Beyond the Facade - Secrets of a Paranormal Radio Talkshow Host

 

 

My Unexpected Path of Spiritual Discovery (Article 32)
including 
"The State of Art" article by Simon Peter Groebner / Fate magazine May 1999 
 
 transcript of my 1999 conversation with Art's wife/show producer Ramona

Presented in this article are scanned pages of the Fate magazine cover story profile of late night American radio talkshow host Art Bell (1945-2018) mentioning aspects of his life that made myself and many national "Coast to Coast AM" and Sunday "Dreamland" radio show listeners wonder about him during the later 1990s.  Art's predicament would result with years of turmoil, ambivalence and recrimination involving the vocation that had made him a nationally known explorer of paranormal topics.  He retired several times between the fall of 1998 and winter of 2013.  Previous blog articles involving him include "My Calls to 'Coast to Coast AM' (1999-2003)" , "Revisited: 'Area 51: The Alien Interview'", "The Atlantic: 'The Listener'", "Paranormal Radio Shows in 2013" and "The Puzzling Life of Art Bell (1945-2018)".

Upon publishing my case study book in early 1997, I thought Art's show would be an ideal platform to publicize my case study book.  This expectation was relinquished on the afternoon of May 22 that year upon talking to Art's wife and show producer Ramona.  Although I published a transcript of the conversation, I've never before explained my predicament that afternoon.

On that day, upon preparing to return Ramona's telephone call I experienced an instance of so-called 'psychic phenomena' that made me aware that things weren't as they seemed in relation to her having stated "I am interested in booking an interview with Mark Russell Bell."  Whenever confronted with this type of awkward situation, I realized the necessity of letting my 'Mark Russell Bell' persona be fully expressed to see where the conversation would lead.  As with other 'chosen ones' experiencing anomalous phenomena of the God Force, to some degree I was trapped in literality — finding it essential to be candid.  Ever since the beginning of my paranormal initiation in August 1995, I've known the necessity of being completely honest about my life.  The transcript of my conversation with Ramona Bell is presented following the scanned pages of the Fate magazine article.

"The State of Art" article by Simon Peter Groebner from Fate magazine May 1999

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Transcript of My 5/22/1997 Telephone Conversation with Ramona Bell

 

V: Pacific Bell Message Center voicemail system 
R: Ramona Bell, "Dreamland" radio show guest coordinator

Q: Mark Russell Bell 
A: Art Bell, host of "Dreamland" and "Coast to Coast" radio shows

(words in parantheses indicate EVP and/or unconscious utterances that I routinely notice during telephone conversations and while listening to any unedited audio or video recordings)

V: Message saved.  Sent today (May 22, 1997) at 9:28 a.m.

R: Yes.  This is Oracle Press in Santa Monica, California?  My name is Ramona Bell and I am interested in booking an interview with Mark Russell Bell, the author of Testament for a "Dreamland" interview with Art Bell.  We're considering a date of July 27th.  If this is possible would you please give us a call?  (gives number)  It is a Sunday program from 7 to 10 p.m. Pacific time and the interview usually goes on for two and a half hours with the authors that we — ("WE") we do have on the show.  If you are able to contact Mr. Bell, would you please give us a call?  Let us know his thinking on coming on the show and we will go from there.  Once again, the number is (gives number) — possible interview on "Dreamland" with Art Bell for Mark Russell Bell on the 27th of July.  ("MEN")  My name is Ramona Bell. Thank you.

(TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 18, 1997 MAILED TO ART ACCOMPANYING THE BOOK.)

Dear Art,

I am providing you with a complimentary copy of Testament.  As you will see in the book's initial interview transcript, I began work on this project after researching 'The Bell Witch,' the famous 'talking poltergeist' case from the early 19th century in Tennessee.  After reading a Fortean Times article about a similar contemporary case in Oklahoma, I contacted the family and discovered they also were named Bell!  This inspired me to visit the family and embark on an odyssey into the unexplained.

