Tulsa archivist completes restoration of 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film

Tulsa film restoration specialist Todd Gatewood has completed a new restoration of the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Film, with a public release set for Oct. 20. The project aims to preserve the footage in higher-quality form and will roll out first through Vimeo before expanding to major streaming platforms.

Why it matters: - The Patterson-Gimlin Film sits at the center of decades of debate over whether the 1967 footage captured a real Bigfoot-type creature or a hoax. - Gatewood's restoration could renew public and scholarly attention on one of the most examined pieces of motion-picture footage in modern history. - The project also preserves fragile original film material in a format meant for contemporary viewing and long-term archival use.

What happened: - Tulsa film restoration specialist and photo archivist Todd Gatewood announced that he completed a new restoration of the Patterson-Gimlin Film. - The 1-minute film was shot by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin in 1967 in the Bluff Creek area of Northern California. - The restored version is set for release on Oct. 20, the 59th anniversary of the day the footage was allegedly captured. - The finished restoration is part of a documentary titled "Bigfoot Revealed: The Unseen Patterson-Gimlin Film."

The details: - Gatewood said the project used high-resolution scans of the original 16mm Kodachrome II color film for the first time. - The restoration focused on preserving and presenting the original photographic film rather than creating a new version. - Gatewood said the goal was to restore the footage to museum-quality standards while respecting the source material. - The project also recognizes Patterson, Gimlin, researcher Bill Munns and others whose analysis and documentation have shaped the film's history. - The documentary is being prepared for distribution initially through Vimeo and later through major streaming platforms. - Patterson died in 1972. - Patterson maintained during his lifetime that the footage showed an actual Bigfoot-type creature rather than a man in a shaggy costume. - Gimlin said in a 2020 KNKX Public Radio interview that he strongly believed skeptics would dismiss a real Bigfoot even if one appeared in front of them.

Between the lines: - Gatewood's background in Tulsa film history gives the project local significance beyond cryptozoology, linking the restoration to his long career working with motion-picture imagery. - The emphasis on preservation over reinterpretation suggests the project is being framed as an archival effort first, not a new evidentiary claim. - Gatewood also tied the film's importance to Native American history, saying the image reflects truths about people hunted by the U.S. government.

What's next: - The restored film will be released Oct. 20. - Viewers will first be able to access the documentary through Vimeo, with broader streaming availability to follow. - The release is likely to reopen discussion among believers, skeptics and researchers about what the 1967 footage actually shows.

The bottom line: - Gatewood has turned a legendary piece of pop culture and paranormal history into a new archival release, with the timing set to revive an old question: real creature, or carefully studied mystery?