October Ð
A Special Month
for Bigfooting
An Appreciation
of the Patterson-Gimlin Film
by Tom Yamarone
Thirty eight years ago on October 20,
1967 a very special event took place in our
bigfoot world. Roger Patterson and Bob
Gimlin obtained the best piece of evidence
yet in the form of a short, shaky film of a
bigfoot. There have been other significant
events since then, but none so dramatic or
memorable. In the last two years analysis
of the P-G film has produced some excellent
images. Doug Hajicek’s work in the
documentary Sasquatch: Legend Meets
Science (LMS) and M.K. Davis’ computer
based analysis have taken the P-G film to
new evidentiary heights. I’ve spent the
first days of October looking through my
books and watching the P-G film on my
LMS DVD. My goal was to review the
different treatments the Patterson-Gimlin
film has received and give a short
summary of each. Two publications stood
out above the rest in this regard: Chris
Murphy’s Meet the Sasquatch and Daniel
Perez’s Bigfoot at Bluff Creek.
Meet the Sasquatch by Christopher
Murphy in association with John Green
and Thomas Steenburg (Hancock House
Publishers, 2004) is the best collection of
bigfoot information under one cover. The
author has assembled most of the significant
tales and discoveries of the sasquatch
phenomenon and highlighted these with an
excellent array of photographs and diagrams.
Herein, the Patterson-Gimlin film
receives an extensive 56 page review and
analysis. This is as good a place as any to
commence our annual bigfoot Octoberfest.
You’ll find a copy of the original Eureka
Times-Standard newspaper article next to
a photograph of Roger Patterson holding
the two footprint casts he and Bob Gimlin
made at the film site that day. A nice
collection of photos and still frames from
the second roll of film showing the footprints
in the sandbar of Bluff Creek
follow. There are 12 still frame
enlargements of the creature from the
now-famous Cibachrome prints made in
the early 1980’s. You’ll not find a better
collection in any other publication (that I
know of…). Having been to the film site
area along Bluff Creek in 2003 and 2004, I
enjoy the 1971 photograph taken from the
hillside overlooking that stretch of creek.
It’s an “aerial” view that depicts the
scoured, wide-open creek bed with a
person walking through the frame for scale
– a scene that no longer exists today as the
forest has reclaimed the canyon.
The analysis continues with Chris
Murphy’s own re-creation of the location
in the “film site model.” Utilizing the
maps and measurements made by Rene
Dahinden, John Green and Bob Titmus,
the reader is treated to an analysis of the
film that gives a greater understanding and
appreciation of those shaky 59 seconds.
Other books, such as the excellent tome
Big Footprints by Grover Krantz, attempt
this analysis, but this rendition is much
more accessible to the layperson. The
author’s site model along with the use of
photographs and diagrams from many
sources achieve this as none before have.
This is a chapter that doesn’t end here, but
includes all of the historical analysis done
by different individuals over the years. So,
if you can’t pick up a copy of Meet the
Sasquatch at the museum store, find one in
a friend’s house, ask your library to obtain
a copy or come by the museum and
indulge yourself in the Patterson-Gimlin
film, our favorite Squach-toberfest treat!
For those of you who prefer to watch
(rather than read, that is!), there is a
documentary that stands head and
shoulders above the rest. I’m speaking of
Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science
(WhiteWolf productions, 2003). Herein,
the Patterson-Gimlin film is taken and
transferred to high-definition video. It’s
the clearest rendition of the film that’s
available and the whole 59 seconds is
contained in the additional features of this
DVD. Needless to say, it’s a “must-have”
in your home
entertainment
collection and a
“must-see” if you
don’t have it. Find
someone who does
and arrange a
viewing. This is
the show that takes
“Patty” and
digitalizes her so that we can view the
“walking skeleton” of the creature. We
then discover the gait involves a strange
pattern of the knees moving in a way not
normal to human locomotion. There is
also a bulge that appears on the right thigh
of the creature that seems to be a hernia of
that muscle according to doctors that
comment on the film in the documentary.
