# Once-scary childhood memories of pop culture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783 "2012-07-10T12:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/41 "2012-07-10T21:00:22Z")
When I was about six, I made the mistake of reading the Classics Illustrated versions of _The Time Machine_ and _War of the Worlds_ before going to bed. I spent the rest of the night with the light on and didn’t drop off to sleep until around 4:00 am. I also had a CI book of Ghost Stories with a cover that gave me the willies—a ghost pointing at me and at an old mansion in the distance with a “Rooms for Rent” sign out in front. The thing was so damned realistic, I couldn’t sleep at night if it was in the same room with me. Speaking of _The Time Machine_, I saw the 1960 version with Rod Taylor and Alan Young also when I was about six. I came out of the cinema convinced I was going to die when “The Atomic Satellite” destroyed Earth in 1966. The sight of the Morlock corpse decaying in fast-forward didn’t help matters much either. For a long time, the sound of an air raid siren would make my stomach churn. I also remember a really creepy episode of “The Outer Limits”; I think David McCallum was in it. As I recall, he volunteered for an experiment inside a “time capsule.” As he travelled forward in time, he continued to evolve into a pasty-skinned superhuman with a huge brain and six fingers. I got the shivers just looking at him! ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/42 "2012-07-10T21:03:12Z")
I remember in the 80’s, Time Life used to advertise for things like Stonehenge tapes or books, but managed to do it in a creepy way. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/43 "2012-07-10T21:05:38Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > …as for music: the opening theme to “Tales from the Darkside”, where they show idyllic country scenes but the music is creepy as hell. I always had to turn the sound down. Ugh. I couldn’t walk down a country road at night for _years_, and I live in the country! ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/44 "2012-07-10T21:19:35Z")
Some sort of toddler-mashup association between Spock, the Vulcan on _Star Trek_, and the statue of Vulcan in my then-hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. I had very unsettling dreams where people from space who looked like starfleet people would land at the statue and come and take me. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/45 "2012-07-10T21:23:09Z")
E.T is the scariest thing ever. When I was a kid (admittedly a TOTAL pansy when it came to anything remotely scary) I don’t think I ever got through 30 minutes of that movie. I still think his ugly, and the movie is disgustingly manipulative, but I was terrified of him as a child. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/46 "2012-07-10T21:33:41Z")
I must have been about 7 years old when my parents took me to see the original version of Disney’s [The Shaggy Dog](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053271/), in which. IIRC, a boy (well, a teenager I think) puts on a magic ring and is magically turned into a shaggy dog. I became afraid of being magically turned into a shaggy dog. Rightly, as it turned out! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/47 "2012-07-10T21:37:51Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > I was afraid of the movie “The Shaggy Dog” even though I had only seen the previews/ads on television. It was terrifying to me to see the young boy looking in the mirror and more and more hair growing on his face. Years later, I finally saw the movie and realized it was supposed to be a comedy. Wow. I just saw this post. So it wasn’t just me, huh? Woof! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/48 "2012-07-10T21:41:54Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > I remember in the 80’s, Time Life used to advertise for things like Stonehenge tapes or books, but managed to do it in a creepy way. [This?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4zBYh2PUyk) Those wigged me out too. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/49 "2012-07-10T21:41:54Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > The Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams” used to give me she creepy-shivers too. The video of the “Sweet Dreams” remake by Marilyn Manson probably scarred a whole new generation too. I’m with \*\*Runestar \*\*on how scary the Abominable Snowman was in Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer. “Talky Tina” from The Twilight Zone really got to me as a teenager. The earliest one that I can remember was from Sesame Street, and it wasn’t any of the ones that **lew\_cody** mentioned. It was the yip-yip-yip-yip “Martians” who discovered the telephone et al. Those had me running from the room with my hands over my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/50 "2012-07-10T21:42:40Z")
The Shaggy Dog wasn’t scary to me, but confusing. Because the only time I saw it, it started halfway in when the kid was already transforming into a dog. The rest of the class had already seen the movie and loved it. I was just like “okay, so apparently he can transform into a dog, but what lets him do this and what’s he trying to accomplish”? If I knew the word surreal at the time, it would describe my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/51 "2012-07-10T22:25:58Z")
