Secrets & Mysteries

Last updated
Secrets & Mysteries
Secrets of the Unknown - Volume 1.jpg
Cover of "Volume 1" VHS.
Starring Edward Mulhare
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Running time22 minutes
Original release
Release1988 (1988) 
1989 (1989)
Related
Unsolved Mysteries , Sightings , In Search of...

Secrets & Mysteries is a television series which originally aired in syndication from 1988 to 1989. It was hosted by Irish actor Edward Mulhare and dealt with topics of a paranormal nature, as well as mysterious historical events. It was similar to the 1970s/1980s series In Search of... .

Contents

"Secrets of the Unknown invites you into the world of the bizarre, strange, and unusual. From ninjas who are said to transform into panthers, to the peculiar myths and rituals surrounding King Tut's tomb, to Hitler's occult connections, the sinking of the Titanic , the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, dreams and nightmares, the Hindenburg disaster, and other subjects. These documentaries provide a rich visual showcase for unexplained phenomena." [1]

The series is considered a pioneer in the realm of historical and paranormal investigative television, and is also considered to be something of a cult classic among many fans. [2] The series consists of 26 episodes, written by Erik Nelson and produced by Craig Haffner. It was released on home video in the late 1980s to the early 2000s under the title Secrets of the Unknown . [3]

Opening sequence

After a brief introduction of what the episode had in store, the opening sequence would feature a series of provocative images to set the tone of the show. A series of 3D images reveal a mansion on top of Devil's Tower. Other images featured the Hindenburg disaster followed by the sinking of the Titanic and a pyramid featuring the all-seeing eye, tarot cards and Stonehenge. The title sequence would form over the mansion with a figure in the window. The figure would turn and reveal himself to be host Edward Mulhare. "It's time for our journey to begin." He would look into an old-fashioned zoetrope machine, which would feature preview images of the episode topic. Mulhare would then throw a switch, powering the mechanisms on the set and begin his opening narration.

Releases

There have been several VHS releases over the years. The series has yet to be released on DVD or Blu-ray. All titles listed below remain out of print.

NameRelease DateEp #Additional Information
Secrets of the Unknown: Volume 1August 30, 19894Includes "Space," "Stonehenge," "Lake Monsters" and "Big Foot."
Secrets of the Unknown: Volume 2August 30, 19894Includes "Powers of the Mind," "Psychic Detectives," "Witches" and "Curses."
Secrets of the Unknown: Volume 3August 30, 19894Includes "The Hindenburg," "Pearl Harbor," "The Lusitania" and "Amelia Earhart."
Secrets of the Unknown: Volume 4August 30, 19894Includes "Life After Death," "Nostradamus," "Mystic Hitler" and "Poltergeists."
Secrets of the Unknown: Volume 5August 30, 19894Includes "English Ghosts," "Hollywood Hauntings," "Tornadoes" and "Volcanoes."
Secrets of the Unknown: Bigfoot & Witches19962Includes episodes "Bigfoot" and "Witches", re-released under the Blockbuster Presents label.
Secrets of the Unknown: Tornadoes & UFOs19962Includes episodes "Tornadoes" and "UFOs", re-released under the Blockbuster Presents label.
Secrets of the Unknown (Individual episode releases)May 29, 20011 (x26)All 26 episodes were released individually with each VHS tape including 1 episode.

Episodes

Episodes are listed alphabetically by title rather than production or air date order. Production codes and premiere dates remain unknown.

