When we think of visitors from the stars, we think of the 1950s. We think of desert highways, radar screens, and government cover-ups. But the first claim of an alien abduction attempt in America didn't happen in a modern era. It happened in 1896.....It Happened In Lodi.
About the Film - (Currently Filming Jun - Dec 2026)
Colonel H.G. Shaw is best known for a single, inexplicable evening in the late Fall of 1896. Yet that legendary encounter is just one chapter in an otherwise extraordinary American life. It Happened in Lodi is a documentary film born from the realization that Shaw’s legacy has been largely overshadowed by the mystery he left behind. His journey is a fascinating, overlooked piece of 19th-century history, and his full story is one that absolutely demands to be told.
In November 1896, in Lodi, California, Shaw and his friend witnessed an "airship" hovering just over the ground. What followed is a first hand description of an encounter with three beings. This incident was immortalized on the front page of the Stockton Evening Mail Newspaper on November 27th, 1896. Even though this event earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, it remains largely unknown within the UFO community, let alone to the locals of the area. It's a crime that H.G. Shaw and Lodi aren't staples of UFO history.
This film will change that.
Bringing a historical figure of this magnitude back to life requires an unyielding commitment to the truth. We are currently engaged in a massive - ongoing research effort, digging deep into historical archives, tracing forgotten genealogical records, and mapping century-old Central Valley landmarks to meticulously reconstruct Shaw’s world. This film isn't just about examining a famous piece of unexplained phenomena; it’s about authentically resurrecting an American legend whose real-world exploits are just as compelling as the mysteries surrounding him.
To do justice to this narrative, our team is undertaking an exhaustive search for answers. We are actively tracking down and collaborating with top historians, local archivists, and specialized subject-matter experts to separate historical facts from decades of folklore. The sheer scope of this investigation and the work required to assemble these voices is immense. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the definitive account of Colonel Shaw and that fateful night in Lodi is finally brought to the screen.
If you have any information, stories, or resources that could help contribute to the making of this documentary, we would love to connect with you.
Your knowledge and insights may help bring this forgotten chapter of history to light!