Our reader's tributes to Dan Curtis' life and work. If you would like to share any special memories or thoughts, please submit them by email to webmaster@collinwood.net

1966 - I was 14 years old. All I can remember doing each and every weekday was running full speed from school to get to my home in Philadelphia in time to see the opening credits of Dark Shadows. There were no such things as VCRs back then and if you missed one minute of any episode it was gone forever! Now, 40 years later, we have the genius of Dan Curtis preserved on VHS and DVD and in our minds and hearts. Rest in peace, Mr. Curtis, and thank you for all of your priceless treasures!
Jim Planamente

Dan Curtis, and particularly his greatest creation, Dark Shadows, has inspired me in my aspirations in the world of broadcasting. His legacy and his style have inspired me to someday carry on that style of work that he has done out of tribute for him. I highly respect him as a wonderful dramatic writer and a great dramatic voice. The creative world is truly saddened by his passing.
Nicholas J. Mooneyhan

Dan Curtis was larger than life. He brought us to a world of vampires, wolfmen, spooks and ghouls. He made us scream and have nightmares when we were little and laugh like crazy at what scared us when we got older. People who entertain us become a part of our family, and a part of our lives. They fill us with hope. Dan Curtis gave us all this and more.
'Bertaberger'

Thank you Dan Curtis for sharing your creative genius. You provided that special gift of happiness to life.
Vera Marano

My memories of Dan Curtis began like everyone else on this board with Dark Shadows. The first time I ever remember seeing his name was at the end crawl of each episode "A Dan Curtis Production". This was back in 1966, when I was a freshman in high school. By the time House of Dark Shadows hit the big screen I was already in college. My best friend and I went to the drive-in (where most horror films wound up in those days) to see how all those weeks of viewing a plot revealed in 20 minute segments would translate to a 90 minute movie. We were not disappointed, even though Jonathan Frid had just appeared on the Dick Cavett show complaining about the violence. Frid did say he thought "It was a pretty decent horror film"

By now we all knew It was a Dan Curtis Production. Throughout the seventies Dan Curtis was The Man when it came to Gothic horror and vampires on television. By 1977 I had become a theatrical agent with an office in Century City. Among my clients was Barbara Steele. We have been friends ever since then. In 1980 James Poe, the screenwriter and Barbara's last husband, died leaving her at very loose ends. A mutual friend British ICM agent Maggie Abbott suggested that a producer over at Paramount named Dan Curtis was looking for someone to look at WWII stock footage for a mammoth series The Winds of War. Barbara has been part of Dan Curtis Productions team ever since.

Thanks to her I saw a post-Dark Shadows Dan Curtis. The two WWII mini-series became his crowning achievement as a producer/director. It won Emmys for both Barbara and Dan and went on to be the highest rated show of its kind as well as the longest. I vividly recall sitting in a small screening room with Barbara and Dan watching the rushes of John Gielgud on his way to the gas chambers in War and Remembrance. When the lights went up Dan stood up and raised his fist heavenward "Steven Spielberg eat your heart out!!" Dan loved every frame of that show. I will never forget him saying in that very screening room before we left: "You know when I die even if this show wins a truckload of Emmys, they will end up saying Dan Curtis creator of daytime television's Dark Shadows died today." Then he laughed out loud at the thought of it. Dan was never far off the mark!

I always admired Dan even though at times he could be tough as nails when needed. He had a big heart and he loved show business with every bit of it! During this time it was best to leave Dark Shadows out of the conversation. He had certainly moved on to bigger and better things. It was easier to get him to talk about filming Turn of the Screw in London than to wax nostalgic about Dark Shadows in those days.

The fact that Dark Shadows has had this never-ending fan life has always been an enigma to Dan Curtis. This is probably why he never felt the need to attend the convention aspect of it to any degree. When he was younger, I am sure he was full of passion and fire, pushing the envelope with daytime television as he was now for Winds and Remembrance, taking the mini-series to the limit of its possibilities.