#TitleOriginal Airdate
-"Amelia Earhart"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Amelia Earhart explores the mysterious disappearance of America's beloved aviator during a highly publicized around-the-world flight in 1937. Since she vanished, speculation on the flight pioneer's demise has been an ongoing source of controversy.
-"Big Foot"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Big Foot brings together eyewitnesses who relate their encounters with the legendary and mysterious creature. The film probes the intriguing question of whether Big Foot, Sasquatch, and Yeti are myth or reality. Film highlights include possible authentic footage of the beasts.
-"Curses"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Curses examines historical hexes. Learn the fate of those who had contact with the Hope diamond after it was stolen from an idol in India. In ancient Egypt, people protected the deceased from thieves by placing curses on tombs. Discover the events and peculiar deaths which occurred following the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb. See how voodoo worshipers cast spells of harm.
-"'Dreams and Nightmares'"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Dreams and Nightmares journeys into the human subconscious. Peering under the brain's mysterious veil, the idea that dreams send clues and warnings from another dimension is examined in detail.
-"English Ghosts"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
English Ghosts takes a close look at the reality of spirits. It provides startling evidence and compelling tales supporting the existence of apparitions, including the White Lady and Black Friar.
-"The Hindenburg"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
The Hindenburg investigates the 1937 catastrophic fire aboard the German zeppelin, which experienced one of the most devastating aviation accidents in history. The cause of the tragedy that took 35 lives remains unsolved. Was it sabotage or insurance fraud which destroyed the luxurious flying hotel?
-"Hollywood Haunting"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Hollywood Haunting explores the mysteries surrounding Hollywood stars and their ghostly comebacks. Viewers decide for themselves whether sightings of legends such as Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore, and Harry Houdini are truth or fiction. Highlights include an investigation of John Wayne's haunted yacht.
-"Jack the Ripper"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Jack the Ripper explores theories surrounding one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of modern times. Between August 7 and November 10, 1888, Jack the Ripper terrorized London, killing at least seven women. Was the murderer one man or three?
-"Lake Monsters"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Lake Monsters examines in depth the myths and legends surrounding seafaring monsters. Learn the stories of "Nessie," the Loch Ness monster, first sighted during the sixth century. Film highlights include actual footage of "Chessie," the water creature spotted in the Chesapeake Bay since the 1930s.
-"Life After Death"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Life After Death explores the ultimate unknown through the beliefs of various cultures. Hear what people have to say who have had near-death experiences. Peer into the next life for answers to this age-old mystery.
-"The Lusitania"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
The Lusitania explores the mysteries surrounding the most dramatic World War I conflict over German submarine warfare. A British cargo and passenger ship, the Lusitania, was hit by a German torpedo in May 1915. The cause of subsequent explosions within its hull remains a puzzle. Theories suggest the ship may have been carrying contraband ammunition.
-"Mystic Hitler"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Mystic Hitler explores evidence that Adolf Hitler called upon the powers of the occult to mesmerize the masses in his plot to rule the world.
-"Ninja, the Real Story"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Ninja, the Real Story examines the supposedly magical warriors of the East. The film traces ninja history from its 14th-century origins and explores the martial arts masters' mysterious ability to transform themselves into panthers and beasts of prey.
-"Nostradamus"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Nostradamus examines the medieval French physician's famous predictions. One of the world's most widely known and read prophets, Nostradamus is acknowledged for the remarkable accuracy with which he has foretold future events. Learn which of his predictions have already come true and what may lie ahead for mankind.
-"Pearl Harbor"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Pearl Harbor reveals information indicating that the United States Navy could have prevented the December 7, 1941 attack. Explore the supposition that the Navy discovered two Japanese carriers near Pearl Harbor several days prior to the assault and why this information was ignored.
-"Poltergeists"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Poltergeists examines just what it is that goes bump in the night. Hear eyewitness tales of the mischievous, malevolent spirits, which are believed to make strange noises, move objects, and produce abnormal odors. Video highlights include actual footage of a haunting in progress.
-"Powers of the Mind"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Powers of the Mind explores the mysteries of the human brain, looking at the amazing abilities of the mind and examining phenomena such as psychic premonition and mental telepathy.
-"Psychic Detectives"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Psychic Detectives looks at the people who, with their paranormal abilities, help law enforcement agencies shed light on unsolvable crimes. See actual cases in which police employed psychics help in the investigation process.
-"Pyramids"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Pyramids explores the grandeur and mysteries of the magnificent Egyptian structures which have fascinated humans for more than 2,000 years. Learn the legends and powers of these architectural wonders.
-"Space"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Space delves into the mysteries of the universe. Explore the vast frontier and see what is in store for space travel.
-"Stonehenge"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Stonehenge examines the history and many theories surrounding the ancient monument. Created from huge boulders, Stonehenge stands on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Was it constructed for human sacrifice or astronomy? These compelling questions and others are explored.
-"The Titanic"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
The Titanic unravels the mysteries surrounding the 1912 sea disaster which sent 1,500 people to a watery grave in the mid-Atlantic after colliding with an iceberg. Did the luxury liner's crew have fair warning, but fail to react appropriately? The program presents new evidence and insights into the calamity which still baffles historians.
-"Tornadoes"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Tornadoes explores nature's deadly spirals. Highlights include actual footage of the violent force and the mass destruction that tornadoes create.
-"UFOs"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
UFOs explores reports of unidentified flying objects from caveman to modern times. Highlights include never-before-seen images of possible extraterrestrial life.
-"Volcanoes"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Volcanoes examines the fiery force some call "messengers from hell." Highlights include footage of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, which blasted the northern face from the mountain and affected Earth's climate for three years.
-"Witches"1988/1989 (1988/1989)
Witches explores the long and clandestine history of this misunderstood group of people. It provides a close look at the black art, and features factual information presented by practitioners.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disaster film</span> Film genre

