Maybe it's been a little slow around here so I figured I'd post this for fun -- something I've been kicking around in my head.

An Unsolved Mysteries Hall of Fame. Basically - the people, the cases and a few other tidbits that stick out in my head.

To keep things somewhat concise I tried to stick with "cases" rather than individuals but there are a few that probably would be better suited by name rather than case.

I probably skew more towards the older episodes. Again, nothing too serious -- just for fun.

________________________________

First inductees (i think these warrant separate recognition):

Robert Stack

John Cosgrove
Terry Dunn Meurer

The original theme song


Cases

Clarence Roberts
Sammy Wheeler
Stanley Grezic
Mabel Wood
Medjugorje
The Shroud of Turin
Patsy Wright
Aileen Conway
Amy Billig
Aj Breux

Magic Rock - for better or for worse, it's polarizing

Tammy Lynn Leppert
Kurt Sova
Cynthia Anderson
Tim McClure

West End Baptist Church - UM sure loved using that shot of the church exploding!
Kenneth Dungee - UM also loved that shot of the car flipping through the air

The Alcatraz episode
Tommy Zeigler
Ethel Kidd
Mark Greozinger
Maples/Christi and Bobby Baskin
Larry Race
Pam Page
Christy Nichols


Janet O'Reagan
Marlena Childress
Doyle Wheeler


Other Individuals:

Raymond Burr
Karl Malden
Keeley Shay Smith
Dennis Farina
Danny Dark
Don Devereux
Cyril Wecht


Am I missing anything?

James Pearson, who saved Mitchell Shigemoto's life and was so happy and touched when he found out he was being searched for. A true American hero.

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Jim_Pearson

We need a sitcomsonline wing of the Unsolved Mysteries Hall of Fame.

How about adding Virginia Madsen?

The Circleville letter writer and

Christopher Chichester Gerhartsreiter aka Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter
or what ever he wanted to call himself are both 1st Ballet Hall Of Famers

Not far behind - "Judy Hyams is alive, and she lives in Omaha"
could be the ultimate one liner in UM history.

Special mention The Disappearance of Clifford Sherwood and Georges Gumbley

The update music needs a shout-out.

So does the segment involving my avatar pic (Patricia Meehan)

I feel like Unsolved Mysteries memorabilia fits under this...I mean what would you pay for objects like Tim McClure’s sweater? The fake hamburger in the Charlotte Pollis segment?

Or...

The bald cap from the Judge Fairbanks segment.

The pack of smokes from Megadeth man

There’s a lot more but I’ll stop there

Also want to add Michael Shermer, who showed he was the only adult in the room in multiple segments.

Beverly McGowan and that creepy ass sketch

Also any and everything 'Satanic Panic'

"He looked at me like he was about to enjoy a large steak" was a hilarious line even though the event it referenced was far from comical.

"They got circlestansive evidence"

And Danny Wheeler saying "I'm Michael Jordan and I play for the Chicago Bulls".

I think those were the 3 best lines.

"He looked at me like he was about to enjoy a large steak" was a hilarious line even though the event it referenced was far from comical.

"They got circlestansive evidence"

And Danny Wheeler saying "I'm Michael Jordan and I play for the Chicago Bulls".

I think those were the 3 best lines.

...you know what I'm sayin'?

...you know what I'm sayin'?

KC Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill does this exact same thing. Every single sentence. When I see him interviewed I always think of that UM segment

"He looked at me like he was about to enjoy a large steak" was a hilarious line even though the event it referenced was far from comical.

"They got circlestansive evidence"

And Danny Wheeler saying "I'm Michael Jordan and I play for the Chicago Bulls".

I think those were the 3 best lines.


I have to add Bob Bean saying, "I knew what I had and I was eager to pass it on."

"He looked at me like he was about to enjoy a large steak" was a hilarious line even though the event it referenced was far from comical.

"They got circlestansive evidence"

And Danny Wheeler saying "I'm Michael Jordan and I play for the Chicago Bulls".

I think those were the 3 best lines.

"She must be 300 pounds, someone like that just doesn't get lost in a crowd, even in a big city, and this is a big city. You still don't get lost in a crowd when you are ENORMOUS"

-Lisa "One eye on you, and one on the register" Penz

"She must be 300 pounds, someone like that just doesn't get lost in a crowd, even in a big city, and this is a big city. You still don't get lost in a crowd when you are ENORMOUS"

-Lisa "One eye on you, and one on the register" Penz


I'm not sure if it was UM or a different show but one of the investigators in the Dana Satterfield murder flat out said Mike Satterfield wouldn't fit out the salon window.

