1978 01 00 Playboy - UFO Panel

Magazine Overview

This is the January 1978 issue of PLAYBOY magazine, identified as the "Holiday Anniversary Issue." It features a cover price of $2.25 and prominently displays a "15-PAGE PLAYMATE REVIEW - OUR BIGGEST, BEST YET." The cover also teases articles on "Great Moments in Sex '77," a new Mel Brooks movie, erotic visions from Fellini, Peckinpah, Vadim, and Antonioni, a Hollywood board game, fiction by Irwin Shaw and Erich Segal, and a discussion on UFOs.

UFO Panel: An Earthly Debate

The central feature of this issue is a lengthy panel discussion titled "PLAYBOY PANEL: UFOs - an earthly debate between believers and skeptics on flying saucers, extraterrestrial visitors and things that go flash in the night." The discussion brings together several distinguished participants:

• James A. Harder: Director of research for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) and a professor of hydraulics. He investigates UFO abduction cases, including the Pascagoula incident, and concludes UFOs are extraterrestrial.
• J. Allen Hynek: Professor of astronomy at Northwestern University, author of "The UFO Experience, a Scientific Inquiry," and technical consultant for the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He founded the Center for UFO Studies and is a proponent of scientific study.
• Philip J. Klass: Senior avionics editor for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, author of "UFO's Identified" and "UFO's Explained." He is a skeptic who seeks natural explanations for sightings.
• Frank B. Salisbury: Professor of plant physiology at Utah State University. His interest in UFOs was sparked by correspondence generated by a paper on extraterrestrial life.
• R. Leo Sprinkle: Professor of counseling services at the University of Wyoming, who explores the relationship between UFOs and psychological processes.
• Ernest H. Taves, M.D.: Co-author of "The UFO Enigma" with Donald Menzel. He is a psychoanalyst interested in why people believe in UFOs.
• Jacques Vallee: An information scientist with a Ph.D. in computer sciences, author of several books on UFOs, arguing that scientific data alone is insufficient to answer the UFO question.

The discussion begins with an introduction noting that the panel was assembled over a year prior and took time to compile. The panelists are introduced with their backgrounds. Philip J. Klass publicly offered $10,000 to anyone who could prove the existence of a UFO, a challenge that has not been met.

Key Points from the UFO Panel:

• Prevalence of Sightings: J. Allen Hynek reports an average of 100 sightings per night, totaling 36,500 per year globally, with similar details emerging from various countries. He notes that most are identified flying objects (IFOs), but a significant percentage remain unexplained.
• Skepticism vs. Belief: Klass expresses strong skepticism, questioning the lack of physical evidence for alleged UFO landings and suggesting that most sightings are misidentifications or "tall tales." He cites his books "UFO's Identified" and "UFO's Explained."
• Eyewitness Testimony: Frank B. Salisbury argues that UFOs have been seen by millions of ordinary people, making ridicule inappropriate. He believes there's a residue of at least two percent of sightings that lack scientific explanation.
• Psychological Aspects: R. Leo Sprinkle suggests UFOs might be psychic projections or phenomena related to collective unconscious, mass hallucination, or delusion.
• Scientific Inquiry: J. Allen Hynek, initially a debunker, is now convinced the phenomenon is real and that "honest, scientific pay dirt" lies ahead. He emphasizes the need to study the unknown phenomenon rather than equate UFOs with nuts-and-bolts technology.
• Evidence and Investigation: James A. Harder criticizes the Air Force's Project Blue Book, suggesting its investigators were inexperienced and that Dr. Menzel's explanations for unsolved cases were sometimes dismissive of key facts. He references the Battelle study, which statistically showed differences between identified and unidentified objects.
• Vallee's Perspective: Jacques Vallee argues that academia has largely left the UFO field to "crackpots and religious fanatics" and that a proper investigation requires uniting various fields of study. He estimates that as many as 3,000,000 UFO landings may have occurred in the past 25 years, though Taves dismisses the idea of landings without proof of vehicle presence.
• The "Echo Effect": Klass explains "flaps" (waves of sightings) as media-generated "echo effects," where media attention leads to increased reporting, often of misidentifications like Venus or meteors.
• Historical Sightings: Vallee counters that media influence cannot explain worldwide flaps, such as those in 1946, 1954, or 1956, and points to astronaut testimony (Cooper, Cernan, Young, Carpenter, McDivitt) as evidence.
• Specific Cases Debated: The panel discusses the Coyne helicopter case (Klass suggests a meteor, Harder and Hynek disagree) and the McDivitt sighting (Taves suggests it was a Titan booster stage, Harder disputes this based on film analysis).

