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Author: William Blake Smith

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The show where we watch the 1970s TV show "In Search Of..." and look at possible explanations the producers didn't consider.
113 Episodes
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Jeb and Blake ponder Atlantis and "healing holes" in the waters off the coast of Bimini. (Weirdly this is almost literally true as Blake ended up actually in Bimini just a week before this ep released. More on that soon.) Links for Shownotes: Roby Yonge on "The Beatles Paul is Dead" Neptune Memorial Reef "Psychic" Irene Hughes Bimini Wall Edgar Cayce Beachrock The Healing Hole More on the crystal ball from 2010 (Cayce related)   Nimoy Fashion Alert: Other interesting images from the episode: Hemingway's Healing Hole: Robey Yong and Irene Hughes re-enact their experiences. Doc Raymond Brown and his crystal ball Marcel Vogel and some crystals - he was also in S01E01 on talking plants.  
This is part 2 of our 2-part coverage of The Mothman Prophecies movie. If you haven't listened to Part-1, please turn over the record and start again. Additional show notes available (for free) on our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/s4-bonus-mothman-129987183 
  This is part 1 of our 2-part coverage of The Mothman Prophecies movie. This is in lieu of S04E21 (see below) but we hope you enjoy the content and after part 2, we return to our regularly scheduled episodes list. "So... Air Disasters Predictions, Jeb? What do you think we'll get?" Well it turned out to be more than we expected. During our research for this episode we ran into a bit of a puzzle. It turns out that one of the key figures in the episode is still alive and has become an important figure in the world of conspiracy and out of an abundance of caution for our own sanity (as regards potential litigiousness) we've decided to shelve this one for a while. Will we come back and fill in the gap when we think the coast is clear? I don't know - but we didn't want to leave a hole in your listening so we decided to do something... more ambitious. So what we did instead was we recorded a 4+ hour deep dive into the 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies.   Extensive show notes available (for free) at our Patreon page. https://www.patreon.com/posts/s4-bonus-mothman-126932315
Jeb and Blake go in search of John the Baptist's resting place. Content Warning: Human remains on screen. Discussion of murder.   Beheading John the Baptist (wiki) Salome (play) In 2018 the murder of Bishop Epiphanius took place and rocked the religious community -- not important for this episode but it popped up a lot in my searching. San Silvestro "head" shown in intro Same - but wiki article Nimoy Fashion Alert  (NFA Wardrobe consulting by The Hogtown Rake, Pedro Mendes) The "head" of John the Baptist at San Silvestro: Art historian Michael Patroconni (Petroccione?) I think Jeb and I found this to be the most fun part of the episode: Gerald Larue obituary Herod Antipas (the Herod that executed JTB) Wadi El Natrun The Cave of John the Baptist
Blake tries to talk Jeb off the ledge as we return to the classic theme of "ancient astronauts" in this throwback episode titled: Earth Visitors. Some links relevant to our discussion: Dejah Thoris (character) MUFON/Harzan scandal Roman Dodecahedrons (archaeology) Frank Frazetta Boris Vallejo We mention Zecharia Sitchin. Research suggests humans grow more neurons than did Neanderthals. A bunch of this episode comes from the work of Maurice Chatelain, who we shall refer to as "Shadowlane." His book Our Cosmic Ancestors sports one of the more interesting book covers we've seen while researching this show. He also wrote Our Ancestors Came from Outer Space. Maurice Chatelain's credentials appear to have been somewhat overstated in the episode. We'll be talking about several "Out of Place Artifacts" or OOPAs in this episode. Let's start with the "Boot Print" aka The Meister Print. (pictured below) See also this article by Glenn Kuban. Very compelling stuff. I guess. I mean it sort of looks like show print. This interesting looking skull also sent us down some research holes. The text of the episode seems to be talking about the Del Mar Skull but the image doesn't look like a close match. A lot of "shapes on the earth" are discussed. The shapes require you to do a lot of work. We'll get into that in the episode. But one is the Maltese Cross that is absolutely stunning, so long as you ignore that some of the points are hundreds of miles from the alleged anchor points and that the temples allegedly at each point were centuries apart. Skeptical response via CSICOP. Also - this is supposed to be a "pyramid" but seems to be more of what geometry wonks call a "triangle." I'm trying to find the type of terminal behind our statistician. And - behind the scenes I've managed to contact him and he assures me that the episode required many takes and that his students reported they made him sound like he believes in the whole ancient astronauts thing... More on this if I hear back from a rather lengthy email I sent him today (12/13/24). Read even more about the Monte Carlo Method! Vintage ad for the The Outer Space Connection. According to Scientific American, the idea that indigenous Americans were here for a very long time (from across the Bering sea) really kicked off in the 1930s. Read more about The Elephant Slab hoax. This montage of Kachina dolls really impressed Blake: Nimoy Fashion Alert! Native Jewelry Artist Preston Monongye Engineer Charles Ruggles Could he be LARPing J. Allen Hynek? Finally we get to the Cosa Artifact. And - of course, The Jupiter Menace (1982)
Jeb and Blake head out to sea in research of the mystery of what happened to the crew of The Mary Celeste.  Links: The Dei Gratia Nimoy Fashion Alert  (NFA Wardrobe consulting by The Hogtown Rake, Pedro Mendes)  Attorney Fred Flood In 1913, The Strand Magazine provided an alleged survivor's account from one Abel Fosdyk, supposedly Mary Celeste's steward. The Mary Celeste (1913 article) Per "WhatTheFont" website identifier, that font is (appropriately):  JOLLY ROGER!  Meanwhile on Skull Hut Island...   Pop Culture: Dead Calm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystery_of_the_Mary_Celeste Read it, it’s a time. Hammer film -Jeb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chase_(Doctor_Who)
Jeb and Blake go into the jungles of California and France in search of WILD CHILDREN!  This episode of ISO contains a lot of disturbing content and our commentary is laced with expletives, hence the Explicit tag.   Tarzan is raised by a fictional ape species known as The Mangani The story of Mowgli is LOOOOSELY based on the real-life person Dina Sanichar. Frequently referenced ERB Zine article Ian Jackson obituary News coverage of David as adult (BBC) 2021 update on David 1985 story about search for "wild children" (and Sham Dev/Shamdeo) Christopher Hitchens on Mother Theresa Japanese quadrupedal runner The Green Children of Woolpit Victor of Aveyron Disturbing story of Genie - more neglected than feral NFA - Wild Children:  It's supposed to be a Bear but it has some other possumbilities.
S04E16 - Vincent van Gogh

