S04E10 - Pompeii (Explicit)
In Research Of
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: 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!
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S04E09 - The Abominable Snowman
In Research Of
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." NFA - "Proof of Life" Crevasse photo we mention from the episode.
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S04E08 - Mexican Pyramids
In Research Of
Jeb is right at home as we go In Search Of... Mexican Pyramids! Links from research movie about the robbery - affiliate link 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...
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Bonus: Joe Nickell on The Shroud of Turin
In Research Of
Dr. Joe Nickell recalls his experiences working on the 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. (YouTube) (YouTube) (affiliate link)
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S04E07 - The Shroud of Turin
In Research Of
Jeb and Blake unwrap the mystery of the shroud of Turin! (Which might, it turns out, be neither a shroud, nor from Turin - talk amongst yourselves!) Link to ISO on YouTube: The bucket brigade saves the shroud in re-creation... NFA - A return to "the Night Gallery?" Young Joe Nickell at work in Alan Landsburg's NYC apartment: The Rev. Francis Filas () Secondo Pia, photographer who discovered the "negative effect" on Shroud. (also, dead ringer for Seth Myers) Just saying... More on Dr. Harry Gove ()
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S04E06 - The Lost Colony of Roanoke
In Research Of
S04E06 - The Lost Colony of Roanoke The ISO team take us back to Colonial Virginia to investigate the cold-case of the lost colony of Roanoke. Jeb and Blake learn about armadas, plays, and rock diaries. Beach Action Nimoy Fashion Alert! The Money Shot... Blake thinks the ISO actor is giving off Keenan Wynn vibes. And we've already discussed the ties between Rod Serling, Leonard Nimoy, Night Gallery, and more, so the visual similarities to this scene and Planet of the Apes might not be 100% coincidence. The famous "Dare Stones" preserved with all the decor and pomp...
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S04E05 - Immortal Sharks
In Research Of
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 Henri Bource - 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 )
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S04E04 - UFO Australia
In Research Of
Jeb and Blake have a look at the Season 4 episode UFO AUSTRALIA which covers the Kaikoura UFO Sighting and the Nimoy Fashion Alert shot on location at the
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S04E03 - The Amityville Horror
In Research Of
Jeb, Blake and Alex French go in research of ! 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" <I made that last one up.>. 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. ...
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S04E02 - Carlos, The Most Wanted Man in the World
In Research Of
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: (Wiki) (Wiki) (Wiki) (Wiki) (Obit)
info_outlineYou can catch this episode of ISO on YouTube (for the moment).
Warning: This episode contains major spoilers for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Let's be honest - this episode of ISO wouldn't exist if it weren't for the classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. - certainly ended up with a bitter attitude towards them and accused them of all manner of shenanigans.
Butch doesn't favor Paul Newman much, but it's good acting in the film. Here's Butch's mug shot:
And here's Sundance and his girl Etta Place:
History of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Headand its role in BC&TSK.
We joke but you can actually get Manos Hands of Fate in HD streaming now on Amazon!?
And you can catch the MST3K version (with all hilarity included) on YouTube.
We talk a bit about the Pinkerton's and James McParland. There is a very, very mixed history around this company with some viewing them as heroes and others as despicable villains. The agent who hunted Butch & Sundance - Charlie Siringo - certainly ended up with a bitter attitude towards them and accused them of all manner of sheenanigans.
Q-Ships of WWII.
The amazing history of the Bandana.
Average heights around the early 1900s.
Ward Hill Lamon - Lincoln's bodyguard and biographer
Female Pinkerton detective Kate Warne
The Baltimore Plot - the first attempt to kill Lincoln?
The Hole in the Wall
Some of the "action" takes place in Baggs, Wyoming.
Go drive around Baggs on Google's maps if you like.
William Alfred Brassell (1897 - 1979) - we joke about him a bit because he reminded us of Torgo... but Brassell and his wife had 8 kids - some of whom may still be alive. His son Ray just passed away in 2017.
From his photo on Ancestry.com - I assume he let his sideburns go after his wife passed in 1963. (Assuming they got their photo correctly associated with his file.) The Internet is a funny place - you can't meet Alfred but you can see his grave.
Butch's sister Lula Parker Betenson (1884 - 1980)
According to her obituary she:
"...was active in politics and served as Piute County Democratic chairwoman for 28 years. In 1962 she was appointed by Gov. George Dewey Clyde to fill an unexpired term as state senator from Piute County.
In earlier years, she worked with a traveling theatrical company and spent several years as drama director in local Mormon church auxiliaries.
Born April 5, 1884, in Spry, she married Joseph A. Betenson Jan. 1, 1907. She had been a widow since 1949."
Don't worry - here's a shot of the real star of the episode (below) and a beautiful example of the Model-T Ford (above).
Okay - the big claim in the episode is (Per Larry Pointer) that Butch Cassidy looks a lot like William T. Phillips. Let's see them side-by-side. Cassidy (Left) and Phillips (Right):
Now - in the 2012 book (also by Larry Pointer) the claim is that perhaps Cassidy's old fellow inmate William T. Wilcox was really the author of the Cassidy book The Bandit Invincible and later took on the name of Phillips. Let's see them side by side:
The mouth shape, ears and chin are good matches. I'm not going to go full "Anastasia" arrow-crazy, but these two have more in common.
There is a lot of heated criticism of Pointer's book - but you can read about that on your own.