Bigfoot Collectors Club
Episode: "The Pennsylvania Bigfoot/UFO Invasion - Part I" w/ Steve Berg
Release Date: February 12, 2025
Hosts: Michael McMillian & Riley Bray | Guest: Steve Berg
Episode Overview
The BCC team begins a two-part Deep Dive into the legendary wave of high strangeness that swept through Pennsylvania in 1973—an unprecedented flap of Bigfoot and UFO sightings, often occurring simultaneously, that challenged the boundaries of conventional cryptid and ET lore. Actor-comedian Steve Berg joins to share boots-on-the-ground insights and help unravel one of the weirdest and most compelling paranormal waves in US history.
Main Theme
Exploring the tangled wave of Bigfoot and UFO encounters that rocked Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1973, with an emphasis on:
- The cross-contamination of cryptid and UFO phenomena
- The foundational research of investigator Stan Gordon and his team
- Firsthand witness accounts of bizarre creatures and unexplained lights
- The reconsideration of Bigfoot as a purely "flesh and blood" creature
- Theories on overlapping high strangeness, folklore, and military psyops
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Welcome & Clubhouse Catch-Up
[01:21–04:09]
- Michael and Riley riff, introduce Steve Berg, and joke about "City Biggie" (urban Bigfoot).
- Steve describes investigating a recent Omaha, Nebraska "urban Bigfoot" case.
"City Biggie. I've never heard that and I love it."
—Steve Berg [04:09]
Setting the Scene: Pennsylvania Bigfoot/UFO Invasion
[07:24–09:00]
- Michael announces the start of a multi-part "deep dive," with Steve as the first returning guest for a full arc.
- Riley admits knowing little about the Pennsylvania flap, setting up the audience POV.
High Strangeness Begins: The 1973 "Joe" Encounter
[09:01–12:36]
- Michael narrates "Joe’s" late-night encounter:
- Overwhelmed by a sulfur-like, cucumber-ish stench
- Sees glowing red eyes through an 8-foot-high bathroom window
- Spills tea, more scared for his tea than for himself
- Sulfur smell recurs in classic paranormal/occult tales, but is rare in Bigfoot lore.
- Joe gets sick the next day—unusual for Bigfoot encounters.
"...it smelled like something foul or some kind of cucumber or something."
—Joe, via Michael [10:19]
"Sulfur is a smell that has been associated with esoteric weirdness for thousands of years..."
—Steve Berg [12:36]
The 1973 Flap: Bizarre Creatures and UFOs Flood Westmoreland County
[13:34–16:24]
- Dozens of witnesses report 8- to 10-foot, red-eyed, dark-haired creatures, sometimes in groups.
- UFO sightings of various shapes (orbs, cigars, star-shaped, domes) spike.
- Theories emerge connecting the two phenomena.
"These hairy hominids were commonly described as having glowing red eyes..."
—Michael McMillian [14:21]
The Geography and “Vibe” of Chestnut Ridge & Westmoreland County
[18:09–19:51]
- Steve describes the heavily wooded, hilly landscape.
- Emphasizes old architecture, mining towns, and a rich history of strangeness.
"It is drop dead gorgeous. Wildly tree covered... old mining towns... there's a real esoteric vibe..."
—Steve Berg [18:31]
Enter Stan Gordon: The Keystone Researcher
[20:57–26:22]
- The story shifts to Stan Gordon, primary chronicler of the flap.
- Recap of the Kecksburg UFO incident (1965) that launched Stan's research career.
- Stan’s Pennsylvania Study Group becomes the Westmoreland County UFO Study Group ("WKUSG"—the acronym's comedy is a recurring bit).
- Stan’s work is the spine of the episode’s case histories.
"Stan Gordon is one of these unsung heroes in these 40 and fields... he's kind of like an OG Bigfoot hipster if you ask me."
—Steve Berg [20:57]
Early Reports: Encounters Ramp Up (1972–Early 1973)
[30:24–34:31]
- Chestnut Ridge: ongoing Bigfoot, UFO, Thunderbird, and other odd sightings.
- Bizarre cases: pointy-eared, red-eyed creatures attack cars, peer into windows, carry a strange aura.
- Noted: Bigfoot in PA often described differently (pointy/Spock-like ears, “heroin chic” build).
"Imagine a Bigfoot with Peter Pan or Spock ears. Like they're rounded, but pointed at the tips at the tops of the ear..."
—Michael McMillian [34:18]
The UFO Deluge: March–April 1973
[36:36–38:39]
- Multiple craft types and near-continuous sightings (specific dates/times listed).
- Some witness craft landing, entities collecting soil samples, or “stick figure” forms.
- Reports of creatures associated with UFOs (and even craft occupants sending Bigfoot-like beings on errands).
"There was something about a beam of light… attached to some kind of form… a hulk or a torso about 8 to 10 ft tall…”
—Michael McMillian [41:48]
The Supposed Bigfoot/UFO Connection
[46:53–48:39]
- Steve shares the case of a Bigfoot holding a “black box with a red light”, zapped as if "naughty," then entering a UFO.
- Reflects on the uncanny overlap between cryptid, UFO, and occult/folkloric motifs.
- Riley notes the “alien species” vibes, not a classic Bigfoot.
