Folklore Frontiers - No 020

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 20
Date: September, 1993
Publisher: Paul Screeton

This issue of Folklore Frontiers, an independent, non-profit magazine focused on contemporary legends and urban belief tales, is edited by Paul Screeton and published from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool. It is a hastily compiled 24-page issue, with a promise of a full-size issue for Christmas.

Cover Story: The Hartlepool Monkey Legend and Its Rivals

The cover features a subscriber and author, Karl Shuker, known for his work in cryptozoology and big cats. The main narrative of this issue, however, revolves around the 'Monkey Legend,' a tale with competing claims from different towns.

The Hartlepool Mail's headline 'HANDS OFF OUR MONKEY!' is discussed, with the writer, Paul Screeton, reflecting on his book 'Who Hung the Monkey?' and the media's interest in the story. The genesis of this renewed interest is traced back to a letter from Brian Carberry, drawing attention to an article in Scottish Memories magazine. The Mail then sought a response from Inverclyde District Council.

• The 'Monkey Legend' is explored with multiple town claims:
• Greenock: A man, believed by some to be a monkey, was hanged as a French spy during the Napoleonic Wars. This incident is said to have occurred around 1760.
• Port Glasgow: In revenge for Greenock's earlier incident, Port Glasgow was advised to boil their cracked town bell, which resulted in it splitting open. This led to the retort: 'who boiled the bell?' when Greenock's 'who hung the monkey?' is mentioned.
• Mevagissey, Cornwall: Also claimed to have hanged a monkey around the same time as Hartlepool.
• Boddam, Aberdeenshire: Hanged their monkey in the 1800s, linked to luring ships for salvage rights.
• Derbyshire: A similar legend circulates where a circus monkey was dealt with by villagers fearing a French invasion.

Paul Screeton, author of 'Who Hung the Monkey?', suggests the Hartlepool legend might not be directly related to the Napoleonic Wars but could have originated from rivalry between 19th-century railway companies, with a popular music hall show lampooning a Mr. Robinson as a 'monkey-hanger'.

Big Cat Sightings: The Puma Scare

The issue also extensively covers sightings of large black cats, particularly in the Hartlepool area. The Hartlepool Mail launched a campaign offering £100 for the first genuine photograph of a 'black beast' spotted on the outskirts of the town.

Photographer Dirk van der Werff recounts a terrifying personal experience eight years prior, where he saw a large black animal stride across the road and then lie down in a ditch. He admits he froze before driving away.

Reports of big cat sightings have been ongoing since the 1960s across the UK. Experts like Alec Coles from Newcastle's Hancock Museum state that while it's difficult to prove or disprove the existence of such creatures, it's feasible they could exist, having possibly escaped from zoos or private collections. Neville Wilby, curator at Flamingoland zoo, agrees that pumas could survive in the UK climate.

Recent sightings in Hartlepool, including near Brierton Quarry and West View, have heightened local awareness. A motorist, Paul McLoughlin, reported seeing a large black beast, bigger than an Alsatian, in fields near the Hart bypass. Other villagers reported similar sightings, with one describing a creature similar in size to a Rottweiler but more agile. The RSPCA advised the public not to approach any such animal.

An escaped puma is also blamed for killing two newborn calves on a farm in Norfolk, raising concerns that it could pose a danger to humans.

'Did?/Didn't?' - Celebrity and Knickerless Tales

This section humorously explores celebrity anecdotes and media coverage related to the film 'Basic Instinct' and the topic of actresses not wearing knickers. It includes stories about Sharon Stone, Prince Andrew, Princess Fergie, and other public figures, often focusing on tabloid speculation and moral commentary.

