Artifacts

Argo Ads and Articles in Variety

Artifact Details

The entire production of Argo was actually a cover for CIA to rescue hostages in Iran.

To rescue six American diplomats who evaded capture during the seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran, on 4 November 1979, CIA technical specialists created a fake movie-production company in Hollywood and delivered disguises and documents that made possible the diplomats’ escape from Iran in 1980.

The CIA team set up “Studio Six Productions” and titled its new production “Argo.”

Ads and articles were placed in Variety.  The ads proclaimed Argo to be a “cosmic conflagration” written by Teresa Harris (the alias selected for one of the six Americans awaiting rescue).