More than three decades ago, when Philip Anschutz called legendary oil firefighter Paul N. “Red” Adair – who died Saturday at age 89 – the resulting deal may well have saved Anschutz from a plunge into obscurity.
In 1968, Anschutz, founder of Qwest and now among the richest men in the world, was 27 and running his family’s oil-drilling business. One of his crews hit a gusher in Gillette, Wyo., and Anschutz reportedly chartered a small plane to the oil field.
He found a dangerous situation: Oil was everywhere, and there was a strong possibility of an explosion, according to “Broadbandits,” a 2003 book by Om Malik.
Anschutz got the well capped and bought oil leases all around the region. When he returned to Denver, he turned on his television to find his fields were on fire, according to the book.
“I tell you, I thought that was the end of me in business,” Anschutz reportedly said later.
What Anschutz did next has become legend, contributing to his reputation for spotting opportunity where others see disaster. Anschutz contacted Adair to help put out the oil fires. Then he persuaded Universal Studios, which was in the process of making a film about Adair, to pay $100,000 to film the firefighting efforts.
Anschutz paid Adair with the proceeds.
“It was an opportunity that (Anschutz) spotted to solve several problems at once,” Anschutz spokesman Jim Monaghan said Monday.
Scenes of the Wyoming oil inferno filmed for the movie “Hellfighters” are vivid enough to give a youngster the willies, according to the Consumer Information website, which reviews movies, books and other products.
“Many of the firefighting sequences are still startling in their intensity … (and) may be too intense for very young or sensitive kids,” according to the website, http://consumerinfo.tultur.com.
For Adair, who went on to cap more than 100 wells in Kuwait after the Iraqi army set them ablaze in the 1991 Gulf War, Anschutz’s fire was one of many. But he was thrilled at John Wayne’s portrayal of him in the movie.
“That’s one of the best honors in the world, to have The Duke play you in a movie,” he once said. Adair’s wife, Robyn, referred a reporter to a website, www.redadair.com, recounting Red Adair’s life.
Anschutz went on to branch out from the oil business moving into railroads, real estate, telecommunications and entertainment. Today, he has an entertainment empire that includes Los Angeles’ Staples Center, London Arena and the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings.
The 64-year-old investor is also controlling owner of the world’s largest cinema chain. According to Malik, the deal with Adair was “the single best deal (Anschutz) ever made. The film ‘Hellfighters’ was a major hit for John Wayne, and Anschutz profited from the quenching of the fire instead of losing his shirt.”
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-820-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
