In the near future, director Nia DaCosta will release a new version of “Candyman,” a famous horror movie from 1992. The film is about a ghostly figure who appears when you say his name five times. One of the scariest scenes shows Candyman breaking through a bathroom mirror to attack someone. While Candyman is a fictional character, the idea of someone coming through a bathroom mirror has a real-life story behind it. In 1987, a woman named Ruth McCoy was tragically killed when a burglar entered her apartment through a false wall behind her medicine cabinet in Chicago. This real event inspired the movie scene, showing how some urban legends have roots in reality.
Hi, I’m Erin McCarthy, and today we’re diving into the origins of some popular urban legends. These stories are often shared at sleepovers to give everyone a good scare. Many of them involve mysterious killers, especially since teenagers often work as babysitters. One famous legend tells of a babysitter who gets creepy phone calls. When the police trace the call, they find out it’s coming from inside the house! While this exact story hasn’t been proven true, there have been real cases of babysitters being attacked. In 1950, a 13-year-old named Janett Christman was killed while babysitting in Missouri. This legend became popular in the 1970s, a time when women were gaining more independence, making the idea of a hidden threat even scarier.
If you like stories about strange creatures, you might have heard of the Goatman. This half-man, half-goat creature is said to attack people and animals in Maryland. The legend became famous in 1971 when a reporter wrote about it. Soon after, a family reported hearing strange noises and found their dog dead. Teens in Maryland have been wary of the Goatman ever since.
Another famous creature is the Mothman, which supposedly haunted West Virginia in the 1960s. People described it as having red eyes and large wings. Some think they might have actually seen a sandhill crane, a bird with red markings around its eyes. While not dangerous, these birds can be spooky at night.
Not all urban legends end in tragedy. Some involve close calls that make for great stories. One legend tells of a person who wakes up to strange noises and feels their pet lick their hand. The next morning, they find a note saying, “Humans can lick, too,” and their pet is dead. This story dates back to 1871 in England, involving a thief hiding under a bed.
Another tale involves a driver being followed by another car. When she stops, the other driver warns her about a killer hiding in her back seat. While it’s hard for someone to hide in a car unnoticed, a similar event happened in 1964 when a murderer hid in a police detective’s car.
There’s a story about a haunted house that accidentally displayed a real corpse. In 1976, a crew member on “The Six Million Dollar Man” found what they thought was a fake body, but it turned out to be Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw from 1911. His body was used as a prop until it was properly buried in 1977.
Another legend involves Mikey from the “Life” cereal commercials. Rumors spread that he died from eating Pop Rocks and soda. This wasn’t true, but it became so widespread that Mikey’s mom received calls from concerned strangers. The rumor likely started from schoolyard talks about the candy.
Some legends warn against throwing rice at weddings, claiming it could harm birds. This myth was so common that a law was almost passed to ban it. However, studies show rice is safe for birds, debunking the myth.
There’s also a rumor about a munchkin actor from “The Wizard of Oz” who supposedly died on set. People claim to see a shadowy figure in the background, but it’s likely just a bird used to make the set look more natural.
Gamers have talked about a mysterious arcade game called Polybius, rumored to be a secret government experiment. While the game never existed, the story is based on real events, like a player getting sick during a gaming marathon in 1981.
Beatles fans might have heard the theory that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike. This rumor started in 1969 and gained attention after the Beatles broke up in 1970.
Fred Rogers, the host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” has been the subject of many legends, including claims that he was a Navy SEAL. In reality, he was a sharpshooter, but confusion arose due to another Fred Rogers with a security business.
Some legends take everyday things and make them scary. The idea of alligators in sewers comes from a 1959 book that mentioned sightings in New York City. While alligators are sometimes found in sewers, they usually live above ground.
In the 1980s, there were fears about temporary tattoos containing LSD, especially those with blue stars or cartoon characters. This legend has roots in older stories about contaminated surfaces. However, no one has ever been unknowingly dosed with LSD from a temporary tattoo.
Our next video will explore cryptids—mysterious animals that people claim to have seen. If you know of any cool creatures, let us know in the comments for a chance to be featured. Don’t forget to check out Mental Floss every Wednesday for new videos. See you soon!
