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The Bizarre Journey of Elmer McCurdy: From Outlaw to Carnival Exhibit

      

Introduction: A Tale of the Unexpected

In the vast and varied history of the American West, there are countless tales of outlaws and lawmen, of gunfights and horse chases, of gold rushes and land grabs. But among these stories, few are as strange and unexpected as that of Elmer McCurdy. His life was a series of misadventures and failures, but it was in death that McCurdy found a macabre form of fame. This is the tale of an outlaw whose life was cut short by a hail of bullets, only to embark on a post-mortem journey that would see him become a sideshow attraction, a prop in a funhouse, and ultimately, a symbol of the bizarre and often macabre fascination with the Wild West.

Chapter One: The Early Life and Crimes of Elmer McCurdy

Elmer McCurdy was born in the small town of Washington, Maine, in 1880. His birth was the subject of scandal, as he was the illegitimate child of a young woman named Sadie McCurdy who had been seduced by an older, married man. Elmer never knew his father, and his mother died of tuberculosis when he was just ten years old. He was raised by his maternal aunt and uncle, who treated him harshly. As a teenager, he developed a reputation as the town drunkard, and he was often in trouble with the law.

In his early twenties, McCurdy left Maine and headed west, drawn by the promise of adventure and the chance to make a name for himself. He drifted from town to town, working odd jobs and often sleeping in barns or under the stars. But McCurdy wanted more than a life of labor and hardship. He wanted wealth and respect, and he was willing to break the law to get them.

McCurdy's life of crime began in earnest in Oklahoma, where he joined a gang of outlaws who specialized in robbing banks and trains. But McCurdy was not a skilled criminal. His first robbery attempt ended in disaster when the explosives he used to blow open a bank safe ignited the bank notes inside, rendering them worthless. His second attempt, a train robbery near Lenapah, Oklahoma, was equally unsuccessful. The explosives he used to open the train’s safe ended up melting the silver coins that he wanted to steal.

Chapter Two: Death and Post-Mortem Commercialization

McCurdy's criminal career came to an abrupt end in October 1911, when he was cornered by a posse of lawmen in a hayshed near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. In the ensuing shootout, McCurdy was killed. His body was taken to the Johnson Funeral Home in Pawhuska, where it was embalmed with an arsenic-based preservative, a common practice at the time to prevent decomposition in case the family of the deceased wanted to hold an open-casket funeral.

But no one came forward to claim McCurdy's body. After it sat unclaimed at the mortuary for six months, the enterprising mortician, Joseph L. Johnson, decided to put McCurdy's body on display. He dressed the corpse in street clothes, placed a rifle in its hands, and stood it up in a corner of the funeral home. For a nickel, visitors could see the "Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up."

In 1916, two men claiming to be McCurdy’s long-lost brothers showed up at the Johnson Funeral Home. They said they wanted to give McCurdy a proper burial. But instead of burying the body, they sold it to the Great Patterson Carnival Shows, where it became a popular sideshow attraction. For the next six decades, McCurdy's mummified body was passed from carnival to carnival, billed as "The Outlaw Who Would Never Be Captured Alive."

Chapter Three: Rediscovery and Burial

In 1976, a crew member for the television show The Six Million Dollar Man was preparing to shoot a scene in the "Laff in the Dark" funhouse at the Nu-Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach, California. As he was moving what he thought was a fluorescent-painted mannequin hanging from a noose, the arm broke off, revealing human bone and mummified flesh. The "mannequin" was actually the mummified body of Elmer McCurdy.

The Los Angeles coroner confirmed the body was McCurdy's, and in April 1977, nearly 66 years after his death, McCurdy was finally laid to rest in the Boot Hill section of the Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma. To ensure that his body would not be stolen again, two feet of concrete was poured over his casket.

Chapter Four: The Outlaw's Appearance and Attire

While there are no detailed descriptions of Elmer McCurdy's appearance and clothing during his lifetime, we can make some educated guesses based on the era and his lifestyle. As an outlaw in the early 20th century, McCurdy would have likely worn attire typical of the time and his profession.

