An Unlikely Believer

Prostitution, crime, drugs, and homosexuality – these were the subjects of the first three books by Jess Stearn (1914-2002). Stearn was born in Syracuse, New York, and after graduating college in 1936, became a reporter for the Daily News, “New York’s Picture Newspaper.” His regular beat was reporting straight news, but in the Nov. 27, 1953, issue, he covered something uncharacteristically light, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here’s his report on the flight of a balloon made by Goodyear Tire, one depicting an alien space invader with a disintegrator gun.

Photo by Nick Sorrentino

“As a sign of our times – the Flying Saucer era – the parade featured an inflated Space Man 70 feet tall and 40 feet around. Though held down by a score of men at guy lines, the Space Man almost whipped off into space by a brisk wind a couple of times as the kids screamed their enjoyment.”

UFOs were not his normal beat, but he wrote an epic 4-part article on the topic that we’ll cover later. Stearn wrote for the Daily News for 17 years, then in 1960 became a writer and associate editor at Newsweek magazine for a few years, leaving it to be a full-time career as an author of non-fiction books.

Jess Stearn, 1964 -& 1973

The Door to the Future

Back in 1952, by chance Stearn had met Maya Perez, a “sensitive,” who gave him a reading of his future. It meant nothing at the time but turned out to be the first step in his long transformation from skeptic into believer. As years passed, Stearn felt her predictions had come to pass. Researching soothsayers, he came to believe that some like Jeanne Dixon had genuine psychic powers. It resulted in his 1963 book, The Door to the Future. Even greater success came in 1967 with his best-selling biography, Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet. Afterwards Stearn’s writing focused on New Age and paranormal topics from Yoga to reincarnation, and he was a frequent guest on national television talk shows.

Paranormal books of all sorts were frequently displayed and advertised together, UFOs next to ESP, astrology, witchcraft, and the like.

Right, ad for Bantam Books' Paranormal selections.

Fate magazine ad July 1973

A Few Close Encounters with the UFO Topic

Stearn focused on internal mysteries and didn’t write about flying saucers and aliens, however, there were a few mentions. In Stearn’s 1972 book, The Search for a Soul: Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell said that during the Biblical end of days, super intelligent space beings would arrive to destroy the earth.

Stearn lectured on Edgar Cayce at a convention focused on psychics, ESP, and faith healers, PSI ’74, in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Aug. 2, 3 and 4, 1974. Their program included a token UFO guest, billed as “Charles Hickson, UFO witness." For more on the convention, see: PSI ‘74: Psychics and the UFO Witness from Pascagoula.

Sarasota Herald Tribune, July 21, 1974

UFOs surfaced again in Stearn’s 1980 book, The Truth about Elvis (1982 retitle: Elvis: His Spiritual Journey). The back cover said that Elvis Presley, “…believed in reincarnation, astrology, and UFO's…  Here is the largely unknown story of Elvis’ relationship with Larry Geller, his spiritual mentor…” Geller said that Elvis and his father Vernon had a UFO sighting once at Graceland. It reminded Vernon that on the night Elvis was born there had been an unexplained blue glow (that seemed to herald his arrival).

Stearn attended other conferences where UFOs were in the mix, such as the Whole Earth Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center, May 13 -15, 1988. A review from Pursuit magazine:

“…with holistic health, spiritual healing, channeling, UFO contactees and cases, psychic performances, reincarnation and meditation… at least a dozen speakers or shows going on at any one time…talks by Dr. Andrija Puharich, Budd Hopkins, Tom Bearden, Whitley Strieber, Linda Goodman, Ralph Blum, Timothy Leary, Jess Stearn, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Charles Thomas Cayce, Stanton Friedman, Bill Moore, Edith Fiore, Jack Houck, Brad Steiger, etc., etc…”

Stearn kept writing through the years and was interviewed about his latest book in The Jackson Hole Guide, Sept. 12, 1990. By the 90s, many of the psychic topics he’d been written about had been rebranded as “Remote Viewing.” Stearn’s last book was published in 1998, and he died at the age of 87. His obituary appeared in the Los Angeles Times, April 1, 2002. No mention was made of the time Stearn had written a series of articles examining the topic of flying saucers from other worlds.