Imagine you are a storyteller. Write your own urban legend inspired by real-life events or places in your community. Think about what makes a story spooky and believable. Share your story with the class and see if you can give them a good scare!
Test your knowledge with a quiz! Research different urban legends and determine which ones have a basis in reality and which are purely fictional. Create a quiz for your classmates to take, and see who can distinguish fact from fiction the best.
Choose an urban legend from the article and investigate its origins. Use online resources or library books to find out more about the real events that may have inspired the legend. Present your findings to the class, highlighting any surprising facts you discovered.
Inspired by legends like the Goatman and Mothman, design your own mythical creature. Draw a picture of your creature and write a short description of its characteristics, habitat, and any stories associated with it. Share your creation with the class.
In groups, choose an urban legend and create a short skit to act out for the class. Focus on bringing the story to life with dialogue and actions. After each performance, discuss what elements made the legend believable or scary.
In the not-too-distant future, director Nia DaCosta will be introducing a new version of “Candyman,” the popular 1992 horror film about a vengeful spirit summoned by saying his name five times. One of the movie’s most chilling scenes features the villain bursting through a medicine cabinet in a bathroom to attack his victim. While Candyman himself isn’t an urban legend—the character is based on a short story by Clive Barker—the idea of a killer attacking through a bathroom mirror has real-life roots. In 1987, a woman named Ruth McCoy was tragically killed when a burglar crawled through a false wall behind her medicine cabinet, which was installed to facilitate plumbing access in a Chicago Housing Authority project. Like many modern myths, there can be a significant amount of truth behind the fiction. Interestingly, two characters in the 1992 film share the last name McCoy with the real-life victim.
I’m Erin McCarthy, and in this episode of The List Show, we’re exploring the origins of some of the most popular urban legends. Urban legends are meant to be unsettling—the kind of stories shared with friends during sleepovers. Many of them revolve around killers, particularly since teenagers often take babysitting jobs. It’s no surprise that one of the most disturbing urban legends involves a killer targeting this vulnerable demographic. For decades, stories have circulated about a babysitter home alone who receives harassing phone calls. When the call is finally traced by police, the babysitter is horrified to discover it’s coming from inside the house.
While that exact scenario doesn’t seem to have been documented, there have been unsettling reports of babysitters being assaulted. In 1950, 13-year-old Janett Christman was killed by an intruder while babysitting in Columbia, Missouri. Police suspected a man who had been friends with the family of the child she was watching, but he was never charged. This legend likely gained traction because it struck a psychological chord during the 1970s, an era of women’s liberation. The idea of a man lurking out of sight can be seen as a rejection of that new paradigm, creating a relatable fear for babysitters who often find themselves alone in unfamiliar homes.
If you enjoy stories about killer animals, there’s the Goatman, a purported half-man, half-goat creature known for attacking dogs and people in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Goatman had been whispered about for years but gained significant publicity in 1971 after a reporter named Karen Hosler shared research from state folklore archives, presenting the Goatman as a former researcher who lost his mind and began attacking cars. Just two weeks later, a family reported hearing a two-legged animal on their property, and the next day, they found their dog decapitated. From that point on, teens in Maryland learned to fear the Goatman.
No urban legend roundup is complete without mentioning the Mothman, a strange creature that allegedly terrorized West Virginia in the 1960s. This winged figure was spotted numerous times, including by a grave digger and two couples in 1966, who described it as having bright red eyes and a massive wingspan. When they drove away, the creature reportedly chased after them. Eyewitnesses might have actually seen a sandhill crane, which is nearly as tall as a human and has bright red flesh around its eyes. While not a mortal danger, the presence of these birds at night can be unsettling.
Not all tales of killers result in fatalities. Sometimes, near-misses create effective stories. In one urban legend, a person wakes up to strange noises and feels a reassuring lick from their pet. The next morning, the pet is found dead, accompanied by a note that reads, “Humans can lick, too.” This twist dates back to 1871, when a story circulated in England about a jewel thief who hid under a bed and licked the homeowner’s hand to keep them from getting up.
Another near-miss urban legend involves a driver being followed by another car. When she finally stops, the other driver warns her of a killer hiding in her back seat. While it’s difficult for murderers to hide in a back seat without being seen, this story has some basis in reality. In 1964, an escaped murderer hid in a car belonging to a police detective, who subsequently shot the criminal.
