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The Fouke Monster
Creature
Name: The Fouke Monster
AKA: The Jonesville Monster,
The Boggy Creek Creature
Classification
Grouping: Cryptid
Sub Grouping: Hominid
Data
First Reported: 1971 (Reported),
1946 (Legend)
Country: America
Region: Fouke, Arkansas
Status: Unknown

The Fouke Monster is a legendary cryptid reported near the town of Fouke, Arkansas[1] in during the early 1970s. Initial sightings were concentrated around the Jonesville/Boggy Creek area, and later spread to the North and the East during the late 1970s.

It has been accused of attacking several local people, and was blamed for death of livestock.

The creature was named by journalist Jim Powell, who reported on it for the Texarkana Gazette and the Texarkana Daily News[2]. It has been the subject of several films and a number of books. It has been speculated that it might be a bear, a mountain lion, a relation of Bigfoot, or a previously unknown form of hominid.

Contents

[edit] Appearance

The Fouke Monster is described as being a large hominid-like creature covered in long dark hair.

During a spate of sightings between 1971 and 1974, it was estimated to be about 7 feet tall with a chest measuring 3 approximately feet across, and to weigh between 250-300 pounds[3]. Later reports, published during the early 1980s, claimed that the it was far larger. With one report putting it at 10 feet tall, with an estimated weight of of 800 pounds.[4]

Some accounts describe the Fouke Monster as running in a 'hunched/slouched' posture and swinging its arms in a similar fashion to a monkey[4]. Reports also describe it as having a terrible odor and as having bright red eyes, about the size of a dollar.[5]

A variety of tracks and claw marks have been discovered which are claimed to belong to the creature. One set of tracks reportedly measured 17 inches in length and 7 inches wide[6], another appeared to show that the creature only had three toes[2].

[edit] Chronology

The Fouke Monster first made headlines in 1971, when it was reported to have attacked the home of Bobby Ford and his wife Elizabeth late on the night of Saturday May first.[7][8] [5]

According to Elizabeth Ford, the creature, which she initially took to be a bear, reached through screen window while she was sleeping on a couch, but was chased off by her husband and his brother Don, who were returning from a hunting trip. The creature returned shortly after midnight (Sunday May 2nd) when it is reported to have grabbed Bobby Ford across the shoulders as he stood on the porch, and thrown him to the ground. Bobby managed to crawl free and was later treated in St. Michael Hospital, Texarkana, for scratches across his back.[9] He was suffering from mild shock when he arrived.[10]

During the encounters, the Fords fired several shots at the creature, and believed that they had hit it. Though no traces of blood were found. An extensive search of the area failed to locate the creature, but did find three toed footprints close to the house, scratch marks on the porch, and some damage to a window and the house's Siding.[9]

According to the Fords, they had heard the something moving around outside late at night several nights prior to their encounter, but having lived in the house for less than a week had never encountered the creature before.[9]

The creature was spotted again on May 23rd, when three people; Mr. D Woods and his wife Wilma Woods, and Mrs. R Sedgass, reported seeing an ape like creature crossing Highway 71.[11]. More sightings were made over the following months by local residents and tourists.

More footprints were also found.[12] The best known of which were found in a Soybean field belonging to local gas station owner Willie E. Smith. They were scrutinized by game warden Carl Galyon, who was unable to confirm their authenticity[2]. Like the Ford prints, they appeared to indicate that the creature had only three toes.[13] (inc Picture)

The creature began to attract substantial interest; including interest from hunters and tourists and, soon after news spread about the Ford sighting, Little Rock radio station KAAY posted a $1,090 bounty on the creature[2].

After an initial surge of attention, public interest in the creature decreased until 1973, but was boosted significantly when Charles B. Pierce released a documentary style horror feature on the creature. By late 1974 interest had wained again and sightings had all but stopped.

Sightings began again in March 1978, when tracks were reportedly found in by two brother prospecting in Russellville (Location: [14]), and there were sightings in Center Ridge (Location: [15]). Both appropriately about 4 1/4 hours drive North-East of Fouke).[16] There was also a reported sighting in Crossett (Location: [17]); 4 hours drive East of Fouke, on the 26 of June that year.[18]

During this period the creature was blamed for missing livestock and attacks on several dogs.[19]

There have been several reported sightings over the last 20 years. In 1991 the creature was reportedly seen jumping from a bridge. [20]. There were 40 reported sightings in 1997, and in 1998, the creature was reportedly sighted in a dry creek bed 5 miles south of Fouke.[21]

[edit] Pre 1971

Although most cases date from the early 1970s onwards, Fouke residents claim to have seen an ape like creature in the area from 1964 onwards.[22], and local legend holds that the creature can be further traced back to sightings in 1946.[23]

During the earlier sightings, the creature was known as the "Jonesville Monster". [24]

[edit] Hoax?

One month after the Ford sighting, Southern State College archaeologist Dr. Frank Schambagh determined that the tracks of Fouke Monster were most likely a hoax.

“There is a 99 percent chance the tracks are a hoax” Dr. Frank Schambagh

According to Dr. Schambagh, the tracks could not be from a species of ape, or ape man, as claimed by witnesses, because they were from a three toed creature, whereas all primates and hominids (both modern and historical) have 5 toes.

