BoARadio: UFOs with Stan Gordon 9-Apr-2011

We kick things off by finding out about the remarkable beginnings of Stan’s career as a paranormal investigator, which began in the 1960’s when he was around twenty years old, and how he launched a UFO research organization and hotline. He traces this trajectory up to the 1973/74 UFO / Bigfoot wave which is the subject of Silent Invasion and Stan reflects on being in his mid-20’s at the time and really being the primary, lead investigator of this massive wave of bizarre events. This Stan talking about some of the remarkable evidence and testimony that he documented from the wave.

Diving in to the specifics of the ’73/74 wave, we first talk about the stunning volume of cases investigated by Stan and his group during the timeframe. We the detail how the strange wave of UFO reports of 1973 turned into Bigfoot reports that Summer and, in the fall, both phenomena were being reported, mostly separate, but sometimes together. Looking at some of the more unique cases that were investigated, we talk about a pair of UFO sightings which were reportedly accompanied by an odd smell.

Stan Gordon

Turning our attention toward the creature reports from the book, we begin by finding out about the three-toed footprints, which seemed to be the predominant track associated with the sightings. Stan also talks about some of the Bigfoot reports that he received prior to the big wave and how the strange events of 1973 changed his original perspective on creature. We also discuss the mood of the media during the wave and how the frenzy led to Stan’s research organization became inundated with UFO / Bigfoot reports.

Stan tells us about his working with the state and local police agencies during the wave allowed for some remarkable access to ‘breaking’ reports of strange phenomena. Revisiting Stan’s first hand perspective on the wave unfolding, we find out what he and his group, primarily associated with UFOs, were thinking as they began getting a slew of Bigfoot reports in the Summer of 1973. Stan reflects on the remarkable July 31st, 1973 Bigfoot report that seems to begin the massive wave that followed in the subsequent weeks and months.

We then examine one of the more intriguing underlying themes of the book: small details and clues from a variety of cases which suggest that some shadowy group within the federal government was also investigating these creature sightings in the area. On the Bigfoot front, Stan details some specific cases which were particularly intriguing, including one where the footprints seem to disappear out of thin air and another which was so strange that his colleague who investigated it decided to stop researching the paranormal. Stan also shares the tale of the night his group had a stakeout and may have been very close to one of the creatures.

Following the UFO / Bigfoot wave to its proverbial crescendo, we hear the amazing story of Steve Palmer from October 25th, 1973, where witnesses saw a large red sphere float into a field and transform into a glowing dome and, while it remained stationary there, two Bigfoot were seen lurking near it. Stan also shares the strange detail about mysterious, unknown investigators who interviewed and hypnotized the primary witness of the event. Examining another bizarre and unique case from the wave, Stan tells the story of a woman who actually shot a creature, which led to a very strange ‘reaction’ from the entity, and later saw both Bigfoot and UFO phenomena taking place at the same time.

Getting meta on the paranormal community, we have Stan recall the reactions from the ufological and cryptozoological communities when he published some of his cases following the UFO / Bigfoot wave. We also find out what the reaction has been from those communities to the publication of Silent Invasion a few months ago. Taking things to a speculative level, we have Stan give his perspective on what the connection between UFOs and Bigfoot may be.

Heading towards the close, we talk about Stan’s career as a researcher beyond the ’73/74 wave and start by getting his perspective on the evolution of the field of ufology in the ensuing four decades. He talks about what he sees as one of the bigger difficulties to emerge from the Internet age. Given his lengthy tenure in the field of ufology, we find out his perspective on the activist based disclosure style of ufology which has reemerged in the new millennium. We also find out if Stan has to deal with many prank callers or hoaxed cases on his UFO hotline.