A disaster film or disaster movie is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject and primary plot device. Such disasters may include natural disasters, accidents, military/terrorist attacks or global catastrophes such as a pandemic. A subgenre of action films, these films usually feature some degree of build-up, the disaster itself, and sometimes the aftermath, usually from the point of view of specific individual characters or their families or portraying the survival tactics of different people.

<i>Unsolved Mysteries</i> American true crime television series

Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery documentary television series, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer. Documenting cold cases and paranormal phenomena, it began as a series of seven specials, presented by Raymond Burr, Karl Malden, and Robert Stack, beginning on NBC on January 20, 1987, becoming a full-fledged series on October 5, 1988, hosted by Stack. After nine seasons on NBC, the series moved to CBS for its 10th season on November 13, 1997. After adding Virginia Madsen as a co-host during season 11 failed to boost slipping ratings, CBS canceled the series after only a two-season, 12-episode run on June 11, 1999. The series was revived by Lifetime in 2000, with season 12 beginning on July 2, 2001. Unsolved Mysteries aired 103 episodes on Lifetime, before ending on September 20, 2002, an end that coincided with Stack's illness and eventual death.

<i>The Time Tunnel</i> American science fiction television series

The Time Tunnel is an American color science fiction TV series written around a theme of time travel adventure starring James Darren and Robert Colbert. The show was creator-producer Irwin Allen's third science-fiction television series and was released by 20th Century Fox Television and broadcast on ABC. The show ran for one season of 30 episodes from 1966 to 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Mulhare</span> Irish American actor (1923-1997)

Edward Mulhare was an Irish actor whose career spanned five decades. He is best known for his starring roles in two television series, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir and Knight Rider.

<i>In Search of...</i> (TV series) American TV series

In Search of... is an American television series that was broadcast weekly from 1977 to 1982, devoted to mysterious phenomena. It was created after the success of four one-hour documentaries produced by creator Alan Landsburg: In Search of Ancient Astronauts in 1973, In Search of Ancient Mysteries (1973) and In Search of Ancient Mysteries (1974), and The Outer Space Connection in 1975, all of which featured narration by Rod Serling, who was the initial choice to host the spin-off show. Serling died before production started, and Leonard Nimoy was then selected to be the host. The series was revived with host Mitch Pileggi in 2002 and again in 2018 with Zachary Quinto for the History channel.

History's Greatest Mysteries is an American documentary television series that aired on the History Channel.

<i>So Weird</i> Supernatural TV series

So Weird is a television series that aired on Disney Channel as a mid-season replacement from January 18, 1999, to September 28, 2001. The series was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the first two seasons, the series centered on the teenage Fiona Phillips who toured with her rock-star mom, while encountering paranormal activity along the way. The series was compared to the Fox TV series The X-Files since it took a darker tone than any other Disney Channel show at the time. For the third and final season, Disney replaced DeLizia with actress Alexz Johnson playing Annie Thelen. Production ceased after 65 episodes.

Mystery Hunters is a Canadian documentary television series aimed at a young audience. It aired on YTV in Canada and on Discovery Kids and MeTV in the United States. It was also dubbed in Japanese and aired in Japan on NHK.