That’s our second round of indulgence
here at bigfoot Octoberfest. If you have
access to the DVD set that documents the
2003 International Bigfoot Symposium in
Willow Creek, California, you’ll want to
watch Doug Hajicek’s presentation all
about this treatment of the Patterson-
Gimlin film! He gives an outstanding talk
with excellent slides that illustrate the
process that he undertook. Check it out!!
I would be remiss if I didn’t direct you to
another excellent publication that deals
with the Patterson-Gimlin film. Daniel
Perez’s BigfooTimes Bigfoot at Bluff
Creek (1992) was written to commemorate
the 25th anniversary of the film. He seems
to have personally researched this event
more than anyone else and has come up
with many unique sources of information
regarding the film and the subsequent
events surrounding it. The bibliography –
seven and a half pages long – attests to
this fact. The copy I have is a reprint from
2003 that he made available at the Willow
Creek bigfoot symposium. It contains
outstanding interview excerpts from all the
principal players and has many of the
same site map diagrams and footprint
photos contained in Meet the Sasquatch.
Daniel’s booklet exudes the emotional
intensity with which he has pursued this
matter and depicts the events relating to
10/20/67 as they have occurred for those
of us interested in the subject matter. He
follows the debates regarding the attempts
to debunk the film and has an answer for
each of these. “The Patterson-Gimlin film
has survived through twenty-five years of
2
...continued from page 1...
he can; answered all the questions posed
to him.
He had this to say when asked about the
significance 10/20/67 has for him.
“The significance now is actually more
now than it was in those middle years. For
a few years, it was terribly exciting. An’ it
kinda got old shoe there for awhile. And
now that so many of you folks have gotten
involved back in this again and (you’ve)
made it come alive a lot better than it was.
There was so much negative stuff going
on there. Now in the last 10, 12 years it’s
all turned around. I’m excited about what
you guys are doing.”
I commented on his cooperation with
investigators after a time and how much
that’s meant to those investigating both the
film and the phenomenon. He stated:
“I always did as much as I could. (I
cooperated with) John and Rene and Bob
Titmus, and especially Grover. When
Grover was alive, I did as much as I could.
When Grover would call me and ask me to
come over, I would. I didn’t even know
Dr. Jeff Meldrum in those days. I may
have met him, but I didn’t really get to
know him . So, with guys like that
involved, like Bindernagel and all them,
they really have been putting some effort
into it. And M.K. Davis sent me a great
disc of his work.”
He’s resigned to the debate about the film
and the existence of bigfoot.
“The people that want to believe in it, do
believe. The one’s that are on the borderline,
they don’t give a hoot. And the one’s
who’ve never believed, never will. They
could see one and they’d think it was a
guy in suit. That’s kinda the bottom line:
you can’t control what people think.”
He is such a proponent of the search for
bigfoot. Here’s some final words of
encouragement for those who devote their
time to this end. “If you’re not out there,
you can’t see one. And if you don’t have a
camera, you can’t prove what you saw.
Eventually, it’s going to happen (that we
prove the existence of these creatures.)”
So, now it’s up to us to move on and see
what discoveries lie ahead. The film will
always be there for us to appreciate and
this is the perfect time of year to do just
that! Get the popcorn and a favorite
beverage ready and keep that finger on 
the rewind button! Familiarity with the
“pause” and “slow motion” features of
your player will be very handy, too! Enjoy
the Patterson-Gimlin film for what it is –
the real deal…a living, breathing,
walking bigfoot
for all to see!
Editor's Note:
This list would
not be complete
without mentioning
the latest Hancock House title The
Bigfoot Film Controversy. This book
combines a reprint of Patterson's book Do
Abominable Snowmen of America Really
Exist? with an updated report on the P/G
Film and its aftermath, including some of
the claims of hoaxers. The conclusions of
several scientists and researchers are also
provided. Russian Hominologists Bayanov
and Bourtsev; J Glickman (North
American Science Institute); and several
biomechanics experts including Grover
Krantz.
Hopefully our museum's policy of free
admission, and obvious willingness to
share information will enable us to avoid
some of the "dissing" that other fulltime
searchers have received. We want to solve
the mystery and make people aware of the
rights of these and other forest creatures;
and hope to pay the bills with income
generated by art and craft sales, classes
and events related to bigfoot.
How can you help? Tell folks about the
museum and the arts, crafts and gifts
available here (more to come soon).
