The Curse of La Llorona is a well-known Mexican legend that has been passed down through generations. La Llorona, which translates to "The Weeping Woman," is a ghostly figure who is said to wander the Earth, searching for her lost children. According to the legend, La Llorona was a beautiful woman named Maria who was deeply in love with a man. They had two children together, but Maria's love for her husband slowly faded as he paid more attention to their children than to her. One day, Maria saw her husband with another woman, and consumed by rage and jealousy, she drowned her own children in a fit of despair. Realizing what she had done, Maria immediately regretted her actions and was overcome with grief and guilt.
Magic Garden
If you spent your childhood on Long Island in the 70s, and especially if you watched TV when you stayed home from school, you will likely remember Carole and Paula, two hippie-esque women who sang songs and frolicked with pink puppets each weekday on The Magic Garden. A local favorite for over a decade, this charming kid’s show certainly left an impression.
Debuting in 1972, The Magic Garden aired on the local WPIX station and was shown exclusively in the New York area. The stars of the show were Carole Demas and Paula Janis, two real-life childhood friends who grew up to become New York City schoolteachers.
Together, they developed the concept for the series and the design of a prop-filled colorful set just begging to be explored.
Each week, the pair interacted with young viewers in the garden by singing folk songs on swings, acting out classic stories, and telling jokes even the youngest viewer could appreciate. They were joined on occasion by a pink, mischievous squirrel named Sherlock and a giggling bunch of flowers known as the “chuckle patch.”
A large chest called the “story box” was filled with props that were used to present plays, and a “magic tree” helpfully lowered objects from the sky from time to time.
If it all sounds a little surrealistic, it most certainly was, but in a fun way – and it brought in young fans by the millions. The Magic Garden ran for 12 years, garnering a number of citations for excellence in children’s programming along the way.
Carole and Paula even managed a Grammy nomination for an album of Magic Garden songs. And, in 1994, a decade after going off the air, a whole new generation of youngsters were introduced to The Magic Garden thanks to the series being rebroadcast on Nick Jr.
Millions of former kids grew up watching this captivating 70s show, enthralled by the friendly duo of Carole and Paula and their magical surroundings. If you were one of them, you’ll be happy to know that the pair remain close friends to this day and still make public appearances to meet their appreciative fans and promote The Magic Garden. It’s nice that some things don’t change.
Did you spend part of your childhood watching this daytime children’s show? I’d love to hear all of your Magic Garden memories in our comments section below.
Ephemeral New York
It was low-budget local TV at its best. Broadcast on channel 11, the show’s hosts, Carole Demas and Paula Janis (Carole had the dirty blond hair; Paula was the brunette), sang songs, read jokes from the Chuckle Patch, and talked to Sherlock the squirrel puppet. Very trippy, but very entertaining.
Former New York City teachers, Carole and Paula originally met at Brooklyn’s Midwood High School. They still perform together, and DVDs of the original show are now available.
Realizing what she had done, Maria immediately regretted her actions and was overcome with grief and guilt. Unable to live with her decision, she took her own life by drowning herself in a nearby river. In the afterlife, she was condemned to wander the Earth, forever searching for her lost children.
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It is said that La Llorona appears near bodies of water, weeping and wailing for her children. She is described as a tall, thin woman with long black hair, wearing a white gown. Those who have encountered La Llorona claim to have seen her ghostly figure and heard her chilling cries in the night. The curse of La Llorona is said to extend beyond her own presence. It is believed that anyone who hears her cries or comes into contact with her is doomed to suffer a similar fate as her children. Some say that those who encounter La Llorona will be taken by her, drowning in a river or disappearing without a trace. The legend of La Llorona continues to be a prevalent part of Mexican folklore, often shared to caution children against disobedience and to warn others of the tragic consequences of jealousy and anger. Whether it is real or simply a story, the Curse of La Llorona remains a haunting tale that captivates the imagination and sends shivers down the spines of those who hear it..
Reviews for "The Haunting of La Llorona: Terrifying Encounters with the Weeping Woman"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Curse of the La Llorona". The story felt predictable and cliche, with jump scares that were more irritating than scary. The characters were one-dimensional and their decisions didn't always make sense. The film relied too heavily on loud sound effects and cheap scares, rather than building genuine tension and fear. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity for a truly chilling horror film.
2. David - 1 star - I found "The Curse of the La Llorona" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was formulaic and lacked originality. The scares were cheap and repetitive, with the same old jump scares and predictable haunted house cliches. The characters were forgettable and poorly developed, making it difficult to feel any connection or investment in their well-being. The film failed to provide any genuine scares or a compelling story, making it one of the most forgettable horror films I've seen in a long time.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Curse of the La Llorona" based on the trailers, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The scares were predictable and lacked creativity, relying on tired horror tropes that have been done to death. The pacing felt off, with prolonged periods of boredom interrupted by sudden jumps and loud sounds that felt more annoying than frightening. The film also failed to develop its characters, leaving them feeling flat and uninteresting. Overall, it was a forgettable horror film that failed to deliver on its promises.
4. Michael - 1 star - "The Curse of the La Llorona" was a complete letdown. The story felt like a rehashed version of countless other supernatural horror films, without offering anything new or interesting. The scares were cheap, relying on jump scares and loud noises rather than building a sense of dread or atmosphere. The characters were forgettable and the acting felt forced and exaggerated. Overall, it was a boring and unoriginal horror film that failed to leave a lasting impression or deliver any genuine scares.