Skip to content
sanairambiente

sanairambiente

Science It Works

Primary Menu
  • Science & Education
  • Education Management
  • Smart Education
  • Education Games
  • Science Logic
  • Science Fiction
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Home
  • Aurora’s forgotten scandal that played a role in an international crisis
  • Science Fiction

Aurora’s forgotten scandal that played a role in an international crisis

By Joan S. Reed 3 years ago

What does a failed multi-million project in the City of Aurora have to do with the Iran hostage crisis? Despite the thousands of miles of separation, there’s a key connection between the two events that some might find a bit of science fiction, but rest assured there’s nothing fictitious about what actually happened in Aurora in the late 1970s.

Complete with a jet-powered rapid transit system, robot workers, and multiple high-rise structures, it was going to be the biggest theme park in the world and bring millions of tourists and tax dollars to Aurora. That was the promise Hollywood producer Jerry Schafer made to the city in 1979. But of course, that never came to be, and Schafer found himself facing criminal charges when the whole thing fell apart.

Science Fiction Land was to be the name of the 1,000-acre theme park planned for an area of land just south of Interstate 70 and east of South Picadilly Road in what was then Arapahoe County but is now within the city limits of Aurora. The park was announced in late 1979 and was to be used as a set for a $50 million movie to be shot there before it opened to the public.

Schafer promised a lot, making fantastical claims in an interview with The Denver Post on Nov. 13, 1979. The tone of the article seemingly conveyed that the project was too far out of this world, foreshadowing what would eventually become glaringly obvious.

science fiction land.png

Denver Public Library.

Historical photos from the archives of the Aurora History Museum. A copy of the original artist’s conceptual drawing of Science Fiction Land in Aurora circa 1979.

Schafer told the Post Science Fiction Land would offer:

– More than 2,000 hotel rooms
– A 38-story Ferris wheel
– Three 10-story statues depicting characters from “Lord of Light” with restaurants inside
– An attraction where park-goers could experience weightlessness inside a cube held by a giant hand
– A 30-story structure that would contain a 1,000-lane bowling alley with robot workers
– Streams where guests could fish for trout
– Park employees on jet packs
– Laser holograms that would be projected throughout the park
– Boat rides that would turn into submarines

The movie the park was being built as a set for, “Lord of Light,” is based on a science fantasy novel by Roger Zelazny. Published in 1968, the novel received several awards and is set in the future on a strange planet. The movie version of Lord of Light was to be shot entirely on the grounds of Science Fiction Land.

In the 1979 Denver Post article, Schafer told the newspaper that Lord of Light “will have the largest budget of any motion picture in history.” Comic book artist Jack Kirby, one of the creators of Captain America, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, was contracted to design the permanent sets. Other big names in the industry, including Ray Bradbury, were asked to be part of the project.

“Lord of Light” was never made, but parts of the unfinished project helped resolve a simultaneous dilemma going on halfway around the globe. On Nov. 4, 1979, Iranian college students in Tehran stormed the US embassy and took 52 American diplomats hostage. But six American diplomats managed to evade capture, taking refuge at British and Canadian diplomat facilities.

A joint American and Canadian covert rescue mission was soon launched to get the six Americans out of Iran. The “Canadian Caper” was the name of the mission and involved CIA agents posing as Canadian movie producers who flew to Iran to scout locations for an upcoming movie, “Argo.” The script they used to convince Iranian authorities that the mission was legitimate was the script for the never-made movie “Lord of Light.”

Iran Hostage Crisis Leaders Regrets

GG/AP

FILE – In this Nov. 5, 1979, file photo, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, left, a representative of the Iranian students who stormed the U.S. Embassy on Nov. 4, holds up a portrait of one of the blindfolded hostages, during a news conference in the embassy in Tehran. Posters of the Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini adorn the wall. The man at right is unidentified. Speaking to The Associated Press ahead of the 40th anniversary of the attack, Asgharzadeh acknowledged that the repercussions of the crisis still reverberate as tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s collapsing nuclear deal with world powers. (AP Photo/File)

The mission was successful and the six diplomats, along with the two CIA agents posing as Canadian movie producers, managed to escape Iran on a SwissAir flight on Jan. 27, 1980. The 52 American diplomats being held at the embassy were released about a year later on Jan. 20, 1981.

By the time the hostage crisis came to an end, Aurora was well aware of the alleged scam being perpetrated by the real Hollywood producers that rolled into town a year earlier. But not before money exchanged hands and the wheels of bureaucracy began turning.

More than $2 million was put down on the piece of land that was to become Science Fiction Land. According to a Dec. 6, 1979, Denver Post article, Schafer said he purchased the land from rancher Earl Meairs. He also obtained water rights from the San Luis Valley.