I'm not sure if it was UM or a different show but one of the investigators in the Dana Satterfield murder flat out said Mike Satterfield wouldn't fit out the salon window.

That had to have been a different show. I feel like I would have remembered that gem of a line...

That had to have been a different show. I feel like I would have remembered that gem of a line...

I saw this one the other day and it definitely was not said on the UM segment.

D.B. Cooper -That case was made for Unsolved Mysteries.

I'm not sure if it was UM or a different show but one of the investigators in the Dana Satterfield murder flat out said Mike Satterfield wouldn't fit out the salon window.

I remember that line. It was Forensic Files. I think he even followed it up with, "And he'd probably tell you that himself" or something like that.

...you know what I'm sayin'?

What about "If I don't exceed, I'll fight em from eternity"

Also the Wackers gotta be there, too.

We need a sitcomsonline wing of the Unsolved Mysteries Hall of Fame.

Agreed.

Just as a starting list, for lifetime achievement members I nominate:

crystaldawn

Our incomparable current mod, LooksLikeCRicci

justins5256

dynoguy

mozartpc27

Todd Mueller

TheCars1986


Most Civil Poster:

WishfulDreamer


Best Contrarian (I personally think this should be called the kadrmas15 award):

freakbook

Agreed.

Just as a starting list, for lifetime achievement members I nominate:

crystaldawn

Our incomparable current mod, LooksLikeCRicci

justins5256

dynoguy

mozartpc27

Todd Mueller

TheCars1986


Most Civil Poster:

WishfulDreamer


Best Contrarian (I personally think this should be called the kadrmas15 award):

freakbook

:lol::lol:

hey, I'm not that bad.......right?

for lifetime achievement members I nominate:

I agree with this list. I'd add:

MegtheEgg86

RobinW

DarkDante

Hambone2421

:lol::lol:

hey, I'm not that bad.......right?

:lol: Buddy, I love your posts.

Aw shucks, being nominated for most civil :D I do try.

Agree 100% on loving freakbook's posts. Please don't ever change your avatar! It makes your commentary even funnier because I imagine the lady is the one posting them even though I know you're a dude.

:lol: Buddy, I love your posts.

Aw shucks, being nominated for most civil :D I do try.

Agree 100% on loving freakbook's posts. Please don't ever change your avatar! It makes your commentary even funnier because I imagine the lady is the one posting them even though I know you're a dude.

Awww, thanks guys!

And Meg you should've put yourself first on that list. One of the most memorable on here for sure.

Also agreed with WishfulDreamer, she's one of the few I haven't argued with on here :lol:

I love these nominations so far.

If there was a hall of fame for best threads, I’d nominate the Meme thread and the gif thread

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=315352

"She must be 300 pounds, someone like that just doesn't get lost in a crowd, even in a big city, and this is a big city. You still don't get lost in a crowd when you are ENORMOUS"

-Lisa "One eye on you, and one on the register" Penz

That segment was hilarious without trying to be. 'I mean she was a very large woman. Huge!"

I loved...

"I hate to say it but I am very nosy and I pay attention to everyone's business. So as you imagine I looked her over real good!"

I remember that line. It was Forensic Files. I think he even followed it up with, "And he'd probably tell you that himself" or something like that.

You got it! I was watching this episode last year and I'm like I saw this before. I recalled the UM segment. Forensic Files is among my favorites next to Disappeared and UM.

The update music needs a shout-out.

So does the segment involving my avatar pic (Patricia Meehan)

I watched the Meehan case a few months ago and your avatar pic showed up on screen!!! Freaked me out cause of seeing it all the time on this Board. The case I’m sure I saw in the past but didn’t exactly remember too much about it!

The update music is kind of creepy when a creepy villain is shown getting caught or remains of someone is found.

:lol::lol:

hey, I'm not that bad.......right?

Nah man I enjoy your posts. Funny thing I recently watched that episode in which your avatar appears. I said hey that’s Freakbook from the message boards!

Same thing happened when I watched the episode that LooksLikeCRicci gets her avatar. But I was more creeped out when the avatar appeared out of nowhere

Nah man I enjoy your posts. Funny thing I recently watched that episode in which your avatar appears. I said hey that’s Freakbook from the message boards!

Same thing happened when I watched the episode that LooksLikeCRicci gets her avatar. But I was more creeped out when the avatar appeared out of nowhere

Haha. I appreciate it dude!

I'd nominate Tara Calico - I don't believe that photo is of her (or is necessarily showing anything sinister) but when you first see it, you don't forget it (its one of my clearest memories from early UM) - and I think UM was the first show to publicize it.

