522. The Best of Science Fiction Television up to 1987!

          Here we have a very interesting book from the late 80s, but before Star Trek: The Next Generation began airing.

Sven- Creature from the Black Lagoon

 

I remember the first time I saw this movie.  It was on KWGN Channel 2's Sci-Fi Flicks.  I was probably 7 or 8 years old.  The Outer Limits episode Tourist Attraction was aired before it, and since that had aquatic monsters in it, it prepared us for the movie properly.  It is not a well regarded episode, but I like it.  Two underwater terrors at once was just great.  I think OL started at 9:30 as Channel 2 had early news at 9, and then Sci-Fi Flicks started at 10:30 PM and generally finished around 12:30 AM.  It was a great time for monster kid.

The Outer Limits

The Twilight Zone was never syndicated in my area until the early 80s, so while I do really enjoy it, it's not the show I love.  This is the show I grew up on, since KWGN Channel 2 would air an episode every Friday night on Sci Fi Flicks before the monster/sci-fi/fantasy movie they would then show.  It was a smart move since OL was almost always scarier than the movie.  It made Beulah seem terrifying, since it already had you prepared to be scared.  It really did work.  Not to mention the calm control voice actually seemed like it took over your television set.  The opening is very iconic that way.

Martian Bat-Rat-Spider-Crab

another movie I saw after a terrifying episode of the Outer Limits. that always made the following movie much scarier. I had no idea there would be several giant monsters in "The Angry Red Planet" upon first viewing, but it's one of my favorite Martian movies.

fall 63 Outer Limits preview

I've never seen this before. it's really cool.  I love "The Outer Limits" as it was used to scare the bejeebers out of kids on Friday nights before Sci-Fi Flicks started on KWGN Channel 2.  so many fond memories of lots of episodes.

MOTW- The Creature

one of the finest and best men in a suit monsters ever.

he also has some fine taste in leading ladies as well, in all three movies.

I was fortunate growing up, because someone at Channel 2 KWGN was a monster movie fan.  I saw all three of the Creature movies several times, but I'll never forget seeing it the first time. 

it was on Sci Fi Flicks, a Friday night show that aired one "Outer Limits" episode and then a monster movie.  what a great way to scare the audience, since usually the "Outer Limits" episode was scarier than the movie that followed it.  the episode this time was "Tourist Attraction" which was also a water based monster, and then the great "Creature from the Black Lagoon" was up.  I liked 'em both!