As I learned more about the amassing of spirits/aliens encountered by the family, who affectionately refer to Him/Them as 'Michael' (as given a rather stereotyped poltergeist approach on ABC's "Ghosts, Mediums, Psychics: Put To The Test" and "20/20"), I realized that this is in fact an Angel.

In Oklahoma, I witnessed diverse supernatural phenomena and was startled when the materialization of objects around me continued upon returning to Los Angeles, where my condo is located across from the Angelus Temple.  Most unexpected of all, my interview tapes from Oklahoma contained sounds and spirit messages not heard during the sessions.

I continued doing interviews and found evidence that I once was an Egyptian named Bel-Marduk (see color photo 27 on center insert page VII) and discovered that the House of Russell evolved from a lineage of kings designated "the first race of ancestry" (see pages 1015 and 1016).  Also, my mother's original name was King (page 1017).  As I am an identical twin (see photo on center insert page XIII) and a central message of my book is that love is the only religion, the Nostradamus Century 1 Quatrain 95 apparently applies to me:

"Before a monastery will be found a twin infant,
Descended from an ancient monastic bloodline:
His fame and power through sects and eloquence
Is such that they will say the living twin is rightly the elect [the chosen one]."

Are you familiar with the expression "Every movie is a miracle"?  As a studio publicity writer at Paramount Pictures, the only major film studio actually located in Hollywood, I worked as "a carpenter in the Hollywood dream factory."  The studio's mountain symbol is appropriate for my having worked there, as it seems my family tree can be traced back to Jesus and Moses following the Hitchcock lineage (see pages 1027 and 963).  Apparently, in addition to Alfred Hitchcock, film director Ken Russell ("Tommy," "Altered States") is another cousin.

My book is available in Los Angeles at the Bodhi Tree in West Hollywood, the Psychic Eye in Sherman Oaks and at the Philosophical Research Society Bookstore in the Los Feliz area or via the publisher as explained on the attached postcard — this special offer is certainly available to your friends and audience.  I would be delighted to be a guest on the show yet the book itself is the culmination of so many of your themes, you hardly need me.  Apparently, Zecharia Sitchin's expectation of the return of Marduk applies not to a planet but to an individual.  And remember the line "Poltergeists are usually associated with an individual" from one of the "Poltergeist" films?  It seems that I am the focus for every poltergeist case, showing how they each are related to God and His limitless miracles.  The Angel has shown me that no simple bodily nor technological function is performed without the Spirit's assistance.  As my book proves, everything is 'paranormal phenomena' and synchronistically ordered by God, working through people's subconscious minds.  He is always doing the best He can with what we give Him to work with at the time but our time may be running out.  As a race, we must evolve and overcome our greed and self-interest to save ourselves and our planet.  As every work of self-expression has been a collaboration with God and every movie truly is a miracle, you will see when you read the book that films with special relevance to this case include "Michael," "12 Monkeys," "Stargate," "We're No Angels" and "Star Wars."  'The Force' is an effective metaphor for God, Whom the book reveals to be One as well as the amassing of all spirits.

Among the publicity campaigns I worked on while on staff at Paramount were those for several "The Naked Gun" and "Star Trek" films.  The O. J. Simpson case is prophetic because of the Simpson/Goldman name combination.  As you will see in my book, I am quite happy living in L.A. with my 'Angel.'  As in Gustav Davidson's A Dictionary of Angels, "Michael has often been equated with the Holy Ghost, the Logos, God, Metatron, etc."  Did you know that the 'el' letter combination in names like Michael and Bell means "of God"?  So my book is indeed the case study for 'the Second Coming.'  As the 'Christed One' for the new millennium, I have a message of a love and proof of God's Existence for mankind if only they are willing to hear it.  Unfortunately, this evidence may be too daunting for media to handle.  Amazing claims require amazing evidence and that's what my book offers.  Attached are copies of the Oracle Press news release distributed by P.R. Newswire, Daily Variety advertisement, direct marketing post card and a duplicate set of the color photos from the book.

Sincerely,

Mark Russell Bell

(TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: I RETURNED THE CALL APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AFTER THE MESSAGE HAD BEEN LEFT.)

A: Hello there?

Q: Is Ramona there?