 

Stearn’s 1959 Story on Saucer Cultists

Back in 1959, Jess Stearn had a lot to say about UFOs. His four-part article series appeared in the New York Daily News from July 13-16, 1959. Curiously, his well-researched, far-ranging examination did not mention two extremes, Contactee George Adamski or Donald E. Keyhoe of NICAP. Filling their roles was George King of the Aetherius Society, leader of an actual flying saucer region, and for contrast, members of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, advocating a scientific study of UFOs.

An overview of each article is provided below, including a picture of each page. Unfortunately, the photographs did not scan well, but the series also featured a great collection of pictures of saucer personalities. Readers may find better viewing of the articles collected into a PDF.

Spacenik Gold Mine in the Sky: Saucer Cults Draw Devotees and Dollars

Part one started off with a scathing skeptical tone.

“The impact of the flying saucer cult is not confined to crackpots and Mystics. It affects countless multitudes, living otherwise drab lives, who find a new interest in social status in the folderol of saucer research.”

However, Stearn pointed out there were reasonable people also interested in UFOs, like the representative of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York who said that the hoaxers and hucksters were hurting serious study. “Their only interest in saucers is what they can get out of them.”

Much of the first article dealt with Contactees who had spoken at George Van Tassel’s Spacecraft Convention at Giant Rock.

Some of the views of the supposedly enlightened Contactees were racist even by 1959 standards. Backwoods Buck Nelson said, “When I was on Mars, the schools were all segregated, Negroes and white, and everybody was happy about it.” He went on to say that Jews, Negroes, and white Christians were grouped in separate areas on their planet. George Hunt Williamson claimed that Jewish leaders had formed a “Hidden Empire” of world rulers who were preventing the truth from being known about the space people.

The following people were interviewed or discussed in part one: Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York, Buck Nelson, George King, George Van Tassel, George Hunt Williamson, Howard Menger, Dan Fry, and Henry J. Taylor.

Blonde Venus in a Saucer: Some Dish

Part two focused heavily on George King of the Aetherius Society, who had been told by a voice from Venus that earth was headed destruction unless we returned to the teachings of “the Master Jesus, the Lord Buddha, Shri Krishna, etcetera" (who were all emissaries from Venus).

There was a bit on Truman Bethurum and his claim of meeting lovely space pilot Captain Aura Rhanes, and even a photo of the woman who claimed to be her. There was also a description of Buck Nelson’s saucer enterprise in the Ozarks.

Bird? Plane? Saucer? Only a Pingpong Ball

Part three had skeptic Jules St. Germain tell how he’d tricked George Van Tassel into “confirming” a hoax. It also delved into Van Tassel’s many outlandish claims -- and the fortunes he collected from donors. The saucer investment schemes of Otis T. Carr were discussed, with some input from Long John Nebel.

Sane & Some Some Still See Saucers

Part four took on a tone sympathetic to witnesses. The story of George Wilson was told, a pilot with 20 years of experience who became a witness and “believer” in UFOs as something beyond earthly technology. Stearn summarized the position of the Air Force. Isabel Davis of Civilian Saucer Intelligence of New York thought it was ridiculous for the Air Force to deny saucers when they had so many unexplained reports. Their policy had clashed with the reports of pilots like Peter Kilian of American Airlines, who had witnessed three bright saucers and so had 35 of his passengers.

Long John Nebel speculated that “the so-called spacemen” acted like they were working undercover, perhaps exploiting the gullible, and could be “enemy agents.”  

Stearn noted, “From believing in flying saucers, it sometimes is only a step for some saucer addicts to believe in spacemen -- a belief stemming more from their own insecurities, psychologists say, then from anything in the sky.”

The Second Life of Jess Stearn

After his examination of the flying saucers, Jess Stearn rejected the topic, concluding it was full of phonies and fakes, and insecure people who needed something to believe in. Yet somehow, he came to strongly believe in something perhaps more intangible, psychic powers. As an advocate of reincarnation, Stearn wanted no funeral; he believed he would live again. If so, he was given another chance to evaluate the case for UFOs in his next life.