McCurdy was a drifter and an outlaw, so his clothing would have been practical and durable. He would have worn sturdy trousers, likely made of denim or canvas, and a simple shirt. Over this, he might have worn a vest or jacket, depending on the weather. His shoes would have been hard-wearing boots, suitable for long days of riding and potentially running from the law.

As for his physical appearance, while specific details are scarce, historical photos provide some insight. McCurdy was of average build, with a rough, weather-beaten face that spoke to his hard-living lifestyle. He had a mustache, a common facial hair style for men of his time, which added to his rugged appearance.

It's important to note that after his death, when McCurdy's body was mummified and displayed, it was dressed in street clothes and a rifle was placed in its hands¹. This was done to enhance his image as an outlaw and make the exhibit more appealing to the public. However, these clothes were not necessarily reflective of what McCurdy wore in life.

In the end, while we may not know the exact details of Elmer McCurdy's appearance and clothing, we can paint a picture of a man who lived on the fringes of society, whose attire was dictated by his lifestyle and the era he lived in. His story, bizarre and fascinating, continues to captivate us, more than a century after his death.

Please note that this section is based on educated guesses and available historical photos, as specific details about McCurdy's appearance and clothing are not Documented

Chapter Five: The role of McCurdy's appearance in shaping his outlaw persona.

Elmer McCurdy’s rugged appearance played a significant role in shaping his outlaw persona and how he was perceived both in life and death.

In the context of the early 20th-century American West, a man’s physical appearance often spoke volumes about his lifestyle and character. McCurdy’s rough, weather-beaten face and practical, durable clothing would have marked him as a man of the outdoors, someone who lived on the fringes of society and was no stranger to hardship. This would have immediately set him apart from the more ‘civilized’ folk of the towns and cities.

Moreover, McCurdy’s appearance would have contributed to his image as an outlaw. In popular culture, outlaws were often romanticized as rugged, independent individuals who lived by their own rules. McCurdy’s rough-and-ready look would have fit this image perfectly, reinforcing his status as an outlaw and a rebel.

Even in death, McCurdy’s appearance continued to shape his persona. His mummified body, dressed in street clothes and posed with a rifle, became a popular sideshow attraction. This macabre display would have only added to McCurdy’s outlaw image, presenting him as a kind of ‘Wild West’ curiosity for the public to gawk at.

In conclusion, Elmer McCurdy’s appearance played a crucial role in shaping his outlaw persona. It marked him as a man of the frontier, set him apart from ‘civilized’ society, and contributed to his posthumous fame as a sideshow attraction. Even today, his story continues to captivate us, serving as a stark reminder of the often harsh realities of life in the Wild West.

Chapter Six: The impact of popular culture on shaping our perception of Wild West figures

popular culture has played a significant role in shaping our perception of Wild West figures. From dime novels and Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to modern Western films and television series, these cultural products have created and perpetuated a certain image of the Wild West and its inhabitants.

The Wild West is often portrayed as a lawless frontier, a place of adventure and danger, where rugged individuals carved out a life for themselves against the odds. Figures like outlaws, lawmen, cowboys, and gold prospectors are romanticized as symbols of freedom, rebellion, and the American spirit. They are often depicted as tough, independent, and resourceful individuals who lived by their own rules.

Take the figure of the outlaw, for instance. In reality, outlaws were criminals who often led violent and short lives. However, in popular culture, they are often portrayed as anti-heroes, their criminal actions balanced by their defiance of a society that many felt was oppressive or unjust. This romanticized image can be seen in the portrayal of figures like Billy the Kid, Jesse James, and indeed, Elmer McCurdy.

Similarly, the cowboy is another figure that has been romanticized in popular culture. While the real life of a cowboy was often one of hard work, low pay, and little glamour, in popular culture, the cowboy is often depicted as a heroic figure, a symbol of freedom and the pioneering spirit.

