The Abominable Snowman: Was Film's Creator Aware of Paranormal Bigfoot?

In this week's Trickster Realm for Binnall of America, I wonder if Nigel Kneale, writer of the 1957 film The Abominable Snowman: was aware of the paranormal characteristics of Bigfoot/Yeti?

This was on the other day, and I caught the last half hour. I was struck by the telepathy and paranormal characteristics of the Yeti in this 1957 movie; this is the subject of my Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America, which will be up sometime Monday. Here's a clip from the movie, which starred Peter Cushing and Forrest Tucker.

Blogsquatcher Interviews Henry Franzoni

So, have you read the interview yet? No? Do it!

As far as the question of "paranormal" Bigfoot vs. "flesh and blood" it's an exciting -- and typical bit of synchronicity -- that this is discussed in the way it is, since I've been thinking about this lately. And I came to the conclusion (as much as one can in these areas) that the manipulation of sound and energy are abilities of Sasquatch, which would cause us to think of Sasquatch as "paranormal." And in a way, it is paranormal, but, like UFOs and "aliens" their almost magic like characteristics are either technology, as in the case of UFOs, or the edge of preternatural abilities to use energy, including sound, in seemingly magical or "paranormal" ways. And is paranormal is really just a word to describe normal, just the part of normal we don't yet completely understood, or can explain, then . . . as some researchers say of the paranormal vs. flesh and blood Bigfoot question, "it's both."

I don't intend to give the impression Franzoni is in any New Age "bigfoot are our psychic brothers" stuff; there's solid ideas, research and science here, as well as data that's been around for some time but somehow lost or forgotten.

All right, I know I'm rambling. Point is, Blogsquatcher has brought us a fantastic interview, and everyone needs to read it.

I would love to buy Henry Franzoni's book, but it is spendy $59.00 plus s/h. Well worth it I'm sure, given there are maps, etc. but it's something I need to save for and wait until I can afford it. But in the meantime, there is the interview, and his website.

Henry Franzoni - Don't Miss This!

Blogsquatcher has done a valuable thing for Bigfoot research;
brought us a lot from Henry Franzoni, introduced thusly:

Henry's views of the bigfoot phenomenon are not your garden variety views. He has a very idiosyncratic viewpoint built up over years of personal experience, and also though interacting with various PNW Indian tribes. I know that some of what Henry says and thinks will be very hard for most bigfoot enthusiasts to swallow.

That’s something that cannot be ignored!

I'm only halfway through the interview so far but was so excited had to post the link here. Franzoni is an amazing person; from his background, how he "fell backward" into biology, and his views on Bigfoot, or as he calls Bigfoot, Seatco. Why does he call Bigfoot Seatco? You have to read the interview to find out!

eBay Win: Vintage Bigfoot Postcard

Just won this item on eBay, couldn't resist.

Wolverine Synchronicity, Otters and Other Random Bits

I have some updates on "wolverine synchronicity -- both the animal kind, and the Hugh Jackman kind, at my blog Octopus Confessional.

And at the Oregon L.O.W.F.I. at L.O.W.F.I. (Hover on links on your right; the links take you to the different regions, including Oregon) I have a piece up about wolves in Oregon, as well as an item about otters.

My Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America this week is about animal iconography in food promotion and advertising: Conspiracies and Cannibalism: Animals and Advertising

Raven's Mysterious Haven on the "Ghillie" Suit

This comes by way of Crypto Squad USA contributor Raven, of Raven's Mysterious Haven out of Michigan. Raven's posted an interesting piece about possible cases of mistaken identity when it comes to some Bigfoot sightings. Is it possible, Raven asks, that now and then seeing a human in a "ghillie" could make someone think they saw a Bigfoot? Read it here and see. (Thanks to Nick Redfern at Crypto Squad USA for link.)

This is something I've never thought of before; I didn't even know these suits existed. It's a good thing to know, and to keep watch out for. Using my own example, if I saw something like that in the woods, and not knowing about these suits that some hunters, etc. use, I might think I saw a Bigfoot too. I have no idea of course what I'd really think, or how I"d react, in that situation (thinking I've seen a Bigfoot) but knowing what could be mistaken for something else is a good thing; helpful information to consider carefully all the possibilities in such cases.

Monkey-Goblin News

A blog I've discovered recently -- They Don't See Through Us -- has a lot of interesting images and posts about the alien body in Mexico.

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Read about the McMinnville UFO gossip and more!

On Women of Esoterica: Echoes of Georgia Bigfoot Hoax?

On my Women Of Esoterica blog: not about Bigfoot, but about the recent news of an "alien" ET body found in Mexico. Echoes of Georgia Bigfoot Hoax?

Sasquatch: Kill, No Kill Policy

My article on the kill, no kill policy concerning Bigfoot is up at Binnall of America.

Tishmingo, Adopted Wolf from Howling Wolf Sanctuary

I adopted a wolf from Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary in Oregon. Isn't he beautiful? His name is Tishmingo. With the adoption you get a photograph, a bio of the wolf and a certificate.

Tishmingo was born in 1999. He is a Timber/Arctic wolf, and the Alpha wolf in his pack.

I know it's very tough times for many of us, but if you can afford to adopt a wolf, send a donation (money, food, etc.) I know the sanctuary will appreciate it.

