McCurdy changed the frontier of what was considered entertainment, and brought a shocking element to the topic because he was the first mummy to be used on display. His mummified body impacted entertainment. McCurdy influenced how and what was considered entertainment and brought a shock value to the public. He was important in the history of traveling entertainment. ( History silmple)

Putting Elmers Coffin into his grave

(Oklahoma territorial museum  mumseum )