For those long winter nights.

The UFO field is, of course and even notoriously, full of interesting characters. For me, one of the most interesting ones is Glenn Campbell, famous for the Area 51 Research Center (in an old trailer house at Rachel, Nevada back in the day), his Desert Rat newsletter (a paper one sent through the mail) and the mammoth web site he ran for several years. He was on TV a lot when he lived in Rachel. He wrote and published the Area 51 Viewing Guide, pioneered the observation point on Tickaboo Peak (which he apparently also named, in an unofficial way) and hosted, set up, and maintained Errol Bruce-Knapp's UFO Updates email list. Among many other things.

Glenn has gone on to other endeavors in his typically un-typical way, but that's another career or three that don't have anything to do with UFOs or Area 51. Much of his old web empire still exists though, in archived form with some images still intact. It is a treasure trove of lore, behind the scenes looks at stories that were hot at the time, and tons of messages from crackpots of astonishingly diverse nature. Well, much of the crackpot stuff was semi-literate accusations of being a disinformation agent or at least it seems that way, but we'll get to that later. I missed out on all the fun while it was still live, dammit. I was slow to get online, and by the time I wobbled onto the information superhighway in my third-hand Gateway 386, Art Bell and C2C were the dominant presence. It took me a while to stumble on to Glenn's stuff, where I found all sorts of interesting things that were going on when I was still buying UFO magazines down at the bookstore. It would have been a blast to join in the online fun, which was still very much a novel experience.

A good place to start is with the archived versions of the Desert Rat. Glenn had a very interesting approach to the questions of what was at Area 51. He was not judgmental, very fair in his dealings with all involved, and even generous to his detractors and self-declared enemies. The results were funny and good natured nearly all the time. Ufologists and related sorts can be quite humorless, so not only was the DR a breath of fresh air, it no doubt confused the hell out of the ones with sticks up their asses. He was and still is agnostic about aliens. The last thing I know if that he published about it goes like this: If aliens are visiting Earth, they are not bothering me so I don't care.

The Groom Lake Desert Rat

That's just the tip of the iceberg. There are archives of various email lists, free floating articles, and what have you all over the sprawling collection of sites. I've been poking around in there recently, clicking on things I hadn't seen before and a lot of stuff I'd forgotten, and it's always fun. It can get a bit depressing after a while though, since there is so much dark conspiracy and anti-government crapola of a very low order polluting the discussion even back then. One of the things I had forgotten all about was the Thousand Man March, which will seem very familiar. Here's a bit of what survives:

From: campbell@ufomind.com (Glenn Campbell, Las Vegas)
Subject: Million Man March Marches On (a.c.a51)
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 07:52:55 -0800


This is in response to Mike Smith's inquiry on how the THOUSAND-MAN MARCH
INTO AREA 51 IN 1998 is coming along. Yes, Mike, the plan is coming
along pretty good. In fact, inquiries are coming from such places as New
Zealand, Canada as well as from many States in the Union. People are
putting the date in their calendar so they could plan for the event in
conjunction with their vacation time. The reason why the gathering will
probably be successful is because it is very simple. All one has to do
is just SHOW UP at either side of the open space adjacent to the last
Warning Sign posts right at the boundary on Groom Lake Road. It's as
simple as that. Even if a couple of hundred show up, I will consider
that to be successful. However, I do feel that (judging from the
interest created already in this event which is still 18 months away)
there will be twice as much, at least. One night in the month of
December of 1990, we had organized a 40-car caravan on the Mail Box Rd.
Imagine the consternation felt by the Lincoln County Sheriff patrols as
well as the anonymous security force deployed that night who went circles
all over the dirt roads both on the Mail Box Rd as well as the Groom Lake
Road, not to mention the probable "panic" felt by those watching down from
high atop Bald Mountain Security Control that night and watching 40 cars
proceeding south on the Mail Box Rd!! In 1993, we organized a huge
conference in Rachel that attracted at least 200 people from all over the
States , even though the conference was stained by the unexpected
ramblings by my former colleage whose name I don't even need to mention.
(I am no longer associated with that individual). So, getting a couple
of hundred people on June 6, 1998 to gatherer at the site would not be too
difficult of a task. However, several points are needed to be brought out
for clarification about this unprecedented event. First of all, the
Thousand-Man March Into Area 51 in 1998 is NOT limited to men! This is
open to anyone, men or women!! I had stated sarcastically that we would
march right past the warning signs and up to and past the Guard Shack,
right down to the administrative office building by the lakeside, but
REALISTISTICALLY, who would be CRAZY ENOUGH to go ahead and take the
steps past the warning signs??? Probably no one. But even if there
may be some crazies out there that dare go past the signs and up to the
Guard Shack, I highly doubt that shots will be fired directly to the
people, especially with the presense of the media, unless malicious,
provocative acts, such as firing of shots towards the security trucks are
made. The last thing the 'government' wants is a scenario reminiscent
of Tianamen Square in China. This will never happen in the U.S.!! In
fact, to the best of my knowledge, not a single life has been taken by
the security, yet, of any citizen that wandered into the adjacent area
unintentionally. Sure, even now, even if you dare go up to the Guard
Shack, one will be simply detained right there on the spot, with a stiff
fine and several days of time in Lincoln County jail. So, the first
point is that this will PRIMARILY be a large symbolic gathering....a
symbolic show of force to show our so-called 'government' (which tend to
use our hard-earned tax
dollars for some dubious, nebulous programs) that we have a right to
monitor the accountability of such programs, particularly those programs
that may be violating the environmental statutes, such as at the Groom
Lake complexes. With a gathering of several hundred people, the media
is almost GUARANTEED to be there. June 6, 1998 will be a "symbolic"
gathering at the site, with speakers, music, etc., etc. The reason we
chose that date is purely because of symbology........"666" is universally
recognized as a Satanic number, connotation of "Evil". 1998 is the first
and the only year (coincidentally) which divided by three equals 666!!
Why divided by three? Again, a symbol of trinity. June 6, 1998,
beginning at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m., is symbolically the ideal day
to voice our concerns about anything that may be taking place behind the
veil of excessive secrecy that may affect our general well-being one way
or another. Maps will be mailed out to those who wish to be there.
It's as simple as that. Also, we WILL be notifying the Nellis Air Force
Base, the State Highway Patrol, as well as Lincoln County Sheriff Dept.
of the event way in advance. However, while attention is being drawn to
that portion of AREA 51, we will not be responsible for any intrusion by
others into sensitive areas of the Test Site who may take advantage of the
diversion created at the aforementioned location. Rumors are that
several groups may use this event as a diversion to draw attention away
from their own plans, such as an attempt to cross into the area from the
South, from Mercury area, or from the east area, such as south of
Paranagat or from the West area, etc. But that's a totally separate
subject matter for right now.
Lastly, as far as temperature-wise, sure, the June weather during the
daytime is hot in the desert. However, the nights are fairly comfortable.
I hear about the dire warnings about how hot it gets there, etc., etc.
Nothing to worry about. I would prefer the hot desert in the summer to
freezing temperature in the middle of winter!! There will be tents
available there. But, most important of all, A THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE NOT
GOING TO MARCH into the administration building at Groom Lake!! That's
for sure!! Maps will be made available to everyone.
NORIO HAYAKAWA
P.O. BOX 599
GARDENA, CA 90248

