Tell me what you really think.
I remember watching all of those shows, but I don't think I was ever traumatized by any of them. I was older than you at the time, so maybe I could handle it better. I don't like to be scared now, so I avoid any TV or movie that is scary. I can read scary books though, such as some of Patterson's, and I don't mind them at all (as long as they are not too gory).
I never could watch things like that when I was little. I was rarely told I couldn't see things....I just kinda knew. I don't remember The Twilight Zone coming on at night, but I do remember it playing on Saturdays during the day as reruns. I always left the room in a hurry. I had a problem with Lassie, too. I always cried during the "emergency" part. I was a tender hearted little thing.
In NY, there was a show called "Chiller Theater." We would watch it every week, and every week the movie wasn't really scary. We kept hoping, though.
When Count Floyd satirized such shows on SCTV, I know exactly what he was talking about. I would've traded Chiller Theater for a really scary show anytime.
I too, recall that particular episode of Twilight Zone. I also watched it as a young girl and was profoundly impacted by the 3rd dimension possibilities. I sure never crawled under my bed to play with the same enthusiasm I had once had!
Just stopping thru while surfing and could not stop myself from commenting. Thanks for sharing! Happy Blogging!
Sammy Terry, now that takes me back. Wasn't he a child molestor or something, or was that a rumor, or are my wires just fried?
This is a great piece of writing. I love it.
Of course, I NEVER wanted to watch anything scary when I was a kid or now.
Do you think it's genetic.
Maybe that's why I'm not a fiction writer.
Yes I remember that episode. In fact, it was on just a week ago, on the late night reruns on SciFi channel.
I remember watching an old Frankenstein movie at my grandma's house and in the midst of one commercial I realized that everyone else had gone to bed and the house was dark and the basement stairs creaking as they always did and suddenly I was SCARED!
Oooh, and Night Gallery too!
I was just having a conversation with Raehan about this subject, because many parents feel like some of the scenes in the movie Happy Feet are too scary for the real little 'uns.
Maybe they are as WE think about them now...but when we saw scary stuff through our child-eyes? Scary, intense, but...fun and exciting, with a sense of the forbidden.
We used to have a program on Friday nights hosted by Count Gregor...he was silly and campy and a bit foppish, he showed us the horror movies, and I love love loved him.
Did you see the one with the earwig in the guy's ear and then they had to strap him down to the bed because the earwig had to eat its way through to the other ear and then they told the guy it was FEMALE and PREGNANT.
I will never, ever forget that. *shudder*
You know which TWILIGHT ZONE traumatized me? The one with Billy Mumy where he was the kid who controlled the town through his omnipotent mental powers.
"It was a good thing you did, Billy, a really good thing."
*shudder*
Ahhh. . .those good memories! Don't forget the glances toward the basement door that we often made, wondering if some scary intruder was going to sneak up those stairs at any minute. We'd also listen to hear if the pop bottles that we'd placed on the window sashes would fall to the floor. . a sure sign that the scary intruder was raising the window to come through and get us! I think that Sammy Terry and his haunting laugh did, indeed, have us mesmerized (and a little scared) as we watched his show every weekend. But oh what fun we had!
I could have written the first part of your post. (Not as well as you, mind you, but the same content.) I, too, saw that episode and it scarred me for life. I was not allowed to watch those shows, but we'd just gotten home from a 10-hour car drive back from my grandparents' house. My parents must have just let us run free while they toiled. Anyway, I was always a chicken when it came to scary movies or TV shoes. This was at the same time as "Dark Shadows" was on, a show which pulled me in and repelled me at the same time. But I saw this show and it made me forever afraid to look under my bed or get too close to the wall while on my bed. This was especially true once I made the stupid mistake of telling my siblings, bless their torturing souls. I've seen a handful of scary movies as an adult, but I almost always steer clear of them. I'd like to say thanks for reminding me of that episode, but it would be false gratitude.
I have had several of Sammy Terry's grandkids as students (still do), and they come from a wonderful, talented family. But I still shudder when speaking with him after concerts (sans make-up, casket, and spider, of course
. His normal speaking voice is much like his TV voice. And, as Mamacita knows, I was TERRIFIED of that show (but allowed to watch it anyway--see remarks on blog).
And, no, he was not a child molester!
Thanks for the scaaary memories!
Oh--and the TV show that traumatized ME the most? "The Doll"--Night Gallery.
I hadn't remembered that episode until you mentioned it. Every time I'm on a plane looking out the window think of the episode where the guy see a bigfoot type creature out on the wing!
I love those scary type shows! Never *tic* bothered *eek!* me in the least!
Hi, Michele sent me
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