All Aboard! First-Person Accounts

This section features personal narratives from individuals who claim to have encountered extraterrestrials and been aboard spacecraft:

• Charles Hickson: Describes an encounter on October 11, 1973, near Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he and Calvin Parker allegedly saw a craft with blue lights and portholes, from which three beings emerged. They were taken aboard, experienced a "sharp sting," and described the beings as wrinkled, with claw-like hands, and making a buzzing sound. Hickson believes they were robots.
• Betty Hill: Recounts a vacation in September 1961 with her husband, Barney, in New Hampshire. They observed a large, oblong object with flashing lights and a blinking effect that stopped in mid-air. Barney approached the object, and they later experienced a "posthypnotic state" and heard a beeping sound, leading them to believe they were "captured."
• Travis Walton: Details an alleged abduction experience. While working in Arizona, he encountered a UFO and was taken aboard. He describes the craft as dark, about 60 feet across, with figures visible in the windows. He experienced a beeping sound and vibration, and later underwent hypnosis, which revealed details of the encounter and a period of amnesia.

Other Articles and Features

• "Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? Is It a Bug-Eyed Monster?": This section includes artists' renderings of aliens and purported UFO photos, with commentary on their authenticity. One drawing by Michael Rogers depicts an alien allegedly encountered by Travis Walton. Another drawing by Jim Flynt represents the spacemen described by Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker. A historical engraving from 1897 shows an "AIR SHIP" over Chicago, and a 1973 photo from Falkville, Alabama, shows an "apparition."
• Photographic Evidence: Several photos are presented, including one taken by Rex Heflin in California in 1965, a purported 1965 saucer photo from Venezuela (claimed to be doctored), a photo by Augusto Arranda in Peru in 1967, and a photo of an unidentified flying object seen in Denmark.
• "Beef up your beer.": A short advertisement for Slim Jim meat snacks.
• "Discover Air - The Beautiful Way To Sleep": An advertisement for the "Original Velveteen" AIR COIL BED mattress, highlighting its comfort, support, and versatility.
• Sigma Mini-Zoom Advertisement: An ad for the Sigma Mini-Zoom 39-80mm f/3.5 camera lens, emphasizing its versatility and advanced technology.
• TDK AD Cassette Advertisement: An ad promoting TDK's new AD cassette tape, designed to enhance high-frequency sounds for superior music reproduction.
• "The wisdom of Look versus Salomon.": An advertisement comparing Look N77 ski bindings to Salomon 555, claiming Look absorbs more shock and offers a greater margin of safety.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly leans into the UFO phenomenon, dedicating a significant portion to a detailed panel discussion that presents both skeptical and believing viewpoints. The inclusion of first-person accounts of alleged abductions and sightings further emphasizes this theme. While the magazine presents these accounts and discussions, the editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and inquiry rather than outright advocacy for any single theory. The inclusion of advertisements for products ranging from snacks to mattresses and camera equipment suggests a broad appeal to the PLAYBOY readership, with the UFO content serving as a prominent, thought-provoking feature for this particular issue.

This issue of PLAYBOY, dated August 1977, features a prominent discussion on the UFO phenomenon, framed by a cover image of a couple enjoying Newport cigarettes. The magazine delves into the topic through a panel discussion involving various experts, including scientists, investigators, and skeptics.

Panel Discussion: UFOs

The core of the issue is a lengthy panel discussion exploring the nature of UFO sightings, the credibility of witnesses, and the scientific approach to understanding these phenomena. Participants include J. Allen Hynek (Professor of Astronomy), Philip J. Klass (Senior Editor, Aviation Week & Space Technology), Jacques Vallee (Computer Scientist and UFO Researcher), Robert Salas (Former Air Force Missile Launch Officer), and others.

