Elmer McCurdy: Unveiling The Outlaw Who Became A Sideshow Star
In the annals of American history, few figures boast a tale as bizarre, tragic, and utterly captivating as that of Elmer McCurdy. He was an outlaw, a schemer, a heavy drinker, and by most accounts, a rather inept robber. Yet, it wasn't his life of crime that etched his name into the collective memory, but rather his extraordinary and macabre afterlife. His mummified body, a grotesque curiosity, embarked on a decades-long journey through carnivals, sideshows, and even a Hollywood prop house, transforming him from a failed bandit into an unwitting commercial success.
This article delves deep into the strange saga of Elmer McCurdy, exploring the life that led him to his ignominious end, the circumstances of his death, and the incredible, almost unbelievable odyssey of his remains. From the dusty plains of Oklahoma to the bright lights of California amusement parks, prepare to uncover the wild, weird, and truly unique story of a man whose career truly took off only after he was dead.
Table of Contents
- The Unlikely Legend of Elmer McCurdy
- Who Was Elmer McCurdy? A Life of Misfortune and Crime
- The Bumbling Bandit: Elmer McCurdy's Ill-Fated Robberies
- The Final Stand: Death of an Outlaw
- From Corpse to Carnival Attraction: The Macabre Afterlife of Elmer McCurdy
- The Rediscovery: A Horrifying Find in a Funhouse
- A Proper Burial: Elmer McCurdy's Final Rest
- Elmer McCurdy's Legacy: From Outlaw to Musical Star
The Unlikely Legend of Elmer McCurdy
Nothing in Elmer McCurdy’s life could have suggested he’d someday become a legend, one of those unforgettable bandits who helped carve out an enduring myth of the Old West. He was no Jesse James or Billy the Kid. In fact, he was quite the opposite – a man plagued by poverty, illness, and an almost comical inability to succeed in his chosen profession of crime. Yet, paradoxically, Elmer McCurdy became a legend precisely because of his failures in life and the unprecedented, bizarre trajectory of his corpse after death. It’s a story that challenges our understanding of legacy, showing that sometimes, notoriety isn't earned through grand achievements, but through sheer, unbelievable circumstance.
His mummified body was displayed on the carnival and sideshow circuit for decades before being buried in Oklahoma in 1977. This peculiar post-mortem journey is what truly sets Elmer McCurdy apart, transforming a forgettable outlaw into a subject of fascination, inspiring books, documentaries, and even a lively new musical. Who knew you could make a living from being dead? Elmer McCurdy might have been an inept outlaw, but his corpse was, undeniably, a commercial success.
Who Was Elmer McCurdy? A Life of Misfortune and Crime
Born in Washington, Maine, in 1880, Elmer McCurdy's early life was marked by hardship. Orphaned at a young age, he drifted through various labor jobs, including mining and plumbing, before succumbing to the allure of the outlaw life. He lived his life with one foot in the grave, constantly struggling and rarely finding stability. A schemer and heavy drinker, he saw himself as an outlaw, a figure of rebellion and daring. Problem was, he kept botching the job. His criminal career was a string of misadventures, characterized by poor planning, bad luck, and a general lack of aptitude for the profession.
Despite his grand ambitions, Elmer McCurdy’s life was a testament to the harsh realities faced by many in the early 20th century, where opportunities were scarce and the temptation of quick money, however ill-gotten, often proved too strong. His story is a poignant reminder that not all outlaws were romantic figures; many were desperate men driven by circumstance, often with tragic and unforeseen consequences.
Personal Data & Biodata
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elmer J. McCurdy |
| Born | January 1, 1880 |
| Birthplace | Washington, Maine, USA |
| Died | October 7, 1911 |
| Cause of Death | Gunshot wounds (killed by a posse) |
| Occupation | Laborer, Miner, Plumber (later Bank & Train Robber) |
| Known For | Failed outlaw, and his mummified body becoming a sideshow attraction for 66 years. |
| Burial | Boot Hill Cemetery, Guthrie, Oklahoma (re-interred 1977) |
The Bumbling Bandit: Elmer McCurdy's Ill-Fated Robberies
Elmer McCurdy was an American bank and train robber who was killed in 1911, but his criminal exploits were far from legendary. His first attempt at bank robbery in March 1911, targeting the Citizens State Bank in Caney, Kansas, was a comical failure. He used nitroglycerin to blow open the vault, but used too much, destroying the vault and the money inside. He escaped with only a few coins.
