Exposure to Flying Saucers: Your life may change!

This is an autobiographical piece of sorts, where I look at my memories of being exposed to the notion of Flying Saucers from childhood and beyond.

Me circa 1965,  ready for school.

Roughly the order of exposure, regardless of my love for them:

Past my bedtime, but caught this episode that gave me the creeps!

Not really Saucers, but Ancient Aliens at the Earth's core!

Not really My Favorite Martian, but nothing else on… At least he's friendly!

WE are in control (but lost).

Less scary when we have the Flying Saucer! Space travel goes mainstream via prime time TV.

THEY are in control (but humorless).

A scary show, bad aliens every week!

This is where I got hooked! All the Blue Book classics in four color glory!

An examination of alien races, featuring Orthon and the Flatwoods Monster!

After that, the first "real" book I ever bought!

 Flying Saucers- Here and Now!  by Frank Edwards!
And this book had pictures of real flying saucers!
They can't put it in a book if it isn't true!

 And in the news...

The first UFO case I remember on the news, mostly due to it happening in my home state of Mississippi.

The Pascagoula (Hickson/Parker) Alien Abduction

Through the 70s, I read every UFO book I could find in the library (not many, but free). Along the way, I also had interest in many other sensational things like the NASA programs, comic books, Bigfoot and Fortean weirdness. The only movies I recall seeing about UFOs were Chariot of the Gods (spooky), and later, Close Encounters (disappointing). By 1980, my interest in UFOs was waning, but a film advertised as if it were a documentary caught my attention.

WHY WON'T THEY TELL US?
I actually took my mother to see this!

Hangar 18 was so bad it may have killed my interest in the topic. After seeing it, I just drifted away to more concrete and productive interests. I still loved science fiction and monster movies, though!

If a UFO show came on, I'd watch it, but there was all this very weird stuff about abductions, probing, cutting cows and Cosmic Watergate… pretty ugly and unbelievable stuff. Later, it was more entertainingly served up on the X-Files, which I didn't realize at the time was basically a filmed adaptation of the 80s "darksider" UFO mythology.

Years passed, and I happened to watch a film on Netflix about Gray Barker, a flying saucer writer who was equal parts trickster:

Shades of Gray

I became fascinated with Barker and tried to learn more. Reading about him, I kept seeing mention of a friend and co-conspirator of his who was also featured in the film. Having not found my answers in the literature, one day I wrote him a letter. Before long, the phone rang, 

"Hi, it's Jim Moseley…"

The conversation was interesting, the first of many.

I was back in the grip of the saucers...

Saucer Smear editor Jim Moseley on the Paracast

Jim Moseley was the featured guest in the first episode of Gene Steinberg's show, The Paracast, and was and invited back many times over the years. Jim was the publisher of Saucer News and later, Saucer Smear, active in ufology from 1953 up until his death in November 2012. Below is Gene's tribute to Jim published January 21, 2012, followed by Jim's Paracast appearances linked in chronological order.

Jim Moseley: The UFO Field’s Enduring Treasure by Gene Steinberg

The Paracast Show Archives: James W. Moseley Episodes

February 28, 2006 -- PREMIERE EPISODE! Jim Moseley and Brad Steiger

Explore the personality side of the world of UFOs with Jim Moseley, editor/publisher of Saucer Smear; prolific UFO and paranormal author Brad Steiger. 

August 22, 2006 -- Jim Moseley and Royce J. Myers III

Conspiracy theory expert Kenn Thomas, publisher of Steamshovel Press, talks about the real conspiracies and the ones that don't pass the logic test. In addition, controversial "Saucer Smear" editor/publisher Jim Moseley discusses the "Culture of Ufology."

September 2, 2007 -- Kenn Thomas and Jim Moseley

Conspiracy theory expert Kenn Thomas, publisher of Steamshovel Press, talks about the real conspiracies and the ones that don't pass the logic test. In addition, controversial "Saucer Smear" editor/publisher Jim Moseley discusses the "Culture of Ufology."

February 17, 2008 -- James W. Moseley and Christopher Roth

Spend an evening with the inimitable James W. Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear and his designated replacement, cultural anthropologist and UFO researcher Christopher Roth. This is going to be one rollicking session that will focus on UFOs in popular culture.