Historical Context and Witness Testimony

The discussion begins by examining historical UFO reports, with Philip Klass suggesting that early sightings might have been inspired by popular fiction like Jules Verne's "Master of the World." However, J. Allen Hynek counters that the consistency in descriptions across thousands of reports, as documented by researchers like Dr. David Saunders, suggests a genuine phenomenon.

Witnesses describe various UFO shapes, including disks (often described as yellowish, white, or silver, like two dinner plates face-to-face) and cigar-shaped or tubular objects. The "flying saucer" term is acknowledged as describing a common type of UFO.

Explanations and Skepticism

Philip Klass consistently offers prosaic explanations for sightings, attributing them to misidentifications, atmospheric conditions (like temperature inversions causing radar 'angels'), or even hoaxes. He is critical of the lack of concrete physical evidence and the tendency for witnesses to embellish stories.

Conversely, Jacques Vallee and others emphasize the consistent patterns in sightings and the need for open-minded investigation. They argue that dismissing all reports due to a lack of definitive proof is unscientific. The discussion touches upon the difficulty of estimating speed and distance from witness accounts.

Specific Cases and Evidence

Several notable UFO incidents are debated:

• The 1952 Washington, D.C. flap: Initially attributed to radar anomalies caused by temperature inversions, the panel discusses the simultaneous visual and radar sightings.
• The 1956 Lakenheath, England case: This incident involved a UFO tracked by multiple radar systems and intercepted by an RAF fighter, with debate over the details and the capabilities of the radar equipment.
• The 1964 New York sighting: A family reported observing a dark, tubular object that performed unusual maneuvers.
• The 1957 Levelland, Texas case: Seven motorists reported their cars stalling and lights going out when a UFO appeared, a case highlighted for its multiple, consistent witness reports.
• The 1967 Ashland, Nebraska case (Herbert Schirmer): Schirmer reported being taken aboard a UFO and described its occupants and technology.
• The 1973 Torino, Italy incident: A UFO was tracked by radar and visually sighted, causing airport disruptions.

Physical and Psychological Effects

The panel discusses physical traces left by UFOs, such as flattened grass and scorched ground, but Klass argues these can be explained by natural causes or fakery. The lack of any undeniable artifact is a key point of contention.

Psychological effects on witnesses are also explored, including extreme emotional distress, disorientation, and even the development of psychic abilities. The impact of these experiences on individuals is acknowledged, even by skeptics.

The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis and Scientific Approach

The extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) is a central theme. While Klass remains highly skeptical, arguing for the immense distances involved and the lack of evidence, Vallee and Hynek suggest that while the ETH is popular, it might not be the only explanation. They advocate for a multidisciplinary approach involving astronomy, physics, psychology, and anthropology.

There's a call for a more robust, federally funded research institute to systematically investigate UFO reports, akin to the Mayo Clinic for medical research. The current government approach, exemplified by Project Blue Book, is criticized for being inadequate and lacking scientific rigor.

Alternative Theories

Beyond the ETH, alternative theories are briefly mentioned, including UFOs as technological devices of earth-bound aliens, holographic projections, or even time travelers. The idea of UFOs being psychic projections or manifestations of the collective unconscious is also discussed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of encouraging open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, presenting a range of viewpoints from staunch skepticism to strong belief in the extraterrestrial hypothesis. The emphasis is on the need for more scientific study and a less dismissive attitude from the scientific community. The article highlights the frustration of researchers like Hynek and Vallee with the lack of serious investigation and the tendency to dismiss witness testimony without thorough examination. The overall tone suggests that while definitive answers are elusive, the subject warrants serious consideration.

Advertisement: Newport Cigarettes

A full-page advertisement for Newport Menthol Kings and 100's cigarettes is featured, with the tagline "Alive with pleasure!" and a warning about the health risks of smoking.

This issue of PLAYBOY features a panel discussion on UFOs, titled "PLAYBOY PANEL: UFOs," exploring various perspectives on the phenomenon. It also includes advertisements for Memorex cassette tape and Rose's Gimlet, as well as interviews with musician Davis and Malcolm X.

