Cuero’s Chupacabras Tee-Shirts
Posted by: Loren Coleman on September 2nd, 2007
Photograph by Sonny Long, Victoria Advocate.
A new creature report or series of sightings has turned into a “flap,” this time in Cuero, Texas. A flap is the term (with origins in the Air Force treatment of groups of ufo sightings) where there is a great deal of official and media attention, in this case related to a “monster,” such as happened in Texas during August, and now moving into September.
What is part of the popular culture outcome from this out-of-control interest in such a beast? A new cryptid tee-shirt, of course. You’ve seen multiple examples of this recently.
The popularity of cryptozoologically-themed tee-shirts is reflected, even at birthday parties, as with this pictured festive event for Lux, an associate of Boing Boing.
There are the Maine Mutant shirts, Abominable Snowman tees, and Dover Demon t-shirts. Name a monster and a tee-shirt is probably waiting in the wings.
It is no surprise then that the recent Texas affair has produced another one for the tee-collection.
Entitled “2007 The Summer of the Chupacabra Cuero, Texas,” they are turning up all over the Southwest and beyond.
You will find “The Summer of the Chupacabra” shirts sold in the carcass discoverer Phylis Canion’s store in Cuero, Texas.
It was Canion’s brother-in-law, David Boyd of Goliad, who convinced her she should do a tee-shirt. She sold out of the first 75 she had made in less than a week in mid-August, and just kept ordering more and more.
Canion’s 15 minutes of fame has resulted in her appearing on radio talk shows, via phone interviews, in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Chicago, Albuquerque and El Paso, according to Sonny Long’s survey article “Cuero store owner scaring up big sales after finding mystery creature.”
Such is the popularity of cryptozoology and cryptid tee-shirts tied to specific flaps. The Cuero tee-shirts have been purchased to send all around the world, to countries like Japan, Australia and Brunei.
Hers was not the first, nor will it be the last.
The “Maine Mutant” by Mike Lemos, graphic artist in Ventura, California, was first announced on Cryptomundo during the summer of 2006. A new summer, a new monster.
This post was written by
Loren Coleman no longer writes for Cryptomundo. His archived posts remain here at Cryptomundo.
I’d imagine that the $5 price tag is also a contributing factor to the popularity of the “Cuero Chupacabras” shirts.
hey loren & everyone wow thats a wonderful new chupercabra t-shirt how do i get one to order it. thanks bill green
I need more crypto shirts. I have the cryptozoology one from http://www.threadless.com, and sveral with slogans such as “my other horse isa unicorn” and “SAVE NESSIE!”, but I like this style, the chupacabras one is awesome.
I have a number of cryptozoology t-shirts, this is a great chupacabra!
I found another interesting version online at http://www.cafepress.com/fiveoclockgirl
There are tons of tees at The Cryptozoology Shop!
You can order the shirts from the following store:
7C UNLIMITED
123 W MAIN ST
CUERO, TX
77954-3735
Phone: 361-275-2015
They are back ordered for few weeks, but are quite friendly and helpful.