Saucer Smear - Vol 23 No 26 - 1976

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER OOZE
Issue: Vol. 23, No. 26
Date: September 20th, 1976
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of Saucer Ooze is designated as a "Special CIA/Assassination/Paranoia Issue" and includes content related to UFO sightings, conspiracy theories, and commentary on the field of ufology.

UFO Sighting Report: Times Square Photo

The issue begins with a report on a photograph allegedly taken in New York on July 4th, 1976, at 12:30 p.m. on 158th St., Manhattan, near Times Square. The photo, reportedly taken by Robert Dickhoff, a Buddhist llama, was printed in a magazine called the "Prettyville Gazette," edited by UFO researcher George Fox. Dickhoff was reportedly annoyed with Fox for dating the picture incorrectly (August 4th) and for other errors in the account. Dickhoff describes the photo as showing a "zebra-striped spacecraft" that hid behind a cloud, with a cluster of small objects within the cloud. The "Saucer Ooze" files reportedly have an original color print, but the reproduced image is a cut-out from Fox's magazine, which is darker. Fox had drawn an outline of the craft in red ink, and an arrow in blue ink points to this outline in the reproduction. The article thanks George Fox and Dickhoff for the material.

Notes from Here, There, & Nowhere

This section includes several brief items:

• Ufologist Poll: An opinion poll in the September-October issue of "Unknown Worlds" asked readers to name their five favorite ufologists. The "Saucer Ooze" editor, James W. Moseley, was reportedly more popular than Allen Greenfield, Aime Michel, or Dr. J. Allen Hynek, but less popular than Steven Elliott, Gilbert Ziemba, and (shudder) Gray Barker.
• Gilbert Ziomba: It is noted that ufologist Gilbert Ziomba appears to be in prison, and he has stated he is dropping out of ufology until "late 1977 or thereafter."
• Dennis's Bookstore: Dennis, who has a bookstore in Cleveland, is offering a free book list and a sample copy of his newsletter if two 13-cent stamps are sent to his address: 6707 Colgate Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102.
• Timothy Leary's Space Colony: According to "Harper's Weekly," Timothy Leary plans to lead a human colony through outer space in search of intellectually superior beings, with the spaceship to be constructed with Arab money.
• Mars Patterns: The issue mentions mysterious patterns resembling contour plowing on Mars, which scientists are finding difficult to explain naturally due to their regularity.
• Stanton Friedman's Booklet: Stanton Friedman, a Nuclear Physicist and UFO Lecturer, is selling a 32-page color booklet about Marjorie Fish's work on Betty & Barney Hill's star map for $2.50 per copy.
• "Official UFO" Editor: Dennis Hauck is the new editor of "Official UFO," replacing Russ Rueger, who was fired over a policy dispute.

Letters to Ye Olde Editor

• John Keel (as Sylvester Y. Upplemeyer): John Keel writes under the pseudonym Sylvester Y. Upplemeyer, expressing annoyance at being made a lifetime member of a UFO organization without rights, feeling it stigmatizes him and jeopardizes his standing as vice president of the Flat Earth Society. He announces he will be off on another trip, likely resulting in a new book.
• Ted Zilch (Part 1): Ted Zilch writes about a conspiracy to kill John F. Kennedy, citing revelations about the deaths of Giancana and Roselli, alleged CIA hiring of Mafia thugs to kill Castro, and PSE evaluations suggesting Oswald did not kill Kennedy and that Dallas police were involved. He concludes that Oswald was "set up" and a Mafia hit-man was responsible. Zilch suggests that recent "leaks" from former CIA employees like Frank Sturgis are misinformation to protect figures like Hunt, Liddy, and Nixon, and to mislead people into believing Castro was behind the plot. He argues that the CIA hid its connection with the Mafia and its debriefing of Oswald. Zilch believes the CIA was aware of a right-wing conspiracy and kept it secret to avoid dismantling the Agency. He dismisses Cuban involvement and suggests looking at Howard Hunt and Richard Nixon, proposing that Nixon's payment to Hunt was for something larger than Watergate – the JFK assassination conspiracy.
• Salvatore Longo: A non-subscriber, Salvatore Longo, compliments the magazine on representing the "3 D Theory" in an issue titled "Saucer Jews." He agrees that the theory is significant and posits that the fourth dimension (time) co-exists without the motion of a 3-D object, suggesting a correlation between the third and fourth dimensions.

Further Correspondence and Commentary

• Robert Dickhoff: Robert Dickhoff, a UFO photographer, comments on the "3 and a half dimensions" concept, suggesting it could simply be called the fourth dimension.
• Brandon Blackman: Former movie star Brandon Blackman praises the "Saucer Jews" section and "UFOs Fail to Appear Over Times Square." He recounts being present during the Freiberg event, both in the park and on the Stonehenge Apartment rooftop, and is glad to see the "psy-kicks" refuted. He criticizes "hungry writers" who exploit Ufology by rehashing and embellishing stories, citing his own UFO sighting over Brooklyn's Prospect Park Parade Grounds, which he claims was fictionalized in "Saga Magazine's UFO Report."
• George Earley: UFO researcher George Earley responds to the "3½ D Theory," referencing Arthur C. Clarke's idea that advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, suggesting this might be where Ted Zilch got the idea.
• Lucius Farish: Lucius Farish expresses pleasure that his previous book news was of interest and worth publishing. He lists new titles, including "UFOs Over the Southern Hemisphere" and "UFOs: The American Scene" by Michael Hervey, and "The UFO Question (Not Yet Answered)" by P. J. Willcox, and "The Cosmic Pulse of Life" by Trevor James Constable. Farish also comments on the "3½ D Theory," finding it essential and stating that it doesn't matter if visitations are conventional or extra-dimensional.

Addendum to Ted Zilch's Letter

At the end of the issue, it is noted that the first part of Ted Zilch's letter was cut out due to space limitations. This omitted section reportedly contained a Mafia member saying, "If we can 'hit' a President, then we can 'hit' anyone," which, if true, would be a confession of Mafia involvement in John Kennedy's assassination. The editors suggest printing more about this in the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and related phenomena, conspiracy theories (particularly concerning the JFK assassination and CIA activities), and commentary on the state of ufology and its researchers. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical examination, with a willingness to publish diverse viewpoints and engage in speculation, while also expressing skepticism and humor, as seen in the editor's notes and the pseudonymous letters.