Friday, May 18, 2018

Four For Friday - The Curse

There was a room on the set of this back in the day hit sitcom. It was a room that the young stars of the show were told to never enter if they wanted to keep their careers alive. The adult actors stayed far away from the room. They were taking no chances. Apparently a year after this house was built, three young girls were murdered in the room. A horrific murder that took place after each had been raped by a man who then killed himself after.

Of course, kids being kids, most of them went past the temporary barriers set up to keep them out by the owners of the house. What happened to the kids?

The A list star of the show saw his career for no reason turn into a dumpster fire and he went from A to not working really quickly.

Another star of the show, went from having unlimited career possibilities to suddenly just getting a guest appearance or two a season and making crap movies no one knows exist.

One actor who had been an A list tweener made a guest appearance on the show and his career went from A-/B+ list to nowhere on the list.

There is no one from that show that went in that room that didn't have their career just wither on the vine and die. Or just die in real life like this once promising A-/B+ list actor.

As for the room? When the show ended, the owners tore down the entire house and built a new one.

79 comments:

filmfanb said...

Jersey Shore....smoosh room

HoneyRyder said...

Family Matters?

Brayson87 said...

Oh this is like The Peanut Butter Solution!

Do Tell said...

This is a ghost story I can see movie stars telling around the campfire late at night.

Moose said...

Mr. Belvedere.

Unknown said...

That seems like an odd thing to tell the kids. Your location has a rape/murder room, and you don't tell them they'll die if they go in, but that their careers will? Oddly specific. Maybe it makes sense for people who value a career in the industry over anything else.

Sara, Making It Work said...

They filmed at an actual house, not a studio?
Hmm. That would narrow the field a bit, right?

Fnchrstphr said...

Eight is Enough?

Unknown said...

Little House on the Prairie?

Bumtitty said...

My guess.... Diff'rent Strokes.

totaji said...

Those stars wish that is all that happened to them. Their truth is much much worse.

IanPhlegming said...

The "Family Matters" house was later torn down. Whatever happened to any of those kids?

https://www.avclub.com/the-family-matters-house-is-being-demolished-1818636776

Sagan said...

"Laverne & Shirley" - the back room at the Pizza Bowl was the site of many a rape and murder. It's where Frank DeFazio made their 'unique' lumpy marinara sauce. Talk about The Big Ragu!

Fnchrstphr said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Digitalis said...

@Sara - 'back in the day' when they filmed in a house, each room is a separate set. Logistically before tech caught up, it would've been a nightmare to shoot in a real house. Old shows have segues or commercials between scenes, so they could go to the next 'room' and shoot there.
I wish I knew the answer to this one! It's cool to have a different kind of BI.

Sara, Making It Work said...

I saw that, but the blind implies that it was torn down shortly after the series wrapped.
Also, I think that house was just an exterior.

Thonker said...

Was there a torture chamber where chill-hill abused kids in there?
Someone had to make a messy political comment involving pizza-shite so here we go.

Bumtitty said...

Sounds like a good guess

Thia said...

I don't get this. What would going into the room cause? I'm sure the room was cleaned of all evidence, unless it was a dungeon looking room. Bizarre.

Cree said...

Someone in the cast who was A/B status died as well, if I'm reading this correctly. That should further help narrow it down.

IanPhlegming said...

I'm actually wondering now if this is a fake blind. Why wouldn't anybody be allowed in the room if it happened years before? Nothing on any of the search sites about a sitcom house getting razed that I can find besides "Family Matters."

Aris Blane said...

This one has more holes in it than my underwear.
Can you imagine filming a TV show in an actual house?
But, it does include the prerequisite rape of minors, so there's that.

Off Topic,

Whatever happened to Alexandria Anna?
did she and Himmmm run off together?
Or is there a more sinister explanation for her abrupt departure????

Tricia13 said...

Growing Pains?
Andrew Koening died.... Julie Mcullough for actress whose career vanished

MichiganMama59 said...

Why not just put six deadbolts on the door?

Or a "DO NOT ENTER - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" sign?

atoukzug said...

PROTIP: If your house has a haunted/cursed room, your local hardware store has these clever inventions called locks.

totaji said...

I think the bigger curse is being a child actor. That’s what got them.

Nummi said...

@Tricia I like that guess. Only thing is would it count that the show wrapped in 1992, but he didn't die until 2010?

Tricia13 said...

Yeah trying to figure out timeline-and Cameron had a career after it but many didn’t really

Sher said...

A hit show that didn't spend money on building just the shell of the home they wanted to use would be unheard of. So this location has something that cannot be recreated on a studio lot. This must be a sitcom that shot exterior scenes that needed the whole street or neighborhood.

The only show I can even think of that had footage outside the actual off-the-lot home is "The Wonder Years" where they did some home movies and neighborhood footage. But that one isn't torn down.

Unless, by 'owners', enty really means Paramount or Warner Brothers.

Sara, Making It Work said...

I saw on one website (but I kept getting popups, even with my blocker, so I couldn't finish the article) that The Addams family was filmed in a house - but NOT the house used in exterior shots. Can't find anything else though, my phone is not my friend today.

