Becoming Bigfoot | Guest Post: Harold Mintz
I got my first real job at the ripe old age of 13. When I tell my friends, they always want to know why the heck I was working at such an early age. In reality, I was simply following in my older brother’s footsteps. Jeff got his first job working at Meadows Farms selling tomatoes from the back of a truck. He was 14. I remember that he had to go before a judge at juvenile court to get a “special work permit” that would allow a child under the age of 16 to work. I vaguely remember hearing my parents say that the county was checking to see if the child’s parents were forcing the child to work. Jeff got a job, so I wanted a job as well.
A year later, I found myself standing before the same judge asking him for permission to get my own special work permit. He asked how old I was, and I told him 13. He looked at my tall, lanky body and he said, “Thirteen you say? You could pass for 16.” Yeah. I know. It’s that Mintz gene pool doing its thing again. Dad was tall. My brothers were tall. And I’m tall. Special work permit approved.
The first job I landed was flipping burgers at the local Burger Chef. Back then, fries cost 12 cents, and a hamburger was 15 cents. Yeah, I’m old.
My first job was in the fast-food industry. My last job will be with Classic Exhibits.
At EXHIBITORLIVE 2025 last year, I informed Kevin and Mel that it was my intention to retire the following year. I know that sounds like I gave them a year’s advance warning, but I was actually giving myself a year to adjust to the concept of retirement.
About 3 months ago, Mel told me he wanted to ask me something and prefaced his question by saying, “It’s okay to say no.” Hmmm. A challenge. Color me intrigued. He said he was considering a specific theme for the Classic Exhibits booth at EXHIBITORLIVE 2026 that emphasized while Classic might be a large player in our industry, we are always trying to hide from the general public.
We’re a private label manufacturer. We only sell to you, the trade. If you’re a custom exhibit house, a marketing firm or an ad agency, cool! We’re your guys. But End Users? No thank you. That’s your headache, thank you very much. Mel always says that marketing a company that tries to hide from most of the world has got to be one of the hardest jobs out there. Agreed.
Mel ❤️ Bigfoot
Let me pause for a moment for some background… Those who know Mel White probably also know that he has a “relationship” with Bigfoot. Always has. I wouldn’t use the word “obsession,” but others might. He knows more about the creature than Google does. He gets physically ill (and has been known to become perturbed) when someone inevitably refers to Bigfoot as “a Yeti” or “Abominable.” Call him Sasquatch? Acceptable. But never the Y word or the A word. He can tell you where the Bigfeet hang out, and where he was the last time he encountered one. (Ask him.) He has an impressive collection of Bigfoot figurines, books, air fresheners, bottle openers and many other assorted collectibles.
Mel must’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. With EXHIBITORLIVE rapidly approaching, he created the perfect theme for the Classic booth. Since Classic tries to remain hidden from the world and only letting a special few know about our existence, why not tie that in to how Mr. Bigfoot also remains hidden from all but a special few? And hence, “Believe – The Legend is Real” was created.
Back to Mel’s question… after telling me it was cool to say “No” he asked, “Would you ever consider dressing up as Bigfoot on the show floor to help promote our Believe theme?” Are you kidding me? Did you even have the slightest sense of who you are speaking with? Do you think there is even the slightest chance I might say no? Come on! Dressing up as Bigfoot and walking the show floor for my last show? YES, PLEASE!
My First Task
My first task was to locate a Bigfoot costume. It had to be realistic and not cheesy. (Stop it. Stop it right now. I can hear your thoughts all the way over here in Malibu. Bigfoot IS real, and he is not cheesy.) After a few keystrokes, the Internet search results could be broken down into two potential paths… rent a costume or purchase one.
Most of the purchasable suits were… bad. They were either too childlike or too plasticky. But when I punched in Los Angeles Bigfoot Costume Rental, there were plenty of options. Some average looking, some really, really, fantastic. The best costume by far was from a professional costume company that when you rent their Bigfoot outfit you were also required to hire one of their costumers to travel with the costume to ensure it was worn properly. The cost? YIKES! Needed other options.
There were many average looking costumes. Not great, not terrible. And for a few minutes I considered pitching the costly costume version to Mel and Kevin. But then I saw it. Peeking out from behind a tree. He was tall – over 7 feet. He was hairy with nice plush brown fur. His feet were disgustingly cool – and huge. His toenails were gross enough to give any nail tech a heart attack. And I’m not sure how they pulled it off, but his arms and hands were so loooong. Like how would that costume even work with arms that long? I had to find a way to see this costume live and in person. The source? Fox Television Studios Costume Department.
Fox Studios Costumes and Wardrobe
I called and set the appointment. They told me to bring my driver’s license to show at the studio gates and that they would leave a “drive on” for me. Cool, right? Two days later, I arrive at the studios, show my license and am handed a map to find the costume building. For those who have never been to a film studio lot… it’s cool as shit! You look around and see buildings where some of your favorite shows are/were filmed. The Simpsons, MASH, Modern Family, The X Files… television history everywhere you look.