Lost UFO Films: Socorro and Frank Stranges

Frank E. Stranges & The Saucer Films That Time Forgot

The Reverend Frank E. Stranges passed on in 2008, but he is fondly remembered.

"No one knows this more than Dr. Frank E. Stranges. This erudite, holding degrees in Theology, Criminology and Psychology, has dedicated his life to the study of the Bible and other sacred texts in relationship to spiritual growth and understanding not only of our planet and its people, but also of those from other worlds." 

So says his bio/obit at ISUIS. Dr. Stranges also made a few UFO film projects, but it's the missing ones that may matter the most. Here's a news item on his lecture promoting his UFO documentary Phenomena 7.7 from the Redlands Daily Facts (CA) March 5, 1965:

Saucers—Fact or Fiction ... announcing a lecture by Dr. Frank E. Stranges, president of the International Evangelism Crusades... Frank Stranges has just completed work on a color documentary film entitled, "Phenomena 7.7." It will be released to movie and television shortly... Versed in many fields of interest. Dr. Stranges will lecture on flying saucers. 

A review with details of the movie, from the Citizen Times (Cedar Rapids, Iowa,) July 13, 1966:

A Documentary on UFO's ...after 21 years of research Dr. Frank E. Stranges... has produced a UFO color documentary entitled "Phenomena 7.7.' The strange title comes from equally strange information... UFO sightings have been reported to the U.S. Air Force and of these, 7.7 per cent still remain' classified as "unknown... unidentified." Phenomena... is an interesting and well-put-together documentary. Its main purpose is to inform rather than alarm, but in some places it falls short of this goal. Included are concepts and explanations from a variety of newscasters and for interesting viewing but this attempt to cover all phases of the mystery appears to lack any scientific basis. Highlights of the film include impressive film clips and color stills of UFO's that never before have been presented to a public audience, and reports from scientists and military officials on their theories and observances. 

An advertisement in Understanding published by Dan Fry, Volume 11 Number 6, June 1966 made the film sound sensational:

PHENOMENA 7.7 ... DOCUMENTARY-70 Minute, Full Color Motion Picture
concerning . . . Unidentified Flying Objects
by Dr. Frank E. Stranges, Michael Musto, Capt. Merle S. Gould, Wm. F. Paul
– PRODUCERS –
... YOU WILL SEE Actual Motion Pictures of ‘Unidentified Flying Objects’ never before viewed by any public audience. If You Do Not believe in the existence of ‘Flying Saucers’ you owe it to yourself to see “PHENOMENA 7.7.” Hear profound statements from those who have actually seen Unidentified Flying Objects!

Lonnie Zamora and the scene of his sighting.

Documenting the Socorro Saucer

Phenomena 7.7 included a rare filmed segment on one of the most compelling unexplained UFO sightings of all time, the 1964 Lonnie Zamora encounter in Socorro, New Mexico. The documentary is of particular interest to UFO historians for its color photography of the witness and the landscape surrounding the sighting, relatively close to the date of the original events.

The film may also shed some light on later theories about the UFO sighting being a hoax. Debunker Phil Klass' speculation about Socorro Mayor Holm Bursum, Jr being part of a scheme to bring tourists to the town had some reality behind it. The town leaders were banking on the movie, Phenomena 7.7 to bring in the tourists. Project Blue Book files contain Dr. J. Allen Hynek's letter on his March 1965 Socorro visit, where he wrote that Sgt. Sam Chavez  told him, "Zamora did not want to be in the picture, but it was at the Mayor's insistence, via his boss, that he consented to do so. I can't quite believe this myself. When I talked to Zamora later, he seemed to be reasonably pleased about being in the move." A later passage tells of the film producers promise to the town's Mayor in (the Socorro El Defensor Chieftan)

March 9 issue has a story "Film Studios Praise Cooperation Here in Film on UFO's." The letter received from Mr. Michael Musto, a letter sent to Mayor Holm O. Burson, stated, "Phenomena 7.7 is now completed. It will be viewed by countless millions of people throughout the world. It will open the door to facts heretofore shrouded in secrecy. It will prepare the entire human race for a better knowledge of the universe and possible neighbors who may have been observing our earth for centuries."

