During the summer of 1977, my brother Pat and I had our first encounter with the Spaceman of Ocean Beach. Artist and musician Clint Cary, The Spaceman, lived in a cottage at the entrance to the Ocean Beach Pier.
The Spaceman claimed to have traveled to to other planets, other dimensions. He was transported there by his otherworldly friends from the planet Rillispore. He first began his journeys in the late 50’s after first meeting the Rillosporians in the desert near Joshua Tree.
Later the Rillosporians would appear in his O.B. bungalow to take him on these mini-vacations from our time and space.
As a painter, Clint was inspired by these journeys and created wonderful “cosmic art” masterpieces.
Pat and I met The Spaceman during a rare sober period in his life. We would sit in his cottage for hours watching the waves roll in as Spaceman regaled us with his stories of his travels, extraterrestrial and otherwise. The sessions we spent with Clint were entertaining and engaging. The tales told sober were much more compelling than his later drunken ramblings.
He gave us our “Spaceman Cards“, these were our tickets to travel on a giant spaceship. We would then be deposited on the 3rd dimensional planet Lycillus Apum. The relocation would save us from the cataclysmic destruction of earth when the magnetic poles would shift.
Three months after our first encounter, Clint was back on the Gallo Red Table wine and we stopped visiting.
We felt lucky to have met The Spaceman during a short-lived period of sobriety, when he was at his best as a storyteller.
Now where did I put that damn ticket?
YouTube Videos
City Beat Article
(Years later I e-mailed Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and asked if their hit-song “Hey, Mr. Spaceman” was inspired by Clint. He kindly replied that while the song wasn’t about Clint, he wished he had met our Spaceman of Ocean Beach.)
Out of Bounds 
JAMES GANG! Howdy Mike, hows things…{Flash Back)… I had just arrived in OB that summer of 77. The three things I remember the most about this beach community, were the Woodstock Hippies, The Rocky Horror at the Strand. And the highlight of the summer, you introducing me to the Space Man of OB. We otta hook up sometime and recap on that special time. Still got your card! You may need it…I’m here in Reseda, I still go to OB and Julian…I just flashed again! total recall… Were on a ranch.. some wild ass party with Mike Cooperider and I. We dropped Acid and we were just starting to trip when all you guys busted out with guns doing the James Gang thang…then I remember running when the helicopter shot its beam of light on me..I lit up like E.T …I told Mike “Run for it the Helicopter tring to land on us”…Then some guy was being transported to a Trama center…You Guys through some wild ass parties…I wonder how Kelly is…Those were good times..I’ll dig some Space footage up and you can roll it on your sight if ya want… Later. hope all is well with you and the Gang…Remember Jagat.. my daughter Azarel is thirty..do you remember Miss Rainbow…She great..later Mike
By: Timothy Studley on September 19, 2009
at 1:44 pm
My appologizes for not reading the sorce of orgin..I thought I was on Mike James web page…About the Space Man…I always google Clints name to see whats up with OBs ledgend..It was the summer of 1977, when I first met the Space Man. I had just arrived from Oregon with all the intent of finding out everything I could about contacts and contactees. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to Clint Cary, The Space Man of OB. I was mesmerized by the stories he told. At the time I didn’t really know his colorful past. I just loved his stories. As I got to know him a little better, I ask if I could roll some super 8 sound on him. We became good friends and It wasn’t long befor I was placed on his board of trustees in charge of visual services. His organization M.O.T.L.A. Migration opportunity to Lysillus Apom..9-9-1999..I asked him about the date. He told me he just liked the numbers and the actual Migration wouldn’t begin until…{2012} No he just said it would take place much later than 1999, This was all befor Close Encounters was released. I don’t know if you all remember, but Sandiego at the time was a hotbed for visual encounters. Especially out at this once famous commune called “Rainbow Island” I met a bunch of those guys. Because I was always packing a camera, I was suspect from day one and told to leave. I resented there paranoia that kept me out of the family circle. Too bad I would of documented great footage for them.. They called me “the meat eating media man from LA”…
A lable I later came to love. A fire broke out one summer day and threatend the ranch. All two hundred residence give or take, ran for the hills never to return. Well not as a commune. A lady friend of mine took the place over and within a short while I became a ranch hand. I offered my service to help her maintain the Ranch in exchange for a place to escape the city and to film with out restrictions. She agreed. I must say that the next two years that took place was Probably the coolest time of my life. Especially the Night life. There was a time when it seemed every night we saw ships flying in every direction. She told me,” there not UFO’s anymore there friends so call them Star Ships”. Let the night life begin. For the next two years we experienced multiple close encounters. One clear night we stayed on the roof of the old Chaney Ranch. I was even told heads up, and make sure you Bring your camera…well like an idiot I left it in my Vw bus. That night while we were both star gazing, she started to get very intence and I remember her body was not effected by the chilly night. All of a sudden.. a star ship flew directly over us. You could see it clearly as it passed over a few hundred feet above us. She gasps and says “see didn’t I tell you they would come”. We both watched as it traveled very fast along the conture of the rolling hills. Within seconds it made it to Warner Springs. The ship then accelerated and shot straight up into space, leaving a colorful trail of energy in its wake. I remember jumping off the roof and scrambling for my camera. I missed my chance…. That encounter; removed all doubt that we for sure are not along. Back then It was Pretty challenging to have outward beliefs on any UFO’s. You were just plain nuts if you believed in that stuff. After that encounter I had no problem being one of Clint Carys trustee. I wanted to believe so bad that I must of logged in hundreds of people into the Riliasporian network. How do I feel about it thirty years later. Exactly the same. Its time! All you card carriers start packing. Your work is done here. As a Sub-Agent for the Space Man I believe the time draws near. All card carriers will be contacted when and where to meet. If you got a card your in. Timothy Studley MOTLA agent still active.
By: Timothy Studley on September 21, 2009
at 8:32 am
Mike,
It’s okay if you lost your ticket as long as you can remember your number. It’ll be good to spend time with you and Pat again, even though it will be on Rillispore.
Take care, Princess XR9/7
By: Carol on September 15, 2010
at 12:52 am
I too met the Spaceman when I was a teen and dating a guy who lived in one of the cottages at the base of the pier. I was lucky enough to get my own ticket although it sadly has been misplaced decades ago. Drats… will they still let me on board if I don’t have my number?
His paintings were fantastic. They were so realistic and totally REAL. They had so much detail that you just knew he had seen them in person.
By: Kathryn Rogers on October 20, 2010
at 1:27 pm
Never met Clint Cary myself, but I have been carrying/storing my Friends of Rillispore card since the early 70’s when a friend brought it back to me from a trip to California.
By: Grokstar on January 19, 2012
at 4:44 am
Well, this is a real flashback. I was introduced to Spaceman in 76 or 77 by Jim Musgrove…who is now involved with city council. I was pretty young and had led a pretty sheltered life in Pt. Loma until then. Was not sure what to think but found his spacey art very inspiring and incorporated some of that into my own illustrations here and there…
By: lunadauhnn on June 23, 2013
at 11:34 pm