Bigfoot Friendly Tom Snyder Dies
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 30th, 2007
Before David Letterman, before “Coast to Coast” was all about Art Bell and George Noory, talk show host Tom Snyder was pushing back the boundaries on late night radio and television, sometimes discussing Sasquatch.
Snyder, 71, the former host of NBC’s “The Tomorrow Show,” then “Tomorrow Coast to Coast,” and CBS’ “The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder,” died on Sunday afternoon, July 29, 2007, in San Francisco, from compilations of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Snyder gained national fame for hosting “Tomorrow” in NBC’s post-“Tonight Show” slot from 1973 to 1982, with some of his more memorable guests including John Lennon (in his last interview), the Sex Pistols’s Johnny Rotten, members of KISS (before they broke up), and Charles Manson (acting decidedly scary).
What will be remembered within the cryptozoology community is the serious treatment Snyder gave to questions of Bigfoot’s existence. Tracking guests and topics on some of these early shows are difficult. However, among Bigfooters, one of Snyder’s favorite guests appeared to be Robert W. Morgan. Morgan discussed his Bigfoot expeditions and thoughts during various appearances on Tom Snyder’s programs.
Snyder also interviewed skeptics too, such as CSICOP’s Michael Shermers on his show.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
I always dug Mr. Snyder and his “off the beaten path” topics. I remember him interviewing Peter Cushing one night. Very cool. And who can forget Dan Aykroyd’s spot-on impersonation? R.I.P. Tom Snyder.
He will be missed. Farewell, Tom.
Tom Snyder was one of the best. He was underappreciated and underused by his bosses. I loved his laugh.
RIP Tom! I enjoyed your shows and you will be missed.
I have tape of Tom hosting Andy Kaufman – great interview, and he even let Andy wrestle some ladies… One of my fave clips, seemed like a really nice guy. Pretty good to hear he was BF-friendly, as well as AK-friendly! 😀 RIP Tom.
Ken, UK
I never saw his Robert Morgan interview, but I saw him interview Betty Hill at the time of the TV movie “The UFO Incident.” And the Peter Cushing and John Lennon ones already mentioned, and countless others. I’ve been a huge fan of his since very early on. I can only repeat other people, and say there’s never been anyone else like him on TV.
I used to stay up late just to watch Tom when I was a teenager. It didn’t seem to matter his guest, just listening to him pull unexpected information from people was what made him unique. We love ya Tom.