Unsolved Mysteries thru the years; what changed? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zlatko · 10-07-2010, 12:33 AM

I decided to make this topic since it's quite relevant to a show that lasted as long as Unsolved Mysteries. (mid/late 80's to early 00's) Besides the obvious things such as fashion(80's hair, anyone?), Stack aging, and production improvements, what changed in your mind? It could be anything. Perhaps it involves certain elements in cases that became more rare as time went on. I'll list some of the changes I noticed.

-A lot of the cases in the 80's and early 90's seemed to mention Satanism a whole lot. Obviously this had to do with the whole Satanic panic in the 80's but still. I can't recall any one the UM in the 00's mentioning Satanism or anything.

-From my memory, I don't recall any of the late 90's/early 00's cases involving hitchhiking. It seems like after the 80's, less and less people hitchhiked even in rural areas.

greatgarrett2 · 10-07-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zlatko

I decided to make this topic since it's quite relevant to a show that lasted as long as Unsolved Mysteries. (mid/late 80's to early 00's) Besides the obvious things such as fashion(80's hair, anyone?), Stack aging, and production improvements, what changed in your mind? It could be anything. Perhaps it involves certain elements in cases that became more rare as time went on. I'll list some of the changes I noticed.

-A lot of the cases in the 80's and early 90's seemed to mention Satanism a whole lot. Obviously this had to do with the whole Satanic panic in the 80's but still. I can't recall any one the UM in the 00's mentioning Satanism or anything.

-From my memory, I don't recall any of the late 90's/early 00's cases involving hitchhiking. It seems like after the 80's, less and less people hitchhiked even in rural areas.

In the earlier shows, UM was more creepy. Covering more genuine murder cases and disappearences. As the years went on, the show lost the creepier music and took a more paranormal bent. Also, the lettering changed identifying the interviewees as the show became more modern.

TracyLynnS · 10-07-2010, 01:02 AM

Oh goodness... that satanic panic trend throughout the 80s was just nuts.

Outside of UM, day care providers around the world were accused, and I think some were convicted, of sexually attacking young children as part of an organized satanic cult.

On UM, the Tallman's Ghost was supposed to have been caused by a strange woman placing a curse on the house, use of a ouija board was said to summon spirits, and bunkbeds were said to be haunted by evil.

The Ellenders were said to have been murdered and and their bodies defiled by an organized group of teen satan worshippers.

Michael Johnston and Rochelle Robinson were thought to have been murdered due to their interest in the Dungeons and Dragons game, which led them to being involved in the "occult".

I'm sure there are others, those just come to mind right now...

Zlatko · 10-07-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Oh goodness... that satanic panic trend throughout the 80s was just nuts.

Outside of UM, day care providers around the world were accused, and I think some were convicted, of sexually attacking young children as part of an organized satanic cult.

On UM, the Tallman's Ghost was supposed to have been caused by a strange woman placing a curse on the house, use of a ouija board was said to summon spirits, and bunkbeds were said to be haunted by evil.

The Ellenders were said to have been murdered and and their bodies defiled by an organized group of teen satan worshippers.

Michael Johnston and Rochelle Robinson were thought to have been murdered due to their interest in the Dungeons and Dragons game, which led them to being involved in the "occult".

I'm sure there are others, those just come to mind right now...

Yes, the whole Satanic panic scare back then was out of control. If UM covered a case like Bryan Nisenfeld's in the 80's, they'd probably say that he died because he was involved in Satanism. I'm not even kidding about that.

TracyLynnS · 10-07-2010, 10:19 AM

Did you see where a bank robber was recently caught because the cops knew he was going to be attending a Dungeons and Dragons event? The computer forensics people found that info on his computer so cops headed there and arrested him.

Oh the fun that UM could have had with the D&D connection with this one!

http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=23755

TracyLynnS · 10-07-2010, 10:22 AM

Regarding the original topic here, "what changed"....

Has anyone gone to the unsolved.com site and watched their trailers videos? Gah! They're awful. Nothing like the original UM and definitely a change in the wrong direction, imo.

TracyLynnS · 10-07-2010, 10:29 AM

And let's see..... what else has changed?

In the first few episodes, which were hosted by Karl Malden and Raymond Burr, I think the entire show was dedicated to one subject. Later, they subdivided the show into the segments that each covered a different crime or event.

I remember that Stack hosted the 90 minute Alcatraz special. What year was that? Was the whole 90 minutes dedicated to Alcatraz or did they feature mini segments that were unrelated during that show?

