1957 05 27 Life

Magazine Overview

This document is a magazine issue featuring the headline "A SAUCER SESSION FOR SPACESHIP SIGHTERS." It details the Fifth Interplanetary Spacecraft Convention, where approximately 1,200 believers gathered in a desert setting near Giant Rock Airport in Yucca Valley, California, to share their experiences and beliefs regarding flying saucers and extraterrestrial visitors.

Convention Details and Beliefs

The conventioners, described as earthlings holding an "unshakable belief in the existence of flying saucers," spent their days reporting spaceship experiences and their nights watching the skies. Many claimed to have seen flying saucers with their own eyes, and some even asserted they had talked with passengers on these craft, with a few claiming to have been taken for rides. The general consensus among those reporting encounters was that the visitors from outer space, referred to as 'saucerians' or 'spacemen,' look much like humans, are very benevolent, and often take earthlings on sightseeing tours.

Conveniently, these spacemen reportedly speak English very well, often with an American accent. Some are even interested in American politics. George Van Tassel, the convention leader and operator of Giant Rock Airport, stated that spacemen have persuaded him to run for President in 1960 and intend to help his campaign.

Reported Encounters with Space People

The magazine highlights several specific accounts from conventioners:

• Truman Bethurum of Prescott, Arizona, reported that on July 28, 1952, while sleeping in his truck, he was accosted by "short spacemen" wearing coveralls and caps. They took him to their spaceship where he met their chief, described as a "small, beautiful woman." They engaged in philosophical discussions until dawn. Upon returning to his camp, Bethurum wrote a letter expressing his extreme excitement and fear of his heart stopping due to the experience.

• Mrs. Ruth May Weber of Yucca Valley, California, described a "psychic" experience from about 18 months prior. A voice informed her that space people lived on Earth and would take over in case of world disaster. Confirming this, she claimed to have seen "saucer people raining from the skies" and blending into the crowd on Main Street in Yucca Valley, though ordinary citizens saw nothing.

• George Van Tassel recounted an experience on August 21, 1953, near Giant Rock. While sleeping outdoors in his shorts, he was awakened by a spaceman who invited him to inspect his hovering flying saucer. Inside, Van Tassel was shown instrument panels and inventions, including a closet that cleans clothing with light. He was then returned to the ground via a "gravity nullifying beam."

• Howard Menger of High Bridge, New Jersey, reported a "space ride" in 1956. While walking in the woods, he was invited aboard a saucer by long-haired individuals wearing luminous belt buckles. He was shown Venus on a TV-like screen, depicting an idyllic scene with winding streams, domed houses, and beautiful people. Spacemen have visited him frequently since, even staying for meals.

Staged Events and Merchandise

A "fake saucer crash" was staged by Caltech students using dynamite. This event fooled conventioners who rushed to the site, only to find a charred patch of desert. The convention also featured merchandise, with "The Queen of Space," Mrs. Evelyn Smith of Indianapolis, Indiana, seen purchasing books reporting on space adventures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue focuses on the belief in extraterrestrial visitation and the experiences of individuals who claim to have encountered alien beings and their spacecraft. The tone is largely reportorial, presenting the accounts of conventioners without overt skepticism, though the inclusion of the staged crash and the description of the convention as a place to "swap interplanetary tall tales" suggest an awareness of the subjective nature of these claims. The magazine highlights the perceived benevolence and human-like qualities of the alleged visitors, as well as their interest in Earthly affairs, including politics. The overall theme is the exploration of UFO phenomena and the community that forms around the belief in alien contact.