The Radio Times for the period December 17 - December 30, 1994
While the cover is unremarkable and probably of no interest to us, what *is* important is what is contained inside
On December 17 1994, BBC2 had one of their 'theme nights'. This particular one was entitled 'weird night' and has been described as Fortean Times on television years before the 'Fortean TV' documentary programme began in 1997
'Weird Night' began at 20:35 and continued for the following 11 hours. Yes - 11 straight hours of strange television documentaries, series episodes and films
The full schedule for the extravaganza was:
20:35 : Weird NightCult director Roger Corman introduces the night's forthcoming weird programmes.
20:40: The Fortean Review of the YearA month-by-month tourthrough 1994's most bizarre events from around the world. Including a shoal of fish falling on a pub in Australia and an outbreak of fainting Egyptian schoolgirls
21:05: Strange DaysCoincidences. First of three programmes featuring ordinary people with first-hand accounts of extraordinary incidents.
21:15: The Last American FreakshowFollow the final tour of impressario Ward Hall, the "Ziegfield of the Cornfield", who has been bringing the strange and bizarre to middle America for the last 50 years.
22:00: Strange DaysVisions. Another peculiar incident.
22:10: W S H -the Myth of the Urban MythDocumentary-drama. American professor of folklore Charles Paulson Pulling is convinced that all those tales about vanishing hitch-hikers are strange but false. However, as he recalls an increasingly dark series of events during the last 12 months of his life, his reassuring view of the world begins to fall apart.
23:00: The X FilesFire. Mulder and Scully are pursuing a pyromaniac, when Mulder's ex-girlfriend arrives and ignites a burning jealousy in Scully. [This episode had been banned and this was the first time it had been screened]
23:45: Strange DaysBeasts. Last of three programmes featuring tales of odd occurences.
23:50: Weird ThoughtsA discussion that explores the nature of superstition and exposes our fascination with the unexplainable
And then we got to the films...
00:30: MartinIs 17-year-old Martin the supernatural, blood-sucking fiend he believes himself to be. or is there another equally terrifying explanation?
02:00: The GrandmotherAn early work by acclaimed director David Lynch. An abused and neglected boy plants some mysterious seeds and they grow into a loving grandmother.
02:35: The Man with the X-Ray EyesDr Xavier is conducting a series of experiments in his search to give x-ray vision to the human eye, but things begin to go terribly wrong.
03:50: Strange HolidayA businessman returns from a trip to find the government has been taken over by fascists.
04:50: Attack of the 50 Foot WomanA wealthy woman runs into aliens in the desert and grows to giant size. Enraged by her husband's philandering she goes on the rampage.
06:00: Pee-Wee's Big AdventureWeird Night concludes with this comedy starring Pee-Wee Herman. The best bike in the world has been stolen and owner Pee-Wee is prepared to endure anything to get it back.
Can you imagine having a single channel produce an evenings line-up like this nowadays?