The first film genre that really captured my attention was science fiction. When I was in second grade, on a certain Saturday morning at King Phillip Elementary School in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1957, they surprisingly showcased a double feature: the beloved "Dumbo" and the thrilling "Earth vs. Flying Saucers." It was my inaugural experience witnessing a sci-fi epic on the big screen, and the sight of imposing flying saucers looming over Washington left an indelible mark of fear in my young heart. The film conveyed a pressing ultimatum from the extraterrestrials: Earth must either submit or be obliterated. Such themes were recurrent in 1950s Cold War sci-fi, reflecting societal anxieties, often alluding to fears of communism or nuclear warfare. Sadly, most of those same fears continue to haunt us. This initial exposures to sci-fi ignited my lifelong curiosity about extraterrestrial life.
Before computerized special effects dominated the scene, the sci-fi thrillers of the 1950s and 1960s were constrained by low budgets. While many of them may seem ridiculous or even laughable today, during the height of the Cold War, they felt eerily plausible. Their popularity during that era birthed the genre, and for kids like myself, they offered both frightful excitement and boundless imagination.
In 1959, "The Twilight Zone" made its debut, and I watched every episode. It’s creator, Rod Serling, really knew how to tell a story. Beyond just science fiction, it delved into realms of fantasy, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, supernatural drama, black comedy, and psychological thrillers. Each episode often concluded with a macabre or unexpected twist, accompanied by a moral lesson. Most were penned by Serling, who also served as the show’s host, usually with cigarette in hand. Serling was renowned as the "angry young man" of Hollywood, frequently clashing with television executives and sponsors on matters ranging from censorship to racism and war.
Serling had already etched his mark on television with dramas like "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and “Patterns” in the 1950s. Disenchanted by the limitations imposed by television censorship, he conceived "The Twilight Zone" as a platform for his unbounded ideas. Its premise revolved around characters grappling with unsettling or extraordinary circumstances, a journey often described as entering the twilight zone." The series, shot entirely in black-and-white, aired on CBS for five seasons from 1959 to 1964.
Today, "The Twilight Zone" is hailed as a classic. Serling's masterful writing ensures that each episode remains as pertinent today as they were upon their initial broadcast, continuing to entrall audiences with their timeless themes and thought-provoking narratives.
My definition of great art, be it cinema, drama, music or painting, is that after I first experience it, I keep thinking about it. Sixty years after those Twilight Zone broadcasts, I can still remember specific episodes in great detail. A chain smoker, Serling left us in his early 50s, not long after he created the first “Planet of the Apes” film.
The science fiction genre has only grown in popularity. Science fiction films have always energized audiences around the world for several reasons.
The exploration of the unknown in sci-fi allows audiences to explore mysterious realms, possibilities, and universes that are beyond the scope of our current reality. This exploration of the inscrutable is inherently appealing to human curiosity.
Sci-fi movies have often showcased advanced technology, spaceships, and futuristic cities, which can be both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. They offer a creative glimpse into what that future might hold, from space travel to AI and beyond. Of course today, we’re wondering if there will even be a future as the possibility of nuclear war remains closer then ever.
As Rod Serling established so effectively, many science fiction films use futuristic settings and scenarios to comment on current social, political, and ethical issues. This can make sci-fi a powerful genre for exploring complex ideas in a digestible format, encouraging audiences to think critically about the world around them while also being entertained.
Science fiction serves as an ideal retreat from the mundane and challenges of everyday existence, presenting audiences with journeys to far-off galaxies or alternate dimensions. It grants a glimpse into remarkable occurrences and characters vastly distinct from ordinary life, a much-needed diversion for many in today's demanding world. The pursuit of a departure from the daily grind through engaging, creatively crafted films is a common desire. This pursuit of escapism has been a core element of Hollywood from its very beginning.
At their core, many sci-fi movies are about the human condition, exploring themes of love, loss, ambition, fear, and hope. These universal themes are set against fantastical backdrops, making the stories both extraordinary and relatable.
