JOHN KEEL

As many Keel fans know, one of John’s first forays into journalism was a column called “Scraping the Keel,” for the Perry Herald. Here’s an example of it — this is an undated proof sheet, but it was probably some time around 1946.

This article appeared in the Hornell, NY, Evening Tribune, on August 24, 1950.  As far as I know, the movie was never filmed, and the novels never published.  John said that one of the novels, West of Washington Square, was tossed out by an irate landlord.

“Our Space Age,” written by Otto Binder and illustrated by Carl Pfeufer, was distributed by the Bell-McClure Syndicate from 1960 to 1969.  The week of March 20, 1967, was devoted to material by John Keel, drawn particularly from his columns for the North American Newspaper Alliance.  I hope you enjoy them!

Chapter 21 of Strange Creatures from Time and Space is devoted to “The Great Sea Serpent of Silver Lake, New York.”  As readers may recall, John tells the story of an 1855 hoax, in which A. B. Walker, proprietor of the Walker House hotel, and a few co-conspirators, made a rubber lake monster to boost business.  What’s more, it all happened in John’s home town, Perry.

This charming old postcard depicts the inflatable beast — although its actual appearance was probably much less spectacular.

Our old friend Mark Pilkington has a new book out, and it looks quite interesting.  He’s started a blog to promote it, and to post material on its subject, “folklore and deception in the UFO age.”  Take a look at www.miragemen.wordpress.com.  It’s dedicated to Keel; and Mark has posted some relevant ruminations, as well as a photo that John took of Mark sitting in John’s favorite armchair.  Congratulations, Mark!

An article entitled “Does NICAP Really Exist?” appeared in Saucer News #72, Summer 1968 (edited by Gray Barker), under the byline of “Winston F. Gardlebacher.”

The article attacks one of the more active UFO groups of the time, the “National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena.”  “Gardlebacher” closely analyzes one of its financial statements, which he calls a “model of deception and padding”; compares the budget for postage and for UFO investigations, and charges that it’s really a mail-order business, selling memberships; and concludes, “It has failed as a lobby, as a publisher, and as a profit-making mail order business.  It is mismanaged on all levels by untrained personnel…”

And who was ”Gardlebacher”?  I suspect Keel: the animosity to old-guard ufology and the close financial analysis are typical; he saved three copies of the issue, in one of which the article is clipped out; and the name is similar to such Keelian personae as Thaddeus T. Farnboggle and Thornton M. Vasaltarp.  So — unless anyone out there can correct me — I’ll add it to John’s bibliography.  Welcome aboard, Winston!

The Ullage Group (a loose collection of forteans and others) will mark the anniversary of John’s death with an event on Sunday, July 11, at 3 pm, at the Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St., Brooklyn.

Some of John’s friends and fans, including Doug Skinner, Anthony Matt, Lisa Hirschfield, Larry “Ratso” Sloman, and probably others, will offer readings, audio and video clips, and other memorabilia from his long and sometimes unbelievable career.  As usual at these Ullage Group events, we charge a pittance (a $5 pittance), just to cover our expenses.  More info on Jalopy can be found at www.jalopy.biz, and on the Ullage Group at www.ullagegroup.com.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, John printed a number of flyers, ad sheets, and booklets in the 1980s — mostly for his own amusement.  Here, for example, is that informative journal “The Unicorn Review,” in its entirety.  Stand up and be counted!