In delivering a core science course to pre-health-related majors, the authors sought ways to engage students, make material relevant to life-long learning, and present it in a memorable way. Their goals were to present scientific content fused with history, ethics, public policy, and art in such a way that the students would be provided a unique lecture experience. As co-instructors of Molecular Biosciences General Microbiology at Washington State University, the authors presented a Halloween lecture based on Rod Serling's early 1970s television series "Night Gallery." In a particular episode, Mr. Serling introduced three dramatic stories, with three corresponding paintings. The authors modeled this structure during a 75-minute lecture that included three stories about microbiological research gone astray. Each of the three stories delivered information regarding the microbiology of an infectious organism, the epidemiology of persons infected with this organism, the social and political ramifications of these disease-related events, and some ethical perspectives. The instructors hypothesized that students would be more engaged compared to other lecture formats, and therefore more effectively retain presented material. Using students' responses from online end-of-course evaluations, students reported this material as most memorable compared to other lecture material presented in a traditional format within the same course. Some students, however, reported negative outcomes. For example, failure to take adequate notes, and difficulty in recalling detailed information regarding the microbes being discussed.