Investigations with the Fouke Monster, Part One

One answer to one question begets other questions. Something that I’ve been meaning to look into, the correct pronunciation of “Fouke”, as in the little town of Fouke, Arkansas, which is the home to a little meandering body of water called Boggy Creek, which I’m betting you’ve heard of. If you’ve seen the movie THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK (and, I mean, who hasn’t) then you may have heard the town referred to as “Fouke” with a hard O sound, just like is used in “woke” or “spoke.” But I have heard others refer to it as “Fouke” with a soft O sound, the way you would say “ouch” if you stubbed your toe. (Okay, no, not really. You would, like me, I expect, say something far stronger and saltier, but you get what I’m saying.) So which is it? Which is correct? I asked cryptozoologist, writer, and my online pal Lyle Blackburn how it was pronounced. If anybody would know it would be him. He said it’s pronounced with the soft O, like “ouch.” Okay, then. Mystery solved.

No. Waitaminute. Charles B. Pierce, writer and director of THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, was *from* the Fouke area. Why then would he not have known the correct way to pronounce the name of the town? he would have. And if he knew, why wouldn’t he instruct all his actors to pronounce it the right way? This bears further investigation!

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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