The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy
17 June 2026
Deep Dive
The story of Elmer McCurdy is one of the most bizarre cases covered on the podcast to date. How does the tale of a train-robbing outlaw become stranger AFTER he passes away? Prepare to hear about the astonishing life (and afterlife) of ‘The Bandit Who Wouldn’t Give Up’, also known as the ‘Outlaw Mummy’. What’s the truth behind this case that sounds like something straight out of American Horror Story? And what possible connection could it have to Skeletor from the Masters of the Universe franchise? Chyaz explores the whole saga in this brand new episode of Things Are About To Get Weird…
For links to mental health & addiction resources, visit our About page.
Source Shout Outs:
New England Historical Society Article: https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/strange-life-stranger-afterlife-elmer-mccurdy/
New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/26/books/where-s-elmer.html
Lakeland Ledger Newspaper Article: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19770423&id=UrcwAAAAIBAJ&pg=5721,5601106
The Evening Independent Newspaper Article: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19761211&id=HUxQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5207,2770127
All That’s Interesting Article: https://allthatsinteresting.com/elmer-mccurdy
National Cowboy Museum Video: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/explore/an-american-mummy-the-tale-of-outlaw-elmer-mccurdy/
Ripley’s Article: https://www.ripleys.com/stories/elmer-mccurdy
Atlas Obscura Article: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/31-days-of-halloween-day-1-elmer-mccurdy
Snopes Article: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dead-man-gawking/
Netflix: The Toys That Made Us: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80161497
SF Gate Article: https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/unbelievable-true-story-of-elmer-mccurdy-16507858.php
Watch on YouTube
Themes
- Life, crime and frontier myth
- Commodification of human remains
- Death, memory and media
Questions Explored
Who was Elmer McCurdy? + −
Elmer McCurdy was born on New Year’s Day 1880 in Washington, Maine and raised by relatives; he trained as a plumber, served in the US Army and later drifted into criminal activity including train and bank robberies. Chyaz Samuel lays out McCurdy’s early life and criminal trajectory in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.
Where and when did Elmer McCurdy die? + −
McCurdy was shot and killed during a shootout on 7 October 1911 after being cornered in a hay barn belonging to Charles Ravard in Oklahoma; bloodhounds and a two thousand dollar bounty had led sheriffs to his hiding place following a failed train robbery. Chyaz Samuel covers the standoff and its context in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.
What happened to his body immediately after his death? + −
After his death McCurdy’s body was taken to a Pawhuska funeral parlour where the undertaker, Joseph L. Johnson, embalmed him using an arsenic solution and, with no family to claim him, displayed the corpse dressed as a gangster for several years while charging visitors a small fee. Chyaz Samuel lays out these details in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.
How did the embalmed body become a sideshow attraction? + −
In 1916 two men claiming to be McCurdy’s brothers collected the embalmed body and transferred it into the travelling carnival circuit; promoters exhibited him under various nicknames and he toured shows and museums, becoming part of the sideshow economy for decades. Chyaz Samuel walks through this portion of the story in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.
Was Elmer McCurdy ever used in films or amusement attractions? + −
Yes, McCurdy’s mummified remains were loaned to film promotions, including a 1933 outing for Narcotic, appeared in low budget films such as She Freak and were displayed at venues including the Hollywood Wax Museum and The Pike amusement zone in Long Beach. Chyaz Samuel goes into these film and amusement appearances in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.
Why does Elmer McCurdy’s story still interest people today? + −
McCurdy’s case sits at the intersection of crime, death and spectacle: a relatively minor outlaw whose mummified corpse was commercialised and moved through carnivals, museums and cinemas, raising questions about dignity, entertainment and memory. Chyaz Samuel analyses these wider cultural themes in Things Are About To Get Weird, Episode 94: The Bizarre & Horrifying Tale of Elmer McCurdy.