"These Bigfoot seem more occulty than animal... the pointy ears, the sulfuric smells, the glowing red eyes..."
—Steve Berg [47:44]
Investigator Stan Gordon's Discoveries & Ultra-Weird Footprints
[51:10–54:14]
- Casts of three-toed tracks found—unlike classic five-toed Bigfoot prints.
- Suggests alternative origins: "platypus of Bigfoots," chimeric folklore monsters.
"This is like Gonzo. This is like a Muppet, you know. Big Bird."
—Michael McMillian [52:24]
Cluster of August 1973 Sightings: Red and White-Furred Creatures
[58:05–61:09]
- Multiple reports in August:
- Creatures peering in windows (always at least 8 ft up)
- Kids encounter Bigfoot crossing the road—stiff-legged, no arm swing (robotic movement?)
- Sightings of white-haired, red-eyed giants; hints of “Yeti”
- Dogs go silent or are killed/disappear in presence of creatures
Extra-Odd Encounters: Vanishing Bigfoots
[62:20–65:28]
- Creatures that vanish after being struck by cars or after witnesses approach.
- Debate over “cloaking” vs. “vanishing”—leads to speculation about paranormal, technological, or “synthetic” origins.
"Well, they might just have these powers... I'm like, if it has powers..."
—Steve Berg [64:27]
Are These Really Bigfoot at All?
[67:52–71:02]
- Some of the footprints also appear blockier and with defined jointed toes—possibly different species/entities.
- By mid-August, headlines across Pennsylvania report these incidents.
- Groups of creatures, sometimes with juveniles, seen lounging during the day.
- Questions raised: Are these multiple creatures, robots, or even military experiments?
Historical Context: Old Pennsylvania Bigfoot Stories
[70:08–71:02]
- Mentions Timothy Renner's research highlighting "Wild Man" legends from the 19th century (sometimes with muskets and clothes).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Joe's cucumber comment:
"...it smelled like something a foul odor or some kind of cucumber or something." [10:19] -
Sulfur and the Devil:
"Sulfur is a smell that has been associated with esoteric weirdness for thousands of years..." —Steve Berg [12:36] -
On the broader weirdness of 1973 PA:
"If a sudden, mysterious Bigfoot flap weren't startling enough, 1973 was also marked by a significant uptick in UFO reports..." —Michael McMillian [14:21] -
On the convergence of phenomena:
"They were simultaneous... the greatest invasion of high strangeness in a two-year period." —Steve Berg [08:19] -
On roads and strangeness:
"Why do people see UFOs by roads? Why do people see Bigfoot crossing the road? ...Driving puts you in a hypnotic state..." —Steve Berg [75:05] -
On three-toed Bigfoot prints:
"Oh, Mommy, we are talking like, almost duck foot... This thing could be the platypus of Bigfoots." —Michael McMillian [52:14] -
On the rivalries in paranormal research:
"Historically the Bigfoot people hate the UFO people, the UFO people hate the Bigfoot people, paranormal people hate everyone. Why can't we all just get along?" —Steve Berg [48:28] -
Riley on the feeling of the stories:
"They don’t sound like Bigfoot to me. The glowing red eyes... it sounds like this is some sort of, you know, alien species or something..." —Riley Bray [48:52]
Important Timestamps
- 09:01 — The "Joe" encounter: red eyes and powerful stench
- 13:34 — Wave of reports: 8–10 ft, red-eyed Bigfoots & UFOs
- 20:57 — Stan Gordon’s backstory & legacy
- 30:24 — Chestnut Ridge: epicenter of 'high strangeness'
- 34:18 — Descriptions of pointy-eared, thin, non-classic Bigfoots
- 37:19 — March 1973: Timeline of stacked UFO encounters
- 41:48 — "Spinning top" UFO & 8–10 ft. humanoid case
- 46:53 — Bigfoot under a UFO, holding a black box, gets "zapped"
- 51:10 — Stan finds “duck foot”/three-toed prints
- 53:06 — Folkloric monsters as ancient precedent
- 58:05 — August 1973: multiple, strange new encounters
- 62:20 — Vanishing Bigfoots and debate over cloaking
- 67:52 — Block-shaped, 20-inch prints and further weirdness
- 70:08 — 19th-century "Wild Man" Bigfoot legends
- 73:29 — Patron shout-outs & wrap-up
Tone & Style
- Joking, playful, and self-aware, with a mix of pop-culture references (e.g., "City Biggie," "platypus of Bigfoots," Marvel Comics, and collector’s corner bits).
- Deep respect for witness testimony and archival research.
- Willing to debate and entertain multiple hypotheses: flesh and blood, folklore, military, and high-strangeness interpretations.
- Encourages open-mindedness and cross-disciplinary thinking in the paranormal.
Next Episode Tease
- The strangeness intensifies with even wilder cases and the infamous “case Bigfoot researchers want to ignore.”
- More on men in black, missing time, and possibly occult connections in part two.
For Further Exploration
- Book: Silent Invasion by Stan Gordon (primary source)
- Researcher: Timothy Renner, 19th-century “Wild Man”/Bigfoot in PA
- Related Episode: Early episode on the Kecksburg UFO incident
Summary written in the spirit of the Bigfoot Collectors Club: full of curiosity, skepticism, and joyful weirdness.