The Alamogordo Daily News from April 25, 1965, stated, "Posters are being planned by the Chamber of Commerce for placement within Socorro businesses to alert tourists to the town’s claim to fame. A portion of a movie on UFO’s was filmed earlier this year at Socorro. Much of the town’s hope for additional tourist dollars is based on this film, which Empire Films Studio of Hollywood had planned to premier at Socorro soon." 

Sadly, the film did not get national distribution, so the tourism Socorro hoped for did not materialize. It was instead shown at Stranges' UFO lectures and in smaller venues. From the San Jose State College newspaper, the Spartan Daily for May 24, 1966:

NICAP, The Silence Group?

 The UFO Investigator, Nov./Dec. 1965

 In 2014, UFO historian Isaac Koi searched for information on the Stranges film. He shared the most detailed description of it at The UFO Collective, an article from The UFO Investigator from November/December 1965 by the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena, NICAP.  In 1965, Donald Keyhoe and NICAP had great influence, so it is possible their disapproval and condemnation of the film contributed its failure to reach a mass audience. The entire piece is reproduced below:

 Film '7.7' Disappointment 

In Vol. Il, No. 2, we announced that a documentary film built around the UFO landing at Socorro, N. M. in April 1964, would be released in 1965 and might have a strong impact because the AF has accepted the report by Socorro Police Officer Lonnie Zamora as genuine and has stated that he saw an "unknown vehicle." 

We regret that our expectations were not fulfilled. The Socorro case is treated, briefly no mention is made of the AF conclusion. Instead, the film has a commercial twist, showing motel and restaurant owners as highly pleased that so many tourists come to see the landing site. 

But this is not the worst. The film, we have learned, was produced by "Dr." Frank. Stranges, evangelist, who frequently uses contactee stories in platform discussions of UFOs. Several years ago, before NICAP knew of Stranges' activities, he became a NICAP member. Later, he claimed personal friendship with the director, though they had never met, and implied NICAP approval of his contactee reports. NICAP canceled his membership, returned his fee, and has disavowed any approval of his UFO claims. 

The 7.7 film (referring to the approximate AF percent of unsolved UFO cases) includes shots of various contactees, including Dan Fry, who claims a remote controlled flying saucer landed near him in the desert, took him aboard and flew him to New York; also George van Tassel, builder of a so-called 'rejuvenation machine', which allegedly resulted from information given him by outer space beings. Also appearing in the film is a shot of an attractively dressed blond busily taking notes - UFO connection not mentioned. NICAP representatives present said the press seemed more amused than impressed. 

But the most unfortunate angle is that the film is narrated by Los Angeles columnist George Todt, who has written many fine, factual columns supporting NICAPs investigation over a period of years. Mr. Todt has an excellent record in WW II; as a broadcaster and newspaperman; he has fought Communism, opposed suppression of UFO information and has crusaded for another important American objectives. We are sure that Mr. Todt was completely unaware of the producer's background or the nature of the film when he signed up as narrator. 

In the press showing mentioned, Empire Studios publicity men stated the narrator was the 'personal representative of Major Donald E. Keyhoe' implying approval of the film. Under the circumstances, NICAP must put these points on record: 

1. Neither NICAP nor the director was ever consulted about the film. 

2. When we first mentioned it, we did not know the producer. 

3. Although Mr. Todt has been a good friend to NICAP, and he served as a public relations adviser, he is not the personal representative of the director, and he has not been authorized to mention NICAP Or the director in regard to this film. 

We have heard '7.7' is being offered for TV use and we have informed network heads of the facts. 

If 'Phenomena 7.7' is scheduled at your local theater please show this statement to the manager and to newspaper film reviewers, to prevent NICAP's being untruthfully linked with this film.

- - -

The Vinyl Disc 

The 1966 record, Flying Saucers Unlimited, is listed as being based on the motion picture Phenomena 7.7, but seems to be mainly a recorded lecture of Frank Stranges. 