Other News and Anecdotes

• Newslines: This section presents a collection of short, often quirky news items:
• Jurassic Larks: The media circus surrounding the film 'Jurassic Park' is noted, with companies jumping on the bandwagon. A dairy in Israel faced issues with dinosaur stickers on milk cartons due to religious objections. There are also reports of dinosaur-themed advertising and pranks.
• Snuffed Out: The issue of snuff movies is raised, with reports of a man being kicked and stamped on, and the planned sale of his body to a snuff movie company. The seizure of 'Cannibal Holocaust' DVDs at a children's fair is also mentioned, with concerns about the graphic nature of the film.
• Oldies but Goodies: This segment includes brief, often humorous, anecdotes such as a town's baby boom being blamed on an express train, and a story about a PC who couldn't spell 'truncheon'.
• Proto-legends: This section examines tales of dubious validity that may become contemporary legends. It includes stories about a woman dying of shame after passing wind at her wedding, a US college football coach rewarding success with sex, and an implausible story about electricity chiefs restoring power to allow a porn tape to be removed.

Folklore Sport

This section features a joke note found in Wales after a forged banknotes racket arrest involving footballer Mickey Thomas. It also includes an anecdote about Vinny Jones and John Major discussing interest rates.

Hart Village Alert: Puma Sighting

A separate article details a sighting of a large black beast, possibly a puma, in Hart village, triggering an alert among residents. The sighting by Paul McLoughlin led to numerous other calls from people who claimed to have seen similar creatures, some dating back years.

Letters

Letters from readers include a query about railways on small islands, specifically mentioning Herm, and a detailed account of the history of the US military base 'Blue West One' in Narsarsuaq, Greenland, and its transformation into an ice monitoring station.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of folklore, contemporary legends, media sensationalism, and unusual events. There's a clear interest in debunking myths while also presenting intriguing anecdotal evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical engagement with news and popular culture, often with a touch of dry humor and skepticism, particularly regarding sensational claims. The magazine champions local stories and legends, encouraging reader participation through letters and submissions.

This issue of Magzines (Volume 2, Issue 20, dated September 1993) is a compilation of articles and reviews focusing on Fortean phenomena, paranormal events, and unusual news from around the world. The cover story, "Monkey fails to amuse trippers," highlights a peculiar incident in Hartlepool. The magazine features a mix of news reports, book reviews, and journal summaries, with a strong emphasis on ufology, crop circles, and unexplained mysteries.

Russian Tales and Hi-Tech Stories

The issue begins with a collection of "news that their pet which had a huge appetite and was getting vicious, was in reality a polar bear." This is followed by six "Russian tales" detailing bizarre events, including shoppers continuing a journey with a deceased companion, unusual baby names, popular convict tattoos, attempts to prevent soup spoon theft, a violent organ-sabotage incident, and a costly Russian joke chat-line.

Transitioning to "hi-tech tales," the magazine presents a story reminiscent of the movie 'Indecent Proposal,' involving a swap between a video game and a wife. It also recounts a case where a 12-year-old boy's video game addiction was treated by posting "Game Over" signs around his house. Another anecdote describes a woman who inadvertently videoed her husband's fatal heart attack while he was playing in the sea. A peculiar report from Glemsford, Sussex, details British Telecom's investigation into phantom phone calls possibly caused by fax machines.

Book Reviews

Several books are reviewed, offering insights into various paranormal and Fortean topics:

• UFOS: THE FINAL ANSWER? by David & Therese Marie Barclay: This collection of viewpoints on ufology is presented as an intelligent overview that encourages personal conclusions. It revisits the Silpho Moor case and touches upon conspiracy theories.
• THE PARANORMAL by Percy Seymour: This book explores the reconciliation of sensory perception with science, attempting to explain aspects of the paranormal, including auras, apparitions, telepathy, and clairvoyance, through theories of relativity and quantum theory.
• HOLY MADNESS by Georg Feurstein: This work examines the phenomenon of 'Waco acopalypse' and cult leaders, challenging commonsense and exploring the realm of tricksters and eccentrics.
• A RECORD OF MEETINGS by P D Ouspensky: Described as potentially profound and influential, this work is now available to a wider audience.
• AYURVEDA LIFE, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY by Robert E Svoboda: This book delves into the knowledge of life within Ayurveda, focusing on the interaction of forces like air, fire, and water principles and their impact on health and disease.

