2012 Mayan Cycle- What was the first publicizing of this?

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmayancalendar.html

In the 1970’s, I read all the UFO/Ancient Mystery/Paranormal crap I could, and the first time I recall seeing the Mayan Calendar Cycle mentioned was in the book version of the TV “documentary” The Outer Space Connection (1974-75), produced by Alan “In Search of…” Landsberg, EXCEPT that the date given was Christmas Eve 2012. Then around 1978-9, I read Robert Anton Wilson’s Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati, in which he discussed the idea that a ton of cosmic & cultural cycles converged in 2012 (from a study by the McKenna brothers). So did those start the 2012 meme or was there even an earlier source?

Interesting. My readings indicated that there wasn’t consensus on how to read the Mayan (or Maya, as you prefer) calendar until the 1990s.

Perhaps there wasn’t a consensus. That doesn’t preclude possible attempts before the 1990s.

Do you recall the hippy-dippy Harmonic Convergence event of 1987? It was meant to prepare humanity for the 26-year “Hell Cycle” leading up to 2012.

I’m pretty sure I remember seeing the mayan thing mentioned in a new-age book in the 70’s. But all I’ve got is my memory, so I can’t swear to it.