Another time Calvin made dinosaur tracks in the snow in order to fool Susie; it didn’t work because she knows Calvin wears size five shoes which made the “dinosaur’s” toes.
I wonder if Bill Watterson got the idea for this from a legendary prank Hugh Troy pulled while a student at Cornell University in upstate New York.
Troy “borrowed” a wastebasket made of a rhinoceros foot from Professor Louis Agassiz Fuertes, added some weight to it, got a couple of co-conspirators to help him suspend it from long ropes to either side, and during a winter snowstorm made what appeared to be rhinoceros tracks across campus. The tracks led to Beebe Lake, which was the source of drinking water for the area. Troy then cut a large hole in the ice on the lake, making it appear the animal had fallen in. University experts verified the tracks as those of a rhinoceros. Unverified reports claimed that many people stopped drinking the water until Troy revealed the prank via an anonymous letter.
Long ago while still in Boy Scouts we were winter camping in a rustic cabin at a local YMCA camp. My brother, who worked at the camp in the summer, was one of the troop leaders, being an older kid. He, I and an old camp caretaker who stopped by to check on us spun a camp legend of “Hairy Man”, a cannibalistic, insane, unkempt, banned from society old hermit who now lived roaming the hills above since his cave had been sealed with concrete to drive him away (there is still a hole filled with concrete up there with the scratch marks he made trying to get back in). After we had bedded down for the night my brother snuck out and donned a pair of snowshoes that were modified to leave what appeared to be big, hairy, footprints for the kids to find in the morning. As he has making tracks across the brightly moonlit pond one kid had gotten up to pee in the snow off the front porch and saw him, a large big-footed hairy looking (he was bundeled up against the cold) creature stalking in the moonlight. He came running back in, screaming that Hairy Man was after him, peeing a yellow streak the whole way. That sighting is, to this day, proof that the legend is true.
Someone actually did this on a Florida beach, back in the 50’s I think, and it fooled some people into thinking a giant penguin had come ashore and walked around.
If you want to hear about a real life version of this trick, this episode of the podcast Criminal has the story. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-152-the-clearwater-monsterDon’t worry, Criminal is often more about the effects of crime than being gory, and this one is not upsetting in the least. Unless human gullibility upsets you.
BE THIS GUY almost 4 years ago
Mrs. Wormwood wishes Calvin would spend his time doing other things.
Templo S.U.D. almost 4 years ago
Another time Calvin made dinosaur tracks in the snow in order to fool Susie; it didn’t work because she knows Calvin wears size five shoes which made the “dinosaur’s” toes.
Prescott_Philosopher almost 4 years ago
Calvin’s own footprints kinda give the whole scam away.
codycab almost 4 years ago
Hobbes still does much better than you, Calvin.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Does W.C. Fields know about this?
rshive almost 4 years ago
The two-ton chickadee apparently has a friend.
FaustoCoppi almost 4 years ago
I wonder if Bill Watterson got the idea for this from a legendary prank Hugh Troy pulled while a student at Cornell University in upstate New York.
Troy “borrowed” a wastebasket made of a rhinoceros foot from Professor Louis Agassiz Fuertes, added some weight to it, got a couple of co-conspirators to help him suspend it from long ropes to either side, and during a winter snowstorm made what appeared to be rhinoceros tracks across campus. The tracks led to Beebe Lake, which was the source of drinking water for the area. Troy then cut a large hole in the ice on the lake, making it appear the animal had fallen in. University experts verified the tracks as those of a rhinoceros. Unverified reports claimed that many people stopped drinking the water until Troy revealed the prank via an anonymous letter.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Troy
BigDaveGlass almost 4 years ago
A strap would mean you could wear it on your foot, a second one would mean not leaving your own tracks, too impatient I guess…
scotta775 almost 4 years ago
I wish Watterson would have shown Calvins process for building that.
jagedlo almost 4 years ago
And it’s even worse now, Hobbes!
JudyHendrickson almost 4 years ago
Carefulcalvin that foot print may come to life!!!!
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
As I always say. Messing around and wasting time is hard work, if you do it long enough.
bbenoit almost 4 years ago
Long ago while still in Boy Scouts we were winter camping in a rustic cabin at a local YMCA camp. My brother, who worked at the camp in the summer, was one of the troop leaders, being an older kid. He, I and an old camp caretaker who stopped by to check on us spun a camp legend of “Hairy Man”, a cannibalistic, insane, unkempt, banned from society old hermit who now lived roaming the hills above since his cave had been sealed with concrete to drive him away (there is still a hole filled with concrete up there with the scratch marks he made trying to get back in). After we had bedded down for the night my brother snuck out and donned a pair of snowshoes that were modified to leave what appeared to be big, hairy, footprints for the kids to find in the morning. As he has making tracks across the brightly moonlit pond one kid had gotten up to pee in the snow off the front porch and saw him, a large big-footed hairy looking (he was bundeled up against the cold) creature stalking in the moonlight. He came running back in, screaming that Hairy Man was after him, peeing a yellow streak the whole way. That sighting is, to this day, proof that the legend is true.
WCraft Premium Member almost 4 years ago
He’s a tiger. Setting the bar pretty low for accomplishments.
Unicorn55 (Happy New Year 2022!) almost 4 years ago
Hehehe I’m reading in classs
mistercatworks almost 4 years ago
People will just think Hobbes turned into a giant bird.
A box of pineapples almost 4 years ago
The accuracy of that third panel depends entirely on your definition of “accomplish”…
Mel-T-Pass Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Someone actually did this on a Florida beach, back in the 50’s I think, and it fooled some people into thinking a giant penguin had come ashore and walked around.
GreggW Premium Member almost 4 years ago
At least Calvin’s alternate personality is more sensible than he is.
SweetSinger almost 4 years ago
The Great and Powerful Calvin says: PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE FOOTPRINTS!
LV3209 almost 4 years ago
hi
DCBakerEsq almost 4 years ago
Time is an illusion.
CoffeeLvr almost 4 years ago
If you want to hear about a real life version of this trick, this episode of the podcast Criminal has the story. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-152-the-clearwater-monsterDon’t worry, Criminal is often more about the effects of crime than being gory, and this one is not upsetting in the least. Unless human gullibility upsets you.
lindz.coop Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Goes well with those little boy prints of yours, Cal.
Ceeg22 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
How is this not a good thing?