Monsters

When I was a kid, I used to stay up late every weekend to watch a couple of local Houston shows called “Weird” and “Late Weird.” These programs would air scary (for the 1960’s) movies such as “The Colossal Man,” “The Hypnotic Eye,” “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman,” “The Blob,” and “Tarantula.” I was fascinated by horror and sci-fi movies and felt no fear as I watched these shows, sitting on the floor in front of the TV by myself until well after midnight.

I also remember that in the days before TV signed off for the evening (yes kids, television used to impose its own curfew) that the network would air a PSA called “Wanted by the FBI.” This brief spot would highlight one or two men – always men; apparently the FBI wasn’t on the lookout for women, or maybe women were just never on the loose – who were wanted for some heinous crime or another. I don’t remember if viewers were ever told what crimes these men had allegedly committed; their exploits were probably considered too graphic to actually mention on TV at that time. Imagine that.

These fugitives of the law weren’t necessarily, or even probably, from the Houston area; they could have been on the lam in any state in the country. But I was terrified. I just knew they were all lurking RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR! Or going house to house in the neighborhood AND COULD BREAK IN AT ANY MOMENT! and then do whatever things that men “Wanted by the FBI” might do. I had no idea what those things could be. And I have no idea what prompted these memories tonight, other than the fact that I’m still a night owl, and I was just reading once again about the ongoing horrific happenings in our country right now. Such as ICE agents, lurking RIGHT OUTSIDE SOMEONE’S DOOR! or BREAKING IN AND TAKING PEOPLE AT ANY MOMENT!

Things are still pretty effing Weird, wouldn’t you say? I think my next vote will be for the Fifty Foot Woman.