S04E16 - Vincent van Gogh

2024-08-2502:29:51

How could Vincent have been a creative genius - yet also "insane?" Jeb and Blake take a look at Nimoy's very personal thoughts about this question. This episode deals with the topic of self-harm and suicide. If you're struggling with thoughts of self harm, please get help immediately.  You can reach trained and empathetic counselors (in the USA) by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-TALK.  We care about our listeners and want you to be around for many years to enjoy life - and our work.   Links for Show Notes: Nimoy's play VINCENT via Archive 81 Words - This American Life on the DSM  The Book of Kells Bullshit or Not? Was JTR really Nessie? Article on Jo Bonger The Golden Gate Quartet Weird Al's Skipper Dan (YouTube) Doctor Who clip of Vincent at the art gallery Early montage sequence shows: Self Portrait (1888) Starry Night (1889) Vase with 15 Sunflowers (1888) Bedroom at Arles (1888) Night Cafe in the Place Lamartine in Arles (1888) Encampment of gypsies with caravans (1888) Langlois Bridge at Arles (1888) Fishing boats on the beach at Saintes Maries  Wheat FIeld with Cypresses (1880)  You can find all these and more at the online Van Gogh museum.             Meanwhile... Could Manos be loosely based on Paul and Vincent?
Jeb and Blake learn all about the riveting world of stock certificates and inheritance law! It may not be the most mysterious episode of In Search Of... but it's certainly one of the episodes we watched. Show Notes: Orson Welles Critic Clip Lot 249 Texas Pacific Land trust 1980 article The big 2014 Business Insider article Pembroke: http://www.oldlongisland.com/2008/02/pembroke.html http://www.oldlongisland.com/2011/10/pembroke.html http://www.oldlongisland.com/2009/07/pembroke-american-architect.html Pembroke tour (video) Alice de Lamar Failed lawsuit Contemporary article about the case Nimoy Fashion Alert (red-shift corrected) The case of the missing hair! Jeb was confounded by this man's barberian style choices.
Jeb and Blake are joined by Sharon Hill to get shook by the San Andreas Fault!   Understanding the Richter Scale (logarithmic) Link (Netflix) to Earthstorm docu series YT video clip featuring geologist Dr. Kerry Sieh Classic Budweiser commercial from the 70s The Salton Sea Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Nuclear activist Ray Vrana Peter Gros of Wild Kingdom   San Andreas movie with The Rock (Amz affiliate link)   Cover to guide for SF geological tour:   Dr. Tim Hall - One of the founders of the San Andreas Fault Trail in 1977. Featured in 2011 documentary available on YT.   Dr. Kerry Sieh   The very sexy VT52 from DEC.   NFA San Andreas edition: 
S04E03 - The Dark Star

