"Amazing Stories" (1985) TV series 1985-1987

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

29 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In the extraordinary worlds of Amazing Stories!

Plot:

Truly amazing, and sometimes odd, stories are narrated. Many famous actors and actresses made guest appearances.

Plot Keywords:

Anthology

Awards:

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Charles Durning	...	Assistant to the Boss / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Douglas Seale	...	Mike Malloy / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Paul Bartel	...	Detective Watts / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jeff Cohen	...	Eddie / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Taliesin Jaffe	...	Mark / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Royal Dano	...	Elmer / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Gary Riley	...	Jimmy / ... (2 episodes, 1985)
John McCook	...	Jerry Lane / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Larry Spinak	...	Arnold Skamp / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jonathan Luria	...	Cameraman / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Ben Kronen	...	Bald Man / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Pamela Guest	...	Assistant Director / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Louis Giambalvo	...	Dr. Templeton / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Joshua Rudoy	...	Billy / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Sharon Spelman	...	Mom / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
J.J. Cohen	...	Bert / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tracey Walter	...	Blaze / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Dana Gladstone	...	George Gershwin / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Rick Andosca	...	Haller / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Horse	...	Indian / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Arnold Johnson	...	Johnny / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Brad Bird	...	Scientist #2 (2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Fredric Cook	...	Dr. Wittenberg / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jed Mills	...	Marshall / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
Lynn Kuratomi	...	Nurse #2 / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Billy Beck	...	Caretaker / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Conrad Dunn	...	Gas Station Attendant / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
JoAnn Willette	...	Angela / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Eve Smith	...	Old Woman (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Wade Mayer	...	Airline Representative #2 / ... (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gregory Wagrowski	...	Ben Oltman / ... (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Directed by
Lesli Linka Glatter		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Phil Joanou		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Steven Spielberg		(2 episodes, 1985)
Paul Bartel		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Thomas Carter		(2 episodes, 1986)
Joe Dante		(2 episodes, 1986)
Joan Darling		(2 episodes, 1986)
Todd Holland		(2 episodes, 1986)
Norman Reynolds		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
Steven Spielberg		(28 episodes, 1985-1987)
Joshua Brand		(24 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Falsey		(24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mick Garris		(9 episodes, 1985-1987)
Richard Matheson		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Stu Krieger		(3 episodes, 1986)
Brad Bird		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Gail Parent		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kevin Parent		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Earl Pomerantz		(2 episodes, 1985)
Paul Bartel		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Christian Matheson		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tom McLoughlin		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael De Guzman		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
Kathleen Kennedy	....	production executive (45 episodes, 1985-1987)
Frank Marshall	....	production executive (45 episodes, 1985-1987)
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer (45 episodes, 1985-1987)
David E. Vogel	....	producer (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Steve Starkey	....	associate producer (25 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joshua Brand	....	supervising producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Falsey	....	supervising producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen Semel	....	associate producer (17 episodes, 1985-1986)
Skip Lusk	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Broughton		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Billy Goldenberg		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Georges Delerue		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steve Bartek		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Danny Elfman		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Craig Safan		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Williams		(2 episodes, 1985)
Ralph Burns		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Brad Fiedel		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Shire		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Addison		(2 episodes, 1986)
John Mayer		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Cinematography by
Robert M. Stevens		(18 episodes, 1985-1987)
John McPherson		(13 episodes, 1985-1987)
Charles Minsky		(6 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Film Editing by
Steven Kemper		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joe Ann Fogle		(11 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Casting by
Johanna Ray		(15 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jane Feinberg		(10 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mike Fenton		(10 episodes, 1985-1986)
Valorie Massalas		(10 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Production Design by
Rick Carter		(25 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Art Direction by
Richard B. Lewis		(12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Lynda Paradise		(12 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Set Decoration by
Catherine Mann		(14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard B. Goddard		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gregory Garrison		(3 episodes, 1985)

