Little Listening Post -1955 04-05 - Vol 02 No 02

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LITTLE LISTENING POST
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 2
Date: April 1955
Publisher: Gray Barker Collection
Location: Washington, D.C.

This issue of THE LITTLE LISTENING POST is a supplement to the "news capital of the world," aiming to capture faint and high-pitched notes from the forefront of progress or peril. It presents a diverse collection of news items, scientific observations, and social commentary, with a strong emphasis on promoting M.K. Jessup's book, "The Case for the UFO."

Key Articles and Features

"The Case for the UFO" Promotion

The central theme of this issue is the promotion of M.K. Jessup's book, "The Case for the UFO." Described as a comprehensive publication by an accredited astronomer, it aims to provide a sound, sober analysis of data establishing the reality of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The publication urges readers, referred to as "Saucer Fans," to actively present the book's findings to the "Court of Public Opinion" by sharing it with friends, acquaintances, and local libraries. The Library Research Group, the publisher, is highlighted as the source for purchasing the book, with all earnings going towards further study. The month of April is declared "UFO Month" and the crucial time to present the case.

Scientific and Technological Developments

Several articles touch upon advancements and concepts in science and technology:

• Materialization/Dematerialization: Brookhaven National Laboratory is reportedly planning a machine to convert matter into energy and vice versa.
• Space Exploration: The launch of a basket-ball-size satellite is anticipated. Astronomer Bagby has reportedly discovered tiny moons only 475 miles from Earth.
• Radio Waves: A four-station listening network is sleuthing on unexplained "tweeks and swishes," described as "strange radio waves" that murmur just out of human earshot, and these sounds are being taped for analysis.
• Atomic Energy: The potential for a 30-40 million dollar privately owned atomic plant is mentioned. Australia is considering an A-Power Boom. The production of atomic weapons is at an all-time high, with reports of 30 atomic cannons and a Super-H-bomb potentially three times more powerful than the first A-bombs.
• Future Technology: The issue speculates on future inventions such as moving sidewalks, heating pads for soldiers, TV networks with glowing dials indicating radio activity, cigarette-pack-size radios, a million-dollar low-slung train, a 4-hour jet transport service, and a device for instant warning of germ warfare.
• Space Travel: Andrew G. Haley of the American Rocket Society suggests that a military outpost in space could not survive due to enemy proximity fuses, implying space endeavors must be for peaceful purposes.

Social and Cultural Commentary

• Religion and UFOs: Unitarian Dr. Homer Jack of Evanston suggests that flying saucers can challenge human perspectives and potentially topple old religious hierarchies.
• Delinquency: The Senate Committee notes a "disgraceful rate" of delinquency, with nearly a million children a year in trouble with the courts.
• Media: Maryland's legislature is considering a bill to outlaw comic books. The issue notes the sale of one billion comic books a year in the U.S., with many other countries not allowing them.
• "Angel Hair": A report on white web stuff falling from the sky after saucer sightings suggests it has been analyzed and found to be similar to ectoplasm from seance materializations.
• Senior Citizens (Fixed Incomers): The issue dedicates a significant portion to the growing population of individuals over 65. It highlights that this group is largely unorganized and seems to be "floundering." The article proposes the creation of a "Registry Center" to match senior citizens' needs with available services and skills, fostering a "father-son" type of teamwork. The core needs identified are an adequate income and a feeling of "BEING NEEDED," which provides a sense of importance. The article advocates for senior citizens to organize and advocate for their needs, such as "Medicine at cost," reduced fares, and tax favors.
• Health and Medicine: Reports include the hailing of "Anti-anemia capsule," the potential for sound waves to drown disease, a new era of medical research reducing disease types, and the use of drugs in mental diseases. A drug that releases the subconscious is described as having "wierd" effects. A new machine can reportedly put people to sleep using fluctuating light. Dr. E. J. McCormick is predicted to cure cancer and polio within 1-2 years. Russia's Dr. Klosovsky predicts an "elixir" will prolong life to 150 years. A book titled "Kerbiozen, Key to Cancer" is mentioned as a "blistering indictment" of the medical hierarchy.

News and Oddities

• Washington D.C. News: The area population is nearly 2 million, 25% above 1950. The U.S. Weather Bureau is 85 years old. Ground has been broken for a new Senate Office Building. A prominent school is reading aloud Keyhoe's "Flying Saucers From Outer Space." The U.S. Office of Education may be elevated to cabinet status. Attorney W. E. Leahy heads D.C.'s "Edu TV" group. Radio hams are planning an emergency network, with 100 of the country's 300 hams located in D.C.
• Churchill: Revealed to have been completely paralyzed in 1953, contradicting previous reports of Yogi healing.
• "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot": The familiar song is seen as voicing a sentiment echoing among many saucer fans, reflecting a desire for escape from the modern world.
• UFO Sightings: Reports include a 1-hour observation of an object by an astronomer in Miami, a 10-foot lighted object paced by a car in Charleston, Indiana, and 200 white dome-shaped objects seen on the moon.
• "Angel Hair" Report: White web stuff falling from the sky after saucer sightings is compared to ectoplasm.
• "Stairway to the Stars": Tiny moons discovered 475 miles from Earth are mentioned.
• Strange Sounds: A 4-station listening network is trapping unexplained "tweeks and swishes."
• "The Venusians": A new book is mentioned.
• "Cataclysm Has Begun": A book by Williamson is noted.
• "Inside The Spaceships": A forthcoming book by Adamski is announced.
• "Flying Saucer Conspiracy": A book by Keyhoe is mentioned.
• "Flying Saucer Review": A London-based quarterly magazine is noted.
• UFOs and Skyquakes: UFOs and a "terrific skyquake" shook the West Coast of New Zealand.
• Gravity Manipulation: Scientist Obreth suggests saucers operate by turning gravity into directional force.
• "The Last Revolution": Lord Dunsaney's play is being filmed.
• Cosmic Ray Time Variation: This topic is being discussed by the Washington Philosophical Society.
• "The Case for the UFO" by M.K. Jessup: The book is described as a comprehensive publication by an accredited astronomer, analyzing data to establish the reality of UFOs. It explores astronomical sightings, ancient civilizations, and the possibility of UFOs being regular callers on the Moon and inhabitants of the Earth-Moon system.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the pervasive interest in UFOs and flying saucers, the rapid pace of scientific and technological advancement, and a growing concern for societal issues such as delinquency and the well-being of the elderly. The editorial stance, as expressed through the publication's name and content, is one of active listening and reporting on phenomena that challenge conventional understanding. The strong promotion of "The Case for the UFO" indicates a belief in the importance of this subject and a desire to influence public opinion and scientific inquiry. The publication also demonstrates a keen interest in future possibilities, both utopian and dystopian, and a commitment to informing its readers about these developments. The emphasis on the "Fixed Incomers" suggests a broader concern for social welfare and the need for community support systems.