TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE / Trick Or Treat - 1983

I know Halloween isn't for another 5 months, but, here's the pilot episode from this long running TV series, it's all about the town miser, Gideon Hackles played by Barnard Hughes, who spends Halloween hiding IOU's in his house he has rigged up to scare the local kids that search for them to pay off family debt. With a name like Gideon Hackles you know there's something wrong with him!

I've got a wild little sound clip for your approval, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button over by our haunted mouse hole, NOW, Rufus The Gnat!.. Here's... TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE!

Timmy and his dad pay a visit to Mr. Hackles to pay off some debt, Hackles owns everyone in the town through his IOU scheme, the one thing that makes him happy. He also requires the kids in the community to visit his house on Halloween...

He hides the pile of IOUs in the attic, and, if a child finds them without running out of the house in fright first, their family will be debt free! Weird photo.

From his upstairs spook room, he runs an array of flying creeps and has plenty of sound effects to scare the crap out of the kids.

Now it's time to put some fear into Timmy, who comes close to finding the bundle of IOUs before running out of the house where his dad takes him home without the treat.

Then, a Witch shows up unannounced and Hackles doesn't quite remember where she came from, and, she's holding his precious bundle of IOUs!

Hackles also wants to know who the heck this guy is! What's going on around here, anyway?!

All Hell breaks loose when the Devil shows up to dish out punishment on old Mr. Hackles...

When Billy shows up for his turn, the Witch drops the bundle of IOUs and all of Hackles' money bags into his hands, bringing our tale to a happy end! My only question is... Why wouldn't you move to a different town if this one was run by a crook? Anyway, we have a nice treat for you tomorrow, be there or be cubed!