Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, the movie that caused thousands of women to put better locks on their bathroom doors*, was released fifty years ago, on June 16,1960.  

The powers-that-be at Paramount Studios, which had Hitchcock under contract, did not want him to make the film, calling the story "too repulsive" and "impossible for films," and denied him his usual budget.  So Hitchcock financed the film himself through his own production company and shot the film mostly using the television crew he employed for his Alfred Hitchcock Presents program.

The film was widely panned at the time of its release, but after it became a huge hit many critics reversed themselves and called it one of the best films of the year.

In any case, it's as good an excuse as any for hauling out a two-hour selection of 'psycho' songs, both silly and serious.  Tune in at 8:00 PM this Tuesday...or I'll tell your mother.

(*Janet Leigh, the actress who played the victim in the legendary shower scene, claims that after seeing the final film she was so affected that she never again took a shower unless she absolutely had to, and then only after locking every door and window in the house.)

Tuesday, 7/13/10  8-10 PM.  Rebroadcast Friday midnight after P5K.