Magazine and Journal Summaries

The "Magzines" section provides summaries of other publications:

• FORTEAN TIMES: Issue No. 69 features an interview with UFO abduction researcher Dr. David Jacobs, a piece on circlemaking, and articles on Tibetan environments, cold fusion, and rumours of red mercury. Issue No. 70 covers urban legends, the Munchausen syndrome, and interviews with John Blashford-Snell.
• THE WILD PLACES: This journal of strange and dangerous beliefs features an editorial by Kevin McClure on the shamanistic experience industry and an article by Dr. David Gotlib on False Memory Syndrome.
• THE CROP WATCHER: Issue No. 17 includes an editorial endorsing Jim Schnabel's book and a report on Schnabel's Q&A session. It also addresses an attack by "psychical researcher" Robert France and covers topics like crop circles and animal sightings.
• TOUCHSTONE: Issue No. 37 revisits Norfolk leys, explains Roman centuriation, and discusses dowsing workshops and Wiltshire leys.
• AMSKAYA: Issue No. 29 features a transcript of Howard Menger's commentary on his claimed visit to the Moon in 1956, Men in Black, and cover-up theories.
• SINISTER: Tony Shiels' personal zine for February 1993 contains tidbits on surrealism, insobriety, and 'nnidniity'.
• THE CEREOLOGIST: Issue No. 8 focuses on personalities in crop circle studies, particularly George Wingfield, and includes arguments about hoaxers creating sacred spaces. Issue No. 9 sees John Michell handing over editorship to George Wingfield and discusses topics like decoding challenges and circle mysteries.
• MAGONIA: Issue No. 45 covers Sixties UFO hypochondria, Peter Rogerson on UFO abductions, and the Linda Napolitsno case. Issue No. 46 features Peter Rogerson on the theme of abductions and Martin Kottmeyer on UFOs in the Seventies and Eighties.
• NORTHERN EARTH MYSTERIES: Issue No. 55 discusses alignments, spirit lines, and dowsing, with contributions from Paul Devereux, John Michell, and Andy Roberts.
• GLOUCESTERSHIRE EARTH MYSTERIES: Issue No. 15, now in A1 format, includes articles on Chinese feng-shui, megaliths, the Kogi tribe, and ritual shrines.

Stop Press and Animal Sightings

The "Stop Press" section compiles various short, unusual news items. One notable story is about a monkey causing a disturbance in a shop in Whitby, leading to damage and a confrontation with trippers from Hartlepool. Another "Oldies but Goodies" item recounts a woman finding her husband seemingly suffering an electric shock while dancing to his Walkman.

A "MAN'S RAGE OVER WIFE AT BROTHEL" story details a bricklayer who smashed up a brothel upon discovering his wife worked there.

The "Great puma riddle" section investigates the mystery of the Durham Puma. Eddie Bell, who has documented sightings, hopes to send a half-eaten sheep carcass to the Ministry of Agriculture for testing. The report notes that the kill was unusual, with the front end heavily fed upon, unlike a typical dog kill. It also mentions a sighting of a large black cat near Cambridge.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the unexplained, the bizarre, and the Fortean. There's a clear interest in UFOs, paranormal phenomena, and unusual animal sightings. The magazine appears to maintain a skeptical yet open-minded approach, as seen in the review of Dr. David Jacobs' work and the cautious conclusion regarding the Durham Puma. The editorial stance seems to favor presenting diverse viewpoints and encouraging readers to form their own conclusions, while also critically examining claims and potential hoaxes. The inclusion of numerous summaries of other specialized journals indicates a desire to cover the breadth of Fortean and paranormal research and reporting.