http://intellivex.com/manufacturers/scib-toshiba/ Coral Lorenzen writes John with sad news: her mother has just died. Nevertheless, she and Jim are “back in harness and working,” preparing for the publicity they expect to get from John’s article in Playboy. John replies with a newsy letter, filling her in on his frustrations with Playboy, the continuing flap in Long Island, and the latest gossip about John Fuller, Frank Edwards, Mort Young, and Jacques Vallee.
June Larson sends John some clippings, and establishes his interests and his bill. She also mentions her discussions with Ivan Sanderson about UFOs over water supplies, and her plan to map the reports. The sideways note on the first letter reads “but Ivan gave me the confidence pursue it a bit.” The one on the second letter reads “Either I am a worse typist than I thought, or my typewriter is illiterate! Please forgive hasty note!”
And do have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Comfortable Solstice, or whatever holiday you prefer. If nothing else, you can celebrate the fact that Dec. 25 is also the birthday of Isaac Newton and Robert Ripley!
Researcher June Larson and John have another exchange about her UFO clipping service, and he sends her a check. Ms. Larson also mentions current reports from Australia, and John requests information on the Gemini flight, water and reservoir sightings, and car-chasing incidents. He is, as he says, “interested in everything.”
John’s correspondence with the Lorenzens has become quite friendly at this point. Jim’s full name, by the way, was Leslie James Lorenzen, and he sometimes used the initials. This is a lively letter: John gives a short assessment of his life, catches them up on his troubles with Playboy, reports on a visit to Long Island and a “water incident” there, reviews Frank Edwards’ book Flying Saucers–Serious Business and Frank Stranges’ film Phenomena 7.7, and passes on news about his fellow ufologists J. Allen Hynek, Albert Chop, John Fuller, and Mort Young. As usual, there’s a lot going on.
June Larson ran a sort of informal UFO clipping service, collecting and copying newspaper reports for other researchers. Judging from this letter, she mostly worked with NICAP and with Ivan Sanderson. Here, she tries to clarify how much material John wants, and how much she should charge him. She also defends NICAP and Major Keyhoe, as the most objective group “in this confused and somewhat ‘off-beat’ subject,” and regrets the energy spent on squabbles and backbiting.
