By Pamela Markel, President of the National Costumers Association
Have you ever seen Bigfoot? If you’ve seen the most famous Bigfoot video, showing a giant creature lumbering through the forest of northern California, you actually have seen a bit of NCA history.
There is a Bigfoot Museum located in Sutton, West Virginia – about 75 miles from my home in Fairmont, WV -- with various artifacts of noted Bigfoot sightings. You can explore everything from plaster casts of footprints, replica casts of skulls, maps of sighting locations throughout the state, and interesting stories of this legendary beast. Every year on the last Saturday in June, there is a Bigfoot festival with notable local and international researchers. Being curious by nature, my husband and I toured this museum to learn about this legendary giant.
One thing that is not at the museum, however, is the true story behind that famous Bigfoot video. It involves our own NCA member Phil Morris of Morris Costumes, who played an unwitting role in the hoax. A 2008 article in the Kalamazoo Gazette by writer Anne Holcomb explained this story. You can click here to read the article on the Gazette’s site, but below are some key excerpts:
In 1967 costume-maker Phillip Morris got an unusual phone call from a guy asking about a gorilla costume. “We had been advertising our costumes in a lot of trade magazines, so I was used to getting phone calls, but this was different,” said Morris. “The man on the phone, who said his name was Roger Patterson, wanted to buy a gorilla costume and asked if it looked like a real gorilla. I told him it looked like a Hollywood gorilla, but he said he wanted something that looked more like a Neanderthal. What he wanted was Bigfoot.”
(The article goes on to explain that Morris asked the man what he wanted the costume for, and he said it was for prank. That seemed odd, but Morris sold him the $450 costume. Later the man called and asked how to make the costume look larger, and Morris advised him to add shoulder pads and more stuffing.)
Two months later, Patterson was all over the news with a video he “captured” of Bigfoot while hunting in northern California. “I was watching TV when I saw Patterson and his film on the news,” Morris said. “I called my wife from the other room and said, ‘Look at our gorilla costume.’”
The film has since become the most famous footage of Bigfoot and has ignited a controversy over its authenticity. With a large clientele of magicians, Morris decided not to tell anyone that it was his gorilla costume in the film.
Patterson never admitted it was a hoax, but after his death in the 1980s, Morris decided it was ok to tell people it was his suit in the film. “Most people believed me, but there are people that are very hostile to me when I tell them it’s a hoax,” Morris said. “It is like telling them Santa Claus doesn’t exist. They grew up believing it was true and do not want to admit to themselves it’s fake.”
Phil Morris in 2004
In gathering historical information for he NCA’s 100th birthday celebration, I came across this article about the Bigfoot hoax and Phillip Morris. The WV Bigfoot museum propagated the idea of Bigfoot being real. Of course, I couldn’t help educating the poor clerk about the origins of Bigfoot and Phil Morris’ costume. I’m not sure the young clerk really cared, but now he knows the truth.
Phillip Morris in my opinion was a legend in many ways. From circus ringmaster to the host of creepy spook shows, to magician and Illusionist, to costume maker, Phil could light up a room and entertain all who dared to listen. The first thing that stood out when you met Phil Morris was his warm smile and his immediate outstretched hand. I do not believe Phil every met a stranger. He and his family have been and still are avid supporters of the National Costumers Association in many capacities. Phil encouraged all of us to maintain professionalism above all else in the way we conducted our businesses.
I personally have fond memories of Phil and Amy, their family and most of all their kindness and hospitality. I am especially grateful to have known Phil Morris, he was truly one of a kind.