It's important to note that while these portrayals can make for compelling stories and characters, they often oversimplify or distort the realities of life in the Wild West. They can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. For example, the roles of women, Native Americans, and other marginalized groups in the history of the West are often overlooked or misrepresented in these popular narratives.

In conclusion, while popular culture has certainly shaped our perception of Wild West figures, it's important to look beyond these portrayals to gain a more accurate and nuanced understanding of this fascinating period in history.

Chapter Seven: How revisionist Westerns challenge traditional portrayals.

Revisionist Westerns emerged as a reaction to the classic ‘cowboys and Indians’ narrative, offering a more nuanced portrayal of the American West¹. They challenge the traditional narratives of the American West, presenting a morally complex landscape where heroes are flawed and historical events are depicted with a more critical eye¹.

Traditional Westerns often depict the West as a place of rugged individualism and self-reliance, where the lone cowboy or sheriff must confront and overcome obstacles to achieve justice or redemption. They often romanticize the Wild West, depicting it as a place of honor, courage, and adventure. The heroes of these stories are often stoic cowboys with a strong moral code¹.

In contrast, revisionist Westerns take a more critical view of the West. They often challenge the myth of the frontier as a place of adventure and opportunity, instead depicting it as a place of violence, exploitation, and oppression². These films often explore the darker aspects of the West, including the displacement and genocide of indigenous peoples, the exploitation of natural resources, and the rise of industrial capitalism².

One major difference between classic and revisionist Westerns is the portrayal of characters. Classic Western heroes are often larger-than-life figures, embodying the virtues of the frontier². They are typically white, male, and skilled with a gun, and they often triumph over adversity through sheer force of will². By contrast, revisionist Westerns feature more diverse and complex characters². These films often depict the experiences of women, people of color, and indigenous peoples, providing a more nuanced and critical perspective on the West².

In essence, revisionist Westerns challenge the simplistic and often romanticized portrayals of the Wild West that are common in traditional Westerns. They offer a grittier, more realistic portrayal of frontier life, tackling social issues of the era they depict—like racism, capitalism, and violence¹. They provide a more accurate depiction of the West, complete with morally ambiguous characters, realistic violence, and weightier subject matter³.

Conclusion

Revisionist Westerns play a crucial role in challenging and reshaping our understanding of the Wild West. They question the myths and stereotypes perpetuated by traditional Westerns, offering a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of life on the frontier⁴.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who was Elmer McCurdy? Elmer McCurdy was an American outlaw who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his failed attempts at robbery and his post-mortem journey as a sideshow attraction.

2. What happened to Elmer McCurdy's body after his death? After his death, McCurdy's body was embalmed and, when unclaimed, was put on display by the mortician. It was later claimed by men posing as his brothers who sold the body to a carnival. McCurdy's mummified body then became a sideshow attraction, traveling across the country with various carnivals and amusement parks.

3. Where is Elmer McCurdy buried? Why is Elmer McCurdy famous? McCurdy's body was discovered in 1976 at the Nu-Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach, California, by a crew member of the television show The Six Million Dollar Man. The crew member was moving what he thought was a mannequin when he accidentally broke off its arm, revealing it to be a mummified body.

4. How was Elmer McCurdy's body discovered? McCurdy's body was discovered in 1976 at the Nu-Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach, California, by a crew member of the television show The Six Million Dollar Man. The crew member was moving what he thought was a mannequin when he accidentally broke off its arm, revealing it to be a mummified body

5. Why is Elmer McCurdy famous? McCurdy is famous not for his life, but for his post-mortem journey. His mummified body became a sideshow attraction and was displayed at various carnivals across the country for over 60 years. His story is a bizarre and fascinating piece of American history.

6. dy is famous not for his life, but for his post-mortem journey. His mummified body became a sideshow attraction and was displayed at various carnivals across the country for over 60 years. His story is a bizarre and fascinating piece of American history.

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