Spawned from a series of prime-time missing-persons specials in 1985, the original “Unsolved Mysteries” laid some of the foundation for the modern true-crime phenomenon, turning regular citizens into detectives, paranormal investigators and U.F.O. Unlike the regular news broadcasts of its day, “Unsolved Mysteries” urged viewers to get involved and call in with tips, leading many of the cases to be solved with the help of everyday people. What abides is its focus on the unexplained, whether pulled from old police files or steeped in paranormal legend. In the years since its heyday in the late ’80s and ’90s, imitators have come and gone, but “Unsolved Mysteries” remains. Raymond Burr hosted the pilot of “Unsolved Mysteries” in January 1987, followed by two more specials hosted by Karl Malden and another four hosted by the actor Robert Stack, perhaps best known for his Emmy-winning role in “The Untouchables” (1959-63).

Source: New York Times June 30, 2020 16:30 UTC