In 1994 Barbara and I traveled to New York to co-produce a Dark Shadows anniversary video. Before leaving, we met with Dan in his offices to plan what our approach would be interviewing fans at the hotel in costume, as well as a trip out to the late Grayson Hall's last home where her husband Sam still lived. Even though he was preoccupied with his current projects, he still kept his hand in the franchise that would remain his lasting legacy.

A few years later Dan would host a full-scale tribute at the directors guild for Dark Shadows, with virtually all the surviving cast members save for Frid. For one magic evening Dan Curtis basked in the afterglow of Collinwood. This is the way I will always wish to remember him - smiling and laughing with old friends who were his family... his Dark Shadows family.
David Del Valle

As if re-living a part of my childhood again in the DVD collections of Dark Shadows weren't enough, I am convinced of its longevity and superior writing, performances and timelessness in the reaction of my children to the series. No one is more responsible for that than Dan Curtis. When the series ends,on DVD, I shall introduce them to the rest of this amazing man's library.
Bob Brown and Family

I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dan Curtis, the 'father' of Dark Shadows. 2006 was a year I was really looking forward to. I was so ready to commemorate the 40th anniversary of my favourite TV show of all-time and was looking forward to the many interviews that Dan would have surely given (as well as the other cast members). Sadly this was not to be. I will always be grateful to him for giving us this iconic creation, which has been a staple of my life for the past 40 years. Rest in peace Dan; thank you so much for the gift of your imagination.
Elaine Elka Sculnick

I did not know Dan Curtis well, but I certainly knew who he was and I had the pleasure of being in his company briefly during the filming of the first Dark Shadows movie. I was a working child/teen actor and model in New York back in the 60s and early 70s. My first connection with Dark Shadows came when the young man who played David Collins broke his leg in a skiing accident, if I remember correctly. The show thought that they might have to replace the young actor and I was considered to be the temporary replacement. Ultimately, David's broken leg was written into the script, so my chance at being on the show vanished.

Later, I had the chance to briefly appear in the opening Collinwood party scene in the movie, House of Dark Shadows. Honestly, I don't remember much about the filming, save for the fact that I was excited about meeting the stars of the show and awed by the splendor of Lyndhurst, which doubled in the movie as the Collinwood mansion. I do remember Dan on the set, though. He was a presence to be reckoned with, seemingly everywhere at once, sometimes appearing hyper and frazzled, but always in control. And when he smiled or laughed, you couldn't help but notice.

Dan was a legend. He gave us Dark Shadows, a cultural icon that lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of devoted fans. His vision, imagination and talent will be sorely missed. I send my condolences to his family, friends and fellow Dark Shadows fans.
Chip Coffey

So sad, the news of Dan Curtis' passing.Even though I never knew him personally, I feel like I've lost a friend. His work, at various points in my life, made me happy, made me sad, made me cry and made me scared! Anyone who touches your feelings is a friend indeed. Goodbye, Old friend.
Dennis Miller

Dan Curtis always struck me as a larger-than-life individual. Dark Shadows was, to me, his greatest accomplishment and the one for which I will forever be deeply indebted to him. I am aware that his efforts went far beyond the scope of horror to such amazing projects as War and Remembrance and, more recently, Saving Milly and Our Fathers, two searing dramas dealing with, respectively, Parkinson's Disease and sexual abuse in the Catholic church.

While I never met Mr. Curtis, I will miss him as if he were someone I had known since I was a 12-year-old child, which I was when Dark Shadows debuted on June 27, 1966. Its 40th anniversary is, as of this writing, only three months away. I know Dan will be celebrating with us, wherever he is, and we will raise our glasses in a toast of thanks and love to him for a legacy that will last forever.
Robin H. Vogel

My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of Dan Curtis, as well as the fans and cast of Dark Shadows. Dan brought forth an awesome show blending some of the best characters and best actors to portray them. He will be greatly missed.
Sandy Cox

It's still hard to imagine that the man that brought us all together is gone. I'm so sorry he will never get to see the 40th anniversary celebration honouring all that he put into Dark Shadows over the years. His passing only 20 days after his wife's makes it all the more difficult. To Dan I say, thank you! Thank you for being a dreamer and conceiving Dark Shadows. You have given myself and millions of others countless hours of entertainment over the last 40 years. My condolences to the Curtis family. It may comfort you to know that thousands of others are mourning with you at this time. Goodbye Dan, thanks for everything!
Greg Bashjian

