Look what I found at a local retailer this year. Three contemporary yet authentic glass ornaments with a FAB retro space-age theme, ready to hang on the aluminum Christmas tree. These are full size ornaments, not plastic knockoffs. I almost fainted with holiday joy when I spotted these! Somebody pinch me ;)
It all began on June 24, 1947 when pilot Kenneth Arnold spotted some mysterious crescent-shaped lights skipping like saucers in the sky while he flew his small airplane. He reported seeing nine of the objects flying in a "V" formation over Mount Rainier, Washington (There was also a little known report in 1947 near a little town in New Mexico called Roswell). In the war years there were reports of "ghost rockets" and "foo fighters," but the tales never really caught public attention. This story however changed all that. The terms "flying saucer"and "flying disc" were adopted.
After reports of the Arnold sighting hit the media, other cases began to be reported in increasing numbers. By early July there was a sudden surge in sightings. Most American newspapers were filled with front-page stories of the new "flying saucers" or "flying discs" phenomenon.
In 1948 and 1949, strange green fireballs were seen exploding over the skies of New Mexico. Many feared they were guided missiles sent by the Soviet Union. The Air Force concluded that they were merely meteors.
The Day the Earth Stood Still directed by Robert Wise, was released in 1951.
News stories and magazine articles pop up with topics such as "Some Saucers Still A Mystery," "Little Men Dressed In Blue," "Saucers And Mass Hysteria," and "Visitors From Outer Space?"
The United States Air Force, which coined the new term in 1952, initially defined UFOs as those objects that remain unidentified after scrutiny by expert investigators.
During the summer of 1952 Unidentified Flying Objects were seen roaming the skies over Washington D.C. and the White House.
George Adamski allegedly met an alien called Orthon in the California desert November 20, 1952. These friendly visitors warned of the dangers of scientific progress and gave a message for humanity.
In 1955 Fred Morrison sold his flying disc invention to WHAMO, which originally introduced it in 1957 as the "Pluto Platter". Three years later WHAMO rebranded the "Pluto Platter" as the "Frisbee."
In 1957 Brazil, farmer Antonio Villas Boas claimed a space woman captured and "had her way" with him.
Also in 1957 the Canadian aircraft builder AVRO (with considerable funding by the United States Air Force) rolls out its wingless saucer-shaped Y-2 Project, re-named the Avrocar.
In 1961, Betty and Barney Hill reported seeing a UFO following their car the night of September 19. Later, under hypnosis there was revealed a strange story of abduction.
By the end of the decade the saucer craze became an inseperable part of life in the Atomic Era America, and the rest of the globe for that matter: we ate flying saucer wafer candy, we lit our homes with flying saucer lighting, we watched them fly across the movie screen, we read the novelized stories in books, and we could play with an endless array of imaginative space toys. Disney turned them into amusement rides. Song writers composed about them. Architects even designed buildings to emulate them.
Who couldn't delve into the subject of the Flying Saucer phenomenon in the Atomic Age without referring to the iconic contributions made by Hollywood? Fear not... I will not be the exception...
The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951) My all, all-time fave. I can still remember being huddling in front of our tiny black and white set as a wee youngster, staring wide eyed as Gort makes his appearance down the ramp. Brimming over with one memorable scene after the other... but then, I'm a bit biased ;)
Stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Billy Gray (pre-Father Knows Best!) and Lock Martin as Gort.
Day The Earth Stood Still-Bernard Herrmann - Gort - The Visor - The Telescope .mp3
War of the Worlds (1953) - This has to be high on everyone's list. I never passed up an opportunity to watch this as a kid, and would faithfully draw my impressions of the one-eyed invaders on paper. Most memorable moment is Anne's encounter, with the creature's hand on her shoulder. Also quite arguably the coolest saucer design ever seen on celluloid. War of the Worlds (1953) Trailer
Invasion of the Saucer-Men(1957) I never saw this until much later on cable. It's good-humored fun and who can resist the bug-eyed men in this one? Not to mention Frank Gorshin's short appearance! Everyone MUST see this one at least once if you're a true 50's movie fan. Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) movie trailer
Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956) Well, I've never been able to accept Hugh Marlowe as a hero scientist (after all, he was the anti-hero in Day the Earth Stood Still!) But this movie is flooded with saucer imagery. Most memorable scene(s) is the saucer crashing into the Washington D.C. memorial of your choice. Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) Trailer
It Came From Outer Space(1953) Another hero scientist to the rescue tries to make peace with a stranded menace from outer space. I like the ending when one of the bug-eyed creatures disguised as the lead love interest shoots deadly sparks from her wand. It Came From Outer Space
Invaders From Mars(1953) I don't know... it seems like the movie runs on about 30 minutes longer than it really needs to be, but it's considered a classic, plus an original storyline told from a child's perspective.