M Gregory Ferris said...

Another good candidate for this location is the house from "Eight is Enough". It stood in Studio City and they used it for exterior shots (which were many).

Looking up the cast you'll find a laundry list of failure and drug addiction and the usual True Hollywood stuff.

I can't find anything about a murder there. The house appeared in many shows such as "The Rockford Files", "Hogan Family","Tyson", and the final appearance being an episode of "Quantum Leap".

gauloise said...


Accoding to IMDB Adams familiy was filmed on sound stage: Stage 3/8, Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
(House set)

Totto_ said...

There is a clue no one is paying attention to, the murder. Somebody knows about a guy that killed and raped three girls and what type of connection has to a TV show? It all sounds insane.

Beyond EMF said...


The original Newhall House (later known as "21 Chester Place") that was used in the first episode and that inspired the iconic look of the Addams family house was destroyed in 1967.

The producers of the show did not purchase the house because they had all the footage they needed. It appears that the house was moved, but it was destroyed within a year of the sitcom(1964-66) ending.

https://21chesterplace.com/house-history/

This is more Way Back in The Day for this one.

Owlette said...

@brayson Ahh that movie freaked me out when I was young.

laughin said...

Partridge Family

The A list star of the show saw his career for no reason turn into a dumpster fire and he went from A to not working really quickly. - David Cassidy

Another star of the show, went from having unlimited career possibilities to suddenly just getting a guest appearance or two a season and making crap movies no one knows exist. - Danny Bonaduce

One actor who had been an A list tweener made a guest appearance on the show and his career went from A-/B+ list to nowhere on the list. - They had a lot of guest stars. Not sure.

There is no one from that show that went in that room that didn't have their career just wither on the vine and die. Or just die in real life like this once promising A-/B+ list actor. - Suzanne Crough

laughin said...

Never mind. The house was never torn down.

Guesser said...

You guys aren't reading properly. A year after the house was built, the rapes,murder and suicide happened. This was before the show was filmed. They probably bought it cheap because of the crime, and barricaded the room. The room is supposed to be cursed. But what happened to the young actors is not much different than other shows,hmmmm.

Sher said...

Off topic- My 9th grade English teacher (Catholic nun) was the older sister of Dave Madden (Mr. Kinkaid on Partridge Family). She seemed elderly even back then in the 1980's and I just looked her up to find when/where she died. She didn't! 99 years old. Looks exactly the same to me.
Sister Mary Roger Madden.

HoneyRyder said...

Here’s something, Malcom in the Middle house was torn down and rebuilt.
http://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/scene-it-before-the-malcolm-in-the-middle-house/

HoneyRyder said...

Don’t judge, I’ve used this site before when purchasing property because some things just can’t be cleared with a smudge stick from Whole Foods. Went to www.diedinhouse.com, but apparently in Cali no report if someone died in a house once 3 years have passed.

Beyond EMF said...

Good find @honey. If you look at Google's historic street views of the property you can see the 2007 version and then the rebuild.

My understanding of the blind is that the rapes/murder took place right after the house was built. So, circa 1936 for the "Malcolm" 12334 Cantura St house. Not sure we're looking at an incident that long ago, but possibly.

Sara, Making It Work said...

Could be that one. Chris Masterson being the actor whose role was reduced.
Honestly though, a lot of child actors don't have long lasting careers. All of the kids on the show (aside from Masterson) are just awkward looking, and yoh can't blame their career burnouts on a curse.

Beyond EMF said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kelly said...

My Three Sons?

Sara, Making It Work said...

Gotta be MALCOLM

Justin Pierce and Brad Bufanda both guest starred on the show.

Why TF did Enty call this "back in the day"??? It ended 11 years ago.😑😑😑

Sara, Making It Work said...

Johnny Lewis, also dead.

P. Edwin Nibbles said...

Can't remember the name of the show, but the address of the house used (and has since been demolished) was 10050 Cielo Drive, Beverly Hills.

Itttt said...

The Munsters/1313 Mockingbird Lane

Amy said...

Just read about Johnny Lewis and his death. Family were Jewish but practised scientology, In Malcolm in the Middle. Apparently mark were found on his neck as if he'd been strangled but died 'accidently.' The deeper you read into things the more fucked up it gets.

Amy said...

I meant to say 'He was in Malcolm in the Middle.' Made it sound as if his family practised Scientology in the show itself! Sorry!

Sara, Making It Work said...

Evan Sabara for the A/B tweener whose career took a dive. He had several guest appearances and legit movies (Spy Kids for two) before Malcolm, and very little of substance since.

Itttt said...

Malcolm in the Middle sounds like a winner. I guess out of everybody on that show, only Heisenberg did not enter the doom room.

Alimeywrites.... said...

Underrated comment

FA said...

I'm calling bullshit on this one. Sitcoms are usually studio-only and rarely take field trips to shoot exteriors.

Itttt said...

Hmmm, well upon doing a little of TEH GOOGELZ, rapes/murders in 1937 Studio City didn't turn up anything...but when I searched for "Los Angeles murders 1937", I found this horrific story...

An original LA Times article on it is here

At least justice was served, and promptly at that, back in those days.