Ever heard the one about the haunted house that left a real corpse on display? While you’re unlikely to find a dead body at your local haunt, a crew member on “The Six Million Dollar Man” in 1976 discovered this was no myth. A technician mistakenly thought he was adjusting a fake corpse, only to find it was the body of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw who was shot after a train robbery in 1911. His body was embalmed and later became a macabre prop before receiving a proper burial in Oklahoma in 1977.
The “Life” cereal commercials featuring Mikey, a picky child who approves of the cereal, led to a widespread rumor that he died from a dangerous combination of soda and Pop Rocks. The story became so popular that in 1979, the mother of child actor John Gilchrist, who played Mikey, received condolence calls from strangers. The rumor likely stemmed from schoolyard discussions about the candy, which was believed to be dangerous. The negative publicity forced General Foods to discontinue Pop Rocks for a time, although they have since made a comeback.
Another urban legend warns couples planning weddings against throwing rice, claiming it could cause birds to explode. This myth was so prevalent that in 1985, a Connecticut state legislator attempted to introduce a bill banning rice-throwing. However, studies have shown that rice poses no threat to birds, and the myth has been debunked.
You may have heard about the rumor that a munchkin from “The Wizard of Oz” took his own life on set and was left dangling in the background. While viewers claim to see a shadowy figure, it’s more likely just a bird that was allowed to roam the indoor set to create an outdoor feel.
Gamers have long shared stories about a mysterious arcade game called Polybius, rumored to be a CIA operation. While Polybius never existed, elements of the story are based on real events, including a 1981 incident in Portland where a player became ill during a gaming marathon.
If you’re a Beatles fan, you may have heard the theory that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike. This rumor gained traction after a college student wrote about it in 1969, and it may have been fueled by the Beatles’ breakup in 1970.
Fred Rogers, the beloved host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” has been the subject of many urban legends, including claims that he was a Navy SEAL or had numerous tattoos. In reality, he was a sharpshooting marine, but confusion arose due to a different Fred Rogers who had a security business.
Some urban legends take familiar things and give them a sinister twist. The idea of alligators lurking in sewers stems from a 1959 book by Robert Daley, which included an eyewitness account of alligators in New York City’s sewer system. While there are occasional reports of alligators being rescued from sewers, they are usually found above ground.
Finally, there were concerns in the 1980s about temporary tattoos being spiked with LSD, particularly those featuring blue stars or cartoon characters. This urban legend has roots in earlier stories about contaminated adhesive surfaces. To date, no one has ever been unknowingly dosed with LSD from a temporary tattoo.
Our next video will focus on cryptids—animals that people claim exist despite a lack of proof. If you know of a cool creature of dubious veracity, let us know in the comments for a chance to be featured in that episode. And remember to check out Mental Floss every Wednesday for new videos. We’ll see you soon!
Urban – Related to a city or town – Many urban legends are set in bustling cities where mysterious events are said to occur.
Legends – Traditional stories sometimes regarded as historical but not authenticated – The legend of King Arthur has been told for centuries, blending history with myth.
Stories – Narratives created to entertain, inform, or inspire – The stories of Sherlock Holmes captivate readers with thrilling mysteries and clever deductions.
Creatures – Imaginary or mythical beings often found in literature – In many myths, creatures like dragons and unicorns play significant roles in the adventures of heroes.
Myths – Traditional tales involving gods or heroes, often explaining natural phenomena – Greek myths often explain the origins of the world and the adventures of gods like Zeus and Athena.
Movies – Films that tell stories through moving images – Many horror movies are inspired by classic literature, bringing terrifying tales to the big screen.
Ghosts – Spirits of the dead, often featured in supernatural stories – In literature, ghosts are often used to create suspense and explore themes of the afterlife.
Babysitters – People who take care of children temporarily while the parents are away – In some horror stories, babysitters face unexpected challenges when strange events occur in the house.
Psychology – The study of the mind and behavior – Understanding psychology can help authors create complex characters with realistic emotions and motivations.
Horror – A genre of literature and film designed to frighten and thrill – Edgar Allan Poe is famous for his horror stories that delve into the darkest corners of the human mind.
