THE TWILIGHT ZONE Revisited...
50th Anniversity Tribute
On the anniversary of the television show's premiere in 1959,
we offer here a fond remembrance of this landmark series.
Just scroll down this page to read all the information.
TZ 50th Anniversary
TZ@50 in Binghamton, New York by Roger Hall -- a report from the 50th anniversary event held October 1-4, 2009 to celebrate Rod Serling and the beginning of THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
The Twilight Zone Magazine and sample issues -- with comments by Carol Serling and a list of reader favorites.
TZ 50th Anniversary Tribute
BERNARD HERRMANN'S "WALKING DISTANCE" --
a personal remembrance
by Roger Hall
Part Two: CD Collections
THE TWILIGHT ZONE 40th Anniversary Collection (Silva Screen 4 CD Set))
FAHRENHEIT 451 and "Walking Distance"-- music by Bernard Herrmann
(Tribute Film Classics CD)
I consider THE TWILIGHT ZONE to be the best television series of its era. Being one of those lucky viewers able to watch it week after week, I encountered many thrills and surprises during the five seasons from 1959 to 1964. Not every episode was great, but for the most part, this was a series that made you think and kept you enthralled with its outstanding writing, acting and music scores.
-- Roger Hall, Editor, Film Music Review
Rod Serling Speaks
At the beginning of the episodes viewers heard the familiar voice of Rod Serling smoothly speaking this introduction, recorded on June 17, 1959:
There is a fifth dimension...beyond which is known to man. It is dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fear and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination.
It is an area which we call, The Twilight Zone.
Enter now that fifth dimension here...an area after 50 years, we still call...
The Twilight Zone...
TZ@50
in Binghamton, New York
It was my pleasure to attend the TZ @50 event held on October 1- 4, 2009, It was a very full weekend and all events were free as well. Among the highlights were: the showing of the very good PBS documentary, "Submitted for Your Approval," about Rod Serling's life and career, and artist Robert Keller signing his First Day Cover design of Rod Serling at the 50th anniversary showing of the first TZ episode, "Where Is Everybody?" Also, it was thrilling to take a ride on the carousel at Rec Park, where the TZ episode,"Walking Distance" played continuously on four large TV monitors.
It was a special treat to meet Rod Serling's widow, Carol [above left], and Rod's daughters Anne and Jodi, attending the weekend events. Anne Serling [above right] read from her book about growing up with her dad and she read portions from her poignant memoir.
R.I.P. Carol Serling (1929-2020).
Note: Anne Serling's terrific book now has been published with this title:
As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling
There was a bus tour to places related to hometown boy, Rod Serling. I actually lived not far away from the home where he grew up on Bennett Avenue [shown at left]. I lived for a few years on Schubert Street (named after the classical composer) and received my Master's Degree from Binghamton University in music.
I met several prominent writers at the Binghamton event.
The featured guest for the conference at Ithaca College was one of the writers for THE TWILIGHT ZONE, George Clayton Johnson. He was the author of such classic episodes as: "Nothing In The Dark," "All of Us Are Dying (The Four of Us Are Dying)," "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" (music by Bernard
Herrmann). I had a good conversation with him and asked him his favorite episode that he wrote and his choice was one of my favorites too,
"Kick The Can." This kind of imaginative writing does not exist on TV now.
In grateful memory of George Clayton Johnson (1929-2015)
see the interview with him -- click here
Another writer I met was Tony Albarella, who has undertaken the massive task of editing all 92 Rod Serling scripts from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and publishing them in handsome hardcover editions, complete with notes and documents from the Rod Serling Collection at Ithaca College. This is one of those published volumes:
As Timeless As Infinity: The Complete Twilight Zone Scripts of Rod Serling
Rod Serling Exhibit at the TZ@50 event in Binghamton
The Rod Serling Memorial Foundation planning committee members are to be congratulated for organizing such a wonderful weekend event in celebration of Rod Serling and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. I think he would have been proud to be recognized by his hometown of Binghamton.
-- by Roger Hall, Editor, Film Music Review
Note:
This article is not to be reprinted on any website without permission.
For permission to reprint this article -- click here
Rod Serling Remembered on the Binghamton Sidewalk of Stars
THE TWILIGHT ZONE: Fan Favorites
Editor's Note:
In the now defunct Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Magazine from March/April 1984, there was a list of favorite episodes from a Reader's Poll.
The Top 20 favorites are listed below with scores added after each title, including "stock music" from the CBS library, some of it composed by Bernard Herrmann.
-- Roger Hall, Film Music Review
+++++++++++++++++++
In commenting about the series some years ago, Rod said, "We had some real turkeys, some fair ones, and some shows I'm really proud to have been a part of."
My feeling is that the program was at its best when it went beyond pure entertainment and dealt with timely issues and ideas, giving a gentle prod to the viewer and making him think. If there is a lingering message to be found in The Twilight Zone, it is a reminder of man's inhumanity to man -- and a warning that the crime of the century is a lack of caring and the loss of our capacity for outrage.
-- Carol Serling, Associate Publisher
Here are the results of the Reader's Poll:
1. "Eye Of The Beholder" (a runaway favorite) -- music: Bernard Herrmann
2. "Time Enough At Last" -- music: Leith Stevens
3.
"Nightmare
At 20,000 Feet" -- music: stock
4. "To Serve Man" -- music: stock
5. "Night Of The Meek" -- music: stock
6. "It's A Good Life" -- music: stock
7. "Walking Distance" -- music: Bernard Herrmann
8. "A Stop At Willoughby"
-- music: Nathan Scott
9. "The Invaders" -- music: Jerry Goldsmith
10. "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" -- music: Rene Garriguenc
11. "Living Doll" -- music: Bernard Herrmann
12. "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit" -- music: stock
13. "The After Hours" -- music: stock
14. "Kick The Can" -- music: stock
15. "The Obsolete Man" -- music: stock
16. "A Hundred Yards Over The Rim" -- music: Fred Steiner
17. "A World Of His Own" -- music: stock
18. "And When The Sky Was Opened" -- music: Leonard Rosenman
19. "Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up?" -- music: stock
20. "Death's Head Revisted" & "Nothing In The Dark" (tie) --
music: stock
Rod Serling's THE TWILIGHT ZONE Magazine
(Sample Issues: April 1983, October 1983,
June 1984, April 1985
)
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
A 40th Anniversary Celebration
with
Charles Beaumont, George Clayton Johnson,
Richard Matheson, Jerry Sohl,
Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury
in
FILMFAX Magazine,
No. 75-76 (Oct - Jan 2000)
Recommended Books
about
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
The Twilight Zone:
Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic (Paperback)
by Martin Grams
CD Reviews
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It was named Editor's Choice, Best CD of the Month for December 2007, and also
received a Sammy Film Music Award for Best Restored Film Score of 2007
FAHRENHEIT 451 (1966) and "Walking Distance" TZ music (1959)
Music composed by Bernard Herrmann.
The Moscow Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by William Stromberg
TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983)
Music Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
Learn more about the composer of the best scores for
THE TWILIGHT ZONE....
DVD:
OBSESSION - A Tribute To Bernard Herrmann
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A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC:
SONGS AND SCORES
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