His second attempt, in September 1911, targeting a bank in Chautauqua, Kansas, was equally disastrous. He and his gang fled empty-handed after being spooked by a passing train. It wasn't exactly the crime of the century, but McCurdy had grand ambitions for his third heist, hoping to finally strike it rich and prove his worth as a true outlaw.
The Train Robbery That Sealed His Fate
On October 4, 1911, Elmer McCurdy and two other outlaws, Walter Jarret and Joe Miller, targeted a Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad passenger train near Okesa, Oklahoma. This wasn't just any train; it was reportedly carrying a fortune of $400,000 in cash as a payment to the Osage Nation. McCurdy, with his characteristic ineptitude, mistakenly believed the money was in the express car. Instead, he and his gang boarded the wrong car, finding only a safe containing about $450 in silver coins and some gold dust. Again, his grand plans were thwarted by his own incompetence.
They managed to escape with their paltry loot, but the law was hot on their heels. The train robbery, though a financial flop for McCurdy, marked the beginning of the end for the bumbling bandit. The bounty on his head increased, and a determined posse was formed to track him down. Elmer McCurdy knew the end was nigh.
The Final Stand: Death of an Outlaw
The pursuit of Elmer McCurdy culminated on October 7, 1911. After days on the run, he was cornered in an old barn near the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Surrounded by sheriff’s deputies, he resigned himself to die. Accounts suggest he popped open a purloined bottle of whiskey and took a pull, perhaps steeling himself for the inevitable. A fierce gun battle ensued, lasting for hours. Elmer breathed his last on June 29 (though historical records generally cite October 7 as his death date), shot by Deputy Sheriff Bob Fenton.
He was wanted by the law, killed by a posse. For most outlaws, this would be the definitive end of their story. But for Elmer McCurdy, his death was merely the prelude to an even stranger, more enduring narrative. The injustices subjected to his corpse after his death made his afterlife much, much worse, and infinitely more fascinating.
From Corpse to Carnival Attraction: The Macabre Afterlife of Elmer McCurdy
When someone dies, a death certificate is issued and a body is prepared for its return to nature… most of the time. In Elmer McCurdy's case, his corpse was far from returning to nature. His story took a truly bizarre turn when his body, unclaimed, fell into the hands of an opportunistic undertaker named Joseph Johnson. Johnson, seeing a unique opportunity, embalmed McCurdy's body with an arsenic-based preservative, which effectively mummified it. He then put the body on display in his funeral home, charging visitors a nickel to see "The Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up."
This was just the beginning of Elmer McCurdy's unwilling career as a sideshow attraction. His mummified body was displayed as a sideshow attraction for 65 years, until it was discovered in a California amusement park in 1976. This period of his "life" as a public spectacle is perhaps the most incredible part of his entire saga, a testament to the strange and sometimes morbid curiosities that captivated audiences of the past.
Decades on Display: A Sideshow Staple
For over six decades, Elmer McCurdy's mummified body became a fixture on the carnival and sideshow circuit. He was sold from one showman to another, his appearance changing slightly over the years as he was painted, dressed in various costumes, and even given different names to fit new narratives. He was "The Oklahoma Outlaw," "The Man Who Wouldn't Die," "The Mummified Bandit," and countless other monikers. His mummified body was displayed as a carnival attraction for decades before being buried in 1977.
He traveled with various carnivals, including the famous "Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum" and later "The Hollywood Wax Museum." His handlers often exaggerated his story, claiming he was a notorious killer or a victim of a tragic accident, all to draw in crowds. This era highlights a darker side of entertainment history, where human remains could become commercial commodities, stripped of their dignity for public amusement. The strange story of Elmer McCurdy's life, death, and the way his remains lived on has inspired a new musical, showcasing the enduring fascination with this macabre tale.
The Rediscovery: A Horrifying Find in a Funhouse
The astonishing journey of Elmer McCurdy's corpse finally took a turn towards resolution in December 1976. His mummified body was displayed as a sideshow attraction for 65 years, until it was discovered in a California amusement park in 1976. Specifically, it was found hanging in the "Laff in the Dark" funhouse ride at The Pike amusement park in Long Beach, California. For years, park employees and visitors believed the shriveled figure was merely a wax dummy or a prop. Its peculiar texture and appearance were dismissed as poor craftsmanship or wear and tear.
