Comments on: Bigfoot: Man, Myth or Monster?

By: Bob K.

Bob K. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:25:33 +0000

“Also referred to as “slippryskin” and “Old Slippry Skin,” his nickname was apparently given on account of its remarkable ability to elude hunters”

And the beat goes on…..

By: Ann Unknown

Ann Unknown — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:37:49 +0000

I think you’re right BugMO. But IMHO, I still suspect that they may have heard of “Old Slippery Skin”, and just completely misinterpreted the legend.

That was it, gridbug. Thank you. Prophecy! - That one gives me the screaming hee-bee-jee-bees to this very day! I can only recomend it for people who have nerves of steel, or have had A very sheltered live - preferably both. I would rather go out into the Rocky Mt. darkness on any night of the year to deal with a panther in the pasture, than to ever watch that movie again!

The “Legend of Boggy Creek” would be my pick, as the perfect Halloween flick (for kids, and chicken gr’ups - like me! ). More suspense, less gore. The arm comes in the window - and everybody watching scre-e-e-e-ams! But no character’s head gets squished, so no one watching “heaves”.

What I have always found interesting about Bigfoot, and camouflage, is that The Hairy One is one of the few forest entities that would have a vertical stance. What an advantage, as opposed to deer, coyotes, javalines, mountain lions, etc. My own first awareness of most forest denizens, is that “peripheral vision flash” of something horizontal, moving among the generally vertical trees.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:54:21 +0000

Then again, I could just be misinterpreting what the author wanted to say. If that is the case, I apologize!

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:48:18 +0000

Interesting piece, although I find some of the comparisons to other animals somewhat odd and reaching a bit. The sasquatch is not a chameleon, or a falcon, or a sooty tern. It is an 8 foot tall hairy biped. There is only so much it can do to elude humans other than just be smart, hide, live in remote areas, and certain other behaviors. Besides, the animals mentioned did not evolve in this way to specifically avoid humans, so the comparisons to Bigfoot adapting similar mechanisms expressly to elude human detection don’t really stick in this case. The animals mentioned wouldn’t be precedents for an animal evolving to elude capture by humans. These animals evolved in certain ways to help them survive in their habitat which in some cases just happen to have the added effect of making them harder to spot for us. And none of the physical mechanisms involved such as flight or changing color, apply to an animal like the sasquatch.

The sasquatch may have adopted certain behaviors to help it to avoid detection, I just think that comparing the physical evolution of a large, bipedal ape to what the chameleon or a falcon can do is pushing it a bit. It might have been better for the author to focus on some of the factors and adaptations that make some other great apes so elusive. The comparisons with the sasquatch to those other animals just fall short and to me don’t fit in with this otherwise excellent essay.

By: mrbf2006

mrbf2006 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:29:27 +0000

Having recently read Paul and Robert’s new book, and in light of a new article on Paul and his research from a couple of weeks ago, it is great to see some objective and accurate reporting on Sasquatch sightings in the Northeastern U.S. Paul and Robert also contributed to an excellent book in 1992 titled Monsters of The Northwoods, along with Bill Brann and Bruce Hallenbeck. Great to see these guys highlighted here. Thanks, Loren.

By: gridbug

gridbug — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:10:12 +0000

The afore-mentioned mutant bear movie is called “Prophecy” and starred Robert Foxworth, Talia Shire and Armand Assante. It was directed by John Frankenheimer and -for me at least- still holds up as an effective, old school creepfest and a shocking example of just how far a PG rating could be pushed in 1979. Granted, I was a kid when I first saw it when it debuted on Showtime back in the day, but I think it was the whole “killer monster in the woods” angle that really worked me over, especially since that was about the time I started to really delve into the Bigfoot/Sasquatch thing with flicks like “Legend of Boggy Creek” and “Mysterious Monsters” etc. In “Prophecy” the creature was a mama bear mutated by methyl mercury which had been introduced into the upstate Maine ecosystem by a paper mill. There are some pretty shocking kills (the helicopter pilot, the repentant paper mill guy, the exploding sleeping bag) and a couple genuinely suspenseful sequences that still give me the willies. Worth another look if you haven’t seen it in a while!

And yes, the classic “Legend of Boggy Creek” scene where poor Bobby Ford is hassled by the Fouke Monster while on the toilet is a total showstopper.

By: BugMO

BugMO — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:23:37 +0000

Ann Unknown- I think I know the movie your talking about. I don’t think its based off of the “Old Slippery Skin” legend. The movie was about how pollution was destroying this forest and this big bear lost all it’s hair, became really sick and went nuts and started killing people including these researchers who came to the forest to study the pollution’s effects on the local wildlife. I’ve only seen it once and I can only remember bits and pieces. I hope that helps

By: fossilhunter

fossilhunter — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:48:39 +0000

Ann Unknown-
Would that be “The Legend of Boggy Creek”, 1972? Based on the “Fouke Monster” of southwestern Arkansas, the one scene I remember was a man sitting down on the toilet, taking a break from looking for the beast, when a hairy hand and arm crashes through the window grabbing for him!
I was camping in this area of Arkansas earlier this week, but couldn’t even find an armadillo! If there was a bigfoot around it wasn’t out in the quartz mines!

By: Dj Plasmic Nebula

Dj Plasmic Nebula — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:47:21 +0000

Well whatever Bigfoot is.. It’s going to be caught one day ALIVE.

By: Ann Unknown

Ann Unknown — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:19:03 +0000

I vaguely recall an old pre-1970(?) “B” rate horror movie, that must have been based on the legend of “Old Slippery Skin” in Bob Bartholomew’s essay. (Can anyone else remember the movie I’m thinking of?) Though, the bear in that movie was certainly far more “malevolent” than “mischievous”, and appeared to be skinned, but still alive. The original Vermont legend sounds a hole lot more more interesting.
And wasn’t there a reference to a mutant, gelatinous looking bear on an old “Night Stalker” episode as well? A misinterpretation of the 1700s “Wet Skin” legend must have inspired more than one story. (Hmmm? Now, I wonder if that is where the idea for “Gummy Bears” came from? )