Mindless Banter: Joe Simonton & the Alien Pancakes
Episode Description
In 1961, a quiet Wisconsin farmer claimed a UFO landed in his yard and its occupants handed him… pancakes. In one of the strangest, most oddly wholesome UFO encounters ever recorded, Joe Simonton described cooking noises, a silent exchange of water, and silver-dollar “space flapjacks” that were later tested by the Air Force. Today we break down the story, the investigation, and the weird theories that have followed it for decades.
Episode Breakdown
🛸 Who Was Joe Simonton?
54-year-old farmer and part-time plumber in Eagle River, Wisconsin
Known locally as honest and quiet, with no history of hoaxes
Became known as “The Pancake Man” after the story spread
Joe hears a loud “whooshing” sound outside
Sees a 30-foot chrome-like saucer land in his yard
Three short, dark-haired humanoids in tight black clothing
Nonverbal communication requesting water
One occupant cooking small pancakes on a flameless griddle
Craft departs silently after giving Joe several of the pancakes
Small, grainy, silver-dollar-sized disks
Joe ate one: “tasted like cardboard”
Air Force/NICAP lab tests showed buckwheat, flour, sugar, grease
No unusual elements or radiation detected
Some reports say Joe attempted to recreate them using buckwheat flour
Air Force interviewed Joe and considered him sincere
No signs of mental illness or hoaxing
Official conclusion: misinterpretation or hallucination
Case remains unusual due to physical evidence (the pancakes)
National headlines and widespread attention
Tourists showed up at Joe’s farm
UFO groups highlighted the case as a friendly encounter
Joe later regretted the public attention
Literal alien visit
“Space Italians” interpretation based on appearance
Honest misinterpretation/hallucination
Trickster/High Strangeness event
Secret military prank (unlikely)
“Cosmic IHOP” humorous theory from UFO circles
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