A “controversial” 1976 episode of Sesame street has recently been unearthed and making rounds as nothing ever truly dies on the internet.
It featured Margaret Hamilton. Yep… The Wicked Witch Of The West.
Now the original feature length Wizard Of Oz that she starred as the antagonist in was released in 1939, so this PBS TV show from ’76 was 36 years old, but what kid of ANY age doesn’t know who the green lady in search of Dorothy’s ruby slippers was?
Apparently, enough kids to make their parents flood PBS with complaints and force them to never air the episode again.
That’s the funny thing about our childhood fears. We really can’t explain them. Not every scary thing on TV was meant to frightening.
My kid sister was petrified of Grimmace. Yes, the lumpy purple character designed to con your parents into buying more happy meals.
For me? It was the 10pm guy. Remember? “It’s 10 pm, do you know where your children are?”. I was 7. Yes, I should have been sleeping but still I was home, in bed… and this guy made it sound like he knew something I didn’t. Heck, my fingers are trembling typing this as I recall his voice.
What was that one thing that scared YOU as a kid?
(Image: AP Newsroom)