bayardhiler
As a kid growing up in the 90's, there wasn't too much in the realm of weirdness that I didn't watch, be it "The X-Files" or the good horror movies that the Sci-Fi Channel used to have on. There was one production, however, that gave me the chills more than any other, "Unsolved Mysteries". First airing on NBC as a special in 1987, the show would go on to do fifteen seasons on three different networks: NBC (1988-1997), CBS (1997-1999), and Lifetime (2001-2002). It had the hallmarks of a legendary TV show: A very spooky and foreboding music introduction (I get goosebumps just thinking about it!), an amazing host in the form of Robert Stack, and of course, unsolved mysteries that would both intrigue and keep you up at night! The cases featured on the show covered anything from the down to earth type, like unsolved murders, strange disappearances, dangerous fugitives, questionable accidents, to the more bizarre, such as UFOs, ghosts, psychics, and strange legends. Whatever area the cases covered though, let me assure you that at no point did any of them fail to make me want to hide under my bed. Unlike say "The X-Files", these were real cases involving real people and if that fact alone didn't give you the shivers, Robert Stack's stern and authoritative narration of events would. With his trademark trench coat and usual abandoned road set in the background, Stack had the unique ability of both comforting and yet disturbing you on some level as well. But despite the show's spooky theatrics, it did help shed light on and solve a number of cases. At the same time though, looking at the various websites that are dedicated to the show, there are many that are still unresolved to this day. For example, the Amtrak sunset limited crash in Palo Verde, Arizona, where twenty-nine spikes were removed from the track that caused the train to derail. One person was killed, seventy-eight were injured. The only clue the FBI ever found was a few notes signed as "Sons of the Gestapo", whatever that's supposed to mean. To this day, nobody has the slightest idea who pulled that off. See what I mean? Spooky stuff. And of course, anything to do with ghosts would send my fear level through the roof, as did anything that had to do with alien abductions and strange lights in the sky. It really was a great show, one that remains as bone chilling today as it was then. A number of segments have been released on DVD box sets collating to a certain subject. Recently I just bought the UFO set and have been happily spooked by it ever since. Also, there are many segments available through you tube and the internet in general. So if you ever feel the need to scare yourself with real life mysteries, don't let "Unsolved Mysteries" pass you by. And who knows, as Robert Stack said in the beginning of each episode, "you could help solve a mystery." P.S. Rest in Peace Robert Stack (1919-2003)
AaronCapenBanner
"Unsolved Mysteries" was another series that was done with remarkable skill, creating atmospheric segments around the paranormal cases like Ghosts & UFOs that make it a close second only to "In Search Of..." in terms of quality.Robert Stack was a perfect choice as host, presenting the cases with his trademark seriousness and determination, amplified by his distinctive cadence in speech, that made him legendary. Sometimes skeptical, but always respectful; the man who once played Eliot Ness was often intimidating in how he narrated the unsolved murder or fugitive segments, and you sometimes thought he would go out on the hunt personally if given the chance!Only selected segments are on seven DVD sets(now out-of-print); hopefully a complete series release can one day happen!
TheEmulator23
I grew up watching this show every week. This was the the precursor to all the hack reality shows (Big Brother, Survivor, Bachleor, & Girlicious to name a few) that we now have. The difference is that those were INTERESTING and true. I have never known Robert Stack as anything other than the "Unsolved Mysteries guy." In fact if it wasn't for him the show might have never had the huge audience and following that it had. I now know that he was quite the accomplished actor, especially in the classic comedy "Airplane." I loved the way the program was done and I thought it was great that all the stories were true and that a lot of them were solved. I didn't realize that it had 15 seasons as I probably only watched about 5 to 7 of them, but the seasons I did watch I loved. Would I recommend this show now? Well I honestly don't remember too much about it except that Robert Stacks voice always reminds me, even now, of someone who has gone missing.
JGoeke
I watch this show almost every day, I wish they would continue making it although Robert Stack was a perfect host, they could always get someone else to do it. I still like watching the early 90s re-runs and its very interesting. I will never forget my favorite episode where an older man was traveling alone and he has been missing. He was last seen at a rest stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere where his car was seen 9am. Then an hour later his car was found set on fire and there was writings found in a rest stop bathroom miles away about the disappearance of him. Great show, needs to come back on the air again and have brand new episodes because there is still a lot of unsolved cases today.
