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I have mentioned before that I love horror movies – all different kinds, from the ones with monsters, to aliens, to slashers, and beyond. But I have never told you where this love came from.
It began with a night of drinking. 
Not me, my parents.
My mom and dad would go out occasionally with Dad’s friend Ray and his wife. The night out usually consisted of dinner somewhere in town (most likely Chinatown) and ended when they returned because of the babysitter. Not wanting the night to end, they would stop at Ray’s and pick up his movie projector.
Dad would whisk the babysitter home, mom would run around looking for a solid white sheet that Ray would hang on the living room wall, and Ray’s wife would order pizza and beer to be delivered.
They would be loud with their plans, and their laughter. Mom would loudly shush them, but they would invariably wake me up.
I was young. Mom says I was only five or six when the movie nights started. I was not allowed up. Once we were sent to bed, there we were supposed to stay and back then, you did what you were told. But I was never told not to sneak!
I would lay on my stomach at the top of the stairs and slowly lower myself down one, two and maybe three steps. Just far enough to see the sheet. Dad would return and then I’d hear the low clatter of the reel-to-reel projector begin.
The sheet would be filled with wonderful images in black and white. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi! The Creature From the Black Lagoon. The Mummy. Frankenstein. Dracula. I was so scared. I would quickly rush back to my room if I heard anyone head to the bathroom. Pretending to sleep, I lay in the dark, impatient to return to the horror waiting below.
When I talked to my parents later on about this, they told me that Dad knew every time. He knew and never said a word to Mom. As soon as the movie would end, he would jump from his seat and loudly announce that he was heading to the bathroom. This was to give me a chance to get into bed. It was also a chance for him to find me first in case I had fallen asleep!
This was only the beginning of what was to be one of the best gifts from my Dad. On Saturday afternoons, we would watch Dr. Shock’s Monster Theatre. A different movie every week and I was in heaven as I watched raptly, sitting next to my dad. Abbott and Costello Meet the Wolfman, The Haunting, and countless others. We enjoyed this ritual until ”Shocky-Doc” retired. I was in my teens by that time.
Do I love horror movies? Oh yeah….but I love the memories that go along with them even more.
**Just curious…Did anyone out there have a similar character to Dr. Shock on their TV networks?
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Evil Genius said:
on October 14, 2008 at 7:06 PMYour dad sounds amazing. And what a fun way to bond with him!
Evil Geniuss last blog post..I Love My Blogger Friends!
whall said:
on October 14, 2008 at 7:26 PMI wonder if they had been stag movies… would you be the same person today?
whalls last blog post..Stuff you don’t want to MISC, #61
Metalmom said:
on October 14, 2008 at 7:55 PMEvil Genius- My dad isn’t a hugger or a kisser. He’s not much of a talker, either. But he sure did show his love in many, many other ways.
Metalmom said:
on October 14, 2008 at 7:57 PMwhall-I think there were a couple that had deer in them. I like a nature film. Not what you’re referring to???
vodkamom said:
on October 14, 2008 at 8:47 PMI love the things that trigger wonderful memories! and…….I don’t like horror MOVIES but i LOVE horror books!!!
Metalmom said:
on October 14, 2008 at 9:20 PMvodkamom-Ooh! Horror books are a whole other jon-ra! I love books with the pasion of a white hot sun!!
Tug said:
on October 14, 2008 at 9:48 PMYour dad sounds awesome – something my dad would have done (if they’d done movie nights). What’s your favorite scary/horror movie?
Tugs last blog post..Full moon
Metalmom said:
on October 14, 2008 at 9:55 PMTug-My favorite scary movie is “the Haunting” with Julie Harris.(It was remade with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lili Taylor.) It was more what wasn’t shown was scarier in my head.
Mik said:
on October 15, 2008 at 12:01 AMI’m with vodkamom and preferred the books, Pan used to do a series of books with several stories in and I devoured them on a regular basis.
Miks last blog post..I like to make sexy time!
Mik said:
on October 15, 2008 at 12:02 AMThat prompted me to Google: http://www.trashfiction.co.uk/horror_pan.html
I remember reading almost all these.
Miks last blog post..I like to make sexy time!
