In the midst of the hustle and bustle of filming an episode of “The Six Million Dollar Man” at Long Beach, California’s Pike Amusement Park in 1976, an eerie discovery sent shivers down the crew’s spines. Their plans to capture the show’s iconic character, Steve Austin, navigating the “Laff in the Dark” ride took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon something they never anticipated.
Initially mistaken for a mannequin, a crew member noticed a figure hanging in a corner, suspended by a noose. But when an attempt was made to touch it, the shocking truth was revealed—the arm broke off, exposing what appeared to be bone beneath dried, preserved skin. What they had stumbled upon was not a mere prop—it was the mummified remains of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw whose story dated back 65 years.
McCurdy’s notorious tale began in 1911 with a daring train robbery in Oklahoma, netting a mere $46 and two jugs of whisky. Seeking refuge near the Kansas border in a barnyard, a confrontation with the police led to his demise. His body eventually found its way to a funeral home in Pawhuska, but with no one stepping forward to claim it. Seizing an opportunity, the undertaker decided to embalm McCurdy, allowing curious onlookers to view the preserved remains for a small fee.
However, fate had other plans for McCurdy’s body. A carnival worker, falsely claiming kinship with the deceased outlaw, arrived at the funeral home five years later, purportedly seeking to provide a proper burial. Instead, his real intention was to exploit the macabre curiosity surrounding McCurdy’s remains. Within weeks, the mummified corpse became the star attraction of a traveling carnival.
The eerie journey of Elmer McCurdy didn’t end there. Unbeknownst to many, his remains had unwittingly become part of the set for a popular TV show decades later, only to be discovered in a shocking twist of fate.
The surreal saga of McCurdy’s mummified body is a chilling reminder of the twists and turns life can take, even after death. Unearthed from obscurity on a TV set, this outlaw’s remains carried a haunting legacy that continued to captivate and intrigue, weaving a tale that transcended time and sparked fascination in the most unexpected of places.