THE BEAST OF BOGGY CREEK: The True Story of the Fouke Monster (18 page)

In contrast to many of the exaggerated and outright misleading horror movie posters of the 1950s and ‘60s,
The Legend of Boggy Creek
poster employs a more understated approach, portraying the monster as more of a shadowy figure, just as Pierce does in the actual film. The use of backlighting, provided by the setting sun, allows the monster’s features to remain in shadows, yet still shows his full ominous form as he moves through the swamp. The placement of the sun, as it is just beginning to drop behind the trees, also implies that nightfall will soon be coming… and with it, the monster!

The mastery of these subtle elements and the overall eye-catching design of the painting showcased McQuarrie’s potential for movie posters right from the start. Due in part to this early work with Pierce, his body of work went on to include concept and poster designs for many blockbuster films, including
Battlestar Galactica
,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
,
Star Trek
,
Back To The Future
, and many others.

After learning of the connection between
The Legend of Boggy Creek
and
Star Wars
, naturally I wondered if somehow the Fouke Monster had managed to influence the character of Chewbacca, who has some definite Bigfoot-like traits. But after speaking with McQuarrie, I had to begrudgingly let go of the idea that the Fouke Monster had played any such role in sci-fi history. Any resemblance between the creatures for Boggy Creek and Chewbacca, McQuarrie told me, was purely coincidental. “George Lucas had a very specific idea for Chewbacca,” McQuarrie explained. “I worked from his description.”

In my final question to McQuarrie, I asked how he liked working with Pierce on the various posters. “I did enjoy working on those projects,” he said. “I was given carte blanche when it came to the design, and Charles was pleased with the final outcome.”

Pierce had good reason to be pleased with
The Legend of Boggy Creek
movie poster. It stands as a classic image even to this day.

5. It’s Still Out There

Legacy Makers and Caretakers

Following the movie-inspired madness, things began to calm down for the town of Fouke… and the monster as well. The film had run its course on the drive-in and theater circuits, and the newspaper stories had become nothing more than rehashed vignettes of the original stories dragged out of the closet for the Halloween season. It seemed that the movie had made the monster famous but at the same time overshadowed his own possible reality. With no body or other proof, the Fouke Monster—or as it was now referred to by the general public, the Boggy Creek Monster—became more associated with his movie persona than with the possibility that there just might be a family of unknown species inhabiting the swamplands of southern Arkansas. Sure the movie scenes were played for maximum effect, but this did not erase the fact that they were based on allegedly real events. However, in the wake of the movie the general public’s fascination moved on, leaving the burden of proof on the shoulders of the monster once again.

Despite the diminished public interest, however, visits from dedicated monster enthusiasts did not stop, nor did the sightings. Credible reports were still turning up, although the news media was somewhat more reluctant to follow up on them than they had been in the past. So unless you were a Fouke local, it would have been tough to follow or even hear about the sightings during the pre-internet years. Fortunately, a few Fouke residents still took the monster seriously and did what they could to preserve his legend and further his credibility.

Newspaper ad using the Fouke Monster to sell Halloween costumes.
(Courtesy of the Texarkana Gazette)

Two of the most prominent champions over the years have been Smokey Crabtree and Rick Roberts. Both men were significantly involved with the mystery since before it was made famous by the movie, and they remained interested after Hollywood had packed up and moved on. Eventually, by virtue their own industrious natures, both men would put themselves in a position to become a caretaker, so to speak, of all things Fouke Monster.

Another significant player with regards to Fouke Monster history is Frank McFerrin, the curator of a small museum in Fouke and author of two local history books. His willingness to include the legacy of the Fouke Monster in his endeavors has further served to solidify the creature’s place in Miller County history.

I’ve spoken to all three of these gentlemen on numerous occasions, sometimes at length, and their input has been invaluable. Smokey, of course, is so intertwined with the Fouke Monster’s history that it would be impossible to tell the complete story without him. In the case of McFerrin and Roberts, both have been instrumental in relaying old and new stories, and in helping me track down other knowledgeable locals. So I feel it is important to briefly introduce these men and highlight their contributions to Fouke Monster history.

J.E. “Smokey” Crabtree

As we have already seen, Smokey played a huge role in the monster’s history by way of his family’s early sightings and by acting as consultant on the original movie. By 1974, when he published his first autobiographical book,
Smokey and The Fouke Monster,
his association with the monster had already been firmly established. Throughout the years, he has continued to seek proof of the creature, and to this day he remains involved with its ongoing saga.

