# Bedtime Stories Read By Actors That Would Creep You Out **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788 "2005-07-02T02:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/21 "2005-07-02T14:51:53Z")
I find it a little creepy that George Carlin is the narrator on a bunch of my kids’ _Thomas the Tank Engine_ stories! So is Ringo Starr. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/22 "2005-07-02T15:13:58Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > I find it a little creepy that George Carlin is the narrator on a bunch of my kids’ _Thomas the Tank Engine_ stories! So is Ringo Starr. Okay, that’s really weird. I’d never made the connection before, but both George Carlin and Ringo Starr played Mr. Conductor on separate seasons of the American (okay, Canadian) version of the kids’ show _Shining Time Station_ as well. Two unlikely actors involved in two different railroad-related children’s productions…is there a production-related connection between the two shows I can’t find on IMDB? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/23 "2005-07-02T15:16:42Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > I find it a little creepy that George Carlin is the narrator on a bunch of my kids’ _Thomas the Tank Engine_ stories! So is Ringo Starr. Looking up on IMDB, it appears that Alec Baldwin has also done a few years as the narrator for Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/24 "2005-07-02T15:21:30Z")
In a slightly different way of creeping me out, I’d not be able to handle readings by: Adam Sandler Pauly Shore Pee Wee Herman Billy Mays (that guy that screams about Oxy-Clean or whatever he plugs) Jerry Lewis ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/25 "2005-07-02T16:25:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Okay, that’s really weird. I’d never made the connection before, but both George Carlin and Ringo Starr played Mr. Conductor on separate seasons of the American (okay, Canadian) version of the kids’ show _Shining Time Station_ as well. Two unlikely actors involved in two different railroad-related children’s productions…is there a production-related connection between the two shows I can’t find on IMDB? Actually, Shining Time Station used to show these shorts that featured a bunch of railroad characters, including Thomas. If I remember correctly, I think that’s what the Conductor did. The kids would meet him and he’d tell them another story of all the engines and their adventures. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/26 "2005-07-02T16:58:51Z")
Yes, _Shining Time Station_ and _Thomas the Tank Engine_ are the same franchise. They were combined in the feature film _Thomas and the Magic Railroad_. Which starred, creepily, Peter Fonda! I didn’t mention Alec Baldwin (who narrated the majority of the episodes) because I don’t find him particularly creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/27 "2005-07-02T17:00:36Z")
All of the choices posted are excellent. But I really _do_ wish that Vincent Price had recorded a reading of _Goodnight Moon_ before he died, because that not only would have been creepy, but also incredibly cool as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/28 "2005-07-02T17:26:55Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Michael Jackson reading **Hop on Pop** > > :eek: QFT. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/29 "2005-07-02T18:04:48Z")
**Paul Frees** had a distinctive authoritative voice. He did the voices of the talking rings (Time Machine-1960), aliens in “Earth Versus the Flying Saucers”, Boris Badenov and zillions of others. **Robert Johnson** was the voice of “this tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds” in every “Mission Impossible” episode. He also was the voice of just about every “monster” in the ORIGINAL “Outer Limits”. Those 2 would certainly be eerie for any childrens’ stories. The “In a world…” guy MIGHT be Jack Dennis. Here is an actual trailer for a movie (“The Comedian” starring Jerry Seinfeld) in which the entire “In A World…” voiceover is parodied. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND going to this link: [http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/comedian.html](http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/comedian.html) ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/30 "2005-07-02T18:15:21Z")
I found Ringo Starr an odd chocie for the conductor, but he was pretty cool. I watched Shining Time Station as a youngster, and remember that salt-and-pepper haired man with the beard and the slightly scratchy voice. Imagine, several years later, finding out it was one very funny, raunchy, George Carlin. Though I thought he did a good job on the show, who the hell decided he’d make a great character on a kid’s show? “Hey mom, can we pick up this video? It’s got the Conductor in it! And it’s about silly putty! Hey, what’s napalm?”. I can’t imagine the casting director’s logic. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/31 "2005-07-02T18:42:45Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > QFT. QFT? Is that the sequel to Jackson’s hit **PYT(Pretty Young Thing)**: _**QFT(Quick Feel This)**_? ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/32 "2005-07-02T19:26:37Z")
I disagree about Anthony Hopkins. I imagine he’d be very granderfatherly (or, at least, lovable British uncle-ly). Also, no one can think of any women that belong on the list? Ok, I’m having a hard time coming up with any, myself. How about . . . Glenn Close? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/33 "2005-07-02T20:05:57Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > QFT? > > Is that the sequel to Jackson’s hit **PYT(Pretty Young Thing)**: _**QFT(Quick Feel This)**_? Quoted For Truth. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/34 "2005-07-02T20:08:22Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > QFT? > > Is that the sequel to Jackson’s hit **PYT(Pretty Young Thing)**: _**QFT(Quick Feel This)**_? **Q** uoted **F** or **T** ruth. I just thought of another one…Richard O’Brien. Can you imagine Riff-Raff reading _Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooey_?! ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/35 "2005-07-02T20:51:04Z")
Michael O’Donoghue, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![BChenowith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@BChenowith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BChenowith)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/36 "2005-07-02T21:08:40Z")
Creepy (to me at least) : Wesley Willis. Evenmoreso, now that he is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/37 "2005-07-02T23:00:27Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Quoted For Truth. My thanks. I really had no idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LittleSable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LittleSable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleSable)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/38 "2005-07-03T02:18:09Z")
Maybe you wouldn’t want Alan Rickman reading bedtime stories to children, but I wouldn’t mind him reading bedtime stories to me! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/39 "2005-07-03T02:53:15Z")
> [@LittleSable](#): > > Maybe you wouldn’t want Alan Rickman reading bedtime stories to children, but I wouldn’t mind him reading bedtime stories to me! Pervy Snape-fancier! ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788/40 "2005-07-03T18:37:01Z")
I bet Steve Buscemi could make a bed time story sound creepy. As for Boris Karloff, I use to have a record of his when I was a kid. One side, had “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” on it, creepy, as you would imagine, but the other side had “Rip Van Winkle”. Not really creapy, in fact, I’d say it was perfect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedtime-stories-read-by-actors-that-would-creep-you-out/310788.md?page=3)