Bigfoot’s Guardian Speaks Out
Posted by: Loren Coleman on May 29th, 2008
Considering the renewed interest in the “Gimlin” part of the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film taken on October 20, 1967, at Bluff Creek, perhaps it’s time to hear from the “The Man Who Held The Rifle.”
Here’s documentary footage of a rarely seen bearded Bob Gimlin discussing the encounter, in 1980, while on Arthur C. Clarke’s program:
Only during the run-up to the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Patterson-Gimlin footage did Bob Gimlin begin to make more frequent public appearances.
The following are audio clips (Parts 1 and 2) of Bob Gimlin’s “Question and Answer” presentation at the recent “Giants in the Mountains” exhibition. This event took place at the Washington State Capital Museum program as part of “The Search for Sasquatch,” sponsored by Bigfoot Expeditions, January 26, 2008.
Bob Gimlin and Patty, in 1967: Did they look in each other’s eyes, wondering what the other was thinking? That must have been one very enchanted moment.
Mr. Robert Gimlin today.
The following is a minute’s worth of images of Bob Gimlin, Richard Noll, and Owen Caddy at “The Giants in the Mountains” talks, in Olympia, Washington.
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 was fortunate to meet Bob in Olympia at The Giants of the Mountains. He is such a sincere man and hearing him talk about the day he saw Patty was an amazing experience.
Thank you Loren for the work of locating and posting these clips.
And therein is the account of what happened that answers many of the fictionalized stories that have been brought up.
I find it interesting that even in some of Bob’s comments that are not direct answers to questions he is clearly stating that what happened that day is completely different from what has been dreamed up.
Researching bigfoot is about many things.. It’s about spending time in our great outdoors.. it’s about spending time with your family and friends.. And finally,it’s about finding bigfoot..Sometimes the Journey is worth more than the catch
A couple of thoughts I have when watching the Patterson film:
1. Unlike all other Bigfoot films, the creature in the Patterson film is not hidden by tree trunks, foliage or darkness. The creature was not filmed from a great distance (allowing relatively close examination through enlargement). Every part of the creature is viewable (even the bottom of it’s feet). In short, there was no evidence of any attempt to “hide” a shoddy manmade suit from discerning viewers.
2. If Patty was a man in a suit, why can’t someone like special effects guru Rick Baker create an almost identical one? He created the suit for Harry and the Hendersons, but what would it look like striding through the woods? Would it not look like a tall human in a suit? Humans can recognize a human in a suit almost immediately. Even when viewing a “creature” filmed through dense foliage or from a great distance, humans can recognize another human. Patty simply does not look like a man in a suit. We’ve all seen movies made in the 60s that have gorilla suits in them. Would any of those suits look convincingly real if they were filmed exactly as the Patterson footage was? The answer is NO. It simply cannot be recreated.
Thanks, for sharing this Loren. I missed my chance to meet Bob and the others that day as I was about 5 minutes late, the place was full to capacity. I will get my chance to meet him in a couple weeks though as he will be on the expedition I’m going on if all goes as planned. I can’t wait!
Oh, and a nice shot of the Capital in that last video. My office is on the 3rd floor of that building right behind the House Chambers.
Many years ago in Hazard, Ky. my brother and I met up w/ a critter that scared the hell out of us. Our reactions, due to our age and ignorance, could have been better. There was no aggression from the anomaly. Through the years as I read about and hear all the speculation as to whether Bigfoot is an Urban myth or not, I laugh to myself and hope beyond all measure that it stays an urban myth. Like the old saying goes ( a country who forgets its history is bound to repeat it), and if Bigfoot is ever beyond a doubt proved real in existence in the general public eye, they sure as hell wont last long. It always seems to be human nature to destroy what we don’t understand….