Beyond EMF said...


In 1937, ALBERT DYER lured three girls (ages 7, 8, 9) from Inglewood to his Baldwin Hills home, where he raped and strangled them and left their bodies in a ravine.

Didn't take his own life, though. Executed in 1938.
His 1935 marriage license lists him at: 323-1/2 W. Commercial, Inglewood, CA.
Commercial Street is now La Brea Avenue. Tried to find the house he occupied in 1937.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2007/05/voicesthe_alber.html

http://murderpedia.org/male.D/d/dyer-albert.htm


“Malcolm house” 12334 Cantura St. was built in 1936. It's quite a distance from Baldwin Hills.

Itttt said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Itttt said...

Indeed. Wasn't sure and couldn't find the home address yet of the purported perp Albert Dyer, noted as either Baldwin Hills or Inglewood (and according to the Daily Breeze, Redondo Beach as well). I would've then gone about trying to see if anything was filmed at the address in question, but these articles are all over the place. A couple of the stories also conflict - one notes he lured them back to his home in Baldwin Hills and subsequently raped and murdered them one by one, while the Breeze article indicates he lured them to a bean field under the guise of catching rabbits and did the deeds there.

More digging reveals his confession was under duress and he seemed to be, much like plot, quite the simpleton.

Beyond EMF said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Frufra said...

Y’all, this was the plot of an episode of Malcolm in the Middle! I’ve watched them all a million times with my kids. Hal forever! The one where he teaches Malcolm to roller skate is some of the best television ever. Anyway, I’ll look up the epi number/name for the murder in the house episode.

Frufra said...

Halloween, season 7, episode 4. Roller skates is season 1, episode 13, btw. Hi - Lar - I - Ous.

jvanchicago said...

Wow, the plot dig was totally unnecessary. Everybody (rightfully) defended Tricia when she was being harassed here, but seem to let the attacks on others slide. How about common decency for ALL posters-save the snark for the blind item culprits.

Sara, Making It Work said...

Seriously. Odds are not in their favor already.

Schneiderisnext said...

@jvanchicago

People defend Tricia because she's even-handed, well informed, And intellectually honest.

I wish I could say the same for @plot

She injects senseless noise and progressive talking points ("Donny Moscow" + "THE RUSSSSSIANNNNSS!" "Pizza-gaters")

(I don't like Trump by the way. But I can't stand people who slide forums)

She slanders the intentions of many anti-pedophile activists. Claiming they "get high off of delicious, self-righteous outrage".

She attacks posters credibility for being anonymous. But she refuses to post her own identity.

Lastly, she can't hold down a debate. Instead she moves goalposts, uses circular logic, and relies on OUTRAGE! and emotional language.

I've had a 300+ comment thread with @plot. When I continued to post her own contradictory statements, she devolved to attacking me personally.

When that didn't work, she stopped responding to me.

In summary. Many people have problems with @plot. And justifiably so.

P.S. There is no common decency on an unmoderated forum. That's the price we pay for free speech.

Fnchrstphr said...

Wasn't that Sharon Tate's address on Cielo Drive?

Puddy said...

It all sounds like BS to me.

Tiff said...

@schneideeisnext, completely agree. I dont really comment but I stop reading a story once plot starts commenting.

Boots said...

i was thinking of Eight is Enough also....the mom died four months in and the eldest daughter died at 47. Willie Aims and the older brothers were super famous but never went on to do anything else. i loved that show.

Beyond EMF said...

per @boots

Eight Is Enough (1977 - 1981)

The Eight Is Enough house was located at 10733 Chiquita St., North Hollywood. The residence was torn down in 1996.

When the property was originally built is uncertain, but it was constructed at some point prior to the 1938 LA River flood.

The tenants of the house at the time of filming EiE wanted to make the home into a "Hollywood Mansion of the Macabre" for Halloween.

"Diana Hyland, the actress who played Joan, Tom’s first wife and mother of the Bradford clan, passed away in the middle of the series’ first season"

Excellent source: http://www.iamnotastalker.com/2017/09/22/the-former-site-of-the-eight-is-enough-house/

Jennifer said...

@fnchrstphr yes! I've got Reelz channel playing background noise, and it's s Charles Manson episode,just heard Cielo on tv...

Pattyyy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The blind is, I think, not about any specific show, but an illustration of what happens on many shows.
There need to be laws preventing children from working in television and film. Period, no exceptions. The risk is too great.

Unknown said...

Willie Aames was on Charles in charge after eight is enough

Unknown said...

I completely agree @schneiderisnext. Plot is always rude and condescending. Nothing like Tricia. I have had to just skim past anything plot writes since it's usually garbage

Gator said...

Eight is Enough

gauloise said...

There was Teenager TV reality show shot on location in Baldwin Hills. Maybe it is this? It was really popular on BET in the mid-2000s and none of the stars went anywhere.

One of the actors joined the NFL and had to retire in his rookie season due to a serious neck injury

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/where-are-they-now-cast-baldwin-hills#1235087

delete account said...

Lay off the bs blinds enty, it's really turning me off of your site.

Southern Man said...

Plot well deserves whatever it gets coming to *it.

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