Flying Saucers Unlimited

The record seems to have reached more people than the film, and luckily it has been preserved. This link will allow you to hear it: http://wfmu.org/365/2007/346.shtml

Television: Flying Saucers- Here and Now

Frank E. Stranges, as seen in a clip from the TV show, UFO

Frank Stranges also filmed a pilot episode in Chicago for an ambitious television series, Flying Saucers- Here and Now.

Flying Saucers International No 26, March 1968

It was a promising series, the premise was to base the show on the files of the late Frank Edwards, and the series name was taken from his second best-selling UFO book. Saucers were a hot property in the 1960s, and the trade magazines made note of the show's production.

Broadcasting, March 4, 1968

The May 1968 issue of Dan Fry's Understanding carried a notice about his part in the show:

Daniel Fry, Contactee

On March 26th our Founder-President, Dr. Daniel W. Fry, flew to Chicago for the filming of his particular contribution to a proposed TV series entitled "FLYING SAUCERS, HERE AND NOW."
This series is being produced by Mr. Cy Newman and hosted by Dr. Frank E. Stranges. It is expected the series will be a continuation of the Frank Edwards Program.
We alert you to check your TV programs for this program. Although neither dates nor TV affiliates have yet been announced it is "reported" that 34 stations have evidenced interest in the subject matter to be offered.

Other guests filmed were Carroll Wayne Watts and his wife, Rosemary from Loco, Texas. Watts was involved in a famous contact/abduction case that made headlines in early 1968. Flying Saucers- Here and Now, if it has survived, may be the only film recording of Watts' story, possibly valuable evidence in the study of abduction testimony.

Not everyone took the news well or was looking forward to the series. The MUFON Journal to-be, Skylook, in their May 1968 issue panned the show in advance.

Skylook, May 1968

Like Phenomena 7.7., the pilot for Flying Saucers- Here and Now was shown at Dr. Stranges' flying saucer lectures and conferences.

Spartan Daily (San Jose, CA) Nov. 16, 1970

What became of the films?

A TV Guide listing for early 1969 indicates the movie and TV pilot may have been edited together for at least one broadcast on KEMO-TV Channel 20; San Francisco, CA:

DOCUMENTARY TWENTY  [color] "Flying Saucers Here and Now.” A report on the UFO sightings 1952-1968, includes stills and film clips of the objects and and interviews with persons who saw them. Dr. Frank E. Stranges, head of the national investigations on UFO's, is the host.  

The next listing for the channel suggest the broadcast was 2 hours long.

Phenomena 7.7 was shown (perhaps for the lat time) at the 1971 Giant Rock convention in California, and James W. Moseley who was between Saucer News and Saucer Smear was there with Gray Barker , and Moselry reported on the scene, including a passage on Dr. Stranges' lecture and his film:

Saucers, Space & Science # 60, 1971 PDF at AFU

The last known showing of the TV pilot was described in the Valley News from Van Nuys, California, February 22, 1973:

Unidentified Flying Objects" will be the subject of the family night meeting of Boy Scout Troop 133 tomorrow at 6:30 o'clock at the Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd., according to Scoutmaster Hal Holoter. Dr. Frank E. Stranges, international director of the National Investigations Committee on UFOs, headquartered in Van Nuys, will present a lecture titled "The World of UFOs." He will also show a portion of a color television series called "Flying Saucers -- Here and Now," with sound film showing actual UFO footage. 

Contacting the company that produced the television show revealed that they no longer had the pilot or any records about it. Dr. Stranges' National Investigations Committee on Unidentified Flying Objects still has a website, and it offers a few DVDs, but when contacted in 2012, said, they "only have orig 35 mm of Phenomena 7.7.  Sorry." It's possible then, that the film can be rescued from obscurity. There were no leads found on the fate of the television pilot.

There's a chance, though that someone reading this may own a copy of the documentaries and be prompted to share it so these films are not lost to UFO researchers and historians. If you have information on any of these films, please contact us at The Saucers That Time Forgot, and we will put in touch with capable archivists.