I park my car and walk about a block to the building that houses the Costume Department. On the way, I pass a tram loaded with tourists taking the Fox Studio tour. And instantly they are all looking at me like I’m someone famous. A few of them started taking my picture. So, of course, I felt obliged to wave at them like I was somebody. I live in Malibu, so I’ve gotten use the to the random person asking me, “Hey, you know who you look like?” Yeah, I know. With my white mustache and dark eyebrows there might be the slightest resemblance to that guy with the famous mustache, dark eyebrows and that smooth baritone voice.
So, I get to the building and go up to the 3rd floor. The doors open, and I see the sign, “Costume Department.” As I enter a woman approaches me and says you must be Harold. Nice! I’m in the right place.
The first thing she says to me is, “This may sound kind of weird but were you recently in the Netflix series – MONSTER – The Lizzie Borden Story?” I responded, with a laugh, “I sure was! How the heck did you know that? It’s not even released yet?” She said that Netflix contracted with Fox Studios Costume Department to provide all the costumes for the series. She told me, “I was the person who pulled your costume. You were Juror #7, right?” Small world!!
I’ve been applying for background and extra roles in LA ever since my wife, Susan, sent my photo for an Albert Einstein lookalike for some commercial nobody will ever see.
When The Lizzie Borden Story is released, I will be in the 5th episode of the six episode series. That is if I don’t end up on the editing room floor.
As she’s taking me to see Bigfoot we’re passing racks upon racks, aisles upon aisles of costumes – Revolutionary War, Civil War, Westerns, Futuristic, Sci-Fi, 20’s, 30’s 60’s. It really is quite incredible. Eventually we get to the “Creatures” aisle. She gets on one of those rolling ladders, climbs up and brings down Mr. Bigfoot. He’s ensconced in what appears to be a clear see-through wedding dress bag. She comes down and takes him out. My first thought… “Wait til Mel sees this!!!”
My second thought was, “OMG! This sucker is HUGE!” Look, I’m tall at 6’4,” but I felt like a Munchkin standing next to this Bigfoot costume. With his head on, he stands just under 7.5 feet tall. He’s massive.
I blurted out, “Perfect! I’ll take him!”
While signing the paperwork I noticed at the very bottom some fine print… “Replacement Cost – $4000.” YIKES! That’s a lot of greenbacks! Make a note… Treat this Bigfoot skin as if it were my own skin.
Walking Like Bigfoot
Now that I had found my body, I needed to start working on the physical aspect — my Bigfoot walk. He wouldn’t just casually amble down the trade show aisle willy nilly. He has an identifiable strut. Anyone who’s seen the famous 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film will recognize that distinctive gait. So, I asked Susan to be my Bigfoot Coach and I started practicing. She ran me thru the drills… “Swing your arms more. Take longer strides. Slow down.” Eventually I think I got him down pretty good.
Costume? Check.
Bigfoot Gait? Check.
Tee Shirt???
Yep… Tee Shirt. Mel reached out a few weeks ago and asked me what size tee shirt I thought Bigfoot might wear. I said I wasn’t sure but give me a day or two and I’d let you know. So, I wrote the Costume Ladies at Fox and asked, “If Bigfoot was going to wear a tee shirt, what size do you think would fit best?” Within 3 minutes I got my response. It was all of two letters… 5X. Those ladies sure know their shirt.
Traveling with Bigfoot
Next thing was getting the costume from LA to Tampa. The box was way too big as a carry on luggage, and I felt it would be kind of troublesome as checked baggage. I check with FedEx. Sorta reasonable. When they asked how much to ensure it for, of course I said, “$4000.” Reasonable just escalated to OUCH.
I arrived in Tampa. After checking in to the hotel, I walked across to the TCC and approached the EXHIBITORLIVE Registration Desk. I provide my ID, and my badge starts to print out. And then I notice a second badge printing out. First one? Harold Mintz, Classic Exhibits. The second one? Harry Bigfoot, Classic Exhibits. Ahhh. Perfect! He’s got his own show badge.
Becoming Bigfoot
A few quick notes about the costume…
First, I am looking out of the creature’s neck because that removable head of his goes up over 7 feet. Harold is tall but not that tall. It’s really hard to see with all the fur in my eyes. I might have 3 to 4 feet visibility at best.
Second, I have absolutely no dexterity. My actual hands are not inside the creature’s hands. The costume’s arms are WAY too long for any human. Inside the costume, my hands hold sticks that extend a portion of the arms and hands out an additional 2 feet.
So, I can’t see, I can’t feel or touch or pick up anything. If I’m to walk around the show floor, I’m going to require a handler to lead me.
And lastly… It’s hot as shit inside that thing!! A furnace! I’d only had it on for a few minutes at home to make sure I could get into it and in those few minutes I was already schvitzing up a storm. Susan suggested I wear shorts, a tee shirt and tie ice packs to my body. Hmm, maybe. Kevin suggested I go commando. Nope. I kept telling myself, “How hot can it be? I can do this.” Eh-heh…
The Unveiling
Show organizers scheduled a Welcome Reception on the show floor the night before the show was to open. That’s where Bigfoot would reveal himself.
