GEPO No 03 - Siecle Inconnu - No 3 (9) (nouvelle formule) - janv - fevrier 1977 (GEPI)

Magazine Overview

Title: SIECLE INCONNU
Issue: N°3 (9)
Date: January-February 1977
Price: 2 frs
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of SIECLE INCONNU, a French magazine focused on mysteries and the unexplained, delves into a variety of intriguing topics, including film reviews, paranormal events, UFO sightings, and astrological predictions.

Editorial and Contents

The editorial section, titled 'Cachtrial,' reflects on the magazine's previous issue and outlines plans for the upcoming academic year. The editors express a desire to form an 'insolent club' for students interested in parapsychology, mysteries, and legends, involving conferences, research, and a permanent library. They solicit reader feedback and suggestions for this project.

Articles and Features

Cinema: La Malédiction

This section reviews the film 'La Malédiction' (The Omen), describing its plot involving a diplomat who replaces his deceased child with an abandoned one, only for the child to exhibit increasingly disturbing behavior, suggesting a diabolical influence. The review highlights the film's commercial intent but also raises questions about the nature of evil and unexplained accidents that occurred during filming.

Telepathie: Danger

An article details a telepathy demonstration that took place in the Castellet region of France. Magician Jomart Phone and stuntman Henry attempted to guide a blindfolded driver by thought alone. The demonstration, which involved Phone standing in the car's path, went awry when the car failed to stop, hitting Phone and causing him serious injury. The incident is presented as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers and unreliability of telepathic communication.

USA: Machines Folles

This special report discusses a peculiar phenomenon occurring in the United States where machines are reportedly malfunctioning or acting autonomously. Examples include garage doors opening by themselves, sewing machines speaking, and incomprehensible images appearing on television screens. The proposed explanation involves a large number of private radio transmitters interfering with electrical devices. Despite government efforts, the issue remains unresolved, with similar reports emerging from France.

OVNI Dictionnaire: Les Petits Hommes Verts

This new section, 'OVNI Dictionnaire' (UFO Dictionary), begins by exploring the origin of the term 'PETITS HOMMES VERTS' (Little Green Men). It recounts an incident in Italy where Professor Bapuszi Luigi Johannis encountered two small, green-skinned beings, approximately 90cm tall, with large heads and eight-fingered hands, emerging from a red, disc-shaped object. The professor reportedly received an electrical discharge from one of the beings. This encounter is credited with coining the phrase 'Little Green Men.' The article is marked 'à suivre' (to be continued).

OVNI dans la Loire: Le Grand Tournant D7

This report details a UFO sighting on December 24th, 1976, near Pélussin in the Loire region of France. Police inspector Gilles Romeu observed a circular, red-orange object, estimated to be six meters in diameter, hovering about a hundred meters above the ground. A clear smoke emanated from its base. The object then ascended vertically and disappeared within seconds. This was reported as the third UFO sighting in the Loire in 1976.

La Bataille d'Hopkinsville

This article recounts the famous Hopkinsville encounter that occurred on August 21st, 1955, in Kentucky, USA. The Button family reported seeing a strange object land near their farm and subsequently encountered small, metallic-clad creatures with large heads and glowing eyes. A prolonged confrontation ensued, involving gunfire from the family and the creatures. The family eventually fled the farm. The report notes that investigations by the US Army and Police confirmed the strangeness of the event but offered no definitive explanation.

Horoscope

The magazine includes a horoscope section offering predictions for various zodiac signs (Bélier, Taureau, Gémeaux, Cancer, Lion, Vierge, Balance, Scorpion, Sagittaire, Capricorne, Verseau, Poissons) for the month, with advice on personal relationships, finances, and general well-being. The horoscope is offered by 'Nostra.'

Supplement OVNI

This section appears to contain additional information related to UFOs, including a dictionary entry and potentially other brief reports or news items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of the unexplained, UFOs, paranormal phenomena, and fringe science. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting reported events and theories without necessarily endorsing them as fact, but rather encouraging readers to consider the possibilities. The inclusion of a film review that questions the nature of evil and a telepathy report that highlights potential dangers suggests a critical yet engaged approach to its subject matter. The magazine aims to inform and provoke thought on topics beyond conventional understanding.