Philly said:
on October 15, 2008 at 5:25 AMI remember Dr. Shock on saturdays.
My personal favorite movies are zombie movies. Just love them.
Phillys last blog post..Tantilizing Tuesday
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:19 AMMik-I read books almost constantly as a kid. Horror and Nancy Drew Mysteries were my favorites. After checking out the link, I wonder if any of them are available? I’ll have to look at ebay.
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:22 AMPhilly-My dad used to work at GE and one year the ‘Doc’ made an appearance on Family Day. I was so excited to meet him and was very surprised to learn that after all those years of watching him in black & white, his makeup was actually BLUE!
DutchBitch said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:26 AM(mental) note to self: NEVER go to movies with Metalmom…
DutchBitchs last blog post..Communal effort.. All for L.O.V.E.
Philly said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:32 AMWas Dr. Shock a philly thing?
Have you ever watched the movie “Jack, the Bear”? Danny Devito plays a local horrow flick personality. Always reminds me of the ole Dr. Shock. A must see!!
#1
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:32 AMDutchBitch-Oh, Come on!! I’m a sport, ask my friends. They dragged my ass to see “the Notebook” and that is two hours of my life I’ll never get back. But I went…FOR THEM! We can see porn if you’d rather!
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:33 AMPhilly-I think every major television mecca had a version of him and I’m sure he went by many names too. I think it was a late 50′s and 60′s thing.
Avitable said:
on October 15, 2008 at 7:51 AMI remember, as a kid, there was a Saturday marathon of horror movies on USA run by someone, although now his name escapes me. It was something cheesy like Captain Horror or something, but I loved it.
Grant said:
on October 15, 2008 at 8:22 AMMy family was not as much fun. I did sneak downstairs once in the middle of the night after we got cable so I could watch Conan (without sound) on HBO. It was my first look at boobies.
Grants last blog post..I’m willing to marry the entire group
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 8:27 AMAvitable-Yes. I believe Captain Horror would fit the bill. Oh they sure were cheesy! :-x
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 8:30 AMGrant-THAT was your first look at boobies? Didn’t you get the scrambled porn stations? Ah-nold would have been a total mood killer….unless you’re talking about his man-boobs?
Finn said:
on October 15, 2008 at 9:02 AMI love this story.
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 10:08 AMFinn-Aw, gee, thanks!
Catscratch said:
on October 15, 2008 at 12:00 PMMy Dad had an old projector and a handful of scary movies. I was so little and they scared the crap out of me most times. But, I shook the scared and have a dep love of a good horror flick now!
Catscratchs last blog post..Gahhhhh!
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 12:51 PMCatscratch-I think that if you get scared with a parent around, it can be a good thing. At least you know that you’re protected from the monsters on the screen!
Trukindog said:
on October 15, 2008 at 3:24 PMWe didn’t have any host’s but we did have World Beyond & Adventure Theater. World Beyond was always Horror & SciFi, Adventure Theater was a bit of everything but mostly westerns & I think thats where I got my huge love of old westerns. Thats where I spent my Sat. afternoons following of course a full mornin of Loony Tunes, that is of course untill I discovered Beer & Pot
heh heh.
That story about your dad is awesome, what a great dad.
Trukindogs last blog post..NAILING YOUR WIFE
Trukindog said:
on October 15, 2008 at 3:26 PMP.S.
Did ya know SAW V opens Oct.24 th.
Trukindogs last blog post..NAILING YOUR WIFE
Teri said:
on October 15, 2008 at 3:43 PMThese are the kind of movies I LOVE. They remind me of my childhood and they aren’t as gruesome as some of the flicks today. That’s great about your dad, he knew you were enjoying yourself.
Teris last blog post..Coincidence?
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 4:29 PMTrukindog-Yes, I knew about SawV, but I don’t usually see those in the theater because Hubs hates those types of movies.(And I’m OK with that because I hate being there with a bunch of teenagers…the girls screaming “save me from the movie” and the boys screaming “Dude! Did you see that??”
I also think World Beyond and Adventure Theater count.I liked those types of showcases too.