A: Yes.  Just one moment, please.

R: Hi.  This is Ramona.

Q: Hi, Ramona.  ("HHH")  This is Mark Russell Bell returning your call.  ("O")

R: Hi there, Mark.  How are you?

Q: Oh very good.

R: Um-huh?

Q: Are you familiar with my book, by any chance?

R: No.  All I've had a chance to read was the background and look at some of the pictures.  ("HAD")

Q: Okay.  Because I thought it might be fun —  you know, it's a series of interviews.  Taped interviews — sort of documentary-style on my life.  So I thought it might be fun to also do this booking conversation for my next book.  I'm doing a sequel now.  Or maybe I should even speak to Art directly.  Whatever you think would be best.

R: Well, that's why ("I'M") I'm calling you to find out what we can do here.

Q: Okay.

R: Let me see.  Is your book available?

Q: Yes.  In fact, I have a —  it's on — there's an Internet edition now on-line.

R: Uh-huh.

Q: Of course, it's available here in L.A. at the Bodhi Tree and the Psychic Eye — and those kinds of stores.  And they have an 800 number at the Philosophical Research Society where people can order it that way.  I don't really have a distributor yet.  You never know.

R: Yeah, that's true.

Q: I contacted, ("LIKE") like, the Quality Paperback Book Club and those kinds of places.  But you know people aren't comfortable with this material, as well you know.  So, anyway, we'll wait and see.  I'm taking a wait and see approach.  My book just was published in January so — I don't have my own radio show to promote it so it's been slow selling.

R: Well, that's true.  ("THAT'S TRUE")

Q: Right

R: But we can do what we can.

Q: Right.

R: If you have — if it's at least ("IN") accessible to the public.  We might be able to —

Q: Oh, it' very accessible.

R: Okay.  ("I HAVE O")

Q: I've only had one review so far.

R: Just one?

Q: Just one review so far.  ("GAY")  Well, it's so long — ("I MEAN") obviously, it's taking people a while to read.  I did send out, like, 66 different copies to media such as Art.  All the major newspapers.  All the TV — ("YOU KNOW") so we'll just — I'm just taking a wait and see approach.  ("OKAY")

R: Well, we can — we can do that.  ("OKAY" "THAT'S")

Q: By the way, ("YOU") as you know, I'm a very big fan of Art's show.

R: I hope this isn't going to cloud anything as far as, you know, programming because I tend to find that if fans can put off the fact that they're fans it would make —

Q: Well, I'm not — I wouldn't call myself a fan (of Art).

R: It would make a better — well, oh, if you're —

Q: I'm very discriminating.

R: If you're a listener — ("THEN")

Q: Because I, you know, I worked at Paramount in marketing and public relations.  So the one problem I have with Art's show is that he doesn't really take a stand on his guests.  I mean he'll let complete loonies appear one night and then people with credibility ("THE") the next night and doesn't really say which — what he thinks.  I think probably one of the all-time lows was what's-her-name — that ("THAT") cult leader — I can't remember — oh, Prophet.

R: I thought that was a very good interview, actually.

Q: Yeah but this woman — you know, they have guns.  They're stockpiling food.  They're letting the impression linger that you can survive a nuclear war.  And that's ("YOU KNOW") just not the case.  So, anyway, but recently I've been trying to get up awareness about the Cassini mission ("THAT") NASA is planning — ("THEY'RE") planning on launching 73 pounds of plutonium into the air.  So if that explodes that's the end of the world.  So that's why I think I would ("I WOULD") like to go on and do some interviews.  I've only done three local station interviews so far.  I'm friends — my friend Ken Champion's show is now going syndicated but I hate his partner, John — (who's) just a complete idiot.

(TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: I SLIPPED AND SAID "BOB" INSTEAD OF JOHN YET CORRECTED THE NAME FOR THIS TRANSCRIPT.  IN FAIRNESS, I LISTENED TO THE SHOW FOR A FEW MINUTES RECENTLY AND JOHN DID EXPRESS COMPASSION WHEN A CALLER TOLD HIM THE STORY OF A TEENAGE BOY WHO TOLD HIS PARENTS HE WAS GAY.  THE PARENTS' RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE AWAY HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.  THE BOY COMMITTED SUICIDE, GOUGING OUT HIS EYES IN ANGER.)