Dr. Schambagh also cited several other anomalies as part of his conclusion; including that the region had no history of primate activity, ruling out the possibility that of the creature being the remnants of an indigenous species, and that while all primates are diurnal, the Fouke Monster appeared to be nocturnal. [25]

[edit] In Film

The Legend of Boggy Creek

Promotional Movie Poster
Promotional Movie Poster

In 1973, the story of Bobby Ford's encounter with the Fouke Monster was turned into a semi-factual documentary style horror feature: The Legend of Boggy Creek[23] which played in drive-in theaters around the country. It was written by Earl E. Smith and directed by Charles B. Pierce. The part of Bobby Ford was played by Glenn Carruth and the part of Elizabeth Ford was played by Bunny Dees.

Much of the film was shot on location in Fouke and nearby Texarkana, though some scenes also were filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana. Most of the cast were local people or Texarkana college students.[26]

It ran for 87 minute (90 on DVD) and is believed to have cost $165,000 to make, and grossed $22 million, making it the 7th highest grossing movie of the year grossing movie of that year.[27]

Return to Boggy Creek

A second Fouke Monster film: Return to Boggy Creek was filmed in 1976 and released in 1977. The movie had an entirely fictional plot, and was not intended to be a sequel to the original. It was written by Tom Moore, was directed by John David Woody, and starred Dawn Wells the mother of three children who becomes lost in the swamp[28].

Some scenes were shot on location in Fouke, though other locations included Dallas, Texas and Loreauville and Iberia Parish, Louisiana.[28]

The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II

In 1985, a third Fouke Monster film was released. Titled The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II, it was written and directed by Charles B. Pierce. Pierce also starred in the film as Brian Lockart; a University of Arkansas professor who leads a groups of students into the swamps around Fouke.[29]. It was written as a follow up to the 1973 film, and ignored the events of the 1977 release with which Pierce was no involved.

It was shot on location in Fouke[29], but also included some scenes shot at the University of Arkansas.

In 1999, The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek was used by Mystery Science Theater 3000 to produce Boggy Creek II: The Legend Continues. It aired on May 9th 1999 (Episode 6, Season 10).[30]

[edit] Trivia

  • In 1971, three people were fined were fined $59 each “for filing a fraudulent monster report”[2].
  • When hunters began to take interest in the Fouke Monster, Miller County Sheriff Leslie Greer was forced to put in place a temporary 'no guns' policy in place in order to preserve public safety[2]
  • During the production of The Legend of Boggy Creek, Fouke Garage owner Willie E. Smith; on whose land three toed footprints were found on soon after the Ford sighting, starred as himself. Many characters were also named after the people who played them.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Google Maps. Fouke, Arkansas. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thibodeau, Sunni (2001-06-24). The Fouke Monster 30 Years Later. The Texarkana Gazette. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  3. ^ Newton, Michael. (2005). "Fouke Monster". Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide: 161-162. McFarland & Company, Inc.. ISBN 0-7864-2036-7.
  4. ^ a b Farish, Lou. "Fouke Monster Still Alive and Well", Arkansas Democrat, 1981-10-25. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  5. ^ a b "Fouke fields combed in search of monster", Texarkana Gazette, 1971-05-03. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  6. ^ """", Daily Courier (Russellville), 1978-03-12.
  7. ^ "Monster may be mountain lion", Texarkana Daily News, 1971-05-03.
  8. ^ "'Creature' attacked, victim says", Arkansas Gazette, 1971-05-04. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  9. ^ a b c Powell, Jim. "The Fouke Monster: A look at how the media recorded the reports of the 1971 alleged sighting of a large creature in rural Miller County, Ark.", Texarkana Gazette, 2001-06-24. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  10. ^ """", Arkansas Democrat, 1971-05-03.
  11. ^ Powell, Jim. "Monster is spotted by Texarkana group", Texarkana Daily News, 1971-05-24. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  12. ^ Powell, Barry. "He's been sighted again: Monster - a monkey's uncle", Texarkana Gazette, 1971-06-16.
  13. ^ "Tracks of the incredible three-toed Fouke Monster", Arkansas Gazette, 1971-06-16. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  14. ^ Google Maps. Fouke – Russellville. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  15. ^ Google Maps. Fouke – Center Ridge. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  16. ^ """", Log Cabin Democrat (Conway), 1978-03-13.
  17. ^ Google Maps. Fouke – Crossett. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  18. ^ """", The News Observer (Crossett), 1978-07-12. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  19. ^
  20. ^ Stories of ghosts, monsters, unexplained phenomena haunt Arkansas. USA Today (2005-10-31). Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  21. ^ Ozark Mountain Legends: Boggy Creek Monster. Legends of America. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  22. ^ Green, John Willison (1981). Sasquatch the apes among us. Big Country Books. ISBN 0-888-39123-4. 
  23. ^ a b Ogilvie, Craig (2002-10-08). Legendary Arkansas Monsters Have Deep Roots in History. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  24. ^ "Smokey" Crabtree, J. E (1974). Smokey And The Fouke Monster. Fouke, Arkansas: Day's Creek Production Corp., 142. ISBN 0-9701-6320-7. 
  25. ^ "The Fouke Hoax", Texarkana Gazette, 1971-06-17. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  26. ^ The Legend of Boggy Creek at the Internet Movie Database
  27. ^ Thibodeau, Sunni. "Monstermania: 30 years hence: 'Legend of Boggy Creek' considered a cult classic", Texarkana Gazette, 2001-06-24. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.
  28. ^ a b Return to Boggy Creek at the Internet Movie Database
  29. ^ a b The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II at the Internet Movie Database
  30. ^ Mystery Science Theater 3000. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.

[edit] See Also

  • The Ten Creepiest Creatures In America by Allan Zullo, published by Troll Communications, ISBN 0-8167-4288-X

[edit] External links

[[Category:Arkansas]] [[Category:Hominid cryptids]] [[Category:Texarkana]]

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