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 4:30 PMTeri-I think Dad enjoyed having someone who would sit with him and share the good times. I am older than my brothers and sister by a few years, so this was MY time.
Trukindog said:
on October 15, 2008 at 5:06 PMI agree about the theater, I always wait for the DVD. I just wanted you to know it was coming.
Trukindogs last blog post..NAILING YOUR WIFE
Metalmom said:
on October 15, 2008 at 6:18 PMTrukindog-Thanks. Just remind me when the DVD comes out!
Mik said:
on October 16, 2008 at 12:05 AMI checked them out on eBay, quite costly. Maybe I’ll ask the folks to keep their eyes open in the second hand books stores and thrift stores in the UK for me.
Miks last blog post..Up early for me coffee
Amber said:
on October 16, 2008 at 1:21 AMThe part where you were yelling “FUCK YOU!” at the tv? That has me cracking up, even as I write this comment. You. Are. Awesome!
The memories with your dad made me smile. And laugh. Your dad sounds so cool… and I think you have gotten more than a few of your traits from him!
I “inherited” a love of old movies from my mom. Not the horror movies… but the old classics. Put me in front of TCM or AMC and I’ll be content for hours. Especially if you throw a fire, a snowstorm, and a mug of hot chocolate in with it.
I know a lot of them are sappy. Some are corny. Some are terribly predictable. But… a lot of them are absolutely incredible and more than a few of our “modern day movies” are based on these. Heh, I guess that’s why they call them “classics” right?
ANYWAY.
I just think it’s awesome the things that we get from our parents. It’s kind of weird how something like what movies we love, reflect in our personalities. You’re not completely horrifying or anything, but let’s face it… when you get pissed, you’re totally scary! And while I’m not a complete weenie, I do have that stupid mushy romantical heart.
Thank you for sharing these memories with us. I’ve been catching up on blogs all evening, as mid-terms are this next week for me and I’m not going to be around all that much. And I just have to say, that while I don’t play favorites among my favorites… this is one of the best entries I’ve read all night!
XOXO
Ambers last blog post..Weekend Party! And a Battered Heart.
Metalmom said:
on October 16, 2008 at 9:12 AMMik-If they were costly, it must mean that alot of people remember them and that they must have been good!
Metalmom said:
on October 16, 2008 at 9:16 AMAmber-I HAD to yell at the TV. That commercial pissed me off! ~
There is something to be said for old movies.(And old music) Apparently it was SO good that everyone has to rip them off(Oh, sorry “sample”) There must be infinite ideas for movies as well as chord combinations for music. I love old movies….especially Bette Davis!
delmer said:
on October 16, 2008 at 9:45 AMI love the old (now)-cheesy ones. The Mummy, Godzilla, Frankenstein.
To this day I sleep with the sheet up around my neck as I noticed, early on, Dracula never pulled a sheet down. Whenever he snuck into a bedroom the blanket was always under the victim’s arms. (Of course the Blade vampires have sort of destroyed this sense of security for me.)
delmers last blog post..I know you miss these
Metalmom said:
on October 16, 2008 at 12:46 PMdelmer-If I had to choose between the newer movies and the older ones, I’d go with the classics every time. There is a lot to be said for the horrors that are kept to the imagination.
LOL @ the vampires!
insane mama said:
on October 16, 2008 at 10:10 PMI love horror movies too, always have
insane mamas last blog post..It’s Amazing He Hasn’t Run Away Yet
Metalmom said:
on October 16, 2008 at 10:18 PMinsane mama-That makes you one of the cool kids!!
Agent Elle said:
on October 22, 2008 at 4:03 PMLOVE old horror movies! Though the funniest memory I have was Amityville – for YEARS I wanted to watch it as a kid, but my mum would never let me. Granted, I was about 8 at the time. For years I waited and waited, until I was 14 and it was on TV. I was soooo excited – only to discover that it was the most un-scary movie I’d ever seen in my life.
Still annoys me to this day >.<
Metalmom said:
on October 22, 2008 at 6:48 PMAgent Elle-I think that we tend to build up the “forbidden” into something much bigger in our minds. Then when the “Illicitness” is taken away and the reality is revealed it is like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz….Not all that impressive!