April 13, 2008 -- Philip J. Imbrogno and Jim Moseley

Meet UFO researcher Philip J. Imbrogno, an expert on UFOs and psychic phenomena in New York's Hudson Valley. Also don't miss a special appearance by Jim Moseley, the always-irreverent editor of "Saucer Smear."

May 25, 2008 -- Jim Moseley and T. Allen Greenfield

Veteran UFO/Paranormal Researcher Roundtable featuring Jim Moseley, editor of "Saucer Smear," and T. Allen Greenfield, author of "Secret Cipher of the UFOnauts" and "Secret Rituals of the Men In Black." During this session, travel through 50 years of UFO history.

July 12, 2009 -- John Keel Remembered with Tim Beckley, Jerome Clark, Loren Coleman, Jim Moseley, Brad Steiger and Curt Sutherly

We present a special three-hour tribute to the late Fortean author, John Keel, author of "The Mothman Prophecies" and other books. The all-star guest list of UFO and paranormal researchers includes Tim “Mr. UFO” Beckley, Jerome Clark, Loren Coleman, Jim Moseley, Brad Steiger and Curt Sutherly.

November 15, 2009 -- Jim Moseley and David Huggins

 We feature veteran UFO researcher Jim Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear, and contactee/abductee David Huggins, who is featured in the book “Love in an Alien Purgatory: The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins.

June 27, 2010 — Co-host Greg Bishop with Bob Wilkinson, Jim Moseley and T. Allen Greenfield

 Co-host Greg Bishop presents filmmaker Bob Wilkinson, director of “Shades of Gray,” a documentary about the amazing life of UFO researcher and provocateur Gray Barker. Along for the ride are two of Gray’s close friends, Jim Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear and T. Allen Greenfield. And don’t miss a special cameo from co-host Paul Kimball.

December 5, 2010 — Co-host Christopher O'Brien with Jim Moseley

 Co-host Christopher O’Brien presents the UFO field’s famous “trickster” himself, Jim Moseley, editor and publisher of “Saucer Smear,” a thought-provoking publication that emphasizes the unique personalities in the field, and their eccentrics.

July 10, 2011 — Jim Moseley

 Gene and Chris are joined by the irrepressible Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of Saucer Smear, who will discuss the fakes and the outright frauds he has discovered, and sometimes exposed, in the UFO field since the 1950s.

July 10, 2011 — Jim Moseley

 Gene and Chris are joined by the irrepressible Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of Saucer Smear, who will discuss the fakes and the outright frauds he has discovered, and sometimes exposed, in the UFO field since the 1950s.

January 22, 2012 -- Jim Moseley

 Gene and Chris welcome back the inimitable Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of "Saucer Smear," an irreverent look at the entire UFO scene. Jim will come onboard to present not only his solution to the Roswell UFO crash, but answers to many questions from our loyal listeners. This is one episode you won't want to miss!

February 12, 2012 -- Kevin D. Randle and Jim Moseley  Gene and Chris will be flies on the wall for this episode, featuring a "great debate" on Roswell, the Roswell "Dream Team," UFO abductions and other topics featuring Kevin D. Randle, author of such books as "Reflections of a UFO Investigator," and Jim Moseley, Editor/Publisher of "Saucer Smear."

May 13, 2012 -- Jim Moseley, Bob Zanotti with "Voices of the Past"

Gene and Chris present a special "Voices of the Past" episode featuring Jim Moseley, Editor of Saucer Smear, and long-time broadcaster Bob Zanotti. We will revisit the active UFO and occult scene of the New York area in the 1960s, and present long-forgotten show excerpts featuring such researchers as August C. Roberts, Dominic Lucchesi, John J. Robinson, and Yonah Fortner. For a change of pace, we'll also present two of the more outrageous contactees of the period: Andy Sinatra, "The Mystic Barber," and Alexander McNeil.

Jim Moseley passed away on Nov. 16, 2012, and was memorialized in a Paracast episode. 

November 25, 2012 -- Jim Moseley Memorial with Tim Beckley, Jerome Clark, T. Allen Greenfield, Geneva Hagen, and Bob Zanotti  

Gene and Chris remember Jim Moseley, the UFO field's court jester and editor of "Saucer Smear," who died on November 16. His close friends join us with their anecdotes about Jim's amazing life.

. . .

Gene Steinberg launched the site jimmoseley.com to remember the life, work, and merriment of James W. Moseley.