Terror Tales with Peter D. Schwotzer

Welcome everyone to my little corner of darkness here in the world of Famous Monsters of Filmland. Sit back and relax, I’d like to tell you a little tale.

It is the story of a small boy just starting out in life. Trying to find his way as you will, trying to fit in. It was the early sixties, a simpler time; a time when magic and wonder was still alive, a time when monsters appeared in print and in movies, not walking the streets by day.

The magic and wonder for our small boy started one very special night, a night that changed him forever.

The family gathered around the TV in the living room one evening to watch The Wizard of Oz, an annual staple on TV from 1959 to 1991. A big bowl of popcorn placed on the floor, the children in a semi-circle, the father in his chair reading his paper and the mother in her chair crocheting.

The movie begins. The children stare wide-eyed at the small black and white screen—the sites and sounds the most amazing thing the young boy has ever seen or heard.

All was going well until the Wicked Witch of the West appeared. The young boy screamed, jumped up, ran into the dining room, and hid under the kitchen table, forever changed.

Fast forward a few years to fourth grade, Mrs. Lindbergh’s class, he is chosen to read a chapter of Little House on the Prairie at the end of each day, his first real book, thus cementing his hunger for the magic of the written word.

Two separate life changing events, one visual, and one intellectual. His love of reading and love of being terrified blended together that led him eventually to Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, the premiere monster magazine of it’s time.

Now it has come full circle.

As you have probably already guessed, that small boy was me. Now I have an opportunity to work with Famous Monsters of Filmland and do my best to help bring this fantastic magazine back to prominence in new and exciting ways, starting with this website.

I will be working in this section called Terror Tales, devoted to horror literature in all its forms. Book and magazine reviews, author interviews, special releases, etc. will all be covered in the Famous Monsters way, with fun, energy and an everlasting love for all things monster.

You as fans will also have a chance to participate in what we do, in fact, we encourage it. Tell us what you agree with, disagree with, what you like, do not like, and most of all just join in for some Monster fun. This is after all, for you, our fellow Monster Kids.

Last but not least, this would not have been possible without the help of my good friend Robert Aragon…make sure you make your way over to Robert Aragon’s Alley.

Thank You
Peter David Schwotzer

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