I needed a place close to the show floor to change into Bigfoot. I couldn’t see myself changing into this massive costume in any ol’ Men’s Room. That wasn’t dignified enough. I asked Fern, the show contractor, if I could use their temporary offices just off the show floor. “No. That’s for management.” Really? Boo! Eventually I found a “Family Bathroom” large enough for the task at hand.
About 45 minutes before show doors were to open, Kevin and I headed to the designated one stall bathroom. (Stop it! I hear what you’re thinking. Grow up!) First, I put on the body portion of the costume. Once on, Kevin zips me up from the back being very careful not to catch any fur in the zipper’s teeth as it rides up. Next… the disgusting feet. They’re a tight fit, but I get them on lickety split. Before putting on my head, Kevin places the #TheLegendIsReal sign and Harry Bigfoot’s show badge around my neck. Lastly, I slide on my head. Kevin fluffs my fur, straightens my signage and off we go. We find a door with access to the area just outside the show floor entrance and walk towards the gathering crowd.
It’s Bigfoot Time!
With my limited view, Kevin becomes my GPS. “Ten feet ahead on your left. Two ladies are laughing. Approach slowly.” I do. I can see two sets of women’s shoes. Without warning I nuzzle my body between the two of them, raise my long arms and place them around each of their shoulders and Kevin snaps the pic. Laughter ensues. They ask Kevin… “Can you please take pix with our camera?” Sure can! Click. Click. Click.
For the 30 minutes before the show doors open, we are in a pinball machine, bumping from one group to another. Hundreds of pix and selfies were snapped. I can’t see anything and I’m burning up inside my cocoon, but the laughter and joy that I am hearing and experiencing provides me with more than enough fuel to keep moving forward.
Once the doors open, we hit the show floor. We are weaving up and down every aisle taking continuous pix with both Attendees and Exhibitors. When Kevin guides me to folks we know, I let Bigfoot get a little… handsy. Even though I have zero dexterity, I can still place my hands where they have no business being. Ask Robert Laarhoven about that.
I quickly learn that there are plenty of folks who are deathly afraid of mascots and other furries. At first, I ignored their protests and would follow them as they fled my approach, but I learned to back off and let them be. 7.5 foot tall creatures are not everybody’s cup of gruel.
Once every 10 minutes or so, someone would approach me and ask, “Who’s in there?” I would shrug my shoulders indicating I didn’t know. But when someone would come up to me and ask, “Is that you, Mel?” I would emphatically nod my head, “Yes it is!”
Bigfoot’s Got Moves
I quickly learn a few Bigfoot movements and idiosyncrasies that came in handy. The shrug indicating “I don’t know.” I could extend my hand for a fist bump. I could give my head a few quick upward nods in that “Yo. Wassup. How you doin” sorta way. If someone was looking at their screen while walking down the aisle, I could stand directly in front of them and spread my arms as if to say “Hey…. I’m walkin here!” I was waving and high fiving with everyone.
My favorite move? I would take one of my long arms, place it behind my back and scratch my butt. Every time I did that I would hear laughs coming from behind me. It seemed the show hall was filled with 3rd graders laughing at my Bigfoot Butt Jokes. I kept looking for as many ways to interact with individual people as I could. Find the connection. Leave a memory. I think we were successful as laughter followed us down every aisle.
It Was a Schvitz-a-Thon
At some point Kevin leaned in and whispered, “How you doing? Need a break?” YESSSSS, please! So, we wound our way off the show floor and as soon as we were out of sight I removed my head.
Oh!
My!
God!
It was a schvitz-a-thon inside that costume! With my head off, I could breathe again! Cool air! Sight! It was glorious! I was soaked through and through. Sweat was literally dripping off me. Check out my skin glistening with schvitz.
Bigfoot Goes on Walkabout
Over the next two days, Kevin and I would traipse up and down the show floor for a total of 4 hours. We connected with hundreds of Attendees and Exhibitors. At one point Kevin was engaged in conversation with one of our Distribution Partners and I got anxious and just took off on my own. I could see a few feet in front of me which was enough to keep approaching people to take selfies with. About 20 minutes later Kevin found me and said, “Where did you go? How is it even possible to lose a 7.5 foot tall Bigfoot on a small show floor?!”
Photographing Evidence of Bigfoot
Traditionally the last day on the show floor is never really that busy. The Classic Exhibits Team decided this was when we’d take our group photo in front of our booth. Kevin and Mel sheepishly asked if I wouldn’t mind getting into character one last time for the photo. Haha! Of course! There’s no way in hell I wouldn’t have become Bigfoot one final time for that photo.
Full Circle
At the outset of my career, the first show I attended was the 1980 CES in Vegas. I was a knucklehead with unruly long hair being amazed at all the sights and sounds on that trade show floor. I’ve now come full circle… During my last show I was still a knucklehead walking the show floor with unruly long hair still amazed at all the beautiful sights and sounds.
Thanx, Jack Wayman, Scott Jackson, Scott Walode, Judy Watson, Bill Kelly, Pat Goeke, Jim Hoffman, Bob Babine, Mel White and Kevin Carty.
And thanx to Everyone I’ve worked alongside of over the past 46 years. You’ve given me so much more than a career. You’ve given me joy. What more could anyone ask for?