Resurrection Mary is also an automatic HOFer - UM at its most endearingly goofy.

As for lines: "Perhaps that person is watching. Perhaps its you."

Going back to the very start of this thread...

John Cosgrove
Terry Dunn Meurer

I guess we'd have no choice but to induct them into the Hall of Fame but I think there should be an asterisk next to each of their names for extreme difficulty with a tendency towards douchiness.

That constant 12 year battle with them where they refused any UM content on YouTube, removed all videos, deleted entire accounts and their reasoning for doing so, which lacked any logic whatsoever got tiresome in a hurry. When Amazon Prime finally posted full episodes, they didn't seem to care anymore...which meant the 12 previous years of fighting with them never had to happen in the first place.

I'm still a little salty.

I'm going to have to induct the Bicycle Bandit into the Unsolved Mysteries Hall of Fame.

This pleasantly plump man defied the odds by doing two things that one shouldn't do when attempting to rob and run, which is being over-weight and riding a bicycle. Not only was he shaped like a jaw-breaker, but he also rode away on a bicycle and GOT AWAY with it multiple times.

If there's any segment that blows my mind it's this one. Congratulations you rotund robber. You deserve it.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

That had to have been a different show. I feel like I would have remembered that gem of a line...

I think that was on Forensic Files because I remember that line, too.

I would like to nominate Son of Sam for case.

And for line, from Son of Sam, Tommy Zano's "In a week he can't get that fat."

"A man took Jonathan!"

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/5/50/The_ortiz_family.jpg

And this amazing image, haha

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWZ1XFBXQAAZqJT.jpg

The Dennis Depue segment absolutely would be in my hall of fame. Even though I know how it ends, I still watch it in full any time I come across it.

The Dennis Depue segment absolutely would be in my hall of fame. Even though I know how it ends, I still watch it in full any time I come across it.

That segment was so brilliant in the way they presented it, having it begin with the Throton's car drive to seeing Dennis, the sheet and returning to the school yard. It keeps drawing you in more and more. It's no wonder Victor Salva ripped off that entire opening for Jeepers Creepers and desperately hoped nobody would notice.

On a side note, I always considered this case a "local" one for me since it happened in Michigan. But it turns out it was even more local than I thought. I recently discovered that Marilyn Dupue grew up in my home city, which probably explains why her funeral was here. I also learned she went to high school with my uncle, though she was a year ahead of him. Small world.

The fake sleepy heads made by the prison escapees that were shown during the Alcatraz special.

That segment was so brilliant in the way they presented it, having it begin with the Throton's car drive to seeing Dennis, the sheet and returning to the school yard. It keeps drawing you in more and more. It's no wonder Victor Salva ripped off that entire opening for Jeepers Creepers and desperately hoped nobody would notice.

On a side note, I always considered this case a "local" one for me since it happened in Michigan. But it turns out it was even more local than I thought. I recently discovered that Marilyn Dupue grew up in my home city, which probably explains why her funeral was here. I also learned she went to high school with my uncle, though she was a year ahead of him. Small world.

That was one of those segments that scared the crap out of me when I was a kid and watched the original airing. The idea of being stuck out on a deserted country road with a guy who seemed to be a killer, and then have him start tailing you, is absolutely terrifying. 😲

I also live in Michigan. Do you know if that old schoolhouse is still standing?

That was one of those segments that scared the crap out of me when I was a kid and watched the original airing. The idea of being stuck out on a deserted country road with a guy who seemed to be a killer, and then have him start tailing you, is absolutely terrifying. 😲

I also live in Michigan. Do you know if that old schoolhouse is still standing?

Yes it is. I went looking for it about ten years ago. The school house is on the corner of S Snow Prairie Rd and W Southern Rd in Gilead Township, about 3 miles from the Indiana border. It's pretty much 99% countryside with a rare farmhouse here and there that you pass.

https://www.hillsdalewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/schoolhouse.jpg

Side notes - The school was built in 1908 and closed it's doors in 1945. For the last 70 years, it's basically been used as extra storage for nearby farmers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hug8SaXO46U&t=83s

Thank you, Dynoguy. I definitely need to make the trip out to the schoolhouse.

thanks for sharing that dynoguy, I wish I could 'like' posts here. Interesting video!

The Dennis Depue segment absolutely would be in my hall of fame. Even though I know how it ends, I still watch it in full any time I come across it.

Speaking of the Dennis Depue segment, I turned on Investigation Discovery yesterday and was shocked to see one of their programs covering this very case. The show is called, ‘Man with a Van.’ They’ve released 6 episodes (all available on Demand) and the episode that focuses on Depue is called, “Road Rage.” It first aired in March of last year.

