What's on my Coffee Table? - "The Invasion Begins"

It's any day in the 1950's.

There's trouble brewing underneath the calm optimistic exterior of America.

The question lurking in the back of many people's minds - "Are we under the threat of being invaded?"

An invasion not just by unfriendly forces overseas, but quite possibly by beings from another world.

Like the title of the book says, flying saucers were serious business back in mid-century American culture. Flying Saucer Occupants was published in 1967, Flying Saucers-Serious Business in 1966, and The Flying Saucer Reader in 1967.

The ORBIT Newsletter, was put out by Leonard H. Stringfield, founder of CRIFO (Civilian Research, Interplanetary Flying Objects) - just one of the many saucer enthusiast groups to spring up in the 1950's and 60's. General news accounts of glowing orbs seen in the sky were faithfully published each month for the membership.

This batch, dated 1956-57, came from my Grandmother of all people! She was loaned them by a friend... and they just never got returned ;X

Thick pulp magazines were very popular reading back in the day. The publishers however didn't necessarily try to stick to "just the facts ma'am." There was a fair amount of speculation and fanciful story-telling mixed in with the supposed news items. As for me, I like the collage-style art, with the cut out of the United Planets Cruiser C-57D from the movie Forbidden Planet on the cover. The pulp publication date is 1957.

The United States, under threat of a flying saucer invasion.

Think it's all just a bunch of malarkey? Nothing but a big joke?

Yes, that's just what I used to think too. Then it suddenly dawned on me, and now it all makes sense...

Mars wants our women.

- - -

Stay tuned, all this week... it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week," only on Atomic Living!

(pssst!... Thanks to blogger 1950's Atomic Ranch House for providing the inspiration for this post)