Q: So I don't know.  I'm just sort of — I haven't really been aggressive in — ("I'M NO[T]") I'm one of those people who doesn't think that any publicity is good publicity.  I much prefer to meet in advance with the person — especially on a national break so they can sort of get to know me a little bit and see what I'm all about.  ("NOW")

R: Well, you know, if that's the vein that you wish to take.

Q: Well, no — that would be a possibility.  I mean I would even be willing to go out there and meet with Art.

R: Well, we don't do that.

Q: Oh.  Okay.

R: I mean, you know, meeting people is something that we just —

Q: Well, I'm just discussing — right.  ("I MEAN" "WE'RE")

R: That's why we do phone interviews.

Q: Let me just ask — I'm just trying to get information this time.  Do you know if Art has read any of the book?

R: No.

Q: No.

R: He hasn't.  I mean we don't — ("WE") all I have —

Q: He doesn't read.  ("YEAH")

R: — is what Oracle Press sent me, which is the basic press kit and some pictures.

Q: I see.  Now the bigfoot photo, by the way, I think would be great for his website.  Have you seen the book — the bigfoot photo?

R: Yes.  That's the one that Cliff Crook took.

Q: Right.  (Not exactly.)  Wouldn't that be — I don't know.  Cliff's a nice guy.  I find —

R: We've interviewed him.  ("YEAH")

Q: You did?

R: Um-huh.

Q: That's not what he said.  (Not on the air.)  He said that you were going to interview him but at the last moment you canceled him.

R: Anything's a possibility. ("YEAH")

Q: That's what he said.

R: Remember — we've got dozens of guests.

Q: Yeah, right — ("NO" "WHAT") he was going to be on but at the last moment a better guest came along.  But he's still available.  He'd love to be a guest at some point.

R: We'll make a consideration.

Q: Of course, it's a lot better photo than that black and white one of the guy standing behind the tree with the ("COS") gorilla costume.  ("BUT UM")  Let's see — what was I going to — ("YO[U KN]OW") not everyone is a guest.

R: That's true.

Q: Like I was thinking that maybe if you and Art looked at my website, you could just put it ("YOU KNOW") — maybe on your site and saying, 'An Interesting Site' or something.  What's interesting in my case is, apparently, ("YOU KNOW IN MY") my case history turns out — of course, my name is Mark Russell Bell — but I was an Egyptian by the name of Bel-Marduk, which apparently is also linked with the god Amun-Ra.  So it's just interesting synchronicity.  Your name is Ramona.  It has 'ra' in it.  And, of course, 'el' means 'of God.'  So I'm very good at these meanings in names and finding meanings.

R: Hmm.

Q: And, of course, I worked at Paramount so you ("SEE") even have 'ra' in Paramount.

R: (no response)

Q: So, anyway, ("IT'S") I have a lot to talk about, obviously.  But if I were to go on Art's show, I was thinking, you know, "Dreamland" is a little bit more fringy, of course, so I'd prefer his normal show.  Would there be any possibility of that?

R: Actually, I don't even think there's a possibility of "Dreamland," Mark.

Q: Okay.

R: I've just reconsidered everything.  Okay?

Q: Okay.  Well, I'm going to put — ("THA[NK]")

R: Thank you very much.

Q: — this conversation on my website so everyone can see it.

R: Whatever you want.

Q: Okay.  Thank you.

R: Good-bye.

 

*

Addendum from MRB: After this conversation, I continued sending to Art messages via Email along with occasional faxes and telephone calls during his broadcasts.  Once I sent him a note with an audio cassette copied from the original microcassette of the first interview presented in my case study book.  The note identified where on the tape could be heard clear examples of EVP.  When I occasionally faxed to Art a suggested question for his current interview guest during a broadcast, he did pass on the questions although he never mentioned my name.  A new tactic was eventually selected when I was a caller and spoke to the female host of the January 12/13, 2000 broadcast.  I said:

Q: Good evening, Rollye.  Well, of course, my take on the “secret government” can be summed up in just two words: self-interest.