If it was all Alcatraz, was that the only Stack hosted episode that was wasn't divided into segments?

SageSlowdive · 10-07-2010, 11:21 AM

I agree with the statements above - UM became more modern in later times and lost it's creepy effect.

silverstang84 · 10-07-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageSlowdive

I agree with the statements above - UM became more modern in later times and lost it's creepy effect.

i agree. i miss the acting/ and genderal creepy feel about the show from the 80's and early 90's

Apostapler · 10-08-2010, 12:42 AM

OT, but I always thought Satanic Panic would be a great name for a band.

Orgazmo · 10-12-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

And let's see..... what else has changed?

In the first few episodes, which were hosted by Karl Malden and Raymond Burr, I think the entire show was dedicated to one subject. Later, they subdivided the show into the segments that each covered a different crime or event.

I remember that Stack hosted the 90 minute Alcatraz special. What year was that? Was the whole 90 minutes dedicated to Alcatraz or did they feature mini segments that were unrelated during that show?

If it was all Alcatraz, was that the only Stack hosted episode that was wasn't divided into segments?

From memory it was 1989 and it was an Alcatraz special featuring a swimmer who swam from the rock to SF and a team of rafters who didn't make it. I also recall the ep having other small segments.

TracyLynnS · 10-12-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orgazmo

From memory it was 1989 and it was an Alcatraz special featuring a swimmer who swam from the rock to SF and a team of rafters who didn't make it. I also recall the ep having other small segments.

Cool... thanks for the info.

Knowing me, I probably saw it when it first aired and then just totally forgot it. I'm almost positive I've that special on dvd somewhere. I need to look at it again and see what those small segments were about.

Orgazmo · 10-18-2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Cool... thanks for the info.

Knowing me, I probably saw it when it first aired and then just totally forgot it. I'm almost positive I've that special on dvd somewhere. I need to look at it again and see what those small segments were about.

Its on the CD collection, not sure which vol but its on there somewhere. Thats how I got to see that ep. It is also co hosted by a lady who I cant recall her name but its definitely worth watching.

TracyLynnS · 10-18-2010, 09:52 AM

I found my dvd and watched the alcatraz special. Diana Nyad was sort of the co-host that day. They probably chose her because she's a competitive swimmer. I just looked up an article that says that she's 61 years old and still challenging herself in the sport. As of august, she was planning to swim from Cuba to the US without a shark cage.

About 50 minutes into the special the first of the mini segments are shown. (Not sure if I have everything, my copy is from a friend of a friend.)

Louis Bourgeois and Jean Marie Gagnon, the Canadian bank robbers (Massachusetts) who escaped US Marshall custody in 1985 during transport.

and other criminals at large:

Thomas Robert Noss, Jr. (Moss?)

Carl Alfred Eder - California teenager using the alias Charles Harrison. In 1958, murdered the wife and four children of Mr. Thomas Pendergast, a man who had given him shelter 6 weeks earlier. Escaped 1974. Apparently, he's never been found.
http://www.elcajonpolice.org/coldcase/Eder.htm
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=55472

Lina (Lena, Nina?) Regina Smith

Joseph Mancini

WishfulDreamer · 10-18-2010, 01:26 PM

UM did change over the years, but I really don't mind the recent episodes (of original UM that is, not the Dennis version, which has an awful format. It's not even Dennis' fault, really. The stule is terrible!) I like some of the later ones a lot, but feel that the late 80s, early 90s episodes are certainly the peak and have a much spookier feel. I really don't even mind Keely Shaye that much, considering 99% of the time she was there for updates and only once can I recall her talking for a really long time compared to usual (about case connections in the Angeles National Forest) and it was only about 5 minutes tops. I always found it funny she called RS "Bob" :P When I was younger I thought RS was scary and had no emotion/empathy and that made him scary. Now I fully understand that he is in no way unsympathetic, and is just probably one of the best hosts of all time. It still cracks me up when someone speaks informally to him, though! I still think the latter part of the show can be included with the show for nostalgia and is very good, even if not quite as classic.