This issue, identified as 'OVNI DICTIONNAIRE (suite)' and part of 'Siecle Inconnu N°4', is a French-language magazine focusing on UFOs and related phenomena. It features a cover story on 'MYSTERIEUSES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES' (Mysterious Flying Saucers) by Jean-Claude Bourret, published by Editions Albatros, with a price of 2F for the March-April 1977 period.

OVNI Dictionnaire: The Origin of 'Flying Saucer'

The 'OVNI DICTIONNAIRE' section details the genesis of the term 'flying saucer'. It recounts the experience of Kenneth Arnold, a professional pilot, who on June 24, 1947, while flying over Washington State, USA, spotted nine brilliant discs moving at high speed. Upon recounting his adventure to journalists, he used the expression 'soucoupe volante' (flying saucer). The article notes how this expression, despite its origin, has sometimes led to the real UFO phenomenon being trivialized.

Astronomical Update: Pluto

An article titled 'ASTROITOIMME PLUTO: NOUVELLES DIFORIATIOUS' provides an update on the planet Pluto. It mentions that until 1950, Neptune was considered the outermost planet in the solar system. However, on March 15, 1950, Clyde Tombaugh, using the Flagstaff Observatory in Arizona, discovered a new star which turned out to be Pluto, the most distant planet. Initial calculations suggested Pluto had a diameter of approximately 5000 km and a 219-year orbit. More recent measurements from the KITT Peak telescope in Arizona have provided a new image of Pluto, revealing it to be different from previous imaginings. Its observation is challenging due to its distance and small size. Infrared studies indicate its surface is covered with a layer of frozen methane, implying extreme cold but not precluding the possibility of life. Pluto reflects light better than previously thought, suggesting a smaller size, possibly around 1000 km in diameter, compared to earlier estimates of 5000 km for its diameter. The article concludes that much is still to be learned about Pluto.

'Qui dit mieux?' (Who says better?)

This short section humorously mentions M. Thouvenin, who reportedly set a record by consuming five packets of 'pauloises' (including packaging) in one go. It also notes his previous records for eating the largest amount of pâté (1.8 kg in 15 minutes) and the most quiches (14 in 19 minutes).

Library: New Releases of the Month

The 'bibliothèque' section reviews several books and magazines:

• CES MYSTERIEUX OVNI by A. Ribera (Editions De Vecchi): Described as an enormous dossier of over 500 pages, it covers everything known about UFOs, including observations over the years and theories.
• A LA RECHERCHE DES OWI by J. Scornaux and C. Piens (Marabout): Titled 'The truth about flying saucers', this book aims to answer current questions about UFOs, with each chapter addressing a specific question.
• LE MYSTERE DU TRIANGLE DES BERUDES by R. Winer (Marabout): A bestseller in the USA, this book is recommended for its detailed compilation of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.
• LES ATLANTES by G. Bordonove (Livre de poche): This is noted as a novel.

Magazines

• Science Fiction Magazine (n°2): Features 'pin-up galactiques', science fiction, and pop music, with a mention of Cooper Shaw Hoebius.
• L'INCONNU (n°12): Discusses 'guerisseurs philippins' (Philippine healers) and the survival of Neanderthal man, with a 'to be continued' note.

'Siecle Inconnu N°4' and 'Special Viking'

Page 2 highlights 'O.V.N.I DOSSIER' with '14 giant pages' covering the history of UFOs, extraterrestrial hypotheses, and habitable planets, available to liquidate stock for 2F instead of 5F. A free poster is offered to the first 10 requests. The 'Siecle Inconnu N°4' section promotes 'SPECIAL VIKING' with 'novelties and surprises' for 2F, valid for March-April.

Catalogues and Posters

Page 6 presents '77 projet 78' with a section for 'avis & suggestions' (opinions and suggestions). It offers a free 'CATALOGUE BIBLIOTHEQUE' and free 'POSTERS DE SCIENCE-FICTION'. It also lists available items: 'Siecle Inconnu n°0' with formula 1 (free calendar & replacement) for 1F, and formula 2 (calendar, replacement, free stickers) for 2F, including a detachable photo drawing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, extraterrestrial theories, and related mysteries, including historical sightings and scientific investigations. It also touches upon astronomy, paranormal topics, and science fiction. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and information dissemination, presenting various aspects of the UFO phenomenon and related subjects, while also engaging with popular culture through book and magazine reviews. The inclusion of historical accounts like Kenneth Arnold's sighting and scientific updates on celestial bodies like Pluto suggests an effort to provide both historical context and current information within the UFO field.