JOHN KEEL NOT AN AUTHORITY ON ANYTHING

John Keel died three years ago, on July 3, 2009.  Here’s to your memory, John.

John summed up his dissatisfaction with ufology in this four-page letter.

Theo Paijmans passed along another of John Keel’s articles for the North American Newspaper Alliance.  This one appeared in the Kingston Gleaner, 1/28/68; it summarizes the many UFO reports from the preceding year.

If you want your first book reviewed properly, do the job yourself.  Or, even better, delegate one of your pseudonyms.  John’s favorite alter ego, Randolph Halsey-Quince, turned in this mostly positive review of Jadoo.  I don’t know if it was ever published.

The sixth newsletter features Mike Lindner’s summation of the first anniversary meeting, including Phyllis Benjamin’s acceptance of the first Falling Frog Award, and a couple of newspaper clippings.

The NYFS held its sixth meeting on September 17, 1988; it was the first anniversary of the society.  John discussed the finances, plugged upcoming events, talked about a UFO sighting in Connecticut, and presented the first Falling Frog Award (to Phyllis Benjamin).  He also delivered a talk on extraterrestrials (not included in these remarks…)

John proposed a sequel to Jadoo; apparently, nobody was interested.  Maybe it’s just as well: it sounds dangerous.

The following letter appeared in Gray Barker’s Newsletter #5, March 1976.  John is rather rough on Jacques Vallee, but has many interesting things to say about the state of ufology.  I’ve included the preceding letter, since Ray Palmer’s thoughts on Fred Crisman may interest many of you.  I haven’t seen Gene Duplantier’s portrait of John; but if I find it, I’ll add it here.

The fifth issue of the NYFS Newsletter was the anniversary issue.  It sported a cartoon cover by Chris Gross and Phil Lord, a summary of the first year by Ron Rosenblatt, news of members, reviews, and announcements for upcoming events.

Here’s another of John Keel’s articles for the North American Newspaper Alliance, passed along by Theo Paijmans.  It was published in the Jamaica, Surrey, Kingston Gleaner, January 10, 1973.  John sums up the past year’s forteana; of particular interest are several early reports of crop circles.