Monday, March 08, 2010

R.I.P. Charles B. Pierce

Charles B. Pierce was a film director, screenwriter, producer, set decorator, cinematographer and actor and was most known for directing The Legend of Boggy Creek who died on Friday at the age of 71. This man was quite near and dear to my hometown. He was once an advertising salesman on the Arkansas side of Texarkana. He also acted, directed and produced a little movie in 1970s called The Town that Dreaded Sundown. For those of you who don't know the importance of this movie, take a moment and think about the urban legends tied to lover lane spots. It is believed these legends are linked to the actual serial killer case that took place in my hometown of Texarkana.

In the 1940s, a man was stalking the local lovers lane spot. During a four month span, he killed like five people and his first two victims luckily survived the attack. People were terrified. Began bolting their doors at night. Texas Rangers even came in to the investigation. At the end of the day, the murders suddenly stopped, but the killer was never arrested. After a while, people began to breathe again. The Town that Dreaded Sundown brought the fear of those four months back to the surface. Made it fresh in everyone's mind again. However, the case still remains unsolved.

Today, the former lover lane spot was converted in to Spring Lake Park. I went there numerous times to play, have parties, fly kites, etc. They definitely turned the negative in to a very good positive even though some people are still trying to keep it tainted. Recently, the authorities searched the pond for guns that may have been dumped there.

Pierce will be missed. For more information on the Phantom murders - http://paranormalstories.blogspot.com/2005/01/lovers-lane.html

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