LETTERS  PCR #285     (September 5--11, 2005)

  • Reader on "Circle of Fear" episode
  • Reader encounters Buck Hill



    Letters to the EditorWe welcome your feedback.

    READER ON "CIRCLE OF FEAR" EPISODE

    Hi!
    I believe I am trying to find out info on the show mentioned by "Cathy" (Re: Letters, PCR #255) --N). However, I remember it to have been the boy's dog that fell in the hole in the woods. The boy went back to town and a search party was organized for the dog. When the townspeople found the hole there were eerie sounds coming from it. The boy's father was lowered into the hole by a rope. When they pulled him up he was crazy and his eyes were whited out. I remember watching this on TV when I was about 4 or 5, so it would have been 1976 or '78. I am not sure if it was a 30-minute show or some sort of movie with short stories in it. Can you please help? Thanks.

    Melisa (no last name)

    Melisa,
    The letter from "Cathy" you referenced asked if this particular episode was a a part of "Circle of Fear" or "Night Gallery", and at the time none of us could confirm either/or.

    I did a search on my website to try and find every reference to "Circle of Fear" preceding the one you cited (there was no subsequent one as it turns out). Evidently, what creates some confusion is that the early '70's series name "Circle of Fear" was changed to "Ghost Story" at some unspecific time (not to be confused with the 1980 series of the same name hosted by Sebastian Cabot). So different episodes may be listed under different names on various websites.

    The particular episode you mention was NOT the one I thought was discussed on my website, unfortunately, so a further clarification as to its particulars is sadly out of my grasp. I am sorry I can't be of more help there.

    Other references I found: http://www.crazedfanboy.com/nolansnewsstand02/popculturereview98.html
    Scroll WAY down to the Lettercol and see Circle of Fear listed on a "Top 10 favorite TV show" list.

    Also here: http://www.crazedfanboy.com/npcr/letterspcr202.html

    I believe both texts refer to "Circle of Fear" being a very early '70s show whose name is changed to "Ghost Story".

    I will run our email exchange in the PCR Lettercol and see if anyone can find any more information.

    Again, sorry I couldn't be of more help.

    Best,
    Nolan B. Canova


    READER ON BUCK HILL ENCOUNTER

    Hey dude [Deadguy],
    I live in Jersey about 45 min from Buck Hill (Re: Buck Hill was first detailed waaaay back in Deadguy's inaugural column in 2001, PCR #51! --N). Just went there first time last night with some people who had snuck in through the old laundry access tunnels. This place is no friggin' joke, either. The history behind the murder and suicide are real cases that haven't been able to be solved by authorities in years and when the pictures we took are sorted through and I get my copies, if you want, I'll send you the pics so you can see for yourself.

    Rizzo (no last name)

    DEADGUY RESPONDS:

    Rizzo,
    Thanks for reading my articles on the PCR and the heads up, but honestly, although you apparently had a good time, I strongly recommend that you not go back there. The place is creepy, but after 15 years of abandonment, just about any place becomes pretty creepy. It also becomes unsafe.

    My research into the murders and stuff turned up empty. For example, my own conversations with the head chef that was there during most of the supposed events: He said it was a good place to work, and that the whole thing about the owner's wife going crazy and dying in a mental institution was complete fabrication. He was surprised that the previous owner didn't file a lawsuit. True, the owner's wife died of lung cancer after a prolonged stay in hospital and the bills caused the owner to close the place, but it wasn't a mental hospital, it was a regular one, three of the people I spoke with actually visited her there.

    Other events like the horses in the main hall, were also based on true events, but they had nothing to do with a guy being fired and shooting himself and all that. MTV took simple events and twisted them to make them more sinister. The folks I talked to were unaware of the MTV:FEAR show, but they all remembered the horses in the main hall. Apparently it was done as a joke and made a hell of a mess. They were all amazed when I told them that MTV had rewritten the history of the place; they all had fond memories of working there.

    I won't go on record as saying that the place CAN'T be haunted, but I'll go on record as saying that MTV's portrayal of it's history was at least 90% bogus. It's long been a ghosthunter locale where folks claim to have experienced stuff, long before MTV's show came along. Regardless though, it's unsafe to be sneaking around that place, since it's falling apart. You could fall through the floor, or have a ceiling come down on you, or have any number of other acccidents out there. If you don't take care of a building, it will fall apart.

    Of course it's also illegal to be out there without permission of the owner. He doesn't give anyone permission anymore, not since that kid broke his ankle and sued him. There were tons of people that went in there after the MTV show aired, and local news sources had a lot of reports of people getting arrested for trespassing.

    That being said, I'd still love to see the pictures you guys took. I love seeing creepy old places like that. If you'd still like to send them, please address them to deadguy71@gmail.com

    Thanks for contacting me!
    Mike "Deadguy" Scott


    To send an email to Letters to the Editor write to: Crazedfanboy1@aol.com.  Any emails sent to this address will be assumed intended for publication unless you specifically instruct me not to. I can and do respond privately, if that is your preference. Frequently, it's both ways.---Nolan

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