If you grew up in the nineties, Saturday nights had a specific ritual. You’d grab a bowl of cereal—probably something sugary that turned the milk neon—and wait for that match to strike. The flickering light of the "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" opening credits was a signal. It meant things were about to get weird. At the center of it all was Gary from Are You Afraid of the Dark, the guy who basically invented the "nerd-leader" archetype before it was cool.
Ross Hull played Gary with a kind of earnest intensity that felt different from other teen stars of the era. He wasn't the "cool guy" in the leather jacket or the class clown. He was the founder of the Midnight Society. He wore those iconic wire-rimmed glasses and looked like he spent his weekends reading urban legends in the dusty corners of a public library. Because he did.
Honestly, Gary was the glue. While other members of the Midnight Society came and went—shifting through the lineup as actors grew up or moved on to other projects—Gary remained the constant through the original run. He wasn't just a narrator. He was the gatekeeper of the fire.
The Architect of the Midnight Society
What most people forget is that the Midnight Society had rules. It wasn't just a bunch of kids hanging out in the woods. There was a protocol. You had to bring a story. You had to bring the "midnight dust" (which we later found out was just powdered non-dairy creamer, but at age ten, it was pure magic). Gary was the one who enforced these standards.
He founded the group based on a legacy started by his grandfather. That adds a layer of weight to his character that you don't usually see in kids' horror. It wasn't just a hobby for him; it was a family tradition. When you look at Gary from Are You Afraid of the Dark, you're looking at a kid who took the art of storytelling seriously. He understood that stories weren't just for scaring people—they were for processing the world.
Think about the dynamics. You had the rebellious vibes of Frank, the sweetness of Betty Ann, and the later addition of Stoney-faced Kiki. Gary had to manage those personalities. He was the moderator. When someone’s story was weak, or when the group tension got high, Gary was the one who brought it back to the fire.
Why his stories hit differently
Gary’s stories usually leaned into the psychological or the classic "cursed object" tropes. While other characters went for jump scares or gross-out monsters, Gary liked the "The Tale of the Crimson Clown" or "The Tale of the Old Corcoran House." He had a penchant for stories where the protagonist’s own flaws—like being a bully or being too greedy—came back to haunt them.
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He was sort of the moral compass of the show. If Gary was telling the story, you knew there was going to be a lesson, but it wasn't going to be preachy. It was going to be terrifying. He had this way of leaning forward, the firelight catching his lenses, and lowering his voice just enough that you had to lean toward your TV. That’s pure stagecraft.
Ross Hull and the Legacy of the Glasses
Let's talk about Ross Hull for a second. In the world of 90s Canadian acting, he was a titan. But he didn't stay in the acting world forever. Nowadays, if you look him up, he’s a prominent meteorologist. There is something incredibly fitting about the guy who used to tell us about "the chill in the air" actually growing up to tell people about the literal weather.
It’s one of those rare cases where a child star transitions into a completely different, respected field without the typical Hollywood "downfall." He’s still active on social media, occasionally leaning into the nostalgia of the Midnight Society. Fans still call him Gary. He seems to embrace it with a lot of grace, which is cool because that show meant everything to a specific generation of horror fans.
The glasses weren't just a prop, either. They became a symbol. In an era where "nerds" were usually the butt of the joke in sitcoms, Gary was the leader. He was smart, he was organized, and he was respected. He made being a "horror geek" feel like an elite club membership.
The Evolution of the Scary Story
Why does Gary from Are You Afraid of the Dark still resonate in 2026? It’s because the format of the show—the "anthology around a campfire"—is the purest form of horror. We’ve seen a massive resurgence in anthology series like Black Mirror or Cabinet of Curiosities, but they lack the framing device that Gary provided.
The framing device mattered. It gave us a "safe" home base. No matter how scary the story was—and let's be real, "The Tale of the Dead Man's Float" still ruins public pools for most of us—we always came back to Gary and the gang at the end. They would put out the fire with that bucket of water, and we’d see them walk away. It was a reminder that the story was over. You were safe.
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Without Gary’s steady hand, the show would have just been a random collection of scary clips. He provided the ritual.
The "Midnight Dust" and the Mechanics of Fear
If you ever tried to recreate the Midnight Society in your backyard, you realized quickly that it's hard to be Gary. It requires a specific kind of charisma. You have to be able to command a room—or a clearing in the woods—without being a loudmouth.
Gary’s technique involved:
- The Setup: Always establishing the stakes before the "Submitted for the approval" line.
- The Physicality: The way he held the pouch of dust. It was almost religious.
- The Pacing: He knew when to pause.
- The Conclusion: He never let the story just "end." He always had a final thought that tied it back to the group's reality.
It was sophisticated for a show aimed at twelve-year-olds. It taught us about narrative structure without us even realizing it.
What we get wrong about Gary
Some people remember Gary as being "boring" compared to the more "edgy" characters like Frank or the later additions. That's a total misunderstanding of his role. Gary wasn't there to be edgy. He was the anchor. If everyone is "edgy," the group falls apart. You need the person who brings the matches. You need the person who remembers the grandfather's stories.
Also, Gary had his own subtle character arc. Over the seasons, you see him grow more confident. You see his relationships with the other members evolve. There was always that "will-they-won't-they" energy with Samantha (Sam), which added a layer of grounded teen drama to the supernatural anthology. It reminded us that even when ghosts are haunting the local library, life—and crushes—still happen.
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The Cultural Impact of the Midnight Society Leader
When you look at modern horror creators, many of them cite this show as their entry point. The "Gary" archetype is everywhere now. The "expert enthusiast" who guides the audience through the dark.
If you're looking to revisit the series or introduce it to a new generation, keep an eye on how Gary handles the "The Tale of the Silver Sight." It was a three-part epic that really delved into the history of the Midnight Society and Gary's family. It's probably the peak of his character development. It turned the show from a simple anthology into something with a deep, internal mythology.
Actionable ways to channel your inner Gary
If you're a fan of the show or a creator yourself, there are actual lessons to be learned from how Gary functioned as a leader and a storyteller.
- Respect the Ritual: Whether you're hosting a podcast or a D&D session, the "opening ceremony" matters. It sets the tone. Create your own version of the "midnight dust."
- Know Your Audience: Gary’s stories worked because he knew what scared his friends. He tailored the experience.
- Legacy Matters: Connect your work to something older. Gary constantly referenced the history of the group, which made the stakes feel higher.
- Stay Level-Headed: When the "scary" stuff happens, the leader needs to be the one who doesn't blink.
The next time you're out in the woods and you hear a twig snap, just remember the kid in the wire-rimmed glasses. He taught us that as long as you can tell a good story, you have power over the things that go bump in the night. Gary from Are You Afraid of the Dark wasn't just a character; he was the first person to tell us that the dark isn't so bad if you have the right people around the fire.
Go back and watch "The Tale of the Night Shift" or "The Tale of the Whispering Walls." Pay attention to the intro. Notice how Ross Hull uses his eyes to draw you in. It’s a masterclass in low-budget, high-impact performance. Then, find a fireplace, gather some friends, and see if you can get through a story without stuttering. It’s harder than Gary made it look.