How did McKeegan
get the idea for the Spee-Lunker Character?
A cave ride for Six Flags
Over Texas was rumored to be submitted by a park guest, so there would
be a ride to cool off in. The idea was almost thrown out as
this would be a boring ride. Angus Wynn, founder of Six Flags
saved the idea. His premise: Alien creatures from
another world crashed their spaceship on Earth and, not being able to
repair it, built their village in a cave. Randal Duell
(production designer) & Associates (who themed Six Flags)
designed the ride and hired Walter McKeegan (art director for
many 1960's TV shows) to design the Spee-Lunker character. He
was known for designing the sets for Petticoat Junction, The Beverly
Hillbillys, MASH and others, but no-one remembers him for creating
characters.
An e-mail a few
years ago from a relative of his (niece, great-niece, I think) was
doing genealogy research and did reveal that she knew a little of his
art director work and also revealed that earlier in his life, he made
furniture. My interest in veneer faces led me to find this
image on the 'net. Now, I am quite sure how McKeegan got his
inspiration for this unusual character. He must have had a
piece of veneer like this to build the Spee-Lunker character from!
© Barry Green