This Island Earth (1955) Not exactly an invasion storyline, but it does go in to quite a bit of detail into the sad story of Exeter and his dying other-worldly race. And there's saucers, the "interocitor", the "mu-tants" and a hero scientist to boot! This Island Earth (1955) - Theatrical Trailer
Yes, the list can go on, and on... but the End is near.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion of "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" - only at Atomic Living!
---edited--- How could I have possibly left off The THING? Bad, BAD me!! The THING (from Another World) (1951) This one tended to creep me as a kid (it didn't take too much!) I giant carrot-man (played by James Arness) from space terrorizes a polar research outpost. My favorite scene is the beginning when the search-party forms a wide circle around an object they find under the ice, then realize they've found a crashed saucer. The Thing (1951) movie clip
With the imminent possibility of an outer space menace threatening to invade American soil, your first priority is to assure your family's survival. “A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them."
It is with the highest priority that we teach our sons and our daughters these words:
"Watch Out!" "Always be alert" and to "Always be prepared."
Ideally we should begin our children's training at the youngest possible age...
We do this through their toys.
Tom Corbett Space men Figures! These two are definitely up to no good!
Friction-driven Tin Saucer - the spring-antenneaed dome spins!
Tin litho Target Game to become a sure-shooting Space Ace!
Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!
Captain Video space men figures!
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Be sure to come back tomorrow for more -- it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week" seen only at Atomic Living!
Yes indeedy, the flying saucer men have invaded our country, our lives, and perhaps most shocking of all -- they came, they saw, and they conquered our beloved vinyl. Here's a modest selection for your listening pleasure:
The first ever "flying saucer" plastic model kit is produced (and patented) in 1954. In fact, it's the very first space-themed and science fiction kit ever available to the good citizens of Earth. This little hunk of plastic embodies all that America's best and brightest scientific research has gleaned together about these strange visitors from another world.
The Lindberg "Flying Saucer" kit reveals all: the aerodynamic inverted dinnerplate shape, the pair of turbo thrust rockets mounted on the smoothly curved silver hull, the rotating rim studded with jets, the futuristic cockpit bubble... and yes, the presence of a little green man at the controls of the whole unearthly device.
And what of the twin blaster cannons which one must assume that our large-brained friend is aiming? Just what are his intentions? Can we be long for this world???
You too can own your very own piece of saucer history. This kit has been reissued several times over the years. One of the more recent releases, reissued under the Glencoe name, can still be seen offered on eBay.
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Be sure to come back for more tomorrow... it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week," only on Atomic Living!
Yes, the Invasion has begun! But being the resourceful humans that we are, we're ready and waiting (and some of us might even make a profit in the process).
They're out there. Yes, and our Armed Forces are out there too, at the forefront as always. Plunging forward to where no man has gone before.
And it's been scientifically proven -- Women love a man who sees strange glowing objects in the night sky.
Has any one seen the missing hubcap from my Olds???
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All images taken from the Fawcett publication "Mysteries of Other Worlds Revealed" published in 1953. This magazine along with another "The Complete Book of Outer Space" were passed down to me by Dad at the impressionable age of six or seven. And by golly, what an impression they made, sparking off a lifelong passion for all things in Outer Space and Beyond!
Be sure to come back for more tomorrow... it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week," only on Atomic Living!
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 ORBITNewsletter, 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.
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Stay tuned, all this week... it's "Flying Saucer Hysteria Week," only on Atomic Living!
You've found the ramblings of a Retro lifestyler living in a Post-millenial world. Now moved back to his childhood home and restoring it to the optimistic era it was born in.
Can an overworked single father and an irrepressable 9-year old live by old fashioned values vrs. today's, survive the struggles of renovation, and together make a home in a humble '58 ranch?
1957 brings us the Pluto Platter!
George Adamski allegedly met an alien called Orthon in the California desert November 20, 1952. These friendly visitors warned of the dangers of scientific progress and gave a message for humanity.
Also in 1957 the Canadian aircraft builder AVRO (with considerable funding by the United States Air Force) rolls out its wingless saucer-shaped Y-2 Project, re-named the Avrocar.
War of the Worlds (1953) - This has to be high on everyone's list. I never passed up an opportunity to watch this as a kid, and would faithfully draw my impressions of the one-eyed invaders on paper. Most memorable moment is Anne's encounter, with the creature's hand on her shoulder. Also quite arguably the coolest saucer design ever seen on celluloid.
Invasion of the Saucer-Men (1957)
Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956)
The Blob (1958) 
With the imminent possibility of an outer space menace threatening to invade American soil, your first priority is to assure your family's survival. “A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them."
Yes, the Invasion has begun! But being the resourceful humans that we are, we're ready and waiting (and some of us might even make a profit in the process).
It's any day in the 1950's.
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