Saucer Smear - Vol 23 No 17 - 1976

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER NEWS
Issue: Vol. 23, No. 17
Date: March 15th, 1976
Publisher: Saucerian Press, Inc. (implied by Gray Barker's letter, though the newsletter is edited by James W. Moseley)
Country: USA
Language: English

This non-scheduled newsletter, edited by James W. Moseley, is presented as the official publication of The Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (SAUCERS). The issue is dedicated to Gray Barker and Allen Greenfield. It is an expanded four-page edition, with the editor humorously noting this might signal the magazine's impending end.

Correction and Local UFO Flap

The newsletter begins with a correction regarding the address for the THIRTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL UFO CONFERENCE. The previously provided address was for Allen Manak, a local co-chairman, not the actual venue. The correct address for the Holiday Inn in Strongsville, Ohio, is provided, along with its telephone number, and the conference date of August 28th.

The editor then shifts focus to a significant "local flap" of UFO sightings occurring in the New York City area, which had received extensive coverage in local media. This flap was brought to public attention by a two-page article in the March 1st issue of the Village Voice, detailing a UFO landing that allegedly occurred about January 15th, 1975, in North Hudson Park, North Bergen, N.J.

The George Obarski Sighting

According to the article, George Obarski, a local resident, was driving home through North Hudson Park around 2 a.m. when his radio began to static. He observed an egg-shaped object descend, hovering about 10 feet off the ground and making a sound like an electric refrigerator. A ladder appeared, a vertical door opened, and approximately a dozen uniformed humanoid figures, described as 3½ feet tall, descended. Each carried a spoonlike tool and a bag, and they proceeded to dig up soil samples in an orderly fashion before returning to their craft. The entire incident reportedly lasted less than four minutes.

Witness Corroboration and Further Details

Budd Hopkins, the author of the Village Voice article, conducted thorough research. He discovered that an all-night doorman at a high-rise apartment building approximately 1,000 feet from the landing site had also witnessed the event, though with less detail due to the distance. Hopkins learned from the doorman that a projectile, possibly from the departing craft, had broken the plate glass window of the building's foyer at the moment the UFO passed overhead. The projectile was never recovered.

The delay in reporting the incident by Obarski, which he found frightening, meant that valuable clues at the landing site were lost. By the time research was conducted in November and December 1975, the holes dug by the figures had been filled in by park authorities. The editor interviewed Obarski and found him to be a sincere and believable witness.

The 'Stonehenge' Building and Other Sightings

On January 15th, 1976, another landing was reported in the same park, witnessed by employees of the "STONEHENGE" building, a large circular structure over 30 stories high. The newsletter notes that this building is likely the only one in the metropolitan area with a "landing field" adjacent to it. The article suggests that many staff members and some tenants of the Stonehenge building have reported unusual sightings, though some are reluctant to come forward due to fear of ridicule.

A new story is presented about a mysterious figure seen late at night in North Hudson Park near the Stonehenge building during February. Witnesses described the figure as about 5 feet tall, wearing a helmet with a light, moving robotically, and frequently bending down as if to pick something up from the ground. The figure's face was obscured by darkness, and it appeared to look skyward. Police were not involved, adhering to a local adage of not interfering unless directly attacked.

The newsletter also mentions other sightings in the area, including a 7-year-old boy's report of a saucer-shaped object with spindly legs landing in the park on January 29th, and a Fairview lady's account of several low-level sightings from her home, the most recent on February 28th.

The 'Media Event' Fiasco

The culmination of this UFO flap was described as a "media event" that turned into a "dreadful fiasco." Publicists Timothy Green Beckley and Harold Salkin arranged for radio personality Warren Freiberg and his wife Libby, a trance medium, to hold a press conference at the editor's apartment, followed by an attempt at psychic communication with space beings in North Hudson Park at midnight on Saturday, March 6th.

However, the local press leaked the time and location of the event. Consequently, the park was filled with media, MUFON representatives, cultists, and a crowd of about five hundred people. Despite the hostile atmosphere, the Freibergs proceeded with a circle chant of "Alpha, Omega." The crowd responded with rival chants and disruptive noise. The situation escalated as the crowd closed in, and attention was diverted by the appearance of a person in a tinfoil outfit carrying a flare. This distraction allowed the Freibergs to escape the mob, which then pursued their car.

Later, the Freibergs held a seance on the roof of the Stonehenge building, where an entity named Colderin allegedly communicated, stating that its people, the Grapalins, were here to encourage environmental protection and promised to return over Times Square on July 4th, in honor of the bicentennial.

Warren Freiberg later appeared on the Long John Nebel radio show, claiming the editor had invited him to New Jersey for the UFO seance. The editor clarifies that while he invited Freiberg as a gesture of friendship with Beckley and Salkin, he had no involvement with the media publicity surrounding the event.

The editor apologizes for his "relatively small part" in the "fiasco" but believes it was a worthwhile attempt at communication, even if mishandled. He asserts that the newsletter has made a positive contribution to research on this flap through interviews with sincere UFO sighters in the North Bergen area.

Publications and Correspondence

Information is provided for expanded versions of the story appearing in Gray Barker's publication and a new magazine called Crossroads, with an address for the latter in New York City.

Ye Olde Mail Bag

Under the "Ye Olde Mail Bag" section, the editor addresses correspondence. A letter is mentioned, signed "Gerald Ford," which is actually from John Keel, criticizing the newsletter's content. Another letter from Harry Belil, editor of Beyond Reality, is more complimentary, suggesting John Keel has a negative outlook.

Miss Janice Croy of Denver, Colorado, is noted for sponsoring a UFO convention on August 7th and 8th, and readers are encouraged to write her for details.

The space is reserved for letters from Allen Greenfield.

Letter from Gray Barker

A letter dated February 20, 1976, from Gray Barker, President of Saucerian Press, Inc., to James W. Moseley, addresses the "NON-SCHEDULED NEWSLETTER Vol. 23, No. 16." Barker states that this issue is in violation of an agreement where Moseley transferred all rights to "SAUCER NEWS," the "Non-Scheduled Newsletter," and the club "The Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society (SAUCERS)" to Barker.

Barker asserts that his publishing record shows he continued to publish "SAUCER NEWS" and the "Non-Scheduled Newsletter" until recently, in a format similar to what Moseley has duplicated. He also claims to have continued issuing memberships in SAUCERS, using cards transferred from Moseley. Barker states that his "GRAY BARKER'S NEWSLETTER" (Issues Nos. 3 and 4) is the official publication of SAUCERS and that he has registered the society with the Library of Congress.

Barker holds that his use of the names "SAUCER NEWS," "SAUCERS," etc., represents considerable commercial value. He encourages Moseley's efforts in UFO club work but requests that he use a different name, title, format, or content to avoid infringing on the rights transferred in their agreement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter exhibits a strong focus on detailed reporting of UFO sightings and landings, particularly in the New York City metropolitan area. It highlights witness testimony and investigative efforts, such as those by Budd Hopkins. There is a clear interest in the more sensational aspects of UFO phenomena, including humanoid encounters and alleged psychic communications. The editor maintains a somewhat informal and opinionated tone, as seen in his commentary on the media event and his response to critical letters. A recurring theme is the internal dynamics and disputes within the UFO community, exemplified by the conflict with Gray Barker over publication rights and names. The editorial stance appears to be one of active engagement with UFO research and reporting, while also acknowledging the challenges and controversies within the field.