Biology:Momo the Monster
| Similar entities | |
|---|---|
| Folklore | Cryptid |
| First attested | 1971[1] |
| Other name(s) |
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| Country | United States |
| Region | Missouri |
| Part of a series on the |
| Paranormal |
|---|
Momo[lower-alpha 1] is a large, hairy mythical humanoid creature said to have been sighted in rural Missouri.[3][4][2][5] Unlike other areas with similar reports of Bigfoot-like creatures such as the Fouke Monster or Honey Island Swamp monster, Momo did not become a major tourist or economic folklore attraction.[4]
Description
Witnesses have alleged that the creature resembles a human or bipedal ape that stands about 7 ft (2.1 m) tall,[6] although at least one contemporary news report listed notably taller estimates.[3] Purportedly covered in dark hair, it has been described as emitting a putrid odor.[6]
History
On July 11, 1972, two young boys were playing in their backyard on the rural outskirts of Louisiana, Missouri. Their older sister, Doris, was in the kitchen when she heard her brothers screaming. When she looked through the window, she observed a massive, dark-haired, man-like creature holding what appeared to be a deceased dog. She described it as having a "pumpkin-shaped head" and large glowing orange eyes.[1]
Multiple alleged sightings were reported that year, the most notable of which being that of local fire department chief and member of the city council Richard Allan Murray, who described a massive upright creature in his vehicle's headlights while driving along a creek bed. As a result of these purported encounters, a 20-person posse was formed to hunt the creature, though their attempts were unsuccessful.[7]
In 2019, a docudrama horror film titled Momo: The Missouri Monster was released and features a dramatization of the events of 1972. The film's cast includes Cliff Barackman and James "Bobo" Fay, best known for their appearances as members of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) on the Animal Planet series Finding Bigfoot.[8]
American theme park Six Flags St. Louis had a ride that operated from 1973 until 1994 named after the creature.[9]
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 McFadden, Norm (29 July 2020). "Lincoln County Urban Legend: Momo Monster". Lincoln News Now!. Lincoln Country Journal. https://www.lincolnnewsnow.com/news/editorial/lincoln-county-urban-legend-momo-monster/article_b879c202-cb92-11ea-a9c3-9ba57081e90b.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hungry pup leads to legend of 'MoMo'". Columbia Daily Tribune. 25 January 2015. https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/around-town/2015/01/26/hungry-pup-leads-to-legend/21768424007/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Missouri Monster Reports Linger". Kansas City Times: p. 18. 31 July 1972. https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?id=55905498&clippingId=10801967&width=860&height=400&user=2819448. "According to the reports MoMo is tall—anywhere from 9 to 12 feet—black and furry and exudes a stench. Miss Harrison said MoMo emitted a low roar which rose in pitch to a shrill whistle."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Banias, MJ (30 September 2019). "The Missouri Monster 'Momo' Is the Cryptid Time Forgot". Vice (magazine). https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-missouri-monster-momo-is-the-cryptid-time-forgot/.
- ↑ Blackburn, Lyle (February 2019). "Momo: The Strange Case of the Missouri Monster". LegendScape Publishing. http://www.lyleblackburn.com/works.htm.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Coleman, Loren (2000). "Momo". Missouri Folklore Society. http://missourifolkloresociety.truman.edu/momo.html.
- ↑ Weiser-Alexander, Kathy (February 2020). "Momo – The Missouri Monster". https://www.legendsofamerica.com/momo-monster/.
- ↑ "Momo: The Missouri Monster (2019)". IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10732682/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0.
- ↑ Schremp Hahn, Valerie (1 April 2019). "Jet Scream, MoMo the Monster, Mule-Go-Round and more: Six Flags attractions of yore". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/hotlist/jet-scream-momo-the-monster-mule-go-round-and-more-six-flags-attractions-of-yore/collection_24261912-63ba-5312-94d2-045d643af7b0.html.
Further reading
- Blackburn, Lyle (2019). The Strange Case of the Missouri Monster. LegendScape Publishing. ISBN 978-1734920635. http://www.lyleblackburn.com/works.htm.
- Crowe, Richard (December 1972). Monster in Missouri. Clark Publishing Company. pp. 58–66.
- Moran, Mark; Scheurman, Mark (2004). Weird U.S.. Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-5043-2. https://archive.org/details/weirdus00mark.
- Place, Marian (1978). Bigfoot All Over the Country. Dodd, Mead. pp. 130–32. ISBN 0-396-07610-6.
- Zullo, Allan (1997). The Ten Creepiest Creatures In America. Troll Publishing. ISBN 0-8167-4288-X. https://archive.org/details/tencreepiestcrea00alla.
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