UFO Panel Discussion

The panel, which includes J. Allen Hynek, Donald Menzel, Philip Klass, Jacques Vallee, and Dr. Salisbury, delves into the complex nature of UFO sightings and their implications. Dr. Salisbury expresses concern about the religious implications of UFOs, questioning if they could be forerunners of a new millennium or emissaries from other areas of God's kingdom, while also acknowledging the possibility of them being manifestations of evil forces.

Taves finds Salisbury's attempt to connect UFOs with religious beliefs unconvincing, to which Salisbury clarifies he is not trying to convince anyone but is sharing troubling ideas. Vallee emphasizes that there is nothing wrong with speculating on the meaning of UFOs within personal beliefs, but criticizes the scientific establishment for hindering access to information about UFOs.

Philip Klass, a senior editor, contends that UFOs can be explained by contemporary scientific methods and proposes that the National Academy of Sciences form a committee to investigate the best UFO cases. He offers a challenge: if the committee finds even one of the top three cases (Coyne helicopter, Travis Walton abduction, Delphos landing) unexplainable by current physics, he will withdraw from UFOlogy. If all three are explained, the call for a major government-funded investigation would cease.

Dr. Salisbury finds Klass's proposal to settle the UFO question by debate and appeal to authority to be unproductive, stating that it has led nowhere in three decades. He believes that while Klass and Menzel may explain cases, their conclusions are not directly implied by the evidence.

Sprinkle suggests that UFO investigation should focus on the UFO experience and its impact on the observer's worldview, encompassing physical, biological, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects.

Hynek agrees that a NAS committee would be fine but emphasizes that studying a few individual cases reveals little about the phenomenon's scope.

Vallee expresses reservations about the same people who have discouraged scientific study deciding the issue. He advocates for a research-funding process similar to computer science or astronomy, allowing any scientist with a good idea to submit proposals to organizations like the NSF or NASA without fear of bias. He argues against turning the UFO question over to a single group of scientists, suggesting that the problem is not with the phenomenon itself but with a narrow, "rationalistic" approach that is based on a fixed attitude toward reality. Vallee posits that there are other ways of acquiring knowledge and that the observer and analyst are part of the phenomenon, requiring a reconsideration of the concept of an external reference point.

Personal Accounts

The "Barney" and "Betty" Case (Implied)

One account describes an experience where the narrator and someone named Barney were seemingly taken aboard a craft. The narrator describes aliens as short, grotesque, and different, with dark eyes and a grayish skin tone. They examined the narrator's eyes, ears, nose, throat, and hair, and performed a pregnancy test and a nervous system check. The narrator was shown a star map and was told they would forget the experience, but vowed not to.

Travis Walton Case

Travis Walton recounts his experience on November 5, 1975, while working on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. He saw a hovering object with a golden glow and darker bands. After approaching it, he heard a sound, and a flash of light hit him, causing him to be thrown into the air. He awoke on a metal table in a room with three aliens, described as about five feet tall, with no hair, large brown oval eyes, chalky white skin, five fingers, and small mouths. They wore brownish-orange coveralls. Walton became hysterical and fled the room, eventually finding himself back on the road outside of Heber.

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Memorex

An advertisement features Ella Fitzgerald and promotes Memorex cassette tape with MRX, Oxide, claiming it can make a difference in recording music.

Rose's Gimlet

An advertisement for Rose's Gimlet suggests it can be mixed with gin or vodka to add taste, recommending a ratio of one part Rose's Lime Juice to four to five parts gin or vodka.

Interviews

Davis

In an interview, musician Davis discusses his financial success and his desire to pass on boxing skills to his children. He expresses frustration with prejudice, stating that while he has everything a man could want, the "prejudice crap" is a significant issue.

Malcolm X

Alex Haley interviews Malcolm X about the ambitions of the Black Muslims, which are stated as freedom, justice, and equality, and the faithful service to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X teaches self-knowledge and spiritual cleansing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding UFO phenomena. The magazine presents a platform for various viewpoints, from scientific skepticism to personal belief and religious interpretation. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging open discussion and investigation, while also acknowledging the challenges and differing opinions within the scientific community and the public regarding UFOs. The inclusion of personal accounts and interviews with prominent figures like Malcolm X suggests an interest in broader societal issues alongside the UFO topic.