Citizens of Crystal Lake Part 3: Harold & Edna
With plot details for the Friday the 13th series
slowly beginning to bleed out from the CW, it’s becoming evident that a strong
focus will be placed on Crystal Lake’s citizens old and new. With the native Crystal Lake’ers said to be
nervously playing hush regarding their home area’s dirty little secret in
relation to the Voorhees legacy, and the newer habitants’ eventual awareness of
the threat that looms in their forests, viewers can expect to be introduced to
many unique residents guaranteed to bring quirky characterizations to the show.
While waiting to add new names to the list, let’s look back on some of these
unforgettable locals.
If travelling to good ole’ Camp Blood, chances are you will
need to stop for supplies before nestling in for campfires and mayhem. Such a need would likely bring you by Harold
and Edna’s grocery stop, just outside of the camp and local hideaway Higgin’s
Haven. Proprietors Harold and Edna have
been long married, and despite their constant bickering show their love through
the commitment to their business, despite all of Harold’s “sloppy habits.” Mostly, it’s Harold’s obsession with food
which makes Edna’s blood boil, and her monitoring of her husband’s gluttony
often interrupts her knitting. Harold
will sneak donuts, snacks and even fish food should the mood so dictate.
But it’s through her nagging that
Edna truly shows the love she has for Harold, as his health and well-being are
the true motivators to her unpleasantness.
She even appears to indulge his other obsession which seems to be a
fascination with trains, as their grocery and café is adorned with endless
pictures of locomotives. Equally
annoying to his better half, however, is Harold’s love for his rabbits. While his care for his furry pets shows his
soft nature, Edna’s temper is further triggered by their “filthy” presence. If only Edna knew that none of these
idiosyncrasies will cause much of an effect, as it’s the ominous stranger
wandering around in her hanging laundry that holds the true threat to their
futures.
Portraying Edna is actress Cheri
Maugans who, other than her memorable turn in Friday the 13th Part III, mostly appeared in
television roles. Maugans had a
recurring role in the All in the Family spin-off
Archie Bunker’s Place as the
character Molly and also appeared on the hit show Dallas including others.
Interestingly, Maugans was once married to television star David Caruso,
although has since been married to Geoffrey Scott and enjoying motherhood to
their two children.
And as her
for-better-or-for-worse counterpart Harold, Steve Susskind leaves a lasting
impression as the loveable goofball.
With his childlike demeanor and innocent opposition, it’s no surprise
that Susskind would go on to a long and prolific career as a character and
voice actor. The multi-talented actor
went on to appear in numerous television shows such as Tales From the Crypt, movies including Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) and multiple voice roles such
as in the 2001 blockbuster Monsters,
Inc. Sadly, Susskind was taken too soon in an automobile accident in 2005
but definitely left behind a film and television career that will be remembered
with over 60 credits on his resume.
While the loving couple would
have their entrepreneurship ended with a cleaver to the chest and a knitting
needle through the skull, they will definitely be remembered as another example
of the colorful characters that made up Crystal Lake’s population. One has to wonder what ever became of their
road-side grocery stop; or more-so if anyone was brave enough to take over
ownership with the possibility of an unwanted customer in Mr. Voorhees
returning…
