Aurora’s plans for the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Museum are not dead, reports City Councilwoman Nadine Caldwell. They’re just in limbo.
Still, Caldwell admits, “It would take a massive effort to break through.”
Not as massive as the effort it takes to understand why anyone thinks an aging film star’s collection of show-biz kitsch would attract tourists to Colorado’s third-largest city.
As a City Council committee considers how to bring badly needed tourism dollars into Aurora, Caldwell says committee members are supposed to think outside the box.
Mission accomplished. The Debbie Reynolds museum idea is not just outside the box, it’s from another solar system.
Oh, wait. That’s the Aurora Star Trek Museum, another of Caldwell’s box-busting brainstorms.
“They have these conventions,” she explained. “They dress up like the characters. They know all the episodes. They know everything everybody ate in each episode.”
Can’t you see thousands of Captain Kirk clones packing the no-tell motels on Colfax Avenue?
How about thousands of pointy- eared Spock look-alikes poring over menus in the Aurora Mall food court looking for the Vulcans’ favorite fare, plomeek soup.
Having trouble mustering the images?
Caldwell says you’re not trying hard enough.
“You’ve got to really stretch the imagination,” Caldwell counseled me.
I tried to envision tourists flocking to a shrine for an all-but-forgotten 1950s and 1960s movie queen with no Aurora roots.
As I strained, Caldwell told me Reynolds’ collection of Hollywood memorabilia is set for placement next year near Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Undeterred, the councilwoman informed me that she sent an e-mail to the curators of the Reynolds collection telling them about Aurora’s interest.
She got an electronic form letter in reply. But, she added, “I stand ready to make a phone call.”
My imagination stretched and stretched.
Then it snapped.
Not to worry. Caldwell is still out there pushing the envelope.
“Maybe we can have a marathon museum,” she suggested.
“First,” I reminded her, “you have to have a marathon.”
There is one scheduled for next year, she said.
Ah, yes, the retooled Denver Marathon. It’s a straight shot down Colfax, past the beggars, bars and practitioners of the world’s oldest profession.
Problem is, the route runs east to west. This sends thousands of runners fleeing Aurora.
At the same time, options for attracting tourists to the city obviously are limited only by an unwillingness to dream.
“I’m off looking for other things,” Caldwell said. “If you have any ideas, throw them out here.”
I will, although I’m not sure my plan for a Roadkill Safari theme park on Interstate 225 really works.
So I’d also like to invite readers to suggest tourist attractions for Aurora.
Send your ideas via e-mail to:jspencer@denverpost.com.
If I get enough good ideas, I’ll print the best.
Just remember to think outside the box like the Aurora City Council.
Remember, too, that St. Louis claimed the Bowling Hall of Fame more than two decades ago.
On the other hand, Roadsideamerica.com reports that “The Dumas Brothel Museum in Butte, Mont. – a brothel from 1890 until 1982 and a tourist attraction from 1989 until last year – has perhaps closed its doors for good.”
If you live in Aurora, call your City Council members immediately. Opportunity knocks.
Jim Spencer’s column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 303-820-1771 or jspencer@denverpost.com.
