In my beginning there was the Twilight Zone. It was a cutting edge science fiction and horror genre program on black and white television and had episodes featuring the supernatural and other aspects of macabre wonderment in the eyes of a young child. I used to watch it frequently in my pursuit of those things unlike that which was around me and I have participated in viewing the program to this day on occasion.
Today is National Twilight Zone Day.
It is held each May 11 and celebrates both those Twilight Zone series as well as science fiction, horror, and the supernatural in televised drama. The program's several iterations spawned a number of spin offs and all in all it was a great effort on the part of Rod Serling who began those adventures so long ago when I was a young child.
The Twilight Zone debuted in 1959 when I was a mere four years old. My first episodes were viewed in front of our Sylvania black and white television on Lavender Lane in the Aragona Village neighborhood of Virginia Beach. It was a part of that Attack of the Giant Crab Monsters, Attack of the 50 foot Woman, and From Hell it Came Tabanga science fiction aspect of my entertainment interests of that time.
I used to view Rod Serling acting as though he were a witness to the unfolding events as he stood to the side narrating the episodes. I thought those early efforts at special effects and makeup were cutting edge for their times — though they may appear primitive by today's standards — and I thoroughly enjoyed the respite from that dull and commonplace existence called reality that I experienced otherwise.
My fantasy life was in full swing at that juncture and I dare say I couldn't really differentiate between it and reality many times as I should certainly have been able.
So here's to Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone. It's a piece of history, the evolution of television and a whole lot of entertaining fun as well !