The Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. on September 9, 2010, at the Governor’s Mansion, inducted a pioneer in cryptofiction film history into its hallowed membership. Richard Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, was the master of ceremonies.

Davies gave a posthumous award to the late film director Charles Pierce (The Legend of Boggy Creek), which was accepted by producer Harry Thomason. Others who have received the award in the past include Billy Bob Thornton and Johnny Cash.

Lyle Blackburn made these comments on the award:

“Pierce made his directorial debut with The Legend of Boggy Creek after putting aside a career in advertising to pursue film making.  Though The Legend of Boggy Creek ended up being his most widely known achievement due to its classic scares, monetary success, and subsequent influence on future filmmakers, he did direct other films such as The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Bootleggers, Winterhawk, Grayeagle, The Norseman, The Evictors, and eventually the less-than-classic sequel, Boggy Creek II.  In addition, Pierce’s credits included the story for the 1983 hit, Sudden Impact, starring Clint Eastwood, and set decoration on several movies including The Outlaw Josey Wales in 1976.

“A resident of Texarkana in the early 1970’s, Pierce was drawn to the sensational newspaper reports describing a hairy, Bigfoot-like creature which haunted the creeks near Fouke, Arkansas.  Pierce, wanting to capitalize on the frenzy, borrowed some money, got a camera, and set out to make a movie based on the alleged beast.  The result was of course, The Legend of Boggy Creek, which was produced for a mere $160,000 and eventually went on to make $25 million as it was a huge hit in theaters and drive-ins.  The movie still enjoys classic horror film status, now on DVD.  The movie was also significant for its influence on later film directors.  Daniel Myrick, one of the directors of Blair Witch Project, said in a 1999 interview with The Tulsa World:  ’We just wanted to make a movie that tapped into the primal fear generated by the fact-or-fiction format, like Legend of Boggy Creek.’”