There was a show from my childhood (much later I thought it was _The Banana Splits_, but I may be mistaken) whose credits ended with the animated cartoon characters turning into static figures painted on a wooden fence. For some reason, this image has continued to vaguely haunt me. If anyone could direct me to a youtube clip in the hopes of letting my adult self review and dismiss it, I’d appreciate it. The series would likely date from 1965-1974. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/52 "2012-07-10T22:48:27Z")
This poster [The Groove Tube Movie Poster (#1 of 2) - IMP Awards](http://www.impawards.com/1974/groove_tube.html) freaked me out when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/53 "2012-07-10T22:50:19Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There was a show from my childhood (much later I thought it was _The Banana Splits_, but I may be mistaken) whose credits ended with the animated cartoon characters turning into static figures painted on a wooden fence. For some reason, this image has continued to vaguely haunt me. If anyone could direct me to a youtube clip in the hopes of letting my adult self review and dismiss it, I’d appreciate it. The series would likely date from 1965-1974. Reminds me of how “The Wild Wild West” would cut to commercial - the scene would freeze and be replaced by an engraving showing the image [The Wild Wild West - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Wild_West) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/54 "2012-07-10T22:55:22Z")
I used to be deathly afraid of Rip Taylor when I was a kid. I’d run screaming from the room when his show came on. People could just say his name and it would freak me out. I have no idea why. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/55 "2012-07-10T23:00:11Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I can’t believe that I am the first to say _flying monkeys_. On the other hand I have never seen Wizard of Oz as an adult. I have no doubt the whole thing would be laughable to the now-grown me. On the other hand–_ **flying monkeys** _! The OH-WEE-OH guys were the ones which scared the crap out of me. > [@astorian](#): > > But the SCARIEST thing I ever saw on TV as a kid was an old episode of \*\*\*The Outer Limits. \*\*\* The episode was called “The Zanti Misfits,” and it was about these evil, horrible ants who came to Earth from outer space. Those ants gave me nightmares. > > Decades later, I saw that episode again, and realized two things: > > 1. The ants’ first victim was played by a young Bruce Dern > > 2. Those ants were hilariously phony looking! Even at the age of 5 or 6, I should have been laughing through that entire episode! I saw **5 Million Years to Earth** when I was 12 or so, and the ants overruning the earth, along with the Devil’s Flame, seriously freaked me out. > [@Morbo](#): > > The [invisible monster](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G5JSKeUaC28#t=329s) from the original Jonny Quest. I shivered watching the scene again in the link. Just now. I’m 42 years old. Oh-yeah. Didn’t bother me tho when I caught it a few years ago, and to boot the people who made the cartoon broke the rule where You Never Show the Monster. Once it got all that paint dumped on it it became much less scary and even pathetic and worthy of pity (yes I actually felt sorry for the poor essobee). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/56 "2012-07-10T23:08:26Z")
The chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins scared the hell out of me. They’re filthy, they’re dancing, and they’re _in the walls!_ ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/57 "2012-07-10T23:28:46Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > [This?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4zBYh2PUyk) Those wigged me out too. Yeah, they were creepy as hell. Still are! There was an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark that ended up with just eyes and a mouth over a table or something like that. That was the only episode that ever got me. ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/58 "2012-07-10T23:30:38Z")
The dinosaur at the end of the opening credits to Land of the Lost scared me. He would turn and look right at the camera and he could see you through the television! I would always hide my face. The Sleestacks were equally terrifying. I would also hide my face when Yuck Mouth, who won’t brush, 'cause he likes his teeth like this, would open his mouth for a Yuck Mouth kiss. I was scared of Jaws even in a swimming pool. This is without ever having seen Jaws. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/59 "2012-07-10T23:31:41Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > The Gargoyles in [The Gargoyles (1972)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068622/) While I think the intent of this thread was to list things that weren’t necessarily supposed to be scary, this is EXACTLY what I thought of! I swear this movie ran every Saturday for half a year…and I watched it every time even though it scared the crap out of me. If we’re listing scary things being scary, it would be a movie called “The Legend of Boggy Creek.” ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783/60 "2012-07-11T00:05:39Z")
Large Marge freaked me out too, also Vigo from “Ghostbusters 2”. Watching them both again today, Vigo still scares me a little, though hopefully not as much as he did before(I couldn’t sleep for days then) but Large Marge is really no big deal. Since I was the youngest by over five years, I ended up going to movies that were sometimes not so child-friendly. I remember going to “Sleeping with the Enemy” with my mom and sister who was 15 at the time. I had just turned ten. My sister and I spent the majority of the movie hiding our eyes behind my coat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-scary-childhood-memories-of-pop-culture/627783.md?page=4)