OK, I’ve already dated myself several times over, since you’ve met me. I’m going to do so again. Friday night was movie night with the man and it turns out Gremlins was on. I hadn’t seen it in years and neither had he.
Courtesy of IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/
I remember the movie from my childhood and I remember my cousin in Canada loving it so much that he actually had a Mogwai clock. I posted on Facebook that we were watching it and another cousin immediately posted that Gizmo was the best.
He is right Gizmo is the best! I’d forgotten just how much I liked the little fellow. But, before I go too far down memory lane. I wanted to find out just what Gremlins are. They kind of touched on it in the movie, but this is a paranormal romance blog right? Plus you know that was the house of mouse version of a Gremlin.
I have to determine if they’re a good character for a story, a side kick or just plain evil, right?
So what are these creatures straight out of European folklore?
Well they originated out of The Royal Air Force in the 1920’s. Gremlins according to the RAF are mischievous creatures who have an affinity for mechanical adventures with their airplanes.
Those adventures were of the destructive persuasion. As far as I can tell they were just bent on mischief and not targeting the allies specifically. So as you can see that Gizmo wasn’t close to the original Gremlin and Stripe and his crew were something out of the imagination as well. Though they did make for some memorable movie moments.
Have you ever wondered where a paranormal creature came from and, have you ever taken the time to look them up?
Smart Girls love SciFi 
Loved that movie with Phoebe Cates, and good grief little Gizmo was soooo adorable!
To me my favorite Gremlins are in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa as far as literary characters, they are so helpful to Ash and Megan and yet so darn obnoxious too!
I do wonder about paranormal creature origins sometimes but do not look them up.
I have to start by saying that I was TERRIFIED of Gremlins as a child (not Gizmo but the bad ones). I never thought about where they or other creatures come from but I love to find out. RAF of the 1920’s? Who knew?
Cool info. I had no idea they were such a modern creature.
I do look up paranormal creatures all the time. I bet that doesn’t suprise you at all. LOL. My latest facination was the Windigo.
I was first introduced to Gremils by my old friend Bugs Bunny. It’s really no fun if you know where the idea originates–puts too much normal in paranormal.
I loved this movie when I was younger, after I stopped being terrified of it.
LOL – I felt the same way about The Creature formt he Black Lagoon! Oops dating myself even further back than Chudney. 😉 Maybe I should clarify, that was Sunday afternoon old movie time.
I had I idea about the origin of gremlins. Neat. Loved the movies so much when I was a kid.
I love digging into the background of mythic creatures. I found it really amusing a few years back when everyone was freaking out about Twilight’s vampires that could go out in the sunlight (has NO ONE read Dracula?) Though the whole sparkle thing was definitely a bit much.
Strangely, I never connected movie Gremlins with the RAFs mechanical nasties. Maybe because I never watched the movie. Fun stuff.