UFO History: December 1, 1977

For today, December 1st, I decided to go a little different direction with the historical sighting. While there were a bunch, one report on Think AboutIts caught my eye for many reasons.

While this one didn’t have lights, or an airborne craft, this one hits home for many different reasons. Reported by famed Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, this report has some eerie similarities to a creature that does share some UFO history. 

The report surfaced in Mysterious America and hails from an area near Beason, Illinois. What is strange is no time of day was given, but there was a hospitalization involved. 

A woman on her way to work spotted a tall figure standing on the roadway; it resembled a man with a pair of huge dark wings. The witness reportedly collapsed and had to be hospitalized. No other information was available. 

In fact, a deeper dive into this story yields basically no other information, although it will lead you into accounts of large winged humanoids inside Illinois. 

While this may not be a traditional report, there are many times where a connection between UFO activity and strange creatures can be found. Do you have either type, or both? If so, drop us a line and we will follow up on it.  

Mothman TNT Area - Investigation Pictures

Having stopped by Point Pleasant,  WV for a day of exploring the myth of the Mothman, I was extremely excited. Not only do I love the story of the Mothman, this makes the first time since my transplant that I was able to venture out into the wild.  Sure,  I didn't go crazy. Hell, I didn't even make it a night expedition, but I did get va shall hike in and go check out one of the famous sighting locations: the TNT Area.

Now part of the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, the TNT bunkers may be run down, but I will say they still hold a creepy energy.  It did send chills down my spine. Of course,  whatever small animal that was stalking me from the treeline helped with that.  But oh well.  

If you aren't familiar with Mothman or the sightings in and around Point Pleasant,  this is a great rabbit hole and a tremendous amount of lore. This area,  known then as the West Virginian Ordnance Works, was reported to be the home of this game red-eyed cryptid from late 1966 until early 1967. In fact,  to many researchers,  the first recorded sighting of Mothman took place near the gate of one of the abandoned munition shortage facilities. 

While there were also many other strange phenomena that took place during this period in and around the area,  it was the Mothman, not Indrid Cold, or the Men in Black, or even the ultraterrestrials, that wove its way into the fabric of the region.  A 7-to-10 foot-tall winged entity with glowing red eyes has become part of the folklore and at one point America's most famous cryptid. 

Here are some pictures from that area and some motivation for me to get back into the field.  

Mothman: Beyond the Legend (2023)

I just found out yet I'll be heading off to Point Pleasant, WV at the end of the week for a quick birthday trip and I can't wait.  If you have ready my blog from the outset,  you will already know about my fascination with Mothman and most of the world of cryptids. I can't wait to explore the birthplace of a legendary cryptid.  To help prepare,  I searched out a documentary that I hadn't watched yet and found this 2023 entry,  Mothman: Beyond the Legend. 

Plot: Global sightings challenge the notion that the Mothman is a figment of imagination, but rather an omen of change—or simply beyond our understanding.

This was an interesting documentary on the Mothman that prevents information in a straightforward manner.  While it does lack some of the flair of many of the higher budgeted entries in the topic,  this one definitely takes on quite a bit of material and methodically produces it in a way that flows together quite well. Not only do they discuss the besieging of Point Pleasant, they discuss how the myth has endured and its impact on pop culture.  They also present some cases from all over that have similar characteristics such as the Owlman of Cornwall. In the end,  this was a simple refresher for me that came across pretty good.  Yes,  it is definitely completed on a low budget featuring some and stock footage,  but for informational purposes it served us purpose. In the end, if you are looking for reenactments or craft effects this one may not be for you,  but if you are simply looking for information, give this one a shot.  

Moth (2016)

Having just watched the documentary The Mothman of Point Pleasant as well as following the Owl Man sightings in Chicago, I have been motivated to spend some time in the field doing some research. Unfortunately, with this being the middle of travel softball season, this has not worked out the way I had hoped. To help ease some of the disappointment, I decided to kick back and watch the 2016 flick Moth.

Plot/ A teacher and her student travel to the European countryside to investigate 22 recent Mothman sighting reports, but what begins as an attempt to stop a catastrophe becomes a nightmarish fight for survival.

This found footage film does suffer through some of the typical problems that seem to always pop up in this realm; yet, it does add some elements that are not typically seen in the genre. More of a slow burn drama than straight found footage horror flick, this one comes away with a more realistic feel because of the dated look it has. Plus, there is an interesting twist added in that actually works within the storyline. Yes, the performances are uneven (especially with the lead actress); the dialog is laughable at best, and as usual, there are clichéd moments littered throughout. For me, this did not ruin the film, as the subject interests me and the low budget nature does allow for some flaws to be overlooked. In the end, this movie is far from perfect, but it is also far from the worst film in the found footage arena. Is it for everyone, no way, but it is somewhat entertaining and a decent way to pass some mindless time recovering from a long day.

The Mothman of Point Pleasant (2017)

Last night, I had the chance to review the Boggy Creek Monster, a documentary based on the legend/movie that left a lasting impression on me and I loved it. Today, I have the opportunity to review a screener for the next documentary from Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters, 2017s The Mothman of Point Pleasant.

Plot/ Have you heard of the Mothman, the urban legend that seemed to be a harbinger of doom for the small town of Point Pleasant, WV in the mid-60’s? If not, producer/director Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters will explore the history of Point Pleasant and the 13-month period of odd occurrences that left a devastating imprint on this small Appalachian town.