It is with great sadness I write this. I simply want to share my grief with others. Indeed, the end of an era has happened. Thank you for Dark Shadows and may God care for your soul. He says He shall reward a man according to his works. If He keeps his word, which I'm positive He does, you're going to be royalty in Heaven.
Sherry Post

I am a huge fan of Dark Shadows and was saddened to hear of the passing of Dan Curtis earlier this week. He was a talented man of vision and was responsible for giving us many hours of entertainment. It is amazing that a simple dream would bring so much enjoyment, so much pleasure, so many memories to millions for 40 years and beyond.
Greg Northam

I spent a year working on the Dan Curtis NBC production Supertrain, which lasted - I think - for three episodes. I worked on the miniature trains and sets surrounding them. Millions were spent on two trains - one a 1" scale that was quite large, and one that was 3/4" scale that was smaller and built in a hangar at Burbank (now Bob Hope) Airport in Burbank, California. This is long before CGI and computer effects. Much to Dan's disappointment, the special effects crews were never able to get the trains to perform on cue, and at various times the trains ran off the track into a very real looking derailing accident. One left the track at one point and went right through the hanger wall and out into the street, surprising passing cars! Dan had other problems at the time - his writers and NBC seemed to be derailing the series. One week it was Supertrain, the next week it was The Supertrain Comedy and the next week it was The Supertrain Mysteries. I think Dan took it in stride and moved on to the next quest.
Pat Cardi

I doubt high end film critics like Roger Ebert would even bother acknowledging Dan Curtis' death. So your tribute to him is heartening. I'm a little sad that he went out making disease-of-the-week type films.Was his heart and soul really in those? I was rooting for him to return to the horror genre, because his dark and brooding style to horror was refreshing and exhilarating. He seemed to have a real feel for British horror, using a lot a great English actors in his films. If only he could have adapted M.R.James or H.R.Wakefield. I can scarcely think of anyone else who could have brought those two great authors works to life.

I would have loved to have thanked him for all that he did. But judging from his joyful passionate interviews on the The Night Stalker DVD, I think Curtis knew that people out there did understand and appreciate his unique take in the horror genre. Curtis was right when he said that the horror genre attracts a lot of "no talent sonsofbitches". He was head and shoulders above.
Sean MacDonnell

It was watching Dark Shadows and the original Star Trek that encouraged me to become a actor. Dan Curtis created a awesome world that helped me escape when I was going through a trying time. Both daytime TV and the horror genre would not be the same without Dan Curtis' world of Dark Shadows. Thank you for the memories.
Dan Holmes

I was 9 years old when Dark Shadows began. My life has never been the same since. Dan Curtis changed all of our lives. The series ended on my 14th Birthday - April 2nd, 1971! I was crushed. We had put on plays in our garage with Dark Shadows as the theme. Watching the dvd's tonight, I am amazed at the quality of them. But it was a Dan Curtis Production, and that meant quality. Dan Curtis' magic lives on!
Richard Hatch

I was saddened to hear of the death of Dan and Norma Curtis. I did not know them personally. I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not enchanted by Dan’s genius. We all share memories of running home from school to watch Dark Shadows. Dan’s passing is a reminder that part of our childhood is now gone. As I was sharing these feelings with Bob Cobert, he reflected on Dan’s genius and spoke of a wonderful 40-year relationship. One thing that impresses me most about Dan Curtis is that fact that he never let his audience down! The highest form of a compliment is to be imitated. Many have tried to copy Dan – all have failed. Dan and his family of actors and production people are truly one of a kind. I was coaching a group of young musicians the day of his memorial. As the service began on the other side of the country, I lit a candle in his memory. The young musicians didn’t know who Dan Curtis was but as I recited his many movie and TV credits they all showed recognition. As we approach the 40th anniversary of Dark Shadows this summer, Dan’s absence will be truly felt.
John Peskey

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