SCETV explores South Carolina's mysterious past, including Bishopville's Lizard Man, in new 'Unknown' shorts

COLUMBIA - South Carolina ETV and Public Radio will premiere "Unknown," a new short-form series exploring the forgotten stories, folklore and legends of South Carolina, beginning Oct. 28 on SCETV's Instagram, Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as on SC Public Radio.

Three short-form videos will be released Oct. 28, 29 and 30, bringing audiences chilling tales of the unexplained in time for Halloween. The series will also air on SC Public Radio during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on Oct. 28, 29 and 30. The series explores the people, places and historical events connected to South Carolina folklore, offering a closer look at some of the state's most intriguing supernatural legends.

"Charleston Mermaid Riot of 1867" explores a bizarre incident that followed a Category 1 hurricane that struck Charleston in June 1867. After the storm flooded the city and damaged buildings, hundreds of angry citizens gathered outside an apothecary shop on Broad Street, demanding that the pharmacist return a captured mermaid.

"Anderson County Werewolf" travels to autumn 1945, when panic spread throughout Anderson County after farm animals were mutilated, livestock were slaughtered and mysterious nighttime sightings were reported. The hysteria became so intense that showman Benny Wolfe offered a $100 cash reward for anyone who could capture the alleged werewolf alive.

"Lizard Man of Bishopville" revisits the 1988 encounter that brought a quiet rural community to international attention. Seventeen-year-old Christopher Davis was changing a flat tire near Scape Ore Swamp in Lee County when he reported encountering a 7-foot-tall, red-eyed creature that chased his car, leaped onto its roof and left claw marks on the vehicle.

Hosted by author Nicole Caudle, "Unknown" combines storytelling and animation to bring South Carolina's supernatural stories and legends to life. A hobby historian, Caudle has a passion for uncovering South Carolina's lesser-known stories through archival research, historical documents, county records and microfilm. She also runs Bruchion, where she publishes children's books and writes novels, often drawing inspiration from the same historical accounts and folklore featured in the series. Through her work, Caudle brings renewed attention to the stories hidden within the state's history, offering audiences a new perspective on South Carolina's rich tradition of legends and the unexplained.

"Unknown" is produced by SCETV's Digital Media Manager Chris Olivas, with production funding provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

"I've always been fascinated by the stories that exist at the intersection of history, mythology and the unexplained. South Carolina has no shortage of intriguing legends, and I'm excited to share these stories with viewers this Halloween season and beyond, exploring the history and traditions that helped shape them," Caudle said.

Portions of the series were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. All AI-generated content is reviewed by humans prior to distribution to ensure alignment with SCETV editorial standards.