andrew Coots of Gardner’s Charleston Militia, to commandeer two inflatable rubber Sherman tanks in order to startle and befuddle His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot as a practice battle ensued on Lexington Green on Sunday, April 1. And just as the King’s Troops Commander, Paul O’Shaughnessy blustered and bellowed for the rabble from Lexington to “Lay down your arms and disperse!” the unified local forces shouted a unison rejoinder, “Oh, yeah?” Tom Fortmann, Rick Beyer, …

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Week in Review: Feb. 26 to March 3

A look back at the week that was in Lexington.

Hot-button issues and cold-weather complications grabbed headlines this week in Lexington. After the two-alarm fire that tore through a Vaille Avenue home on Sunday night, that is. The Board of Selectmen on Monday heard LexFarm’s alternative to LexHAB’s affordable housing plans for the Busa Farms property and resolved to decide on uses for the town-owed farmland at its meeting tomorrow, March 5. Before that discussion, the selectmen hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the official opening of an electric vehicle charging station in Lexington Center.  On Wednesday, the Planning Board held a public hearing relative to a request to rezone the Dana Home and an adjacent property on Mass Ave to allow for their redevelopment as a hotel …

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Get Out

Five Things To Do This Weekend: March 2 to 4

A look at what's going on this weekend in and around Lexington.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do this weekend. Lexington Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities you'll want to take part in this weekend in Lexington and beyond. 1. Ghost Army of WWII - 1-Day Exhibit Where/When: Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square; 12 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 3 Why Go: View original wartime artworks by Ghost Army soldiers (pictured), wartime artifacts, photos, and video from an in-progress documentary film, seven years in the making. WWII re-enactors will also be on hand. It's a benefit for Lexington resident Rick Beyer's independent film honoring the brave and creative men of The Ghost Army. Pricing: $5 2. Estabrook …

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WWII’s Ghost Army Revealed in Lexington

Learn about the American GIs who duped Hitler's army at next weekend’s one-day exhibit to benefit Lexington resident Rick Beyer's independent film honoring the brave and creative men behind the ‘Ghost Army.’

For the past seven years, Lexington filmmaker Rick Beyer has been working on a documentary film about a unit the Army called the 3rd Headquarters Special Troops, but which came to be known as the Ghost Army. Next weekend, he’ll bring that story home for an exhibit/benefit at the Lexington Depot to promote his independent documentary, “The Ghost Army” and the accompanying book he co-authored with Elizabeth Sayles. From 12 to 6 p.m., next Saturday, March 3, Beyer and video from the in-progress film with be at the Depot, along with original wartime artifacts and artworks by Ghost Army soldiers, including Arthur Singer and Arthur Shilstone. The unit also included fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellswroth Kelley and rock photog Art Kane. …

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Marilyn Rea Beyer

6:31 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012

Hello, Gresh: The Friday, March 2, "gala" fundraiser is most certainly still on! We'll be showing the rough cut of the film. As Patrick notes, you can email exhibit@ghostarmy.org or call 781-801-3261. Tickets to the Friday evening event are $75/person. Checks made payable to Center for Independent documentary. Hope to hear from you! Best wishes, Rick & Marilyn Beyer   more ›