Tribute to the Movies

Editor’s note: With Hollywood’s “Summer Blockbuster” season in full swing, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back at a movie-themed Illustrated article that appeared here awhile back. Enjoy.Though it started out as a novelty more than 100 years ago, cinema has become a major industry and cultural playground. Characters, actors, locations and everything about the silver screen quickly found its way into the mainstream of life. From lunch boxes to Halloween costumes and tennis shoes to toys, film icons began to pop up everywhere. Movie stars became heroes and fans just couldn’t get enough.It was pre-destined that tow trucks and wreckers would become popular proponents of movie magic. Consider Pixar’s 2006 animation hit, Cars. One of the main characters was a rustic old tow truck named “Mater,” voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. Within weeks of release, Mater’s grille was plastered everywhere on the planet in the culmination of a marketing dream. The adoring public couldn’t get enough of the little tow truck that could.Check out this Kenworth tandem-axel heavy-duty truck with Mater as the central theme. The airbrush artist nailed this comical character, hook, chain and thinker. From fender to fender, the theme around the little rusty truck is second to none. The flames are first rate and the gloss black background provides the perfect anchor to the illustration.Another tow truck coming out of the movies is the homage to Batman’s “Joker.” The artist captured the essence of the villain and at the same time paid tribute to actor Heath Ledger who brought the character to life in the 2008 film, The Dark Night.From Marilyn Monroe to The Incredible Hulk, movie maidens and monsters can become the centerpiece of any wrecker’s wrappings. And that’s a wrap on this week’s Tow Illustrated installment. Cut. Print.