Actually, former spook show MC/TV horror host ("Dr. Evil") Phil Morris -- now of Morris Costume, a huge company that sells masks, costumes, props, etc. -- told me (and showed me photos) that he (and not, as is the usual legend, the late make-up maestro John Chambers) provided (don't recall if he said actually made) the standard-issue/Morris catalog ape suit worn in the Patterson film. I've spent quite a bit of time with Phil -- known him since the late 1960s when he sent me some "Dr. Evil" photos for MODERN MONSTERS magazine -- and he's always seemed to me to be an upright and honest guy.

Phil told me that the guy inside the suit (I have his name somewhere) had to walk a certain way to hide either the zipper or the fact that the suit was damaged (forget which) -- and it was that manner of walking that was used as evidence by some believers as "proof" that it wasn't a guy in a suit.