The truth came to light when a film crew, preparing to shoot an episode of "The Six Million Dollar Man," moved the prop. During the move, an arm broke off, revealing human bone and muscle tissue. Shocked, the crew immediately alerted authorities. Forensic examination, including dental records and old photographs, confirmed the gruesome discovery: the "dummy" was, in fact, the long-lost body of Elmer McCurdy, the failed outlaw who died in 1911 and became a sideshow attraction for 66 years. This discovery sent shockwaves through the media, bringing Elmer McCurdy back into the public consciousness in the most unexpected way.
A Proper Burial: Elmer McCurdy's Final Rest
Following the shocking discovery and identification, authorities faced the question of what to do with Elmer McCurdy's remains. After 66 years of being paraded around as a spectacle, it was decided that he deserved a dignified and proper burial. His mummified body was displayed on the carnival and sideshow circuit for decades before being buried in Oklahoma in 1977. On April 22, 1977, Elmer McCurdy was finally laid to rest in the Boot Hill section of Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma, near the graves of other notorious outlaws like Bill Doolin.
To ensure his body would never again be disturbed or exploited, a concrete slab was poured over his coffin. This final act provided a measure of peace for a man whose post-mortem existence had been anything but peaceful. It marked the end of a truly bizarre chapter in American history, where a human being's remains became a commodity, highlighting the ethical complexities of historical preservation and public display.
Elmer McCurdy's Legacy: From Outlaw to Musical Star
The strange story of Elmer McCurdy's life, death, and the way his remains lived on has continued to captivate audiences and inspire creative works. Far from fading into obscurity, Elmer McCurdy is the man at the center of a lively new musical, "Dead Outlaw." This musical chronicles McCurdy's life as a robber and his unusual afterlife as a traveling mummy sideshow attraction. Based on the "that can't actually be true" story of bumbling bandit Elmer McCurdy, this production has garnered significant critical acclaim.
"Dead Outlaw," a musical about Oklahoma outlaw Elmer McCurdy, received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. It has also won three best musical awards (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, NY Drama Critics’ Circle), with critics describing it as a "rollicking, darkly hilarious, and thoroughly original musical." Learn about his wild, weird, and true story in this new musical by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, which truly brings his unbelievable journey to life on stage. The 78th annual Tony Awards will air live on June 8 on CBS and Paramount+, where "Dead Outlaw" is expected to be a highlight. Read more on New York Theatre Guide for details on the show.
The Enduring Allure of a Bizarre True Story
Elmer McCurdy’s story resonates because it’s so utterly unbelievable, yet entirely true. It’s a dark comedy of errors, a poignant tragedy, and a bizarre historical footnote all rolled into one. His life was a series of failures, but his afterlife became a commercial success, proving that sometimes, even in death, one can find an unexpected form of fame. The tale of Elmer McCurdy reminds us of the strange paths history can take and the enduring human fascination with the macabre and the extraordinary. Find out more about the creepy tale of Elmer McCurdy! It's a narrative that continues to spark curiosity, proving that even the most inept of outlaws can leave an indelible, if unconventional, mark on history.
From a failed outlaw to a mummified sideshow star, and now a celebrated musical subject, Elmer McCurdy's journey is a testament to the unpredictable nature of legacy. It's a story that compels us to look beyond the surface, to question what we think we know about life, death, and the peculiar ways in which some individuals achieve immortality.
Conclusion
Elmer McCurdy was a failed outlaw who died in 1911 after robbing a passenger train, yet his mummified body became a carnival attraction for decades before being buried in 1977. His story, a perplexing blend of misfortune, dark humor, and historical oddity, stands as one of the most peculiar tales of the American West. From his inept criminal career to his unwitting post-mortem journey through sideshows and amusement parks, McCurdy’s life and afterlife challenge our conventional understanding of fame and legacy.
His eventual discovery in a California funhouse and subsequent proper burial brought a strange dignity to a man who had none in life or death. Today, his bizarre narrative continues to fascinate, inspiring a new generation through critically acclaimed musicals like "Dead Outlaw." We hope this deep dive into the life and incredibly strange afterlife of Elmer McCurdy has shed light on this unique historical figure. What are your thoughts on Elmer McCurdy's bizarre journey? Share your comments below, and if you found this article intriguing, please consider sharing it with others or exploring more of our historical narratives.
"Outlaw Mummy: The Story of Elmer McCurdy" webinar | OHS Calendar
Elmer McCurdy: The Outlaw Who Outlived All Others | Weird Historian
Elmer McCurdy — nimbus theatre
