Alternate Horizons Newsletter

Magazine Overview

Title: Alternate Horizons Newsletter
Issue: Volume One, Number Six
Date: May 1967
Publisher: Foundation for Philosophic Advancement (FPA)
Editor, Publisher, Executive Director: Allen H. Greenfield

This issue of Alternate Horizons Newsletter delves into the question of UFO occupant superiority and explores various phenomena related to the UFO field. It features articles by John A. Keel and A.H.G., along with a questionnaire for investigators and a book review section.

Article: Are the UFO "People" Really Superior?

Author: John A. Keel

John A. Keel challenges the notion that UFO occupants are inherently technologically superior. He draws parallels between modern individuals using complex technology they don't understand (like a secretary with an electric typewriter or African tribal chiefs with Rolls-Royces) and the possibility that UFO pilots may not be the designers or builders of their craft. Keel points to the majority of "contact" stories and sightings over the past century, where occupants are often described as behaving in a "crude, primitive, even stupid manner," displaying "baffling naivete'" and making "absurd mistakes." He suggests that these beings might be "androids" or manufactured entities, essentially "programmed" rather than thinking, feeling beings, who have obtained their craft from a more advanced, remote society or that the craft were built by a long-perished civilization.

Keel also notes that during his travels, he encountered new contact stories and clues that reinforce this idea. He mentions that the "creatures" are described as peculiar and bewildered. He posits that these beings may not have a society or leader, and their flights might be haphazard. He references the 1896-97 flap, where contradictory stories were told to contactees, suggesting this might be a deliberate seeding of misinformation or an indication that the ufonauts themselves are unsure of their identity and reveal what seems most palatable.

Ultimately, Keel argues that twenty years of applying the "scientific method" to UFOlogy has failed to yield answers. He calls for a new approach, focusing on re-examining "hard facts" to understand the confusion within the field rather than engaging in endless speculation.

Article: A Strangeness in the Air

Author: A.H.G. (Allen H. Greenfield)

Allen H. Greenfield discusses the current atmosphere within the UFOlogy field, particularly focusing on the "Eastern Saucer Establishment," which includes figures like Jim Moseley, Gray Barker, Jack Robinson, and Joan Whritenour. He describes this group as having a common attitude toward the UFO subject.

Greenfield links the current wave of phenomena to events such as the Great Northeastern Blackout and strange occurrences in West Virginia, including the Derenberger contact case and reports of a mothman creature. He notes that New York City and its environs are a major focus, but related phenomena have been reported from various states including Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Washington State, though the East seems to be the epicenter.

He contrasts the current wave with previous ones, citing John A. Keel's description of the situation as a "nightmare on the ground." Greenfield notes that "ground" experiences, such as "silencings, men in black, strange phenomena related to telephones, mysterious disappearances," may predate aerial observations. He highlights the case of Researcher "A," who reportedly experienced a "Men in Black" encounter in the summer of 1967, a situation reminiscent of the book "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers."

Greenfield also touches upon other incidents, including a story of a "man in black" headquarters at the Hotel Commodore and peculiar phone calls, some consisting solely of "beeping" reported by UFO witnesses in West Virginia. He mentions incidents involving thunder and lightning, where a researcher was reportedly cured of an ailment after a lightning strike on a telephone line. He also recounts personal experiences with power failures and a transformer explosion, questioning if these are mere coincidences or omens.

He concludes by posing the question of whether the current events are part of an elaborate hoax, a psychological phenomenon, or a genuine "nightmare on the ground," suggesting that the situation is an enigma that might explain a great deal if solved.

Questionnaire on Preternatural Variables

This section includes a detailed questionnaire designed for witnesses or investigators of unusual phenomena. It aims to collect information on the witness's background, the nature of the phenomenon experienced, the presence of other witnesses, and related environmental factors such as power failures, animal or individual disappearances, unusual illnesses, strange radio or telephone interference, and the presence of new neighbors or high-tension wires.

AR Bookshelf & Library

• This section provides a list of books of interest to "AR" (Alternate Reality) investigators. Titles include:
• The Druid Stone by Simon Majors (Fiction)
• The Weirwoods by Thomas Burnett Swann (Fiction)
• The Worm Oroboros by E. R. Eddison (Fiction)
• The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz (Non-fiction)
• Operators and Things by Barbara O'Brien (Non-fiction)
• Fairies at Work and at Play by Geoffrey Hodson (Non-fiction)

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around questioning conventional UFOlogy narratives, particularly the presumed superiority of UFO occupants. The newsletter emphasizes a critical examination of evidence, a focus on "hard facts," and an exploration of alternative explanations beyond simple technological advancement. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards easy answers and a call for deeper investigation into the nature of UFO phenomena and the beings associated with them, suggesting a possible disconnect between the perceived advanced nature of UFOs and the behavior of their occupants. There's also a focus on the psychological and societal aspects of UFO experiences and the broader "Eastern Establishment" within the UFO community.