Saucer Smear - Vol 25 No 07 - 1978

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER CLONE
Issue Date: May 20th, 1978
Volume: 25
Issue: No. 7
Publisher: SAUCER AND UNEXPLAINED CELESTIAL EVENTS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of Saucer Clone is a non-scheduled newsletter that presents a collection of diverse and often contentious viewpoints within the ufology community. It features a mix of personal letters, editorial commentary, and reports on various UFO-related incidents and personalities, reflecting a critical and sometimes irreverent stance towards mainstream ufological narratives.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The "Miscellaneous Ravings" section opens with a commentary on NASA photos of Earth, specifically the Antarctic ice cap, questioning their evidentiary value for UFO research. It then highlights the formation of the "Vienna UFO Study Group" by Gilbert Ziemba within a prison setting, inviting correspondence. A significant portion of this section is dedicated to a rumored lawsuit by Dennis Hauck against "Official UFO" over alleged theft of stamps and false arrest, involving publisher Myron Fase. Additionally, it notes the cancellation of a UFO film project by Scotia American Productions and a legal indictment of Richard M. Nixon for grand larceny, explicitly stating its irrelevance to UFOs.

Ye Olde Mail Bag

This section features correspondence from readers. Francie and Brad Steiger send a clip that they believe may end sexual abduction rumors, expressing eagerness for future issues. Todd Zechel, writing as R. Sterling Sylver, acknowledges a mention in "Saga's UFO Report" and encourages more critical content. The section also includes a news clipping from "The Phoenix Gazette" about an "Alien Innocent" acquitted of rape charges, with the alien convicted on other counts.

Letters and Commentary

Letter from Todd Zechel (R. Sterling Sylver): Zechel expresses a desire for more critical content, accusing the editor of slight disagreement and a secret alliance with "Klass" to persecute him. He mentions "Klass" believing him to be Ted Zachary and hints at two divisions of GSW (Eastern and Western) with two Directors of Research, implying confusion about identities.

Letter from Tom Steers (Editor of "UFO Report"): Steers admits that Paul Caruso's message in "UFO Report" was an "in-house effort" for publicity. He announces the "Saucer Scoop of the Century Award Contest" to identify Mr. Caruso, with a prize related to cue cards used for Dr. J. Allen Heinie in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Contribution from Gene Buck: Buck announces the "world's first interplanetary think-in" scheduled for November 12th, 1978. This event aims to have billions of people simultaneously send ESP messages of peace and love to extraterrestrials to test the capabilities of ESP. The date is chosen as "world peace Sunday," and contact information for Interplanetary Think-In Headquarters is provided.

Commentary by Bob Sheaffer: Sheaffer critiques Charles Bowen of "Flying Saucer Review" for lamenting cultists giving Ufology a bad name, arguing that "Flying Saucer Review" itself has published questionable articles. He also comments on the "clonehunt" for an Elvis Presley doppelganger, noting the increased reward offered by "Modern People" magazine.

Letter from Jim Harris: Harris thanks "Saucer Spud" for its content, despite a missing letter from him. He agrees with "Uncle Lou" about unscientific reports from Hynek and others and expresses confusion about the relevance of Elvis' clone to UFOs.

Letter from Gene Steinberg: Steinberg enjoyed a previous issue's UFO mystery solution and praises its evidence. He discusses rumors about replacements for Candy Jones on WMCA's all-night show and addresses the ethics of deprogramming, stating that while people should believe what they wish, counteracting deception is not unethical. He anticipates the National UFO Conference in Cleveland.

Letter from Brent Raynes: Raynes enjoyed "Saucer Spud" and Betty's "Moon Potato" artwork. He expresses sorrow over the death of Long John Nebel. He criticizes "Official UFO" as "metalogical" and mentions Shirley Fickett having "the inside scoop" on certain matters. Raynes praises the newsletter for keeping ufologists informed and facilitating reader interaction. He also inquires about the "semi-mysterious silencing" of "Uncle Lou" and speculates on potential culprits, questioning if all the theorizing is "for the birds."

Letter from Shirley Fickett: Fickett shares information about Chester, Illinois, being burned and reconstructed, attributing it not to UFOs but to an Elvis Presley clone seen "streaking through the streets with a torch in hand." She suggests the clone may have burned with the city.

Letter from Richard Heiden: Heiden agrees with the principle of adults choosing their religion but criticizes cults like the Moonies and the UFO Education Center for followers losing free will. He argues that the UFO Education Center gives UFOs bad publicity and is a visible group in Wisconsin, despite lying low. He notes that many sightings are not reported, making them lost to ufology. He believes the UFO Education Center fits cases into the Adamski framework and dismisses abduction and hostility cases as mistakes by "benevolent Space Brothers." Heiden also questions if Timothy Greed Beckley is the same as Timothy Green Beckley and discusses Alan Abel's history of hoaxes, including the "Society for Indecency to Naked Animals" (SINA) and his "Mrs. Yetta Bronstein" presidential campaign.

Editorial Response

The editor responds to Richard Heiden, agreeing on the issue of cults and their "hopeless" research methods but questioning why deprogramming is only discussed for UFO-related groups and not mainstream churches. The editor also notes difficulty in consistently typing Timothy Green Beckley's middle name and acknowledges Abel as a "professional hoaxter" but expresses belief in Gene Buck's interplanetary ESP experiment.

Letter from Jerome Eden

Jerome Eden writes to James Moseley, agreeing with "Uncle Lou's" criticism of ufology but finding his lament unscientific. He recommends Wilhelm Reich's "Contact With Space" as a "solid scientific study" on UFOs, stating Reich discovered free, primordial, mass-free energy (orgone) that powers UFOs. Eden criticizes "scientific ufologists" for not finding anything and mentions a high-level ATIC meeting discussing Reich's work. He notes that Reich's books were banned and burned. Eden contrasts Reich's orgone energy, which he claims is scientifically verified, with the "balderdash" of Jung's "collective unconscious" and "parallel realities" discussed by other ufologists. He offers his "Eden Bulletin," based on Reich's UFO research, for $1.25 a copy, with a special offer for readers of "Moseley's Journal of Interdimensional Madness."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards conventional ufology, critiques of prominent figures and organizations, and the exploration of fringe theories. The editorial stance is critical, often dismissive of what it perceives as unscientific or sensationalist reporting, while also providing a platform for diverse and sometimes contradictory viewpoints from its readership. There is a clear emphasis on challenging established narratives and encouraging a more rigorous, albeit unconventional, approach to the study of unexplained phenomena. The issue also highlights the personal rivalries and disputes within the UFO community.