When I was a young fellow about the age of 8, we had a family friend named "Calvin C." who was a barber. My Dad knew him from WWII as they both served together in the Navy and were from the same hometown. Well, anyway, I was getting my haircut and Calvin lathered up around my ears and got the straight razor to trim my hair in that area. I thought it was a bit odd because it had never been done to me before. Calvin made a couple of passes with the razor and yelled "Oh My God!" and threw a rubber ear on the floor in front of me. I just knew my ear had been cut off and I slapped my hand up to my ear real quick and was pretty afraid until I felt my real ear where it was supposed to be. To me it wasn't funny at the time but over the years it became a great conversation starter when at Calvin's barber shop. I was truly scared out of my socks for a moment or two.
Who? My aunt Helene used to tell really, really good - but scary - stories. They kept me up at night.
But that damn scene from the original 'The Fly' movie . . . I was about 7 or 8 when I saw it . . . . cripes, didn't sleep for a week it scared me so. Bad enough it was a guy's head on a fly . . .but caught in a web with that nasty, gnarly spider about to eat it? Just shoot me. My brothers delighted in my fear, whispering into my room at night 'help me, help me'. Bastards.
The Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz, a fire in our house (old farmhouse) and the thought of my parents being taken from me. Not necessarily in that order.
That's my favorite movie and I was never scared of any of it. I remember that it was only one once a year and I had to be home when it was on. They used to show it in spring, maybe around Easter and even when I was in my early 20's and still living at home if it was on tv on a Friday night I wouldn't go out until it was over. My friends used to roll their eyes. lol They just didn't get it. I can still remember the very first time I saw it when Dorothy opened the door (after she landed in Munchkin Land) and it was color.