Roundhouse - Vol 03 No 13 or No 14 - 1954 December

Magazine Overview

Title: THE ROUNDHOUSE
Issue: DECEMBER 1954
Publisher: Neal Kearney
Location: Northlake, Illinois, USA
Theme: The Strange & Unusual

This issue of The Roundhouse magazine delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, scientific theories, and intriguing reports from December 1954. It features articles on UFO sightings, potential extraterrestrial contact, the Loch Ness Monster, and health-related mysteries.

U.S. Studies Italian Saucer Photo

The lead article reports that U.S. defense agencies are investigating purported flying saucer photographs from at least three European countries. A key photograph, taken by Giuseppe Grasso over Taorimina, Sicily, shows two disk-shaped objects. The Air Force's Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright Patterson Air Force base is analyzing data from Sweden, Yugoslavia, and Italy. Clare Boothe Luce, U.S. ambassador to Italy, has reported sightings, while Italian astronomer Rafaele Bendandi suggested the objects might be 'human made.' Milorad Protic, a Yugoslavian astronomer, described a glowing object that streaked horizontally over Belgrade, ruling out a meteorite. Sweden reported high-speed objects at 19,000 feet. The French magazine 'Express' offered a $28,000 reward for an extraterrestrial visitor. The Air Force officially stated that the objects are 'not any plane, missile or weapon' developed by the U.S.

The Quest

Written by Darold Powers, this article explores numerous reported contacts with 'space people.' These beings are described as varying widely in appearance, from giants to midgets, with one, two, or three eyes, and both male and female forms. Their ships are often circular. Communication is said to occur through various means, including different languages, radio messages (as claimed by George Williamson in his book 'The Saucers Speak'), and even Ouija boards. Dr. Charles Laughead's previous article in The Roundhouse about Mrs. Dorothy Martin's extra-sensory perception is referenced. The article suggests that these 'space friends' offer wisdom, emphasizing purity of thought and inner peace to receive intuitive guidance.

Powers also discusses the probability of different worlds sending representatives, explaining the variations in appearance. He notes that these beings are reportedly hundreds to millions of years more advanced than humans. Despite the possibility of hoaxes, the author believes new ideas and spiritual principles are being presented for consideration. Common ideas agreed upon by most 'space messages' include impending drastic physical changes on Earth, the wrongness of war, the eternal nature of life, the universality of the human form across inhabited planets, and humanity's poor conception of God. The article concludes by suggesting adherence to the principles of Jesus.

Loch Ness Monster

This section reports that the crew of the trawler 'Nival,' operating on Loch Ness in Scotland, claimed to have proven the existence of the Loch Ness Monster on December 6, 1954, using echo sounding equipment. The monster was reportedly 50 feet long with eight legs, resembling a gigantic scorpion. It was detected at a depth of 540 feet, 180 feet above the lake bed. Peter Anderson described seeing the sonar graph needle draw an 'astounding shape' and attempted to track the creature.

Another Radio Message?

This article details an incident involving John Otto, who presented what is described as a remarkable television incident on December 4th and 5th. Prior to this, radio operator Jim Mills broadcast an invitation for outer space beings to send a message. At 11:25 A.M., a rapid, machine-keyed code transmission was reportedly heard. John Otto played a recording of this message on television shows. When slowed down, the message sounded like 'Oriental or Scottish Bag-pipe music.' An effort was underway to interpret the message, but none had been made by press time. The magazine plans to cover radio's role in the saucer mystery in a future issue.

Earthians Not Alone in the Universe

This piece quotes Harvard University astronomer Harlow Shapely, who estimates that there are possibly 100 million planets capable of supporting higher life forms. He conservatively estimates that one in every million stars has planets, and one in a thousand of those planets has suitable conditions for life. This leads to an estimate of one in a billion stars having a life-supporting planet. Further, if one in a thousand of these develops high intelligence, then one in a thousand billion stars supports intelligent life. The Milky Way galaxy alone contains an estimated 100 billion stars, and there are billions of other galaxies. Shapely also stated that 'life phenomenon is widespread and of cosmic significance,' and there's no reason to assume humans are the pinnacle of biological development. The article touches on the vast distances involved in interstellar travel and the concept of instant reversing of atoms.

Lung Cancer Linked to Flu

Dr. Milton C. Winternitz, a former head pathologist at Yale, proposed a theory that lung cancer might stem from the 1918 flu epidemic. He suggests that the epidemic may have caused permanent lung changes in survivors, which could have later developed into cancer. Post-mortem studies of influenza victims in 1919 showed increased cell growth in the lung lining, resembling cancerous growth. Winternitz admits his concept is unproven but notes that the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer is also unproven.

Prophecy of the Twentieth Century

A poetic prophecy is included, foretelling the end of civilization before 1999, a fiery comet, earthquakes, volcanic activity, lava flows, tidal waves, and the destruction of cities, culminating in a 'day of doom.' The prophecy is attributed to P. Cudmore, Esq., B.H. (1899).

This 'n' That

This section contains several short items:

• Hydrogen Bomb Debate: Columnists Joseph and Stewart Alsop report a closed-door debate in 'highest government circles' over the effects of test-exploding 'super-super hydrogen bombs' and whether they can be used without endangering human life.
• Unknown Indian Civilization: An unknown Indian civilization in Costa Rica, dating back centuries, may have been unearthed due to recent floods, with stone jars and relics found from ancient burial places.
• Future Space Travel: Willy Ley predicts that building a manned space station could begin within 10 years and outer space travel could be common within 25 years, provided the U.S. maintains its current rocket research progress. The estimated cost is around four billion dollars, with some believing Russia is ahead in this race.
• 'Cosmic Butterfly' Space Ship: Ernst Stuhlinger, a physicist working on guided missiles, has revealed a multi-billion dollar plan for a 'cosmic butterfly' space ship powered by solar-generated electricity and ions, capable of fantastic speeds.
• Polio Eradication Claim: Dr. Samuel A. Mills of Kansas challenges the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the U.S. Public Health Service, claiming he can prove polio can be eradicated within 90 days using chiropractic methods. He believes polio is caused by malnutrition and body chemistry, not a virus.

Air Force Release on UFOs

This excerpt from an Air Force release states their interest in UFOs is twofold: potential threat to U.S. security and determining technical aspects. To date, UFOs have not posed a threat, but the possibility exists that new air vehicles could be mistaken for them. Interested parties can obtain Air Force Regulation No. 200-2.

A 'Just a thought' section muses on the common description of saucers emitting colored light and how light frequencies, when converted to sound, might resemble 'music from out of this world,' referencing the 'radio message' article.

Editorial Information

The Roundhouse is published monthly by Neal Kearney, owner and editor, at 364 Whitehall, Northlake, Illinois. Gladys Kearney is the associate editor. Subscription rates are $2.75 for 12 issues, with individual copies costing 25 cents.

A holiday greeting is included: 'Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year To All.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on the 'strange and unusual,' presenting a wide array of topics that challenge conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into phenomena such as UFOs, unexplained events, and unconventional scientific and health theories. While acknowledging skepticism (e.g., the possibility of hoaxes), the magazine provides a platform for reporting and discussing these subjects, often quoting experts or individuals with firsthand accounts. There is a clear interest in future possibilities, including space travel and the potential for extraterrestrial life, alongside a willingness to explore fringe scientific and medical claims. The inclusion of prophecies and historical accounts further broadens the scope of the 'unusual' content.