R: (small laugh)

Q: And the “grand unified theory,” for that matter, is God I believe.  But what I wanted to comment on is that I’ve been hearing a lot of, at best, secondhand information tonight, if not downright disinformation.  And for three years now Art has been covering me up—as well as Whitley and Hilly—and my website testament.org.  And I just wonder if these are all military disinformation people?  Or what’s happening?  Because when you hear names like David Icke being thrown around — and these are the same guests that come in week in and week out.  People like Ed Dames.  They must be —

R: Well I . . .

Q: — on some government payroll somewhere because they don’t say anything that’s usable.

  
Other than this incident, I remained patient with Art and at times reminded him of my willingness to be an interview guest.  My most dismaying interaction with Art occurred during the March 26, 2001 radio show broadcast after he accepted my call during a commercial break.  Along with many other listeners I'm sure, my reaction to his having begun occasionally devoting a telephone line to callers claiming to be 'the Antichrist' was that this showed what little concern he had for helping his audience place in context authentic cases of paranormal phenomena.   
 

Q: Hi, Art. I think that you’ve just got to stop with this antichrist stuff.  It’s just (or “IT’S JUST”) — well I think you’re making a lot of people very nervous.

A: Think so? (“AND I”)

Q: And I tried to talk to Barbara and John Hogue about this — but it’s a metaphor.  Therefore anyone —

A: You know something I wondered about a lot and you might have some comment on this for me, alright?  It was about a year ago.  I was playing this.  I wonder if you remember it.  (horn or bugle excerpt is heard)  Do you know what that is?

Q: No, I don’t think I was listening then.

A: You don’t know what that sound is?

Q: Is it a foxhunt?  (“OF SOME KIND”)

A: A foxhunt?!  That’s Gabe’s horn.  Gabriel.  Blowing the horn.

Q: Well I do know on your prediction show caller number sixty-six never made it to the air and I thought that was rather curious.

A: . . . I did too but I mean do you understand what Gabe’s horn means?

Q: Well that’s a metaphor too.

A: Well for what?

Q: Well —

A: The end of the world?

Q: — you’re not exactly the most Christian of —

A: Yeah, that’s right.

Q: — radio show hosts.

A: You’re absolutely right.  I’m not.

Q: But —

A: But you mean — even I know that.

Q: Well —

A: It’s the apocalypse.  The horsemen.

Q: Well I’ve always thought —

A: Concrete walls crumbling, homes and businesses coming down.  Basically — (Art plays horn or bugle excerpt again) the end of the world.

Q: Well I think of it in terms of a metaphor so I think that we’re all —

A: You don’t need a metaphor for that.  (“I”)  So, see, I was wondering some time ago when they’re actually playing Gabe’s horn like that might in itself be a social metaphor inserted into the public consciousness.

Q: Are you sure that’s Gabriel’s horn or is that Michael’s horn?

A: . . . That’s Gabe’s horn.

Q: Are you confusing Gabriel and Michael?

A: I might be.  But Gabe was an angel.  (“BLUE”)

Q: So was Michael.  And a lot of —

A: So was Michael?  I’m pretty sure it was Gabe’s horn.

Q: A lot of the archangel —

A: No, that was Gabe’s horn.

Q: A lot of the archangel tales, however, can be traced back to Michael.

A: Well I know but I think it’s Gabe that toots the horn.  I don’t know.  Anyway — (line disconnected so I then recorded from the radio broadcast) you get what I mean.  You were saying a metaphor.  This metaphor better not be messing around with the antichrist is why — might be a metaphor that somehow gets introduced to the public consciousness and comes true.  So I was wondering about Gabe’s horn.  East of the Rockies, you’re on the air.  Hi. . . . .

This incident made it seem clear that Art never had read very much of Testament. 
 
My thoughts about Art may be read in the article "The Puzzling Life of Art Bell (1945-2018)".  Below is one of the reminder faxes sent to Art on January 1, 1998.