Let’s talk television. For a while there, TV shows knew how to bring the chills without all the gore, then came cable, then came the reality TV format and well, let’s just say, there isn’t much that comes on network television that could be considered scary. But man…back in my day…(lol)
Raise your hand if you remember these shows:
Or these made for TV movies?
Granted, they are a bit dated now; the special effects are lacking that pop we’ve become so accustomed to, but these were the sleep stealing shows as I was growing up. The situations, the unexplained (that went unexplained for entire seasons – I’m looking at you X-Files and The Prisoner), the monsters! I mean seriously, when the vampire in Salem’s Lot is finally shown on-screen? I was DONE! LOL. We won’t even discuss Pennywise. Geez, who comes up with these things?
A special nod goes to Dr. Who for the one and only episode (from the new generation episodes) that freaked me out:
So, what television shows kept you up at night as a kid?
Dana Ellington, MAPW 
These were all great!! I am ‘afraid’ that I have become quite the wimp in my later years and cannot handle ANYTHING spooky/scary! I get way too stressed out and I don’t need more stress in my life. My husband on the other hand LOVES everything scary and gory. This is his fave month and he is enjoying watching all the old movies. I stick to dramas and comedies. 🙂
I too have lost my stomach for most horror as well, but will joyfully indulge in the macabre classic offerings this time of year. I lean more towards action, fantasy, and sci-fi now. The less reality, the better, lol.
The Twilight Zone did me in as a kid. It was so creepy and random that I couldn’t wrap my head around it, which worried little me. We also had a local wacko guy who hosted midnight TV movies on the weekend. He was a drugged out clown who smoked cigarettes and rambled about the movies making sure to mention the scary parts. I lived in fear of this guy and the movies he was showing. Still shudder when I think of him.
Good grief – a clown hosting horror movies? Not so sure I could have watched that, lol. Whew…
The Outer Limits – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCcdr4O-3gE
Definitely one to add to the list. I didn’t get to watch The Outer Limits until way later in life – it wasn’t in syndication the same as The Twilight Zone, but boy howdy when I finally watched a few episodes, I was hooked.
Tales From The Darkside does have a creepy intro! I have never heard of Space: 1999. A few of these are actually new to me. Wow.
Well, we are almost ten years apart in age, I would imagine quite a few of these were “before your time”, lol. 😉
I suppose that’s true. Ha!