Roger Patterson

Roger Patterson was no ordinary filmmaker, he managed to film a shaky 60 second film of a 'Bigfoot' - the creature that the Native Americans call Sasquatch. Patterson was a well respected rodeo rider. During the 1960s he developed an interest in the Bigfoot an unknown creature seen for years in California, Orgeon and Washington, writing a small self-published book. Patterson and his friend Bob Gimlin traveled to Northern California to make a documentary film about the Bigfoot. The pair searched in vain for several days, until, on 20th October 1967 they rounded a bend in Bluff Creek in the Six Rivers National Forest. On the other side of the creek, was a female creature about 6.5 - 7 feet tall stand up at the edge of the creek. Patterson's pony reared, and he grabbed his 16mm camera and chased after the creature and filmed the entire thing. The creature walked into the woods and Patterson never saw it again. Meanwhile, Gimlin sat atop his pony with his rifle at the ready. Over the past 35+ years, there has been much speculation regarding the authenticity of the film. Patterson died in 1972, spending every penny he made from the film (which wasn't that much) continuing his search for the creature. Bob Gimlin remains adamant that there was no hoax involved, and what he saw was a real creature. Science backs this up - the excellent Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science documentary re-creates the footage using 3d computer simulation, and details muscle movement under the fur, a possible hernia on the thigh of the creature in addition to other details that preclude a hoax.