Series Costume Design by
Jane Ruhm		(3 episodes, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Greg Cannom	....	alien creatures creator / mummy creatures creator (2 episodes, 1985)
Michael Westmore	....	makeup artist / special makeup creator (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Matt Rose	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Joan Bradshaw	....	unit production manager (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kevin Donnelly	....	unit production manager (9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Zane Radney	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1985)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Ketcham	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
David L. Beanes	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Liberti	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Carla McCloskey	....	assistant director / second assistant director (5 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Art Department
Jaroslav Gebr	....	special artwork (1 episode, 1985)
Yvonne Nagel	....	special artwork (1 episode, 1985)
Henry Alvarez	....	sculptor (1 episode, 1986)
James D. Bissell	....	main title design (1 episode, 1986)
Ron Cobb	....	main title design (1 episode, 1986)
David Russell	....	storyboard artist (1 episode, 1986)
Paul Sonski	....	set designer (1 episode, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Michael C. Moore	....	sound (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Stacy	....	sound editor (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
John B. Schuyler	....	boom operator (9 episodes, 1985)
James LaRue	....	sound (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert R. Rutledge	....	supervising sound effects editor / sound editor (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Hank Garfield	....	sound (3 episodes, 1986)
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor / supervising sound effects editor (2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Special Effects by
Wayne Rose	....	special effects (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
William H. Schirmer	....	special effects supervisor (18 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Visual Effects by
James D. Bissell	....	main title designer (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Cobb	....	main title designer (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Randy Roberts	....	main title producer (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jim Michaels	....	visual effects producer (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Kent	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Ray Saniger	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt performer (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Rod Weaver	....	best boy electric (45 episodes, 1985-1987)
E. Scott Mayhugh	....	best boy grip (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Kris Krosskove	....	first assistant camera (3 episodes, 1986)
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	video assist operator (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Animation Department
James Beihold	....	layout artist (1 episode, 1987)
Ken Bruce	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Chris Buck	....	animation supervisor (1 episode, 1987)
Tim Burton	....	animation designer (1 episode, 1987)
Randy Cartwright	....	animator (1 episode, 1987)
Fred Cline	....	background artist (1 episode, 1987)
David Cutler	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Lou Dellarosa	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Ruth Edelman	....	ink and paint key personnel: Australia (1 episode, 1987)
Russ Edmonds	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Ralph Eggleston	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Tony Fucile	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Adam B. Gordon	....	ink and paint key personnel: Australia (1 episode, 1987)
Haroldo Guimarães	....	assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Klay Hall	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Terrey Hamada	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Karen Hansen	....	ink and paint supervisor (1 episode, 1987)
Tim Hauser	....	assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Ron Hughart	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Dan Jeup	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Mark Kausler	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Susan Kroyer	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Susan Lantz	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Greg Manwaring	....	animator (1 episode, 1987)
Duncan Marjoribanks	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Rob Minkoff	....	animator (1 episode, 1987)
Rich Moore	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Kendall O'Connor	....	color consultant (1 episode, 1987)
Denese Oates	....	ink and paint key personnel: Australia (1 episode, 1987)
Andrew Phillipson	....	background artist (1 episode, 1987)
Philip Phillipson	....	background artist (1 episode, 1987)
Darrell Rooney	....	layout artist (1 episode, 1987)
Alan Smart	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
David Stephan	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Jill Stirdivant	....	color modeler (1 episode, 1987)
Brigitte Strother	....	color modeler (1 episode, 1987)
Gregg Vanzo	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)
Dennis Venizelos	....	background artist (1 episode, 1987)
Lauralei Wethy	....	ink and paint key personnel: Australia (1 episode, 1987)
Tanya T. Wilson	....	principal assistant animator (1 episode, 1987)
Kirk Wise	....	principal animator (1 episode, 1987)

Series Casting Department
Craig Campobasso	....	casting associate (34 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joseph Roveto	....	costume supervisor / costume supervisor: men (23 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jane Ruhm	....	costume supervisor (20 episodes, 1985-1986)
Carol Hybi	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Sanford Slepak	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Editorial Department
James Garrett	....	assistant editor (14 episodes, 1985-1987)
Raúl Dávalos	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 1986)

Series Music Department
John Williams	....	composer: theme music / composer: theme (43 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (3 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Other crew
Mick Garris	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Peter Z. Orton	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Matheson	....	creative consultant (2 episodes, 1986)

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment
• Universal TV

Distributors

• MCA/Universal Television (1985) (worldwide) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1985-1987) (USA) (TV)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) (books 1-3)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) (books 4 and 5)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS) (books 1-5)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• RTL2 Fernsehen (1993-1994) (Germany) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (complete first season)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
• International Special Effects

Other Companies

• Intrada  score album released by (Special Collection)
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Also Known As:

"Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

30 min (45 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby (1986-1987) | Stereo (1985-1986)

Certification:

Iceland:16 (tape 6) | Iceland:L (tapes 4, 7 and 8) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (tapes 1-3 and 5) | UK:12 (one episode) | UK:15 (some episodes) | UK:PG (some episodes) | UK:U (some episodes) | USA:PG-13 (video compilation) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The title is taken from a bi-monthly, Sci-fi journal famous in the 1940s and '50s and edited by TV and film writer Howard Browne.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper: Dead of the Class/A Spooky and Poil Moment/Y-Files (#2.2)" (1996)

A mishmash

Some great episodes, some pretty horrible. Just today I and the kids watched a videotape I made some years ago of four episodes, including THE RING, THE DOLL, SANTA and GHOST TRAIN. Spielberg himself directed GHOST TRAIN, and it stars a young, pre-WOMAN IN WHITE Lukas Haas and Blossom Roberts of HOME ALONE fame. It tells the tale of a house built directly in the path of a "death" train. It is by far the best of this quartet. THE RING isn't half-bad, mainly because we get to watch real-life spouses Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman ham it up in a wickedly funny episode about possession and attempted murder. SANTA is far too predictable, with the real Santa arrested as a burglar and his rescue by a young believer. It's been done before, and better, although it does feature the great character actor Pat Hingle as a bah-humbug sheriff. THE DOLL is a lot better, and features a pre-3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN John Lithgow turning on the schmaltz as a lonely guy in search of love. I suspect, without having checked lately, that the series must be on DVD. It would be worth it only for certain episodes.