Famous film of Bigfoot: Big hoax?

kzgazette ^

[Son of Bigfoot]

A Kalamazoo native's story helps to debunk the myth of Bigfoot tomorrow on TV Land. It was 1967 when costume-maker Philip Morris got an unusual phone call from a guy asking about a gorilla costume. ``We had been advertising our costumes in a lot of trade magazines, so I was used to getting phone calls, but this was different,'' said Morris, whose costume company Morris Costumes in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest in the nation. ``The man on the phone, who said his name was Roger Patterson, wanted to buy a gorilla suit and asked if it looked like a real gorilla,'' said Morris, a Kalamazoo Central graduate. ``I told him that it looked like a Hollywood gorilla, but he said he wanted something that looked more like a Neanderthal. What he wanted was Bigfoot.''

[Son of Bigfoot]

Intrigued, Morris asked Patterson what the costume was for. ``He said the costume was for a prank, but I thought that was pretty odd because these were expensive suits,'' said Morris. ``Our customers were movie studios and famous magicians, the suits cost $450 back then. That is like over $1,000 today. I thought it was odd to spend so much on a prank, but I sent him the costume.''

Two weeks after sending out the costume, Morris got another phone call from Patterson. ``He asked me to send him some extra fur and asked how to hide the zipper in the back and how to make the person in the costume look larger,'' Morris said. ``I told him to brush the fur over the zipper and use hair spray to hold it, and then get some football shoulder pads and sticks for the arms to give the illusion of being taller, and use stuffing to get more bulk.''

Two months later, Patterson was all over the news with a video he ``captured'' of Bigfoot while hunting in northern California. ``I was watching TV when I saw Patterson and his film on the news,'' Morris said. ``I called my wife from the other room and said, `Look it's our gorilla costume.'''

The film has since become the most famous footage of Bigfoot and has ignited a controversy over its authenticity. With a large clientele of magicians, Morris decided not to tell anyone that it was his gorilla costume in the film.

``As a costume and special-effects producer, I have an ethical code I have to uphold,'' Morris said. ``I couldn't go out telling secrets and expect magicians to trust me with their props. That is why I didn't say anything. Plus I thought he would come clean in a few weeks.''

Patterson never admitted it was a hoax, but after his death in the 1980s Morris decided it was OK to tell people it was his suit in the film.

``Most people believe me, but there are people that are very hostile to me when I tell them it is a hoax,'' Morris said. ``It is like telling them Santa Claus doesn't exist. They grew up believing it was true and do not want to admit to themselves it's fake.''

[mysterio]

Wow, bigfoots don’t exist? Next you’re going to tell me that space monsters aren’t traveling through wormholes to abduct schizophrenics.

[rlmorel]

Elvis told me Bigfoot is a hoax. I believe him.

[autumnraine]

I don’t believe there is a bigfoot. I believe that this Patterson film is a hoax. What I don’t understand is why Patterson would be so detail specific as to what he wanted to look like and do and then come out on the news with Bigfoot footage. As if the costume guy wouldn’t know! Kind of like those two clowns that said they had Bigfoot in their freezer (hey, this is the second reference I’ve used that tonight!). At some point you’d have to come clean!

I guess Patterson really trusted this costume maker.

[pcottraux]

Ping.

[fwdude]

Santa Claus a fake!? Mommmmmm!!!!

[Son of Bigfoot]

Why would I tell you that?

[Kirkwood]

“``As a costume and special-effects producer, I have an ethical code I have to uphold,’’ Morris said. ``I couldn’t go out telling secrets and expect magicians to trust me with their props. That is why I didn’t say anything. Plus I thought he would come clean in a few weeks.’’”

Everyone who believes magicians use real gorillas, raise your hand.

[Son of Bigfoot]

You seem to have an honest face

[Son of Bigfoot]

[john in springfield]

If you look at that footage, the gait is not like anything other than a human being.

[pcottraux]

Ummm....thanks?

[Grammy]

"If you look at that footage, the gait is not like anything other than a human being. "

Also, look at the behind. It is well padded and doesn't move in any way like muscles would. The legs move separately.

[PLMerite]

If the Patterson Film was the result of a few hundred buck’s spent on a costume in 1967, then Hollywood should fire all its special effects engineers for not doing better with budgets of millions of dollars.

[river rat]

What the hell did he mean by saying Santa Clause isn’t for real?

Hasn’t he heard of Obama?

[HereInTheHeartland]

It would be loads of fun to do this. Find a wooded spot with highways nearby, and go out at dusk or dawn.
I would worry about getting shot however; by the guy who wants to bag Bigfoot.

[21twelve]

Some of those specials they do where they analyze stuff, etc. is pretty interesting. I recall one show where they should the film (zooming in, slowing it down, etc.) to some large ape expert. He was intrigued by some muscle (leg?) bulging at a specific time. Said something like - you would see that with a suit. Plus - it is a muscle that is more pronounced in apes than humans.

There have been numerous such cases of “Ape Men” that just turned out to be apes or some other such animal of course. (I believe Panda Bears and the Mountain Gorillas of SE Asia were once “mythical”).

I imagine this is the case of Big Foot as well. (Along with the numerous hoaxers out there). I've heard a few stories directly from reputable people that to me makes it seem a bit more credible.

On the other hand I hope they don't figure it out in my lifetime that it is just some rare ape. What fun is that!?

[lowbridge]

The existence of Bigfoot can be questioned, but the claims of Phillip Morris, that he created a Bigfoot costume for Patterson, is nonsense.

[Dallas59]

Yes...Big Foot does exist...

[waxer1]

Now this guy says something? I am not saying I believe the film, but I dont believe this guy either.