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By: Gowan McGland
Date: 10/13/98 12:32:23 PM
# Replies: 41
“THIS IS IT, folks,” Bell said at the conclusion of his show. “I’m going off the air and will not return.”
He promised that he would explain his reasons “when the time comes.”
“It’s not that I want to hold anything back from my audience. However, for the protection of my family, until it is otherwise revealed, I can’t discuss it, I won’t discuss it,” he said. “And if you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing.”
He signed off saying, “That is the end of this man’s broadcast career. So thank you and goodbye.”
The announcement appeared to catch Bell’s syndicators as well as his listeners unawares. A spokesman at Premiere Radio Networks, which distributes the show to 400 radio stations nationwide, said early Tuesday that the company would have no comment for an hour or so. Efforts to contact Bell’s office were unsuccessful.
Bell’s weekday show, “Coast to Coast,” was broadcast from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. ET from a double-wide trailer in Pahrump, Nev. He also hosted a weekend show called “Dreamland.” Although the show issued from low-key surroundings, it attracted 8 million to 10 million listeners via 400 radio stations nationwide, making it the highest-rated radio talk show at night. Bell’s Web site boasted more than 21 million hits since the first of the year.
Bell’s topics often came from the speculative fringe: Were there ancient monuments on Mars? Did horrific beings like the Mexican “goat-sucker” really exist? What was the nature of crop circles, vampirism and ghostly sightings? Bell generally let his guests expound on the theory of the night, without rendering judgment himself one way or the other.
Bell-related bulletin boards were chattering Tuesday about the reasons for Bell’s apparent departure from the scene.
“What on earth is Art Bell up to?” one newsgroup correspondent asked.
Response #1
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/13/98 7:23:35 PM
Yay! The "best of" shows are usually better anyway.
Response #2
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/13/98 10:08:13 PM
well, if you ask ME, it sounds just like that superman ploy, where they get everyone psyched up about the death of superman, but somehow, by a "miracle", he comes alive four months later in a comic book with a flashy sequined cover.
speaking of flashy sequins, i just sat through my first whole elvis movie (blue hawaii? I can't remember the name, but it involved hawaii and leis and ann margaret). am i supposed to believe this sideburned mover with a jungle room in nashville grew up singing songs with the royal family of maui??? and what's with this tan? i would say they rolled his face in nair, except that nair wasn't invented until after elvis was dead, i think. it all made for a very distracting movie.
Response #3
By: sooz
Date: 10/14/98 8:14:33 AM
Re: Superman-like comebacks - isn't that what Ross Perot tried to do?
Response #4
By: Ralf
Date: 10/14/98 4:01:56 PM
Art Bell, Elvis, and Ross Perot within 8 inches of scrolling text.
..head... spinning... can't... focus... confused, so confused...
Response #5
By: rorschach
Date: 10/15/98 6:34:23 PM
it the aliens trying to take control of your mind ralf... relax... resistance is futile....
Response #6
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/17/98 11:05:32 AM
btw this art bell guy sounds interesting. where can i listen to him (if they're doing any reruns)?
Response #7
By: Cleotis
Date: 10/18/98 9:53:19 AM
Rumor has it (stress RUMOR)that Art's departure from broadcasting had something to do with threats from "The Masons".
I've never heard Art talk about Freemasonry on his show, but I can tell you this - if he started "exposing" them, he's as good as dead.
I dabbled in a kids version of Freemasonry when I was younger called DeMolay. Even though the dances we had with the "Rainbow Girls" were a blast, there was a veil of weirdness that surrounded the whole thing. Strange rituals involving the Bible (even though it was never read), weird candlelight recitations, initiation procedures, and death-oath secrecy.
Don't mess with the Masons. They're one badass cult, and their hats frighten young children, too.
Response #8
By: Ralf
Date: 10/18/98 12:17:27 PM
Art Bell's friend & associate, Richard Hoagland (the FaceOnMars Guy), posted a message on his website stating that Art's problems were strictly personal.
Like, having 10,000 pissed-off Masons wouldn't be PERSONAL -- they have swords, ya know -- but I think the idea was that Art's got something very conventional and non-conspiracy-theory going on. Think family crisis, or maybe time to check into Betty Ford or something.
