Inner Sanctum

I remember this early black and white series as a nine year old watching TV in the evening in what was then prime time. This is a classic early early black and white scary TV series! The show always started with a totally scary creaking door slowly opening. It was too good; and too ground-breaking to not have any comment whatsoever posted here! This was back in the early days of television when all they had was a sound stage and set actors. Everything depended on the writing and acting combined with a good sound man and simplistic special effects. And yet with all of this (see also Dark Shadows); the result was truly scary and entertaining. A discerning viewer, I believe, would find it so today; even in this age of computer generated special effects!

I recall watching "Inner Sanctum" as a kid...I was nine or ten. I would sit in front of the TV in a chair with my hands over my eyes so that I wouldn't see the scariest scenes. I would take only occasional peeks through the gaps between my fingers. The creaking door intro to each episode and the accompanying funereal narration, including organ music, were truly terrifying. I knew watching this show would cause nightmares, but I was inexplicably drawn to it. I don't remember the storyline for any of the episodes, but I still think this series was one of the most frightening on '50s black-and-white TV.

This was my go-to list as a child back then: The Twilight Zone ==> The Outer Limits ==> One Step Beyond ==> Inner Sanctum. And oh, "Million Dollar Movie".

Just flat out gripping series. Everyone in our house would gather around the TV when Inner Sanctum came on. No one would go to the bathroom.