Final Escape!
Got something spooky for ya tonight! 😈
Get a load of Final Escape, a 1985 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Several years ago, a coworker cited this episode as one of the few things that truly terrified him as a kid. We sneakily watched it on YouTube while on the clock, and… yeah, this one packs a punch.
Kinda feels like an especially great episode of Tales from the Darkside.
(Final Escape is a reimagining of a same-named story from Hitchcock’s 1950s TV series, which I’ve never seen. From what I’ve read, there are enough differences to keep this version from being a straight-up remake.)
Enjoy! (If that’s the right word.)
Free-For-All Friday Thread #6!
Here’s this week’s Free-For-All Friday Thread, where you can talk about whatever in the comments.
I’m very glad to put this week to bed. Actually, I’m glad we’re close to putting this whole month to bed. July was a rough one, which is partially why I’ve been so absent lately. Looking forward to getting the site back on track next week!
Stray thoughts:
1) If history is any indication, General Mills should unveil this year’s Monster Cereal boxes next week. Fingers crossed! Pretty much nobody was into last year’s “election” theme, so I’m hoping they go back to the basics and give us something purely Halloweeny.
2) Current candle: Pumpkin Cheesecake Ginger Pumpkin Molasses Gingerbread. Yes, that’s the full title. It’s a leftover from last year and it still smells wonderful. I want to eat the air.
3) Tonight’s sky is the most beautiful shade of plum. One nice thing about my particular slice of suburbia is that the lights from so many shopping centers keep the sky tinted no matter how late it gets. (Yet those source lights are far away enough for the sky to still “feel” natural.)
Now here’s a random video for people who aren’t in the mood to type:
It’s a collection of ancient Pizza Hut commercials. Yes.
Happy Free-For-All Friday!
Universal Studios Hollywood in 1987!
Oof, tonight’s video tickles me. It’s a 1987 promo vid for Universal Studios Hollywood:
(Video suggested by Paul. Thanks, Paul!)
We vacationed in California right around that time, and Universal Studios Hollywood was our one major to-do. I was still young enough to not fully comprehend what the place was, and honestly believed these two things:
1) Virtually every movie ever was filmed there.
2) Virtually every celebrity (well, celebrity actor, anyway) lived within spitting distance.
So more than any one ride or attraction, what I remember most is the exhilaration that came with feeling like I might turn around and run into, I don’t know, Bea Arthur.
One night we went to a restaurant in the most touristy part of Hollywood, and it was more of the same. I carried around an autograph book and was 100% convinced that stars were lurking around every corner. None were, but it was still a blast to imagine Hollywood being that much like the version from sitcoms and cartoons.
Real Ghostbusters Commercials!
Here’s 30 minutes’ worth of Real Ghostbusters commercials, because we all deserve grainy fun times:
Lots of rare ads in the mix, too. Enjoy!