Ivan T. Sandseron on "Flix," The Creature in Conser Lake

In my book The Ghost of Conser Lake, (unpublished) I cite an interesting passage from Ivan T. Sanderson’s book Abominable Snowmen about the creature. (You can read a previous section of the book here. Mention of “Flix,” the Bigfoot like being that appeared in Millersburg, Oregon in the late 1950s -early 1960s, is one of those interesting high strangeness BHM (big hairy monster) cases. Here’s a section from my book, with added comments in parentheses.


Flix Gets Around
Flix made the news for a good two years. He was seen off and on in the area during that time. Clarence Starr, owner of the Owl Cafe in Albany at the time, told Westby (Betty Westby, the reporter who wrote several articles about Flix for the Democrat Albany Herald newspaper) that the monster “had trampled down a lot of mint on his farm and that he will not be able to harvest much of his crop.”

An elderly woman “who came from one of the early pioneer families,” the paper noted, walked into the Greater Albany office to give her story of her encounter with Flix:

“That monster was in our pasture last night. My neighbor took a shot at it. He found some blood on the ground, so he thinks he hit it. We saw its tracks, and the women in our neighborhood are scared to go anywhere at night or even sit on porches or leave the doors or windows open. I think he sheriff an state police should Hunt this creature down before it kills someone.”

The newspaper tried to explain to the woman a “big white cow” had recently escaped from its owner’s truck and that this is what she saw, but “she refused to believe our explanation.”

Mrs. Penning in Devers-Conner, about 30 miles south of Millersburg, told Betty Westby she heard "dripping sounds," even though it was August. (Interesting that Mrs. Penning described the “dripping” sound; remember that Flix’s footsteps were also described as “squishy.”) Looking out her living room window she saw a “large, light form,” hurrying away, and heard a “low pitched cry that seems to start from its toes, tapering off to a squeal like a pig’s.” Penning also fond fingerprints on her bedroom window, and Westby spectacled that they were web shaped, due to the four fingered, spread-out shape of the prints.

Three years later, the story of the Creature of Conser Lake was still news. In an article by Martin Clark, Albany Journal staff writer, he comments on writer Keith Sosebe’s upcoming talk on the “monster.”

“Leaping from the shadow of a deep gully, the thing stood fully 7 feet tall in the ghostly moonlight. Petrified with mingled horror and curiosity, the young people sat motionless in their car. Suddenly, the apparition took at enormous leap over the gully and slipped away trough a tangle of boughs.”

By October, Flix, or a similar creature, was reported in Stanton, Oregon, 30 miles from Millersburg. (Oregon) It seems that Flix moved within an approximate 30 mile radius. This is assuming it was the same creature of course. Calls came into the Stayton police station of an “eight foot tall hairy monster,” and monster hunters were quick to look for the creature. Fortunately the police stopped a group of teens, armed with guns and beer, who decided to go monster hunting, before they could do any damage.

A Herd of Flixes?
Cryptozoologist and biologist Ivan T. Sanderson discussed the Conser Lake monster briefly in his book Abominable Snowmen:Legend Come to Life, citing a small item that appeared in the January, 1961 edition of FATE magazine, reporting that the “monster” was “still on the loose.” Sanderson also writes in Abominable Snowmen that a source wrote Sanderson in October of 1960, insisting that there was not only the one Flix, but several “Flixes” in the area. According to Sanderson’s unnamed friend, there were more than one BHM, several in fact, and fingerprint as well as footprint casts were taken. Referring to Flix, the letter writer described the creature:

he makes extremely high pitched sounds. his hair or fur had slight glow in the dark . . .feet make a squishy sound. Has been seen at day and night and seen to disappear into the lake.”

This last part about Flix disappearing into the lake gives some support to the theory about BHM, and/or Bigfoot, living underground. Sanderson also supported this idea. The letter writer mentions a “Hal Starr” who has had contact with more than one of these creatures. In the correspondence sent to Sanderson about the Conser lake “monster,”
the letter writer reports that “Creatures (italics mine) were still being sighted on a farmer’s farm.” The name given was Hal Starr; is this the owner of the Owl Cafe mentioned earlier?(Cal,or Hal?)

Flix himself verified Sanderson’s source that there was more than one creature. The creature told psychic Jane Waterby (Waterby was a friend of Betty Westby's and the two visited the lake to try and communicate with Flix.) that he wasn’t the only creature of his kind:

"I am sorry for you alien friend. What are you called?”
“I am called Flix. there are many like me, but I am the one called Flix.”

Another typical, yet frustrating detail Sanderson’s friend gives is the writer’s comment that a “finger print [was] lifted off a house window including a plaster cast of a foot print.” Sanderson's friend also said he had physical evidence:

“Have personal taped accounts of this creature . . . this includes photographs.”

But no photographs, fingerprints, footprints or recordings have turned up. As with much of UFO, cryptid and Fortean phenomena, evidence is as elusive as the phenomena itself.

copyright Regan Lee
March 1, 2009

Ivan T. Sanderson's "A Abominable Snowmen, Legend Come to Life" Free Download

You can now download this classic book on Bigfoot creatures by Sanderson here.