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/man-with-a-van/full-episodes/road-rage

There were interviews with a former writer for a Coldwater Newspaper, the principal of Coldwater High School and coworker of Marilyn, and Ray Thornton, who surprisingly looks very similar today as he did when he was interviewed 30 years ago on UM.

Check it out. There are some cringeworthy acting performances, particularly by the people who were portraying the Thorntons and the confrontation between Marilyn and Dennis is not nearly as intense and graphic as the UM segment. But we do learn a couple of little factoids. When Dennis sits down to watch his own segment on UM, they refer to it as a crime show because of copyright, I guess.

Hank Queen should go down in the hall of fame as best alias.

"I don't particularly care for fruit cake but they were absolutely delicious to be honest"

"Jane.. you're gonna die"

"...and I'm Michael Jordan and I used to play for the Chicago Bulls"

"..a college professor? Where did you meet a college professor?" cracks me up everytime the sarcasm delivered was funny

Hank Queen should go down in the hall of fame as best alias.

definitely, that is one hell of an alias. I nominate Todd Mueller's 15 ID cards that were taken from him.

James Pearson, who saved Mitchell Shigemoto's life and was so happy and touched when he found out he was being searched for. A true American hero.

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Jim_Pearson

absolutely, I love that segment. hard not to cry when I watch it. Also love the fritz and the soldiers segment from WW2.

Agreed.

Just as a starting list, for lifetime achievement members I nominate:

crystaldawn

Our incomparable current mod, LooksLikeCRicci

justins5256

dynoguy

mozartpc27

Todd Mueller

TheCars1986


Most Civil Poster:

WishfulDreamer


Best Contrarian (I personally think this should be called the kadrmas15 award):

freakbook

Awwww... thanks Meg!

I see you were already nominated, so I will only add my hearty "Hear, hear!" to your own nomination and the nomination of all the other worthies.

And I am like only 13 months late in noticing this thread...

Personal HOF would probably include the Sara Jo segment, that segment drove my interest in the show for years. I feel like there are number of composite sketches worthy of induction. And Chaim Weiss.

Speaking of the Dennis Depue segment, I turned on Investigation Discovery yesterday and was shocked to see one of their programs covering this very case. The show is called, ‘Man with a Van.’ They’ve released 6 episodes (all available on Demand) and the episode that focuses on Depue is called, “Road Rage.” It first aired in March of last year.

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/man-with-a-van/full-episodes/road-rage

There were interviews with a former writer for a Coldwater Newspaper, the principal of Coldwater High School and coworker of Marilyn, and Ray Thornton, who surprisingly looks very similar today as he did when he was interviewed 30 years ago on UM.

Check it out. There are some cringeworthy acting performances, particularly by the people who were portraying the Thorntons and the confrontation between Marilyn and Dennis is not nearly as intense and graphic as the UM segment. But we do learn a couple of little factoids. When Dennis sits down to watch his own segment on UM, they refer to it as a crime show because of copyright, I guess.

I need to find this episode. This is a crazy ass case.

Is this supposed to be Ray Thornton? Awesome.

I need to find this episode. This is a crazy ass case.

Is this supposed to be Ray Thornton? Awesome.

I watched this episode just to see ID’s handling of the case, which was pretty standard. UM’s interpretation was so much more atmospheric and scary.

I watched this episode just to see ID’s handling of the case, which was pretty standard. UM’s interpretation was so much more atmospheric and scary.

Standard is putting it nicely. Everything is watered down in terms of creepiness and suspense. Some things are completely omitted like Dennis trying to keep his girlfriend from seeing the TV set because of the UM broadcast. In 'Man with a Van's' interpretation, Dennis is watching the UM segment in his bedroom, he hears the girlfriend enter the house and then they draw out the scene for suspense as if he's contemplating killing the girlfriend. :crazy:

Ray and Marie Thornton's experience and everything they witnessed was pretty damn scary. But this episode almost seems to treat them as comic relief. From the wardrobe they had the actors wear to the dialogue they gave them while driving right before Dennis pulled up behind them ("maybe I'll wear a speedo on our next vacation to the beach!") What the hell? And them stopping at a random house to call the police and rambling to the home owner what they saw was actually kind of funny in how weird it was.

The episode was weak at best. The only interesting things was finding out some never before known facts like...

1. The Texas girlfriend actually hired a private investigator to find any information on Dennis at one point because he was so secretive. But this was before the internet and no information could be found about a man named 'Hank Queen.'

2. The police eventually drove to the Thorntons home and thanked them personally for reporting everything they witnessed. They believed Dennis would have gone back home and killed the three children because they were witnesses to the crime but the police being called right away stopped that from ever happening.

