MovieChat Forums > That's Incredible! (1980) Discussion > Anybody see the 'Wooden' man

Anybody see the 'Wooden' man

posted 17 years ago by crampino1
6 replies | jump to latest

Had a conversation with a friend the other day. Each of us independently recall seeing a tv segment where a woman kept her huband's body preserved in the household bath tub. The body was in a petrified state. My friend seems to think the body was described as the "wooden" man. Not sure where we saw this. It was back in the late 70's or early 80's. Thought this may have been aired on Real People or That's Incredible. I want to track this down. Does this ring a bell with anyone? -- Thnks!

[–] andybob-3 16 years ago

I don't remember a bathtube being involved, but they had a story about an embalming experiment where a guy's body was kept pretty well preserved and looked a lot like he was made of wood. His name was Charles Henry Atkins, or "Speedy" as people used to call him, they kept him on display at a funeral home for over 66 years and only recently buried him.

[–] crampino1 16 years ago

Appreciate your reply. The episode to which you refer is a different one. In fact, "billymac72" confirmed what I recalled.

[–] billymac72 16 years ago

I'm amazed remember that much detail. You know something else? I think she may have appeared on both Real People and That's Incredible.

[–] billymac72 16 years ago

Yes, I remember that! Completely weird. If I remember correctly, the wife was an elderly black woman. I don't remember the bathtub, but she had her husband preserved somehow. He did appear very wood-like. He was stiff as a board, of course, and she basically leaned him up against walls around the house (on the other hand, I also seem to remember him sitting, but perhaps not). I remember that she actually brought the corspe onto the show and the audience members got to come up to look at him. I remember a girl commenting that she could see his eyelashes, and even part of his eyeball. Pretty gross.

[–] crampino1 16 years ago

Yes ... exactly as you describe. I too remember that she brought "him" to the show. I don't know if this was for real or just a hoax. I want to find info about this! Thanks for the reply.

[–] skeet1068 13 years ago

All I know is that I had nightmares from that episode for, like, a year! I remember the lady being white but that doesn't matter. Maybe I was just so freaked out by the dead guy, I forgot everything else!