A few years back Balladeer’s Blog examined some of the folklore surrounding some very menacing cryptids from tall tales around the nation. This time around, the creatures being covered are much milder.
THE BILLDAD
Habitat: Boundary Lake in Maine
Lore: The Billdad is said to be roughly the size of a badger, beaver or wolverine. It has hind legs and a torso like a kangaroo, a flat, wide tail like a beaver, a head like a bird of prey, and webbed paws. Their tail slapping the water is often compared to the sound of canoe paddles striking the water.
Billdads feed on fish who venture too near the surface of Boundary Lake. Their powerful hind legs propel them from the shore to the spot of their prey, which they strike dead with their flat tail. They devour the fish then use their webbed paws to swim back to shore. Reproducing asexually, these creatures replenish their numbers from humans or animals foolish enough to kill and eat a Billdad, causing them to morph into another Billdad. Continue reading
DESERT CRUSADER (1968-1969) – This French television series is also known as Thibaud, ou les Croisades, Thibaud, il Cavaliere Bianco, Thibaud, der Weisse Ritter and other variations of those titles. The color series ran two seasons of 13 episodes each, with those episodes lasting around 26 minutes apiece.
Thibaud and his sidekick Blanchot (Raymond Meunier) are part of the knightly efforts to safeguard people making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He often works alongside the Knights Templar but doesn’t seem to be an official member of their Order. 
FRIGHTMARE THEATER (2015-2022) – Over the years, Balladeer’s Blog has examined plenty of Movie Host Shows, old and new. Frightmare Theater is another hostess-themed film show created, written and directed by Joel Stephens, just like 
Frightmare Theater delivers an entire coven of hostesses, led by Mistress Scarlet (Scarlet Ryan), the red head who rises from her coffin to host the bad movie proceedings. Some of her assistants are Original Cyn (Cyn Renteria), Sister Jane (Jane Victoria Colley) and Sister Monalisa (Monalisa Davinci). Stephens himself appeared as Boris the Butler for a while. 
A FORCE OF ONE (1979) – Fresh off the success of Good Guys Wear Black, Chuck Norris starred in this action film directed by Paul Aaron in only his second directing effort. The prolific Ernest Tidyman wrote the screenplay.
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER FIVE – The number 5 team in the nation – the TRINITY (CT) BANTAMS – took it on the road against the WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY CARDINALS. At Halftime the Cardinals were on top 36-29, but after the break the Bantams forced Overtime by tying things up 70-70 to end Regulation. In the extra session Trinity College prevailed 79-77. Ben Callahan-Gold notched 25 points to lead the Bantams.
CENTURY CLUB – The (25) CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS welcomed the WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS and proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate them 111-48 ### Meanwhile, the THOMAS COLLEGE TERRIERS won 101-67 at the LESLEY UNIVERSITY LYNX ### And the MORRISVILLE STATE MUSTANGS routed the CANTON (NY) KANGAROOS 105-71. 
WONDERMAN 
ACROMAID 
Powers: Acromaid was in peak physical condition and excelled at unarmed combat. She was as agile as an acrobat and was also very skilled at knife-throwing. In addition, Acromaid carried vials of truth serum with her so she could inject it into criminals she was interrogating. 
JANUARY 19th, 1847 – With the Mexican War (April 1846 – February 1848) still raging, New Mexico Territorial Governor Charles Bent was killed, scalped, and stripped naked at his home in Taos, NM on this date. Five others were murdered along with him, including a female Native American. 
DICK TURPIN (1925) – Western star Tom Mix took a break from his Wild West movies by starring in this highly romanticized film about the real-life English thief and highway robber Dick Turpin. John G. Blystone directed the movie for Fox Film Corporation. Tom swapped his six-guns and rifles for a sword and pistols in this flick.
The main villain of the film is Lord Churlton (Philo McCullough), who not only resents having been robbed by Turpin, but abuses his power and influence by menacingly trying to force Lady Alice Brookfield (Kathleen Myers) to marry him. 
THE BOATS OF THE GLEN CARRIG (1907) – Written by horror legend William Hope Hodgson, whose works 
In 1757 the story’s main character, John Winterstraw, is telling his son James Winterstraw about the horrific adventure that brought John together with the boy’s mother. (How I Met Your Mother: The Prequel Series) John and other sailors were on board the Glen Carrig when it struck a rock near the surface of the waters and sank. 
Balladeer's Blog 