Yahoo

=====================================================================
[Below is original message in the thread. (Amen!) --GC]

From: groomwatch@aol.com (GroomWatch)
Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy.area51
Subject: Appreciation towards Glenn Campbell's AREA 51 RESEARCH CENTER
Date: 14 Dec 1996 23:21:16 GMT

AREA 51 RESEARCH CENTER's website (Glenn Campbell Home Page - Author, Traveler, Videographer, Former Area 51 Guy) is obviously
not only the world's largest and best web-site there is in the Internet,
but also, in my opinion, the most unbiased web-site on the topic. What
is most impressive is the wealth of information contained therein. In
fact, it is the ONLY web-site that I can personally recommend to anyone.
It does not attract researchers because of fanciful designs, etc. but
because of the wealth of information and because it is up-dated very
frequently, unlike most other web-sites I often visit. My respect for
Glenn Campbell has become stronger than ever. I am a conspiratologist
and have a conspiratorial outlook on AREA 51, while Mr. Campbell always
seems to take a realistic, unbiased point of view, which is highly
commendable. Yet he is open enough to accept our (conspiratorial
proponents') presence in his web-site.
Thanks once, again, for your continuous effort in bringing out to the
public the many issues of AREA 51 that directly or indirectly mayl affect
all of us in the coming years.
Sincerely,
NORIO HAYAKAWA (GroomWatch@aol.com)

=====================================================================
[Via tmahood@ibm.net...]

[Note: We rely on our readers to cruise the newsgroups and forward us
messages of interest.]

I learned, much to my surprise, that Glenn is despised in many of the grubby little ghettos of tinfoil hat land. Many people still see him as some kind of government operative, destroying their little fantasies. He used to post online as "Psychospy" partly because of that, um, reputation and partly as a member of the Area 51 Interceptors, or whatever that group was called. When I finally decided to join the fray and dive into online UFO discussion back in '07, I needed a moniker and chose my present one partly as a tribute to Psychospy and partly because I always thought Jethro and his iron hat was hilarious. I was a big fan of the Beverly Hillbillies as a kid when it was brand new, and thought Jethro was the funniest thing on TV. Anyway, I immediately got my own dose of animosity from people who apparently believed my username was a clever play on my real occupation. Yes, it sounds absurd and even moronic, but I still sometimes get flak. I find it equally puzzling and entertaining. I posted on ATS many moons ago as DNS, and decided to post a notice of a tour service Glenn was starting, where he would meet you in Las Vegas or somewhere and take you up Tickaboo for a very reasonable fee, to point out what can still be seen of the secret base. Among the nasty responses I got to that was one accusing me of being Glenn Campbell! It wasn't long after that I gave up on ATS.
 
Top