S04E03 - The Dark Star

2024-06-1802:32:10

In order to understand In Search Of… The Dark Star, Jeb and Blake will first need to get Sirius; Sirius-B, that is!   Links from this episode:   Siris (A part of the Canis Major constellation)    Jeb discussed a couple of evocative artworks:  Appeal to the Great Spirit (Dallin) End of the Trail (Fraser)    North African musket (Moukahla) Colonial Williamsburg Hoop Rolling Jacquard Loom Punched Cards technology The Hans Guggenheim art project Isaac Koi UFO archives The Tribal Eye BBC documentary series (YouTube)   Regarding Temple, Puhairich, Young, and The Nine The Sirius Mystery by Robert Temple Editorial letter about Temple from The Observatory Dogon Shame by Phillip Coppens Griaule's Legacy: Rethinking "la parole claire" in Dogon Studies Pop Culture References (affiliate links): Conjure Wife - aka Burn Witch Burn Bewitched Bell, Book and Candle ===== Images: The "orbit" of the Dogon dark star. Nimoy posing with a tribal mask - our initial NFA image. Later we get to see his legs in this seated NFA supplementary: Hans Guggenheim initially appears in just a vest and pants. Later, he too is in more of a Safari look, and has a professorial pipe as well.   Dr Gary Chapman, Astronomer The man who first photographed Sirius B - Dr Lindenblad A little of the FORTRAN code that powers the orbit animation in the episode:   We don't have enough information to know who made Nimoy's safari clothing, but if you want to try and track down a very close approximation, this example from J. Peterman's (est 1987) is as close a match as I've seen. You would still need to find it in a vintage shop because at present they don't sell these.    
Jeb and Blake extinguish our cigarettes, put our trays in the upright position, and head out the back of the plane in search of the elusive skyjacker known as D. B. Cooper. Nimoy Fashion Alert - dimly lit corporate office edition.   D. B. Cooper - Wikipedia The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (Movie) - if you buy it on Amazon we get a few pennies. Recent Netflix series on D. B. Cooper Blake's friend Rick Ollerman offered some opinions on vintage round parachutes.     Later we meet Nimoy outside where you can make out more of his ensemble.   Of course this is an episode about D. B. Cooper - who for Jeb and I, evokes the classic "MIB" look.   This ain't deal-a-meal. This is a different Richard Simmons.   There is some great photography in this episode. I liked seeing the reservoir and dam. Imagine landing there on a stormy November night without jump boots...   Finally - kudos to the faceless Cooper stand-in who lugged stuff around in the anonymous re-creations. 
S04E10 - Pompeii (Explicit)

S04E10 - Pompeii (Explicit)

2024-03-2902:14:30

Jeb and Blake join Leonard Nimoy's search for Pompeii!  (Well - is it really about finding Pompeii?  Or is it about finding a possibly Christian cross in Pompeii?  Tune in and find out!)   Links:  Depictions of the crucifixion in Medieval Art People debating the cross at Pompeii Christian graffiti at Pompeii House of the Faun - Pompeii About that "lost Legion" thing Discovery and rediscovery of Pompeii Giuseppe Fiorelli  Terentius Neo Lupinar Villa of Mysteries Dinosyian Mysteries Greco-Roman Mysteries Thyrsus Nimoy Fashion Alert!   Hey - it's NOT a Jumpsuit.   We complain but there really is WAY too much red-shift in the majority of this episode:   You need pumice? WE GOT BUCKETS OF PUMICE!  
Jeb and Blake track the last cryptozoology episode of the original In Search Of… as we join the late Peter C. Byrne in a search for "The Abominable Snowman." Imagining the Wild Man: Yeti Sightings in Folktales and Newspapers of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills More on Tom Slick - MonsterTalk Monty Python "abattoir" sketch Searching for Sasquatch (affiliate link) Article about Byrne still "hunting" in his 90s. The Eternal Return Bigfoot Map Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds (YouTube) Horror in the Heights - Kolchak Episode with Rakshasha   NFA - "Proof of Life"      Crevasse photo we mention from the episode.  
S04E08 - Mexican Pyramids

S04E08 - Mexican Pyramids

2024-02-0102:31:561

Jeb is right at home as we go In Search Of... Mexican Pyramids! Links from research Sacrifice City Great Pyramid of Cholula Templo Mayor Ruz' Palenque Dissertation The Christmas Robbery of the Century Secrets of the Maya Temple (1958) Museo (2018) movie about the robbery - affiliate link Mystery of the Meridas Ciudad Maya nightclub Music/Art film tied to the nightclub site Operation PBSuccess - CIA and Guatemala  Mystery film we think MAY have sourced part of this episode. Director Jean Chartier  Pyramid Comparison visual tool (wikipedia)   Nimoy Fashion Alert!  Jungle Cotton Blend edition:   There are actually subtle stripes on that shirt! This episode has some amazing models - so cool: And - of course - it wouldn't be ISO without some reenactments...  
Dr. Joe Nickell recalls his experiences working on the Season 4 episode of In Search Of… dealing with The Shroud of Turin. note: This interview will be cross-posted to MonsterTalk. The interview contents will be identical, but the framing intro/outro will be unique to the respective shows.  In Research Of… (Patreon) In Research Of (free feed) In Search Of… The Shroud of Turin (YouTube) Joe Nickell covered by The Daily Mail That's Incredible! segment on THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. (YouTube) Joe Nickell's website Joe's Amazon Author's Page (affiliate link)
S04E05 - Immortal Sharks

