--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill'…" description: "\"When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill' as a kid in Baltimore, and the skeleton went out on the wire, and the thousand kids in the audience went crazy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/john-waters-751_cinema_when-i-first-saw-house-on-haunted-hill-a_430734.jpg" --- # When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill' as a kid in… ![“When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill' as a kid in Baltimore, and the skeleton went out on the wire, and the thousand kids in the audience went crazy... My whole life, I've tried to at least equal that cinema anarchy. I came close with the end of 'Pink Flamingos,' but I didn't tie with it.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/john-waters-751_cinema_when-i-first-saw-house-on-haunted-hill-a_430734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/john-waters-751_cinema_when-i-first-saw-house-on-haunted-hill-a_430734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/john-waters-751_cinema_when-i-first-saw-house-on-haunted-hill-a_430734.jpg) > “When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill' as a kid in Baltimore, and the skeleton went out on the wire, and the thousand kids in the audience went crazy... My whole life, I've tried to at least equal that cinema anarchy. I came close with the end of 'Pink Flamingos,' but I didn't tie with it.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The filmmaker recalls a childhood cinematic thrill and strives to recreate that anarchic energy, noting partial success with another cult film. **In simple terms:** He aims to capture the chaotic joy of early film experiences. Key Takeaway Pursue bold, unconventional creative visions. Themes art film anarchy Mood playful nostalgic Type cinematic personal When to use this quote - indie filmmaking - festival programming - creative workshops Key Concepts cultural rebellion cinematic influence Questions to Reflect On - What specific elements of that chaos can you embed in your work? - How do you measure success in anarchic art? A Different Perspective The goal may be too vague to guide concrete action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pink/) ## Related quotes > [I keep all my clothes on in House on Haunted Hill, Mary Jane's Last Dance, and The Way of the Gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taye-diggs/i-keep-all-my-clothes-on-in-house-on-haunted-hill-mary-jane-s-last/) [Taye Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taye-diggs/) > [“Hairspray is the only really devious movie I ever made. The musical based on it is now being performed in practically every high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/hairspray-is-the-only-really-devious-movie-i-ever-made-the-musical/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ \[My catholic education\] sticked with me. It caused the rage I had to make 'Pink Flamingos.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/my-catholic-education-sticked-with-me-it-caused-the-rage-i-had-to/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“I keep walking. Freaking idiot. What did she think I was going to do, pretend like she exists? And then it hits me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-a-h-elliott/i-keep-walking-freaking-idiot-what-did-she-think-i-was-going-to-do/) [Laura A.H. Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-a-h-elliott/) > [I don't believe my house was haunted. I think I had an overactive imagination, and I was so convinced that those around me became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-don-t-believe-my-house-was-haunted-i-think-i-had-an-overactive/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Ought to be easy, ought to be simple enough: Man meets woman, and they fall in love, But the house is haunted and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/ought-to-be-easy-ought-to-be-simple-enough-man-meets-woman-and-they/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I grew up in New England, and the woods behind my house seemed haunted by New England's past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/i-grew-up-in-new-england-and-the-woods-behind-my-house-seemed-haunted/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [“You are not there, Father,” I cried. “I wake up at Gaudlin Hall, I spend most of my day there, I sleep there at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/you-are-not-there-father-i-cried-i-wake-up-at-gaudlin-hall-i-spend/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [If your house is haunted think about how much time the ghosts have spent watching you masturbate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-your-house-is-haunted-think-about-how-much-time-the-ghosts-have/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Is it true cats wont stay in a house when it's haunted?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-valdez/is-it-true-cats-wont-stay-in-a-house-when-it-s-haunted/) Jeff Valdez > [I was adopting an Ethiopian child, that's not true. My house was haunted, that wasn't true. God, there's been so many rumours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-was-adopting-an-ethiopian-child-that-s-not-true-my-house-was/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [You don't have to be a house to be haunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-house-to-be-haunted/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [So many Ghosts in my garage they think my house haunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/so-many-ghosts-in-my-garage-they-think-my-house-haunted/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [There's a stranger in my bed, there's a pounding in my bed, glitter all around the room pink flamingos in the pool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/there-s-a-stranger-in-my-bed-there-s-a-pounding-in-my-bed-glitter-all/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I remember John Waters's 'Pink Flamingos,' that was the film where I realized you could do anything you want - there were no boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levinson/i-remember-john-waters-s-pink-flamingos-that-was-the-film-where-i/) [Sam Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levinson/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first saw 'House on Haunted Hill' as a kid in Baltimore, and the skeleton went out on the wire, and the thousand kids in the audience went crazy... My whole life, I've tried to at least equal that cinema anarchy. 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