Did American TV Viewers Hear the Devil’s Voice on Aug. 29, 1968?

By David Emery on Snopes

Here’s a historical claim with an eerie supernatural twist that we’ve been asked to check out many times. This version was sent to us in 2016 by a reader named Neil: 

I heard this thing that on August 29, 1968, every single TV went out across America at the same time. There was a strange noise coming from the TV, and some thought that it was the voice of the devil. The televisions were off for about 25 seconds, and no one was ever able to figure out what happened.

We have yet to come across a variant that provides any more detail than this: On Aug. 29, 1968, every TV set in America simultaneously “went out,” “turned off,” or “shut down” (meaning, perhaps, that the broadcast signal was interrupted) for about 25 seconds, during which time the televisions emitted a “strange noise” or “murmuring” sound, which some people took to be “the voice of the devil.” 

This type of viral story is often called “creepypasta,” which in turn is a form of “copypasta” — as in a text (or text combined with images) that is copied and pasted and shared ad nauseam on the internet.

Click to view books on Amazon

You can contact us with questions, comments, and your favorite legend or tidbit of folklore at spookytripping@gmail.com.

Check out Christopher Balzano’s books, including the newly released Haunted Ocala National Forest.

Feel free to call our new phone number during our lives shows to get involved or whenever just to share a legend you’ve heard to ask a question at ((813) 418-6822. 

Keep visiting the site for the trip log of our travels and other urban legends at: www.trippingonlegends.wordpress.com

Follow us at: www.facebook.com/trippingonlegends

Twitter: @SpookyBalzano

Instagram: @SpookyTripping