Memories of the Sci Fi Channel (Sy Fy)

Back in the 1990, my grandfather got a BUD (Big Ugly Satellite Dish).  There were great memories from the dream of visiting Nickelodeon Studios in Florida and getting scared while watching Total Recall.  I held some great BUD Memories while watching the Sci Fi channel.

On September 24, 1992, The Sci Fi Channel officially launched on G-5 Channel 4.  I watched great shows on that channel as such as Amazing Stories, Dr Who, Defenders of the Earth, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and the Incredible Hulk.  Some of these shows I watched inspired me to draw a silly picture at school.

Classic Monsters Month -- Hosted by Christopher Lee

In October, 1993, The Sci Fi Channel held a Classic Monsters Month featuring the four monsters.  October 4 - 8, 1993 was The Mummy Week,  October 11 - 15 was Dracula Week, October 18 - 22 was Frankenstein Week, and October 26 - 29, 1993 was The Wolf Man Week.  On October 30th was The Wonderful World of Zombies, a day devoted to zombie flicks like White Zombie.  On Halloween Day, The Sci Fi channel had a Marathon of Scary Movies including the Puppet Master, Phantasm, The Evil Dead, and more.  After October 1993, I was inspired to watch some classic horror films including Dracula and Frankenstein.

Doppleganger

The Sci Fi Channel screened the movie Doppleganger Sunday, February 20th, 1994 to kick off Boris Karloff Week.  I watched this film intermintely during the screening.  Towards the end, I got frightened and I turned off the TV.  This was a memorable BUD Scary Moment. 

Boris Karloff Week -- Hosted by Peter Bogdanovich

Between February 21 - 25, 1993 was a special week devoted to 5 Boris Karloff films.  The Sci Fi Channel screened on Monday Corridors of Blood, Wedensday, The Invisable Ray, Thursday, Targets, and Friday, Frankenstein to close the week. 



Watch this Boris Karloff week video.  There

 is a short Count Dracula

trailer you will love and remember

Bram Stoker's Count Dracula

On Saturday, February 26, The Sci Fi channel screened Count Dracula. A few days following Boris Karloff Week, the Sci Fi Channel was silenced forever. 

Mad Doctors Week

In March of 1994, The Sci Fi Channel had another horror week based on Mad Doctors.  I did not get to see this event because the channel was silenced.

Why did the Sci Fi Channel get Silenced?

The Sci Fi Channel has changed its status on the C Band from a Free (Clear, Unscrambled) to a subscription channel. This means you have to contact your satellite dealer and get the code to re activate the sound.  Occasionally the sound will be activated for a few days to give viewers a sample of what the channel is like before obtaining the code.

According to Wikipedia, Paramount  was sold to The V of Doom (Viacom) = Sci Fi channel silenced.  The channel was silenced intermittently in February until the conclusion of Boris Karloff Week.

Why Codes?

The BUD satellite receiver requires you to get a decoder chip installed every year to access all the subscription channels like Nick, Family, Etc.  If you cannot afford the chip, you can contact your satellite dealer and they will fax you the codes for the channels you want to subscribe to.  After punching in the code, the sound will magically turn on.  You can still watch the channel without sound if you can read lips.  When you want to enter a subscription code, you must turn to the channel, and enter the 10 - 15 digit code.  If you enter the code correctly, you will hear the people talk again for one month.

The Legends of Horror Month -- Hosted by Christopher Lee

In October 1994, The Sci Fi channel had its second annual classic horror movie month.  The Legends of horror featured films by key actors like Peter Cushing, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and, Lon Chaney Jr.  When the Legends of Horror Month was underway, the Sci Fi Channel was silenced. Unfortunately we did not want to spend the money on subscription codes because there were some clear channels including Fox, NBC, Etc.

Horror VHS Rental Number 1


On November 5, 1994, I rented the original 1931 Bela Lugosi Dracula at Jumbo Video. 

This was the first horror film I rented from
Jumbo Video, 

Keep your ears to the tracks for more great memories of the BUD.

Horror Movies I watched part II

Introduction

In 1997, I moved into a new house and I had cable TV and I was able to watch some scary movies like Kiss of the Vampire, Frankenstein, and more. 

Movies I watched in 1997 -1999

Kiss of the Vampire

This was the first vampire movie I watched on Cable TV.  I was interested in seeing this movie because the poster looked very interesting.  I found out about this title when I found a picture of the poster in a book called "Essential Dracula" by Clare Haworth-Maden. 

Vampire Circus, 1972

This is another movie I was interested after reading the "Essential Dracula" book.  The book featured a gory scene from this movie and when I saw the title listed in the TV Guide, I wanted to watch it.  This movie is about a travelling circus with vampires.

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, 1969

 

I watched this movie when I found the movie listed in the TV guide.  I stayed up until midnight to watch it.  I found out about the title whan I read a book called "Horror Movies, the Movie Treasury" by Allen G Frank.

Dracula, 1979

I saw this movie when I found this movie to be listed for the Space channel midnight horror movie.  I stayed up to watch it.  I watched it a few times when I saw it listed on the TV guide.  The first time I watched it, I got pretty tired and shut the movie off to get some sleep.  When I got the opportunity to see it again, I watched it.

Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984

This is the first 1980's horror flick I watched and I got pretty scared when I watched it the first time.  In 1999, I got an opportunity to see this movie on the Big Screen at Innisdale Secondary School's Little Theatre.  The movie was screened over two days which gives the viewers a break to reduce the Nightmare Factor at night.  There were a few disturbing moments like knife wounds suddenly appearing out of nowhere, Tongue popping out of an unplugged telephone, and a Fountain of Blood.  After watching this movie, I wanted to watch the rest of the series.  This movie's Major Fear Factor is a chance of Nightmares because the plot says Freddy attacks you in your dreams and encourages you to stay up all night and never fall asleep.

Whatever you do, Don't Fall Asleep.

Other Nightmare On Elm Street Movies I rented from Video 99 or Video Flicks

In 1999, after I watched the first Nightmare on Elm Street on the Big Screen at Innisdale Secondary School, I got interested in watching a few more Freddy Krueger movies.

Freddy's Revenge

In November, I watched the second installment of A Nightmare on Elm Street.  This movie is less scary than the first one.  I held a screening of this movie at my 17th birthday party in the garage at my house.

Dream Warriors

The Dream Warriors is the third installment of Nightmare on Elm Street.   I rented these movies in succession.  When I took back one movie, I got the next one in the series.  This movie is about the residents who lived on Elm Street, checking into a mental health centre in concern of their reoccurring nightmares.  They get together and take on Freddy Krueger.

The Dream Master

This is the fourth installment of Nightmare on Elm Street.  I watched this movie in November, 1999.  This movie has a few freak out moments like a shattering window transition and more.

Dream Child, It's a Boy!

This is the last Nightmare on Elm Street movie I rented from Video Flicks.  I got this movie and watched it the night before a school dance.  I freaked out when I saw the background turn into a freaky membrane tunnel.  I literally Jumped.

2000 and onwards

In 2000, The next series of horror movies I watched included Hellraiser and Friday the 13th, A New Beginning and Jason Takes Manhattan.  These movies were purchased from the Hock Shop in Barrie.  I have got a few VHS Tapes there.

Keep your Ears to the Tracks