3. In his rambling letters, Dennis blamed Marilyn's coworkers for helping destroy his marriage. As a result of that, they were given round the clock protection from the police because they feared Dennis would try to kill them too.

4. No updates were ever given on the three DePue children; Jennifer, Julie and Scott. It would have been nice to know how they have coped and gone on with their lives since the ordeal.

Standard is putting it nicely. Everything is watered down in terms of creepiness and suspense. Some things are completely omitted like Dennis trying to keep his girlfriend from seeing the TV set because of the UM broadcast. In 'Man with a Van's' interpretation, Dennis is watching the UM segment in his bedroom, he hears the girlfriend enter the house and then they draw out the scene for suspense as if he's contemplating killing the girlfriend. :crazy:

Ray and Marie Thornton's experience and everything they witnessed was pretty damn scary. But this episode almost seems to treat them as comic relief. From the wardrobe they had the actors wear to the dialogue they gave them while driving right before Dennis pulled up behind them ("maybe I'll wear a speedo on our next vacation to the beach!") What the hell? And them stopping at a random house to call the police and rambling to the home owner what they saw was actually kind of funny in how weird it was.

The episode was weak at best. The only interesting things was finding out some never before known facts like...

1. The Texas girlfriend actually hired a private investigator to find any information on Dennis at one point because he was so secretive. But this was before the internet and no information could be found about a man named 'Hank Queen.'

2. The police eventually drove to the Thorntons home and thanked them personally for reporting everything they witnessed. They believed Dennis would have gone back home and killed the three children because they were witnesses to the crime but the police being called right away stopped that from ever happening.

3. In his rambling letters, Dennis blamed Marilyn's coworkers for helping destroy his marriage. As a result of that, they were given round the clock protection from the police because they feared Dennis would try to kill them too.

4. No updates were ever given on the three DePue children; Jennifer, Julie and Scott. It would have been nice to know how they have coped and gone on with their lives since the ordeal.



What stuck out for me regarding #2 was if it was premeditated, was he going to take the children and either take off with them or kill them as some sort of revenge plot against Marilyn? Was he going to kill the entire family?

On UM, the daughter called the sheriff while DD was still at the house but on MWAV, they weren't called until afterwards.

Yeah, loved the "accents" on MWAV. Southern MI does NOT sound like that.

Standard is putting it nicely. Everything is watered down in terms of creepiness and suspense. Some things are completely omitted like Dennis trying to keep his girlfriend from seeing the TV set because of the UM broadcast. In 'Man with a Van's' interpretation, Dennis is watching the UM segment in his bedroom, he hears the girlfriend enter the house and then they draw out the scene for suspense as if he's contemplating killing the girlfriend. :crazy:

Ray and Marie Thornton's experience and everything they witnessed was pretty damn scary. But this episode almost seems to treat them as comic relief. From the wardrobe they had the actors wear to the dialogue they gave them while driving right before Dennis pulled up behind them ("maybe I'll wear a speedo on our next vacation to the beach!") What the hell? And them stopping at a random house to call the police and rambling to the home owner what they saw was actually kind of funny in how weird it was.

The episode was weak at best. The only interesting things was finding out some never before known facts like...

1. The Texas girlfriend actually hired a private investigator to find any information on Dennis at one point because he was so secretive. But this was before the internet and no information could be found about a man named 'Hank Queen.'

2. The police eventually drove to the Thorntons home and thanked them personally for reporting everything they witnessed. They believed Dennis would have gone back home and killed the three children because they were witnesses to the crime but the police being called right away stopped that from ever happening.

3. In his rambling letters, Dennis blamed Marilyn's coworkers for helping destroy his marriage. As a result of that, they were given round the clock protection from the police because they feared Dennis would try to kill them too.

4. No updates were ever given on the three DePue children; Jennifer, Julie and Scott. It would have been nice to know how they have coped and gone on with their lives since the ordeal.

Sooo, I guess it’s safe to say you are not a fan of ID’s take on the Depue case? Lol. 😂
Seriously though, I understand. I love true crime and even several shows on the ID channel, yet none compare to classic UM. I’m almost 46 now, and I have a great respect for how beautifully done those early seasons of UM were done. They were almost cinematic in style and tone. At times they were like watching a drive-in movie from the late 70s. They were like stunning short films. ID’s work, for the most part, looks cheap in comparison.

"Shirley" from the Dana Satterfield segment.

She seemed lovely. She was funny, and was obviously very brave when she came face-to-face with the killer.

I heard she died a few years after the UM episode.