Over the last fifty years, science fiction has profoundly shaped popular culture, impacting everything from fashion and language to technology and philosophical thought. Seminal movies such as "Star Wars," "Blade Runner," and "The Matrix" have made enduring impacts, bolstering both their own popularity and the allure of the genre. While there have been notable sci-fi TV shows, none have matched the class of "Star Trek." Bearing resemblances to "The Twilight Zone" in some aspects, "Star Trek" stood out for its promotion of diversity and its optimistic portrayal of a future where humanity unites in harmony.
The combination of these factors makes science fiction a versatile and enduringly popular genre that continues to attract a wide audience, pushing the boundaries of imagination and inspiring generations.
From Sci-Fi to UFOs
During the sixties, battling the onset of insomnia as a teenager, I found myself drawn to the all-night talk radio waves of New York, where I became an ardent fan of the Long John Nebel show. Nebel, whose popularity soared from the mid-1950s until his death in 1978, was a luminary in the world of overnight radio, captivating millions with his syndicated program. His nightly forays into the realms of unidentified flying objects, voodoo, witchcraft, parapsychology, hypnotism, conspiracy theories, and ghosts struck a chord with fans of "The Twilight Zone" like myself, living in the sterile predictability of suburbia. Nebel's program was a rare gem, diving into topics seldom touched by the light of day in traditional media and offering a voice to guests who were often sidelined. It was on his show in early 1964 that I first encountered Malcolm X, and even the likes of Errol Garner made appearances, showcasing the diverse and intriguing nature of Long John's show.
Thirty years later, Art Bell created and hosted the paranormal-themed overnight radio program "Coast to Coast AM," which captivated millions of listeners with its eclectic mix of topics including conspiracy theories, UFOs, ghosts, and everything mysterious. At the height of his popularity, "Coast to Coast AM" attracted an estimated 10 to 15 million listeners on a given night, making it the most listened-to overnight radio program in North America.
Regarding the existence of UFOs, are there are other intelligent species somewhere in the infinite universe we inhabit? While we’ve yet to unearth definitive answers, the vastness of the cosmos makes it hard for me to fathom our solitary existence. My hope remains that someday, all the accumulated knowledge on this subject held by global authorities will be unveiled. The government of the United States has a history of hiding certain key facts from the public. The evidence may already be there.
Reports on UFOs, now termed Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in military terminology, have been issued by the U.S. government, acknowledging that some observed phenomena remain unexplained. However, conclusive determinations regarding the nature or source of these sightings have not been provided.
Recent Congressional hearings featured testimony from three military veterans, including a former Air Force intelligence officer, who asserted the existence of a clandestine "multi-decade" program within the U.S. government dedicated to reverse engineering recovered vessels, along with claims of the recovery of non-human "biologics" from alleged crash sites.
Retired Major David Grusch's testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee last summer marked Congress' latest examination into the realm of UAPs. While the investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena often sparks speculation about extraterrestrial beings, bipartisan interest in recent years has focused on the potential national security implications, particularly regarding sightings reported by military pilots. In the 50s sci-fi mindset, it’s earth versus flying saucers redux.
If Grusch’s claims hold merit, which is plausible, it's conceivable that the U.S. government would be hesitant to confirm their veracity. The potential discovery of extraterrestrial life or advanced civilizations could challenge various religious interpretations or beliefs concerning creation and humanity's place in the universe. It could also be the catalyst for tremendous panic.
I remember watching TV with my father when Donald Keyhoe appeared on The Armstrong Circle Theater. At one point the screened went dark for a few minutes until Keyhoe was done speaking about what the government censored.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Keyhoe#Television_appearances
If you read books on the megaliths, in Ireland, and Stonehenge, and the mounds in America, they all have built in the harmonies of the spheres, musical ratios, the divine proportion. They were time keepers. We couldn’t do that. Often tools and technology that existed according to historical records, didn’t exist. They moved multi ton bricks with ropes? Science is so silly. “The Harmonic Origins of the World”. I was sitting at the bar of Visiones, in the village enjoying a beverage eavesdropping on two jazz musicians. One suggested that bebop was the music that built the pyramids. It’s a fun idea. Not sure that’s exactly how it went down.