AND... there's a strong possibility that whatever the whatsis is over, Art will be back! Yes! YES!!!
There's also rumor-nullifying news on www.artbell.com.
Response #9
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/18/98 4:36:09 PM
SoS: If you're in Houston these days, you can hear Art on KTRH 740 AM from midnight to 4 am Monday - Friday, and approximately but not quite those same hours on the weekends.
It's perfect for when you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, stressing over your job... you can turn on the radio and be lulled back to sleep with soothing tales of alien abductions.
One of the more popular rumors circulating on alt.fan.art-bell was that it had something to do with his wife Ramona having an affair... It's been pointed out that about a year ago, Art mysteriously went on the air seeking the services of a witch, to put some bad mojo on someone. And he said he couldn't talk about THAT either. Afa-b'ers suspect those events are related, and they probably point to an affair.
Response #10
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/18/98 8:02:00 PM
4 in the morning??!/1!? and on a news station to boot! well as long as he's not asking me to send money, i guess i can give it a shot at least once...
Response #11
By: Ralf
Date: 10/19/98 7:20:12 AM
The anti-rumormill on www.artbell.com STRONGLY states that it's not an affair. They specifically say that: Ramona's not having an affair.
(Of course, that's what they want you to believe. The Truth Is Out There...)
Response #12
By: sooz
Date: 10/19/98 8:37:09 AM
I'd like to specifically state that I'm not having an affair. (See, when ya say it like THAT, it sounds kinda like, well, ya never thought I might be, but now that I've got ya wondering...)
Weird, how the power of suggestion works.
But I'm really not having an affair. I'm still a newlywed.
Response #13
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/19/98 11:00:13 PM
i really tried. i set my alarm for 3:45, so that i could freshen my breath for the experience. but to no avail--i killed the clock without even waking up. here's hoping tomorrow morning i'll get my first taste of art bell..
Response #14
By: Ralf
Date: 10/20/98 9:07:25 AM
A few steamy mouthfuls, and you'll be hooked!
I like to wash Art down with a few glasses of crisp, refreshing Linda M. Howe afterwards... the Dreamland reports are sure tasty.
Response #15
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 10/20/98 11:17:52 AM
Uhm, why were you trying to get up at 4am? Jim's message said it was from MIDNIGHT to 4AM.
Response #16
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/20/98 1:54:18 PM
And when I tuned in briefly last night, they've actually got some weenie filling in as a guest host now, which is no fun at all.
Your best bet is to go to the www.artbell.com page and rummage through the realaudio archives.
Response #17
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/20/98 10:50:29 PM
ah gowan, thanks for catching my error. fang, is the weenie interesting? In any case, i'll be sure to check out the home page.
Response #18
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/21/98 6:55:04 AM
I dunno.. the weenie's probably okay, I guess, if you've never heard Art Bell.
Response #19
By: sooz
Date: 10/21/98 10:25:37 AM
And hot dogs are ok, if you've never had ribs.
Response #20
By: Ralf
Date: 10/21/98 7:31:58 PM
And ribs are dandy if you've never tasted human flesh.
Response #21
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/22/98 1:22:03 PM
therefore, the weenie is okay if you've never eaten humans?
Response #22
By: sooz
Date: 10/24/98 12:41:48 AM
Just eat the weenie, skip the middle steps.
Response #23
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/24/98 8:00:48 AM
Inskidentally, Art announced last night, by way of a taped message on his guest-hosted show, that he will be back on the air starting next Wednesday.
Response #24
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 10/24/98 3:31:33 PM
What a jyp!
Response #25
By: sooz
Date: 10/24/98 5:43:26 PM
Art "Ross Perot" Bell.