<i>Titanic</i> (1943 film) 1943 German propaganda film

Titanic is a 1943 German propaganda film made during World War II in Berlin by Tobis Productions for UFA, depicting the catastrophic sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912. This was the third German language dramatization of the event, following a silent film released in 1912 just four months after the sinking and a British produced German film about the disaster in 1929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unknown Child (Titanic victim)</span> RMS Titanic victim identified in 2007

The Unknown Child was the initially unidentified body of Sidney Leslie Goodwin, a 19-month-old British toddler who was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett after the sinking of the RMS Titanic. For almost a century, Goodwin's gravestone in the Fairview Cemetery read "Erected to the memory of an unknown child whose remains were recovered after the disaster to the Titanic April 15th 1912".

<i>Miss Marple</i> (TV series) BBC adaptation of the novels by Agatha Christie starring Joan Hickson

Miss Marple, titled Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the series, is a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie, starring Joan Hickson in the title role. It aired from 26 December 1984 to 27 December 1992 on BBC1. All twelve original Miss Marple novels by Christie were dramatised.

Secrets of the Dead, produced by WNET 13 New York, is an ongoing PBS television series which began in 2000. The show generally follows an investigator or team of investigators exploring what modern science can tell us about some of the great mysteries of history. Most programs incorporate primary source material, first-hand accounts, dramatic reenactments, and computer-generated imagery (CGI) to tell the story. The series originated in a series of the same name in the United Kingdom first shown by Channel 4 in 1999. The first two seasons for each country were broadly similar, but thereafter diverged. The US series includes some programs shown in other Channel 4 series. In the case of original British episodes, PBS re-edited, re-branded and finally re-narrated them with various American voice artists. PBS description: "Scientists seek to uncover celebrated mysteries of the past in this occasional British series."

Hindenburg: The Untold Story known in Germany as Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg and Die Hindenburg: die ungeklärte Katastrophe, is a two-hour docudrama about the disaster of the Hindenburg, and the investigation that followed. It aired on May 6, 2007, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the disaster. It was commissioned by Channel 4, ZDF, and the Smithsonian Networks to be produced by Pioneer Productions and has also aired on Discovery Channel Canada. Its original working title was Hindenburg and is also known as Hindenburg: Titanic of the skies. The British version is narrated by Malcolm Tierney who plays the role of Hugo Eckener, while John Shrapnel narrates an alternative version which features interviews with survivors.

<i>Titanic</i> (2012 TV series) 2012 British television drama series

Titanic is a four-part television serial and period drama written by Julian Fellowes. It is based on the passenger liner RMS Titanic, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in April 1912 following a collision with an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City.

The Hindenburg disaster has featured in a variety of popular culture films, TV programs and books.

"Paranormal Parentage" is the second episode of the fourth season of Community. The episode was written by Megan Ganz and directed by Tristram Shapeero. Though a Halloween-themed episode—the fourth for the series—it premiered on February 14, 2013 on NBC. It shows the group searching Pierce's mansion for the code to his panic room, after he locks himself in there. It makes homage to Scooby-Doo. The episode was watched by 2.76 million viewers on its premiere and met with mixed critical reception.

<i>Unsolved Mysteries</i> season 15 Season of television series

The fifteenth season of Unsolved Mysteries is a Netflix reboot revival of the long-running American television series, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer. The show, which documents and seeks to solve cold cases and paranormal phenomena, originally ran from 1987–2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titanic International Society</span> Historical society dedicated to Titanic

The Titanic International Society is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Titanic and the events surrounding its sinking on April 15, 1912, when more than 1,500 people died. The society holds biennial conventions and occasional special events, such as memorial ceremonies at sites associated with the Titanic and a tribute to Titanic writer Walter Lord in his Baltimore hometown. It is one of several organizations worldwide dedicated to the memory of the Titanic.

<i>Unsolved Mysteries</i> season 16 Season of television series

The sixteenth season of Unsolved Mysteries is billed as the third volume of a Netflix reboot revival of the long-running American television series, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer. The show, which documents and seeks to solve cold cases and paranormal phenomena, originally ran from 1987–2010.

References

  1. "Secrets of the Unknown: Witches Synopsis - Plot Summary - Fandango.com". archive.ph. 2013-01-22. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  2. "Secrets and Mysteries (TV Series 1983–1989)". IMDb .
  3. "Secrets of the Unknown". TV.com.