I have spent time with Smokey on many occasions starting with our first meeting in 2009 at a Bigfoot-related conference in Tyler, Texas, that featured Sasquatch researchers, enthusiasts, and witnesses. I was able to purchase Smokey’s first book, which he graciously signed, while I told him of my affection for
The Legend of Boggy Creek
film. Since then, I have visited his bookstore in Fouke where we discussed a variety of subjects, and I saw his interesting collection of hunting relics, newspaper clippings, and Fouke Monster related items. Smokey’s bookstore is located on his personal property but is open to the public as his time permits.

I found Smokey to be a straight shooter, full of amazing stories and observations about growing up in the Arkansas countryside, as well as about the creature. His no-nonsense sincerity comes across both in person and in his books, which is another reason they make for a fascinating read. And even though the monster has been somewhat of a blessing and curse to Smokey and his family over the years, he continues to speak about the subject and, whenever possible, assists others in an effort to solve the mystery.

The irony of it is that while Smokey has been forthcoming as a writer, recording details about the monster’s legend that would have otherwise been lost in time, the “monster” has never afforded Smokey the chance at even the briefest of sightings.

Frank McFerrin

McFerrin is the long-time curator of a small museum in Fouke that’s operated by the Miller County Historical Society. The museum is tucked away on an inconspicuous side street, which meanders off the main thoroughfare. The quaint building houses a wide array of historical items that illustrate the life and times of the hard working people of Miller County. It also features a section dedicated to the Fouke Monster, which includes photos, news clippings, memorabilia, and an original
The Legend of Boggy Creek
movie poster, which is prominently displayed in a handcrafted wooden frame. Locals often gather at the museum to talk about current news or reminisce about days gone by. Inevitably, talk of the Fouke Monster pops up from time to time, and I’ve been fortunate to hear many of their recollections and tales about the creature while in the laidback atmosphere of the little museum.

McFerrin’s two books about Fouke and the surrounding area provide an in-depth look at life in Miller County through words and pictures. Having lived in Fouke all of his life, McFerrin knows most of the locals who claim to have seen the creature, and respects the Fouke Monster—real or not—as a valued part of local history and culture.

McFerrin has been invaluable to my research, providing photos and information as needed. During my numerous visits, I found him to be an extremely knowledgeable and down-to-earth person, who pays careful attention to factual details.

Rick “Rickie” Roberts

Roberts is another Fouke local who has spent much of his life in the shadow of the monster. His father and mother have both served as the Mayor of Fouke at one time or another, and his brother Denny owned the Boggy Creek Country Store until 1992. As a teenager, he was not able to directly participate in the movie, but he was on site when authorities examined the mysterious three-toed tracks. As an adult, Roberts played a more high profile role as owner of the Monster Mart convenience store located on Fouke’s main strip. Being the only convenience store in town for many years, as well as the only business that still incorporated the monster into its marketing, the Monster Mart became a natural depository for tales about the monster. Many sighting accounts, both old and new, were often passed around in casual conversation at the store. Since there was no official place to make a report, other than the Sheriff’s office, it only made sense to drop by the Monster Mart and pass on the information to anyone present, usually Roberts himself.

Rick Roberts in front of the original Monster Mart mural painted by the late Karen Crabtree. (Photo by Chris Buntenbah)

The Monster Mart was also a regular stop for the media, when they came to town for a follow-up story about the monster. In the process, Roberts became something of an unofficial spokesperson, frequently going on camera to recap the history or to provide details about the latest sightings.

Roberts no longer owns the store, but still he has been instrumental in helping me collect and verify information for this book in an effort to finally document the monster’s complete history. He and I have spent many hours driving around the Fouke area, visiting locations where the monster has been seen and discussing relevant facts. After hours of casual interview and countless electronic messages, I learned not only about his personal experiences with the monster but those he heard of from others.

Roberts has a passion for the Fouke Monster rivaling that of anyone I’ve ever met. He expressed this passion through his ownership of the Monster Mart, where he initially constructed the small showcase of monster relics and newspaper clippings. He also commissioned the murals for the outside wall, doing his best to preserve all aspects of the legend.

Roberts has had a lifelong desire to find proof of the mysterious creature. Over the years he’s heard several strange howls down in the bayous that he couldn’t explain, but that’s as close as he’s ever come to the monster. That’s too bad, since not only would his personal curiosity be satisfied, but there might be a reward to boot. During his tenure at the Monster Mart, representatives of a certain well-known cable television channel dropped by to make a few offers. According to Roberts, they offered $100,000 for a verified photo of the creature. If he happened to bring in a dead specimen, the reward would increase to one million dollars. And if he could manage to capture a live one…. a staggering
five million
!