Certain Old West figures, like Jesse James and the Lost Dutchman, have become legends whose ghosts are said to haunt their former homes or the sites of their infamous deeds. These spirits are believed to linger due to their unresolved stories or the impact they had on the region.
The Death Bird is a ghostly spirit bird that Native Americans and cowboys believed would appear before someone's death, either to warn them or to signify that their time had come. Its unearthly call was said to be heard even if the bird itself was not seen.
Millicent Patrick was a Hollywood makeup artist who created the iconic creature design for the 1954 film 'Creature from the Black Lagoon.' Despite facing professional backlash, she is credited with designing the Gill Man, a character that became a horror movie icon.
New werewolf sightings have been reported around the 170-year-old Camberwell Old Cemetery in South London. Witnesses describe a large, dark, wolf-like creature with a German shepherd-like head, capable of standing on its hind legs and exhibiting animalistic behavior.
Elizabeth Canning disappeared on New Year's Day 1753 while walking home in London. She reappeared weeks later, claiming she had been kidnapped, robbed, and held against her will in a house. Her story sparked a legal and social controversy, with some believing her account and others accusing her of perjury.
Silver Heels was a beautiful dance hall girl in the Buckskin Joe mining camp who fell ill during a smallpox outbreak. After helping the sick, she disappeared, and it's believed she died from the disease, her face scarred beyond recognition. Her ghost is said to wander the cemetery, placing flowers on graves.
The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a legendary mine near Superstition Mountain in Arizona, believed to be filled with gold. The mine is said to be cursed, with many who have searched for it mysteriously dying. The ghosts of those who perished are thought to guard the treasure, preventing anyone from finding it.
Skinwalkers are Native American spirit creatures believed to be witches or medicine people who can take on the form of animals. They are known for their hostility towards outsiders and are often blamed for mysterious disappearances in the desert regions of the Old West.
Marshal Fred White was the first marshal of Tombstone, known for his efforts to bring order to the lawless town. He died from an accidental gunshot wound, but his ghost is said to still patrol the streets of Tombstone, maintaining order even in death.
El Muerto is a headless ghost said to ride through the Rio Grande area, a legacy of a notorious outlaw named Vidal who was executed by local rangers. His body was tied to a horse in an upright position, and his ghost is believed to haunt the region to this day.
Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate)Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream)Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV)IN THIS EPISODE: First up, we’ll sit around the virtual campfire and I’ll tell you about a few ghosts and legends in the Old West. (Ghosts In The Old West) *** Aspiring actress Milicent Patrick finally found success in front of the camera – but not with her own face, but a face that she created… the Creature From the Black Lagoon. (The Actress Who Created A Legendary Universal Monster) *** You don’t hear of werewolf sightings much anymore – but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen. In fact, some new sightings are suddenly cropping up around a 170-year-old cemetery in South London. Could people be seeing the real thing? (New Werewolf Sightings At Old Camberwell Cemetery) *** A young woman disappeared while walking down a lane on New Year’s Day. But the great mystery of it isn’t that she disappeared – she did arrive home a few weeks later. But the greater mystery is the story that the traumatized girl told of what happened to her, and trying to make sense of it all. (The Mystery of Elizabeth Canning)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Cold Open00:01:53.884 = Show Intro00:03:54.526 = Ghosts In The Old West00:17:19.959 = The Actress Who Created A Legendary Universal Monster00:24:25.104 = A New Werewolf Sighting At Old Camberwell Cemetery00:29:43.188 = Seeing Through The Corn (from an anonymous Weird Darkness listener)00:54:32.950 = Mystery of Elizabeth Canning01:03:24.427 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Actress Who Created a Legendary Universal Monster” by Kristina Gaddy for Ozy.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4nh24evp)“New Werewolf Sightings At Old Camberwell Cemetery” by Michael Hein for PopCulture.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/fn9n55j2)“The Mystery of Elizabeth Canning” by Dr. Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/29dwddbp)“Seeing Through The Corn” was submitted anonymously to WeirdDarkness.com“Ghosts In The Old West” by Laura Allan for Ranker’s Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xcft4za3)Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: June 09, 2021SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/OldWestGhosts