S04E05 - Immortal Sharks

2023-07-1701:35:291

We're going to need a bigger boat!  Jeb and Blake head to Australia to investigate the idea that Great White sharks are immortal! Links: 1977 San Diego article about Sea World's shark exhibit Article about weird things allegedly found inside sharks. Henri Bource - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Bource Groo the Wanderer NFA - on the beach! Sharks are famous for their teeth - and Nimoy's have improved since season one as well. Nimoy just walking on the beach manages to attract a diver's audience. Diving pioneer and explorer, Hugh Edwards.   Ray Keys at Sea World has lots of great shark information.   And don't forget researcher Dr. William Gladstone! (You can find him on twitter at @DrBillGladstone)  
S04E04 - UFO Australia

S04E04 - UFO Australia

2023-05-1602:04:521

Jeb and Blake have a look at the Season 4 episode UFO AUSTRALIA which covers the Kaikoura UFO Sighting and the disappearance of Frederich Valentich.  Retrospective of the Kaikoura UFO sighting Better version of the video than what is in the episode Westall UFO case (Blake mentioned - but is not in ep) Skeptical Inquirer (McGaha & Nickell) Transcript of the Valentich air traffic discussion Psychic Hippie Lawyer article Nimoy Fashion Alert shot on location at the San Fernando Aerospace Solar Observatory. 
Jeb, Blake and Alex French go in research of The Amityville Horror! Typewriters 101 site History vs Hollywood: Amityville History of the House The Warren Omission The Calamityville Horror The Dictionnaire Infernal Nimoy gives us the calm and rational look in the midst of so much weirdness! So many faceless re-enactors in this one!   Horror writer Jay Anson and his trusty typewriter!   And this episode is quite notable for giving us a look at Father Mancuso from the book. Aka Father Ralph Pecoraro. Aka Father Delaney.  Aka "Jimmy the Shadow" . The Lutz couple at the table.   The two versions of Jodie the Pig: And we gotta include the super creepy ISO doll.  Kudos to the prop dept.   
  Jeb and Blake look back at the ISO team's coverage of the global manhunt for the terrorist known as "Carlos." This episode gets an Explicit tag because of language.   Nimoy Fashion Alert:   Dr. Frederick Hacker (Obit)  Carlos - aka The Jackal  (Wiki) Raid on Entebbe (Wiki) Carnaby Street, England (Wiki) Friendship University, Russia (Wiki) News story about how Carlos got his name Nydia Toban (Obit)  Carlos's Lawyer/"wife" 
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Comments (13)

Joel Flanagan-Grannemann

Tell us how you really feel guys.

Dec 15th
Reply

Miles Greb

"many people believe his lover" this comes from a much latter story and wr have no reason to believe it was part of the tradition

Jul 18th
Reply

Miles Greb

Viking isn't a verb. that's a myth

Jun 26th
Reply

Christopher Knox

It's worth noting that the mini black hole hypothesis is the basis of David Brin novel "Earth". Not one of Dr. Brin's best works, but quite interesting.

Jul 30th
Reply

Miles Greb

huge fan of the show. but I do think it's a bit odd to focus so much on an islamic version of a Jewish story. like your not really talking about the story, but like a 10 degree telpahone version of it at this point. but still, cool info.

May 23rd
Reply

Emilio Rodríguez-Álvarez

In Castilian Spanish we call the cuy conejillo de indias, Indian (in the colonial sense) rabbit. Which makes sense, since it is a rodent and from the Americas...

Dec 2nd
Reply

Emilio Rodríguez-Álvarez

I think the Achilles ballet-like fighting style in the film is an attempt to justify the description in the Iliad as swift-footed

Nov 17th
Reply

Cody Burkett

this episode won't download for me! sadface.

Oct 20th
Reply

Miles Greb

you think JJ did star wars right...what....

Apr 22nd
Reply

Miles Greb

TLJ is not a star wars movie. get your facrs right guys :p

Mar 17th
Reply

Miles Greb

loved it guys

Mar 17th
Reply

Emilio Rodríguez-Álvarez

I was born in Galicia, right by the Costa da Morte (Death Coast) where hundreds of thousands of shipwrecks have taken place. The reason? Rough Atlantic weather and one of the busiest routes in the world. No aliens.

Jan 29th
Reply (1)