Only this year, despite having been a Scooby-Doo fan since I could not yet spell "Scooby" or even "Doo," I learned that the gothic house in the opening shot of the opening credits of Scooby Doo, Where Are You? [1969] is based on an actual place: Seaview Terrace in Newport, RI.
[It appears that the Scooby-Doo design team was inspired by the house's appearance in the opening credits of an earlier creepy show, Dark Shadows.]
Seaview Terrace [AKA Carey Mansion] is privately owned and not open to the public. It's also allegedly [and appropriately] one of the most haunted sites in America. They've filmed at least one ghost hunting show there.
After I was booked to speak in Rhode Island, I reached out to the real estate company that manages the property to ask if I could come on to the grounds for a mere two minutes to take photos from the same angle.
Unsurprisingly, they said no.
So I found my way to the owner of the property, who did not reply to my first several emails...then in October, she kindly said she would like to honor my request.
But just before my trip last week, she reneged. It's a busy time. I understand. And I'll try again on my next trip to the area.
In the meantime, I got the best shot I could from the street. Lucky for me it is almost winter. In spring or summer, the house is probably mostly obscured by foliage.
I took this photo in 28°, wedged between shrubs, and hoisted at an awkward angle with one foot on a chain-link fence and the other on a low, broken branch.
For that level of commitment, I think I deserve a Scooby Snack.
