Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman

Alligators-In-The-Sewers Are Real

In the early 1970s, I did quite a great deal of library archive research on out-of-place alligators. That resulted in the publication of various Fortean articles, such as "Showers of Alligators," (Fate, Vol. 26, September 1973) and "Erratic Crocodilians and Other Things" (INFO Journal, 12, Summer 1973). Finally, I made a unique discovery that alligators-in-the-sewers were not all just legendary, and were not merely a figment of smoking too much weed in the 60s. I tracked down articles that noted real alligators were found and killed in New York City, specifically in that city’s sewers in the 1930s. My formal [...]

Yeti Skoda Yeti

These are apparently snapshots from the 2006 edition’s grand first showing in China. This Yeti design study was unveiled at the International Automobile Salon Skoda in Beijing this week. I’m still waiting for my testimonial commercial endorsement opportunity and the courtesy vehicle to drive around Maine, but, in the meantime, the idea merely goes on the Christmas wish list. “Skoda, Skoda, Skoda,” said the Yeti. “Sooka, Sooka, Sooka,” said the Sasquatch. “Myakka, Myakka, Myakka,” said the Skunk Ape. “Hey, all of you be quiet; I’m trying to get some sleep,” said the Almas.

Three-Toes Revisited

St. Petersburg Times: Tony Signorini said that in 1946 or 1947 his boss saw a picture of dinosaur tracks in a National Geographic and said, "You know, we could have fun with this." Ted McLaren, St. Petersburg Times: Signorini’s tracks, using these 30-pound molds, created a sensation. A zoologist speculated they were left by a giant penguin. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Tony Signorini told the media in 1988 that it was all a hoax, and then recycled it as “news” again last summer. (I refused to post it here as “news” then for that reason.) The zoologist was Ivan T. Sanderson, and he [...]

The Beautiful Anthropologist and Vietnam’s Lost World

As opposed to viewing what recently happened during a formal anthropological criticism of cryptozoology as some cause for upset, let’s reframe what occurred as an opportunity for our field to broaden our worldview. When the apparently charming Pamela D. McElwee, Ph. D., Assistant Professor, The School of Global Studies, Arizona State University (shown above), shared some insights, her audience may not have realized the significance of what she was saying. Certainly, however, cryptozoologists need to pay attention, as McElwee’s comment might be useful in reviewing some foundation thoughts within our field. If we wish to remain aware of how fast [...]

Mystery Photo at Boing Boing

Old cryptobuddy David Pescovitz continues to post cryptozoological and faux cryptozoologie news items at Boing Boing, such as this new one, "Takeshi Yamada’s curious taxidermy creations". Now, fellow Boing Boing blogger Mark Frauenfelder is jumping into the cryptid pool, with both feet this week. See his posting on "Old engravings of animals are charmingly strange" (about such images as the one above). I only saw this after I’d posted mine on "Who Were The Dogheads?" and the "Discovered: Circa 1350 A.D. Hominid," so I must be on the same wavelength as Mark. Also, Mark Frauenfelder has posted a mystery image, [...]

Who Were The Dogheads?

Click on the above image of a doghead to make it grow larger. Dogheads were more than mythological creatures, according to some ancient sources. One of them even became a Saint, as per: St. Christopher the Doghead Who were the dogheads? What is cynocephaly all about? Wikipedia (not a source that should be the only one a person ever uses), in discussing cynocephaly, has this piece of modern trivia: “In the USA there are tales of dog-headed creatures, including the Dogman of Michigan, and the wolf-like Beast of Bray Road of Wisconsin, which terrorized a neighbourhood in the early 1990s.” [...]