While I am familiar with the Mothman and have done some research into the subject, I will be the first to admit that I do not have the same knowledge and understanding of the topic as I do with cryptids such as Bigfoot or the Jersey Devil. That all changed as I watched this documentary. Following a similar formula to the Boggy Creek Monster, the movie sets out to explore the historic profile of Point Pleasant as well as revisiting the mysterious happenings surrounding the Mothman and the potentially cursed town. This material is tremendous and provides a great background for investigators and viewers to dive into.

With this being the second film I have watched from Small Town Monsters, I can see a consistency with the production values that make their documentaries an easy and entertaining watch. The interviews are well done, the cinematography is outstanding, and the overall feel of the material makes you want to see more. One thing that jumped out was the use of CGI reenactments to marry some of the interviews together; this technique offers a great visual representation that allows the interviews sink in. More importantly with this entry, the material seems to flow in a logical manner and provides some insights and reports that are often overlooked when the story is told; this is impressive considering the short run time (72 minutes). As with every movie, there are some small technical issues with the CGI, but that is clearly budget related and is easily overlooked.

For me, possibly because of my knowledge level on the subject, I found this one much more informative than the Boggy Creek Monster, and a movie that created a timeline that I could use to base my own research into the subject on. In the end, this exploration of the legendary Mothman is one of the best documentaries on the subject I have seen and is an entry that anyone interested in Cryptozoology or urban legends must watch. Check it out when it is released on DVD and streaming platforms on June 2, 2017.

The Mothman Curse (2014)

I know, I know, I have again been neglecting my world here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. While I hate stepping away, there are often times where it is unavoidable. That has been the case in recent weeks, as seven straight nights of softball mixed with a major college project sucked the life out of me. Lucky for me, softball has slowed and my scriptwriting class is moving smoothly, so I am back at it. Next up for review is the 2014 micro-budget flick The Mothman Curse. 

Plot/ An Ancient Evil Unleashed. A supernatural thriller based on the terrifying legend of The Mothman. Rachel and Katy work together in a large, empty museum.

This micro-budget flick will definitely not be for everyone. In fact, it feels more like something straight from an art house cinema instead of a traditional no-budget horror flick. The storyline is decent, the soundscape is interesting, and the decision to use CCTV cameras as the primary platform works to create something dark, heavy, and unique that definitely builds some atmosphere and tension. Sure, the characters are far from perfect, the incoherent nature can be confusing, and the pacing is not for those looking for a quick scare. In the end, this one will definitely fit into the love or hate category. For me, it had just enough surrealism to make some of it unnerving and enjoyable. Yes, it is a slow burn, but if you enjoy outside the box art house cinema, give it a shot, you could do worse. 

Etsy Update

I have finally got to adding some items to my ETSY page. While, I do still have a bunch of stuff to get to, I have added a nice variety of OOAK, and Curiosity Cabinet related items.

Vintage Shrunken Head

Uncle Matt: OOAK Zombie Shadowbox

Beauregard - The OOAK Clown Music Box

Red Eye: OOAK Mothman Face Shadowbox

Eyes of the Mothman (2011)

As I was sitting here with an empty shadowbox in front of me, I was determined to find something that could give me inspiration for my latest creation. In my mind, I keep thinking Mothman, as that was the last one I did and I like it a lot. With that in mind, I decided to venture into a world of Native Americans, Strange Creatures, UFOs, and the Men in Black: the true story of the Mothman, with the documentary Eyes of the Mothman (2011).

Plot/ Feature length documentary of the real story behind the legend of The Mothman.

As a believer in unknown creatures such as Bigfoot, The Jersey Devil and The Mothman, I often enjoy movies and documentaries that dive into these legends. For me, as history has shown these unexplained cryptids can exist and often do exist. Having watched and read John Keel’s The Mothman Prophecies, this documentary seemed like a perfect companion. Yes, it seemed a tad too long at almost 2.5 hours, but surprisingly, the cinematography, story and pacing kept things flowing in an entertaining yet informative way and shed some light on some things that I had not previously known (Like the Chief Cornstalk Legend). Complete with some interesting interviews, logical comparisons (to The Jersey Devil), decent visual effects and some solid reenactments, this documentary should have enough appeal to anyone interested in the Mothman, whether you are a seasoned researcher or discovering the famed creature for the first time.

The Bridge - A Poem inspired by the Mothman

The following is a poem inspired by one of my favorite mysterious creatures, The Mothman:


The Bridge

Mysterious lines cross the sky
Did you see them?
He was there upon the bridge
Staring into the chasm before the despair
Alive again
Shaking the mortal landscape
Their foundations cracked

Apparent only to the blind
Did you see him?
His return prophesized in scripture
At least forty years have past since the last encounter
The signs were all around
A moth flew across the clouds weakening the rafters
Blinding the populace with dissent

At last, his message revealed
Did you hear him?
Mass destruction followed
The past rises from the ashes
With the meek again standing guard
More disasters abound
Two more if the legends are true

Those eyes burn with laughter
Did you see them?
The grand wings unfurled
His presence feared
The moth again takes flight
The locations planned
Devastation nears

Remember the point
His rise to immortality
Will this time end the same way?
Will the innocents’ death be in vain?
They bled for him
Their souls sacrificed for the good
Look at the bridge again
Do you see him?