art bell

art bell

The Legacy of Art Bell: Exploring His Influence on Radio and Paranormal Culture

1. Introduction to Art Bell and His Career

Artifactually, Art Bell was the most important one-to-many communicator addressing topics relative to UFOs, secret governments, mind control, survivalism, deep state politics, heavy metal symbolism, election fraud, the fight against tyranny, exotic technologies, making contacts, political corrections, hurricane modification, secret aircraft, dream programming, heaven, hell, religion, biology, the ecology of gender, cultural studies, distant viewing, fractal art, and detached observer ships of hyper-dimensional locations that humankind had ever known. Although no rival to Rupert Murdoch or Glenn Beck for numbers, Bell’s audiences were substantial contributors to the million plus radio listeners who reported weekly nightly tuning in to his broadcasts. It should be noted that nearly all wrote their responses, or posted, or commented about what they had just heard and what their opinions were in Internet forums and the comment sections of Bell’s websites and his far-flung subsite affiliates. Bell’s influence on the late-type technology information-hungry and increasingly disillusioned masses cannot be overstated.

2. Art Bell’s Impact on Radio Broadcasting

In an age where it seemed everyone with a commitment to conspiracy and a Geocities account was sounding off about black helicopters, the “spheres,” and the “New World Order,” “Coast To Coast AM” was a vacuum for the petty, paranormal concerns of the everyday Joe, who, in the dark of night, couldn’t see his place in the world. Bell had always been a chatty ham radio enthusiast. But it wasn’t until the 1987 repeal of the fair-trade doctrine, which opened the door for “X-Files,” Rush, and Alex Jones’ UFO-loudness, that in 1988 Bell could finally realize his broadcasting dream. The obscure all-night talk show on KDWN in Las Vegas called “West Coast AM” grew out of Bell’s 800 and 900 numbers on the paranormal. The show and his syndicated channel grew to 528 stations calling him “The ruler of the VII Kingdoms of talk radio.” He helped foster an entire genre of radio first created by Long John Neville, now with the emergence of a lot more “sensational undertones”.

Judging by the still-fervent fans of “Coast To Coast AM,” most of whom recall long nights working baking lines, driving trucks, or staying up to monitor a sick kid, Bell’s brand of storytelling still holds a place in the tedium of life and the collective imagination of the nation. “We’re all so busy these days, busy being busy,” “Somewhere along the line, we lost the idea of resting the spirit. I think that’s what ‘Coast’ offered. Rest for the spirit.” Many people don’t remember just how unique his “Coast To Coast AM” show was when it first aired. All alone in the night, with just his little finger on the pulse of humanity, Art Bell became the unwavering nightlight of the paranoid conspiracy monger who couldn’t sleep after the evening news or who worked the lonely beat of the late-shift worker or trucker.

3. Exploring Art Bell’s Contributions to Paranormal Culture

It would be remiss to not discuss the importance of subculture in supporting and enhancing public awareness and interest in unique fringe concepts such as UFOs and outright extraterrestrials. With social networking, niche groups can have an enormous influence. In particular, Bell gave those interested in the paranormal a specific time and outlet for these discussions to occur. Furthermore, they were respectful of other people’s beliefs, even when these same beliefs might be in conflict with common mainstream thought. They would genuinely listen and exchange ideas. As a result, a strong sense of community was developed within the show’s audience. And now, in Bell’s absence, this devoted community continues to foster conversation and promote upcoming and similar creators in Ufology modes. Present practices undoubtedly extend back to Bell’s legacy, as well as the influence of the signal that passed over the airwaves every night for two decades with a story to tell.

The radio broadcaster Art Bell has had an enormous influence in shifting public perception of the paranormal. Bell was able to parlay his gift for creating compelling content out of topics of significant public interest into a media presence so great that, even five years after his death in April 2018, his iconic image remains across numerous internet posts. Bell, who hosted Coast to Coast AM, a late-night syndicated radio show, would converse with his audience, spending hours discussing all sorts of non-mainstream paranormal and conspiracy theories. Bell’s “spooky” broadcasts captured not only the curiosity of his radio listeners but the collective fascination of internet enthusiasts as well. Today, the late broadcaster is remembered by a dedicated community while still making a significant impact on generations of his show’s listener base.

4. Analyzing Art Bell’s Enduring Legacy and Influence

His first show, Dreamland, was a weekend slot and, in particular, a book-based program. The Coast format, for twenty hours per week, grew and shifted but had retained his core, which was to take unscreened telephone calls of some five minutes. Then the presenter would discuss favorites, highlights, or interesting topics with the audience, who would suggest their take on related subjects or ask questions to fill out the show. Rather unusually, adverts played no content whatsoever.

During his time hosting Coast to Coast AM, Art Bell established a late-night to early morning long-form radio show on fringe subject matter as a profitable institution. He was an insomniac and a voracious reader of books of a wide, some might say bizarre, range of paranormal, supernatural, conspiratorial, unusual, and obscure topics, particularly in history, legends, myths, religions, and futures.

This chapter will concern how Art Bell’s career came into the world of radio, the content of his show format, and the broad to specifics of paranormal, legends, conspiracies, fringe, and unusual themes over the years. It will also explore the various forms of his personality before finally quantifying his legacy both during his retirement and the following years in the lives of both famous and unknown members of mass media productions, websites, podcasts, and of course, his millions of fans.

Art Bell is widely acknowledged as having made an indelible impact on the radio industry and on both paranormal and conspiracy culture in the twenty years that he hosted Coast to Coast AM. This legend and icon of late-night and early morning radio has often been rendered as an enigma, supposedly difficult to figure out or ever adequately describe. But after decades of media institutions and entities studying errors and successes, some hard knowledge remains regarding the challenges that come with attempting to fill his colossal shoes.