Schafer told the newspaper that he was going to sell lots next to the proposed park to finance the project. But before the water began running and the lots put up for sale, the “science fiction” part of the proposed Science Fiction Land started to stand out.

james hammer.png

Denver Public Library-Rocky Mountain News

Jerry Schafer (L), Science Fiction Land promoter. His attorney (R) James L. Hammer.

On Dec. 13, 1979 – just days after touting the land’s purchase and water rights for the proposed theme park – Schafer and his boss, Barry Geller, were arrested and charged with violating laws regulating securities in Colorado. Authorities became suspicious of the project after Schafer’s glowing claims in local media, according to the Denver Post article.

Investigators were also looking into the actions of city and county officials surrounding the project, some of whom were charged in connection with the investigation.

Shafer was eventually convicted and given probation in 1980. Others caught up in the scheme saw their charges dropped, and the Science Fiction Land scandal appeared to have dropped from the memories of many in the community. Although “Lord of Light” never made it to the big screen, a television series is reportedly under development, according to IMDB.

Although the movie makes no mention of the Colorado connection, the 2012 film “Argo” was based on the covert CIA operation that rescued the six American diplomats. The movie is currently streaming on Netflix.

Tags: Arizona Education Pay Bill, Best County For Education, Definition Of Consumer Health Education, Distance Education Kerala University, Elementary Education Games Apps, Elementary Education Terms, Elementary Education Uri Advisor, Female Education In 17th Century, Galaxy Erp Construction Education, Gcep Online Education, Gear And Mechanics Education Kit, Higher Education Council Oman, Jacob Lawrence Education Paintings, Jay Inslee On Education, Legal Education Logo, Macro Planning In Education, Masters In Education In Italy, Miles Bridges Education, Minor In Education Cornell, Minor In Education Ohio University, Minority Predoctoral Fellowship Education, Mission House Museum Education, Mn Dnr Advanced Hunter Education, National Institute Of Education Logo, Nc Center For Biotechnology Education, Neuroscience Education Researchers, Non-Education Field, Outdoor Toddler Education, Riverside Office Of Education Calendar, Room Scheduling Software Education, School Lunch Program Education, Site:Cherylkagan.Org Education Resources, Special Education Severe Sc5, The Importance Of Arts Education, Theoretical Framework Example Education, Timeline Of Gt Education, Title Ix In College Education, Training And Continuing Education Systems, Transportation Education Project, True Education Manga 11, Uiuc Science Education Faculty, Unesco Internships Newyork Education, University Of Oregon Education Job, Urban Education Franco, Us Labour College Education Employed, Utah Alternaive Education Conference, Utep Scholarship For Elementary Education, What Was Bruce Lee'S Education, Withdrawing Money From Education Ira, Zenith Education Chicago

Continue Reading

Previous ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ Hindi release cancelled
Next CTOC promotes Olympic education at University and College Athletic Games
June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

Archives

Recent Posts

  • CIPD Level 5: The Next Step for Ambitious HR Professionals
  • 5 Ways to Apply Data Science to Your Social Media
  • Role of a Lego Serious Play Facilitator
  • Small Steps, Big Splashes: How Kids Swimming Lessons in Singapore Are Changing Lives
  • Comprehensive Guide to Selecting Your Future Career Path

Fiverr

Fiverr Logo   

BL

Tags

"Fast Company" Education Ada Ucsb Education Additional Multicultural Education Alternative Education El Centro Ca Arts Education Network Sonoma County Arts In Education Advocacy Groups Bilingual Education And Parcc Scores Bond County Special Education Cooperative Business California And Oregon General Education Cbc Education Marybeth Child Benefit Still In Education City Of Scottsdale Education Discussing Education In Cover Letter Disinfect Toothbrush Education Document Management Service For Education education Forms Of Social Justice Education Gamer Gate Education Refor. Gender And Education United States Georgian Court Education Department Gerorge Bush Education Globe Feron Education Good Will Hunting Quotes Education Google Scholar Architecture And Education Graduate Medical Education Accreditation Grants For College Education Grant Writing Process For Education Heartland.Org Ten Principles Higher Education Hospital Bill For Patient Education Industrial Revolution Compulsory Education Interventions For Education Inventory Of Climate Education Template Kkn Education Abriviation Lementry Education Cost Fee Newborn Nursery Nurse Education Programs New Frontiers In Education New Oriental Education Students Struggle Njdoe Driver Education Certification License Pa Special Education Reports Role Of Internet In Education Rtl Education Planning For Preschoolers science Software Education Online Udemy Spain Tertiary Education Data

Partner Links

dsimpson6thomsoncooper
stewartowens

bp

backlinkplacement.com

carrisen
tourmaxx
sanairambiente.com | Magazine 7 by AF themes.

WhatsApp us