Response #26
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/25/98 9:44:31 AM
From www.artbell.com, the transcript of the message:
Greetings to you again from the Kingdom of Nye. While all the difficulties that caused me to so unexpectedly and quickly leave the air, have NOT been resolved yet, they remain as grave as any family would ever face. The situation has improved to some degree, and I pray it'll continue to do that. I WILL NOT further exacerbate the crisis by making public what should remain private. In my position, I trust you'd do no less. Should the matter however become public despite my best efforts, I will have, believe me, a very great deal to say about it.To again state as categorically as I'm able, this was not any kind of hoax or stunt, it was not a contract ploy nor a negotiation tactic for more money. Money has never been a goal for me in doing this program, NEVER. Not so much as one dot on an I or cross on a T has changed in my contract. This was and is a family crisis, PERIOD. My network has been nothing but helpful and supportive. And there are too many people to thank individually including all of you, thank you.
My sincere thanks to Hilly Rose for keeping the live forum going during all this, on I might add, very short notice. So I'm very happy to report, I WILL RETURN to Coast to Coast AM and Dreamland beginning Wednesday night, October 28th. 'Til then, from the high desert, goodnight.
Response #27
By: Ralf
Date: 10/25/98 1:11:16 PM
"...and I'm pleased to announce the new format for the show, which will revolve around loyal Americans who have helped expose the ridiculous UFO hoax.
"In fact, if YOU'D like to help, please call the toll-free line to report anyone who says they've seen a UFO so they can receive the help they so desperately need. These sick bastards NEED YOUR HELP! So let's locate them all so we can round 'em up into the detention centers TODAY!"
Response #28
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/25/98 1:13:39 PM
"Megadittos, new Art!"
Response #29
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/26/98 6:39:06 AM
Or Art Nuveau?
Response #30
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/26/98 11:28:09 PM
just like when evil bizarro superman shows up and everyone thinks he's the real superman? hmm?
Response #31
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 10/27/98 1:16:17 AM
Art sez:
>>> Should the matter however become public despite my best efforts, I will have, believe me, a very great deal to say about it.<<<
I betcha it *will* become public, 'despite his best efforts.'
Response #32
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 10/27/98 12:34:04 PM
I really like Bizarro Superman.
He am not cool.
Response #33
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 11/9/98 9:10:25 PM
so i got my first taste yesterday night--it was dreamland and some guy was talking about paraphysical poltergeists or whatnot in psuedo-science talk, and i was getting a bit bored and started to nod off, and then things got interesting. half asleep (i think), i kind of remember a whole slew of commercials for various esoteric things like ginsu knives and an LED flashlight (art bell talked about that flashlight for a good 10 minutes), and then there was news and then there were more commercials (all read by art bell, btw, which had a hypnotic effect on me), then finally i remember the poltergeist guy began to say he was friends with william shatner and that shatner was abducted by aliens and told he was chosen to spread the message of love, but ended up with bitter resentment toward aliens when they failed to abduct him ever again. and the guy was bitter because shatner apparently failed to return his calls.
well now. i don't know if i was dreaming or not. but that was fun.
Response #34
By: sooz
Date: 11/12/98 3:17:25 PM
I'm pretty certain that alien interference is the reason I've had such trouble logging on here lately.
Response #35
By: Da Sissop
Date: 11/12/98 5:55:35 PM
Aliens from the planet Optel. Seems that Optel cable, who bills us for our internet connections here at Walden pond, hasn't been paying *their* dues to Neosoft, so Neosoft yanked the plug a couple of days ago.
We're back online because one of the apartment managers paid Neosoft out-of-pocket for our service. No telling what will come of this.
Response #36
By: sooz
Date: 11/14/98 1:40:38 PM
Now, THIS is exciting.
Response #37
By: rorschach
Date: 11/15/98 12:30:40 PM
LAWSUIT! LAWSUIT! (remember, becky works for a real estate/contract lawyer... )
Response #38
By: Da Sissop
Date: 11/15/98 10:08:36 PM
Hey! Now that ya mention it, I think I injured my neck doing a double-take at my Optel bill.
Response #39
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 2/18/99 12:19:18 PM
Gee, that's gotta suck.
Turn your head and cough Fang
Response #40
By: Da Sissop
Date: 4/29/99 9:16:04 PM
So has anyone else noticed that Art's gone again?
Response #41
By: Ralf
Date: 4/30/99 12:04:25 AM
And his substitute, while nice enough, sucks.