Jackie Gleason, ‘The Great One’ was a hugely talented actor/comedian/singer. For years he succeeded on television with his own variety show ‘The Jackie Gleason Show’ and most famously for his role as Ralph Kramden on ‘The Honeymooners’. On the big screen, Gleason also excelled in movies like ‘The Hustler’ and the ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ trilogy among others. Gleason is known for his impeccable comedic skills and his over the top catchphrases like ‘To the moon Alice’, ‘Bang! Zoom! One of these days…’ and ‘How Sweet it is!’ But one thing you may not know about Jackie Gleason was his obsession with the paranormal, specifically UFO’s and extra-terrestrials.

        Gleason’s interest in Unidentified Flying Objects wasn’t something he kept secret. At one time he actually had a home built in the shape of a UFO and called it The Mothership. He was also a semi-regular guest on many radio talk shows about the paranormal and UFO’s. And he owned one of the largest collections of books on the subject of extra-terrestrials and UFO sightings ever seen. Upon his death the book collection was donated to the University of Miami where it is still considered to be a wealth of valuable knowledge on the topic. Gleason’s reasons for his obsession with UFO’s was never clear though he did claim to have seen several UFO’s at different times while living in Florida. He theorized that aliens may have a secret underwater base located in the Bermuda Triangle. He also always felt that the United States government had information and evidence of the existence of aliens and had always wished they would release it to the public. Later in life his beliefs were confirmed according to a story that he once told Larry Warren, a famous UFO witness, and later corroborated by his wife.

       Larry Warren is one of the most outspoken first-hand witnesses of the famous UFO encounter at Bentwaters Air Force Base in 1980. Despite the threats and intimidations he received to keep quiet about his experiences, Warren has always been public about the events that took place during those days. One of the strangest interviews Warren ever had relating to the incident was with Jackie Gleason. Out of the blue one day, a representative of Gleason’s company called Warren and requested that he visit Gleason in his home. During the visit, the two spoke about their beliefs and theories on UFO’s and government cover-ups. Eventually, Gleason confided in Warren and told him an amazing story about his personal encounter with a UFO and aliens.

       The story begins with Gleason playing golf with one of his close friends, and at the time president of the United States, Richard Nixon. The two had many things in common but most notably their interest in UFO’s. It turns out that Nixon was also an avid collector of books about extra-terrestrial activities and the topic would often be part of the discussions on the golf course. One night after a day of golf with the president, Gleason received a knock on his door. It was about midnight and to his surprise when he opened the door President Nixon was standing there, alone, with no secret service or aids. He requested that Gleason go with him somewhere and the two jumped into Nixon’s private vehicle as he drove to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida.

       The two drove onto the secure base with the president having no problem being allowed through the front gate. They drove to the far end of the base where they entered a building with several different rooms that resembled laboratories. In one section President Nixon pointed to several large crates containing what he claimed to be the wreckage of a flying saucer. At first Gleason thought this was all a big joke but the two continued into the next room. There Gleason was shown several glass top freezers containing what looked to him to be the mangled bodies of 7 to 8 children. But upon closer examination he noticed that these beings looked much older and were definitely not human. Nixon explained to him that they were the remains of the extra-terrestrials that were found in the UFO wreckage.

       Once he got home, Gleason immediately explained to his wife where he had been and what he had seen. But he never talked about his experience with anyone so as to not betray his friend President Nixon and the trust he had with showing him something so very top secret; at least he never spoke of it again until he spoke to Warren.

       Over the years the experience at the Air Force Base took its toll on Gleason. His obsession with UFO’s became worse and the idea of knowing what he knew troubled him greatly. His drinking became out-of-control and eventually he and his wife divorced. Soon after Gleason’s wife gave an interview to a national magazine and revealed what Gleason had told her the night he returned from the Air Force Base. As if the relationship was not strained enough, Gleason was irate to learn she spoke publicly about his experience and he never spoke to her again. Until his death, Gleason was supportive of groups trying to obtain information from the government about UFO’s. Unfortunately he didn’t live long enough to see that happen.

- Tom Stewart