Volunteer to help setting up events to
edutain and generate funds. Make use of
the museum's library of reference
materials, and encourage others to do so
(we have free wireless internet). Recruit
new members and sponsors, and keep on
the track!
---Michael Rugg
time and is probably destined to go on
forever as the real McCoy,” he writes.
And, indeed, here we are 38 years after 
the event and its impact hasn’t lessened
one bit.
Enjoy these sources and others for your
annual October appreciation of the
Patterson-Gimlin film. It’s an inspiration
to continue the search – and so are the
men that were there that fateful day and
the others who have worked tirelessly to
prove its authenticity. I say “Thank You”
to all of you!
A Few Words from Bob Gimlin
I don’t often ask Bob Gimlin about the
events of 10/20/67. We talk about
sightings, expeditions, outings and our
day-to-day world primarily. I did,
however, take a few minutes this week to
ask Bob what this anniversary means to
him. Of course, in the first ten years or
more after the event, it was a bitter pill to
swallow. He was overlooked by Roger and
Al DeAtley as they promoted the film.
Too bad that it had such a negative effect
on their friendship. Years later, the
principal investigators of this event
realized the significance of Bob Gimlin’s
involvement. Of course! The ups and
downs for him came full circle in 2003
with his attendance at the Willow Creek
symposium. I heard John Green once say
the best thing about that weekend was how
Bob Gimlin was treated like a rock star!
Nothing could have been more well
deserved. Bob continues to support the
search and activities of people in this
endeavor. He’s generous with his time
when he can be. He’s just about said all

he can; answered all the questions posed
to him.
He had this to say when asked about the
significance 10/20/67 has for him.
“The significance now is actually more
now than it was in those middle years. For
a few years, it was terribly exciting. An’ it
kinda got old shoe there for awhile. And
now that so many of you folks have gotten
involved back in this again and (you’ve)
made it come alive a lot better than it was.
There was so much negative stuff going
on there. Now in the last 10, 12 years it’s
all turned around. I’m excited about what
you guys are doing.”
I commented on his cooperation with
investigators after a time and how much
that’s meant to those investigating both the
film and the phenomenon. He stated:
“I always did as much as I could. (I
cooperated with) John and Rene and Bob
Titmus, and especially Grover. When
Grover was alive, I did as much as I could.
When Grover would call me and ask me to
come over, I would. I didn’t even know
Dr. Jeff Meldrum in those days. I may
have met him, but I didn’t really get to
know him . So, with guys like that
involved, like Bindernagel and all them,
they really have been putting some effort
into it. And M.K. Davis sent me a great
disc of his work.”
He’s resigned to the debate about the film
and the existence of bigfoot.
“The people that want to believe in it, do
believe. The one’s that are on the borderline,
they don’t give a hoot. And the one’s
who’ve never believed, never will. They
could see one and they’d think it was a
guy in suit. That’s kinda the bottom line:
you can’t control what people think.”
He is such a proponent of the search for
bigfoot. Here’s some final words of
encouragement for those who devote their
time to this end. “If you’re not out there,
you can’t see one. And if you don’t have a
camera, you can’t prove what you saw.
Eventually, it’s going to happen (that we
prove the existence of these creatures.)”
So, now it’s up to us to move on and see
what discoveries lie ahead. The film will
always be there for us to appreciate and
this is the perfect time of year to do just
that! Get the popcorn and a favorite
beverage ready and keep that finger on 
the rewind button! Familiarity with the
“pause” and “slow motion” features of
your player will be very handy, too! Enjoy
the Patterson-Gimlin film for what it is –
the real deal…a living, breathing,
walking bigfoot
for all to see!
Editor's Note:
This list would
not be complete
without mentioning
the latest Hancock House title The
Bigfoot Film Controversy. This book
combines a reprint of Patterson's book Do
Abominable Snowmen of America Really
Exist? with an updated report on the P/G
Film and its aftermath, including some of
the claims of hoaxers. The conclusions of
several scientists and researchers are also
provided. Russian Hominologists Bayanov
and Bourtsev; J Glickman (North
American Science Institute); and several
biomechanics experts including Grover
Krantz.