10-07-2010, 12:33 AM	#1
Zlatko Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2008 Location: Nowhereland Posts: 367	Unsolved Mysteries thru the years; what changed? I decided to make this topic since it's quite relevant to a show that lasted as long as Unsolved Mysteries. (mid/late 80's to early 00's) Besides the obvious things such as fashion(80's hair, anyone?), Stack aging, and production improvements, what changed in your mind? It could be anything. Perhaps it involves certain elements in cases that became more rare as time went on. I'll list some of the changes I noticed. -A lot of the cases in the 80's and early 90's seemed to mention Satanism a whole lot. Obviously this had to do with the whole Satanic panic in the 80's but still. I can't recall any one the UM in the 00's mentioning Satanism or anything. -From my memory, I don't recall any of the late 90's/early 00's cases involving hitchhiking. It seems like after the 80's, less and less people hitchhiked even in rural areas.

10-07-2010, 01:02 AM	#3
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Oh goodness... that satanic panic trend throughout the 80s was just nuts. Outside of UM, day care providers around the world were accused, and I think some were convicted, of sexually attacking young children as part of an organized satanic cult. On UM, the Tallman's Ghost was supposed to have been caused by a strange woman placing a curse on the house, use of a ouija board was said to summon spirits, and bunkbeds were said to be haunted by evil. The Ellenders were said to have been murdered and and their bodies defiled by an organized group of teen satan worshippers. Michael Johnston and Rochelle Robinson were thought to have been murdered due to their interest in the Dungeons and Dragons game, which led them to being involved in the "occult". I'm sure there are others, those just come to mind right now...

10-07-2010, 10:19 AM	#5
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Did you see where a bank robber was recently caught because the cops knew he was going to be attending a Dungeons and Dragons event? The computer forensics people found that info on his computer so cops headed there and arrested him. Oh the fun that UM could have had with the D&D connection with this one! http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=23755

10-07-2010, 10:22 AM	#6
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Regarding the original topic here, "what changed".... Has anyone gone to the unsolved.com site and watched their trailers videos? Gah! They're awful. Nothing like the original UM and definitely a change in the wrong direction, imo.

10-07-2010, 10:29 AM	#7
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	And let's see..... what else has changed? In the first few episodes, which were hosted by Karl Malden and Raymond Burr, I think the entire show was dedicated to one subject. Later, they subdivided the show into the segments that each covered a different crime or event. I remember that Stack hosted the 90 minute Alcatraz special. What year was that? Was the whole 90 minutes dedicated to Alcatraz or did they feature mini segments that were unrelated during that show? If it was all Alcatraz, was that the only Stack hosted episode that was wasn't divided into segments?

10-07-2010, 11:21 AM	#8
SageSlowdive the real hank queen Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2010 Posts: 659	I agree with the statements above - UM became more modern in later times and lost it's creepy effect.

10-08-2010, 12:42 AM	#10
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	OT, but I always thought Satanic Panic would be a great name for a band.

10-18-2010, 09:52 AM	#14
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	I found my dvd and watched the alcatraz special. Diana Nyad was sort of the co-host that day. They probably chose her because she's a competitive swimmer. I just looked up an article that says that she's 61 years old and still challenging herself in the sport. As of august, she was planning to swim from Cuba to the US without a shark cage. About 50 minutes into the special the first of the mini segments are shown. (Not sure if I have everything, my copy is from a friend of a friend.) Louis Bourgeois and Jean Marie Gagnon, the Canadian bank robbers (Massachusetts) who escaped US Marshall custody in 1985 during transport. and other criminals at large: Thomas Robert Noss, Jr. (Moss?) Carl Alfred Eder - California teenager using the alias Charles Harrison. In 1958, murdered the wife and four children of Mr. Thomas Pendergast, a man who had given him shelter 6 weeks earlier. Escaped 1974. Apparently, he's never been found. http://www.elcajonpolice.org/coldcase/Eder.htm http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=55472 Lina (Lena, Nina?) Regina Smith Joseph Mancini

10-18-2010, 01:26 PM	#15
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	UM did change over the years, but I really don't mind the recent episodes (of original UM that is, not the Dennis version, which has an awful format. It's not even Dennis' fault, really. The stule is terrible!) I like some of the later ones a lot, but feel that the late 80s, early 90s episodes are certainly the peak and have a much spookier feel. I really don't even mind Keely Shaye that much, considering 99% of the time she was there for updates and only once can I recall her talking for a really long time compared to usual (about case connections in the Angeles National Forest) and it was only about 5 minutes tops. I always found it funny she called RS "Bob" :P When I was younger I thought RS was scary and had no emotion/empathy and that made him scary. Now I fully understand that he is in no way unsympathetic, and is just probably one of the best hosts of all time. It still cracks me up when someone speaks informally to him, though! I still think the latter part of the show can be included with the show for nostalgia and is very good, even if not quite as classic.