The Creeps part II - The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson (1988 - )

The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson is the brain child of David Hart, one time actor (he has a bit part in Richard Pryors 'Brewsters Millions'), and, since 1988, the brains behind this *ahem* quirky show that goes out weekly on PA (public access) TV from Los Angeles. Some PATV can be downright disturbing (in the UK, before youtube, we only had the magnificent Manhattan Cable to alert us of its terrible wonders) and this show certainly fits into that category.

It takes a unique set of circumstances to make something genuinely disturbing and eerie, but with low budget sets, rank effects (some of the most truly shocking moments in chromakey ever committed to video) and some grotesque puppets, allied with some unique musical and acting talent, the overall effect is disquieting, even if that is not the intention of the makers of the programme. Advice - this is not one to be watched in the house on your own at 3 in the morning with all the lights off. While normal, wired or in any type of altered state. Starring 'Chip The Black Boy' and 'Mr Grey the Space Alien';



along with 'Space Angels', 'Mr. Teddie', 'Doug The Dog' and many more derelict-type puppets, the show can best be described as a Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson (yes, really) with a mix of bible readings and teachings channeled through some of the most broken down and used-up, bizarre puppets and humans,



aided by 'music' and 'special effects'. Chip The Black Boy, for example, has a tragic story to tell - his (puppet) wife left him and she developed a crack habit. This is one of the shows devices to get across one of its fundamental messages - don't do drugs. Whether it be crack, cocaine, weed or any other type of narcotic, the message is regularly driven home to the viewer. I dont know how many of those the show gets on its regular Public Access slot, but the show is all over youtube. Just type in 'junior christian science bible lesson' and see your screen explode into some sort of brown acid flashback filtered through Altamont and a really scary Ghost Train ride.

Just going off topic for a moment, I still have a vivid recollection to this day of a disturbing encounter on the Ghost Train at Drayton Manor Park when I was a child. The ride itself was the usual mix of compressed air, hydraulics and fibre glass devils and freaks, in varying shades of glow in the dark and crimson, until we approached the exit. As we approached the end of the ride there was a shaft of light (around 4 or 5 inches) that allowed me to gaze into a scene that appeared like nothing else but a charnel house - there appeared to be blood all up the walls and some monstrosity in a white coat moving around in this horrible glimpse of hell. The fact that this aspect of the attraction was not obvious and apparent, that there was only a chance you may briefly glimpse upon this horrible sight as it came from the periphery of your vision (and the fact that you could not get a good look at what was going on) made the Ghost Train at Drayton Manor the most perverse and bizarre experiences I had as a child. It was only years later, when as a student I worked the summer seasons there, that I realised that the 'charnel' house was actually a painters workshop for the park that was built onto the side of the Ghost Train, and that a door had not been shut properly the time I had been on the ride. That illustrates to me the power of the oblique when trying to scare and disconcert.

Not that the people and puppets of The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson are trying to scare and disconcert. It just seems to come naturally.


http://www.losanjealous.com/2005/10/13/david-hart-public-access-tv-legend/ A celebration of David Hart

http://dogberrypatch.com/archives/junior-christian-science-bible-lesson/ A short piece on The Junior Christian Science Bible lesson

http://griefdigestiontheater.blogspot.com/2009/01/junior-christian-science-bible-lesson.html A short article on the show and gives a nod to Charlie Brooker, who exposed the wonder of this show on his superlative Screenwipe on the BBC...

http://math.magnify.net/video/Charlie-Brookers-Screenwipe-Jun...and here is some footage from Screenwipe.

David Hart is featured in the 'Public Access Hollywood' documentary;



Interview with David Hart from the LA Times

Buzzgrinder celebrate David Hart and his musical partner Adam Papagan

Is really the home page for Chip The Black Boy?




Images courtesy of;
http://www.wittenburgblog.com/2007/02/video-junior-christian-science-bible.html
http://nerdnirvana.org/2009/01/14/weird-christian-tv-show/