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"The Festivals provide an environment for fans to extend their interest of the show; they can find out more about Dark Shadows, and the processes required to bring the show to the screen," explains Jim Pierson, attempting to communicate the unique appeal of the Dark Shadows Festivals. Pierson launched the convention in 1983, with the twice-yearly event alternating between the east and west coasts. Nowadays, the Festivals are held annually, and are much bigger events, with dozens of the series cast-members in regular participation. August 1997 saw the fifteenth year of the Festival, with one of its most successful events ever, with an all-time high of nearly 4000 attendees.
One would imagine that after so many years there would be a feeling of fatigue or boredom towards the events, but the evidence is there. The fans keep on coming back - in ever-increasing numbers, leading one must ask what the continuing appeal of the Festival is. Every year, fans converge in a familiar location; meet a near-identical panel of guests; get a collection of near-identical autographs; hear near-identical anecdotes and browse through near-identical ranges of merchandise. Are we to assume that Dark Shadows fans are so tragically obsessed with the show that they are unable to see that they are being fed a recycled dish? Well, some are, but they are easily avoided. For most fans though, they return for the special Festival experience; the indefinable magic that elevates the joy of watching Dark Shadows to its very highest.
Before I departed, I had viewed MPI's 30th Anniversary Tribute cassette with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Friends had raved about the conventions, yet all the tape seemed to show was a brightly lit hotel, its fake-brass adornments seeming an eternity away from the Dark Shadows feeling I love so much. Would it spoil the viewing experience to see the cast as they really are--mostly retired actors, reliving their past-glory? I was even more worried that the fans would be too earnest or so besotted with the show as to be unapproachable. Both fears remained unjustified. Thankfully Dark Shadows is blessed with a varied and interesting cast, who are involved in numerous other activities, and are not lost to delusions of stardom. The fans are generally charming, interesting people, and when someone did occasionally ask a ludicrous question, everyone else seemed to sigh just as deeply as me! Loathe though I am to admit it, I soon found myself completely enticed by the Festival magic, discarding my cynicism and happily trading it for the sheer exhilaration of a weekend of Dark Shadows.
I think that, for me personally, one of the most interesting aspects of the Festival is the sheer level of indulgence it offers its fans. For fans, there is an amazing feeling of acceptance. For one weekend a year, they can live and breathe their love of the show, in an environment surrounded by hundreds of people with similar views. The 1997 Festival promised to be extra special, however, as the organisers had toiled to bring fans some unprecedented treats. With the debut of Nancy Barrett at a convention, and plenty of new features including David Selby performing his new play Lincoln and James, and Kathryn Leigh Scott reading previously unpublished memoirs; few could fail to be excited by the prospect of a unique and enjoyable event.
Having seen Louis Edmonds on the 30th Anniversary videotape, I was secretly dreading his appearance such was his frailty. However, my fears were unjustified, as Louis looked much better, and was in fine form, winning over the crowds with his rich sense of humour. Despite his recent illness, few could dispute that for a man in his seventies, he looked splendid. Later on during the weekend, Louis introduced two segments from his latest project, Next Year in Jerusalem, in which he portrays the grandfather of a close-knit Jewish family: He deservedly received a standing ovation. As the elder statesman of Dark Shadows, Louis clearly holds a special place in the hearts of every fan. Yes, we have heard most of the stories before, but he is a true showman and gives a unique twist to old tales, recreating them for each successive audience. Like many of his other co-stars, he was to be found signing autographs for many hours at a time, and was thoroughly obliging of his fans.
Saturday saw the highest attendance figures of the entire weekend, peaking at roughly 4,000 attendees. One of the most exciting moments of the day was the presentation by Harper Collins publishers, announcing the new range of novels, due to debut later this year. A representative from the company was on hand, accompanied by Lara Parker, who finally confirmed that her long-term plans to create a past for Angélique had finally come to fruition. Once she had outlined her book's plot, Lara invited fans to offer suggestions. The discussions that followed ranged from the engaging, to the surprising, to the patently bizarre! To her credit, Lara kept a straight face even when posed with the strangest of ideas.
For any fan looking for Dark Shadows merchandise, the Festival really is the place to be. MPI Home Video were present with their entire range of Dark Shadows videotapes (an imposing sight) whilst the Pomegranate Press tables were enlivened by the frequent presence of Kathryn Leigh Scott, who was on hand to sign fans' purchases. Diana Millay was also on hand to autograph her cookbook I'd Rather Eat Than Act and was amongst the many other actors, who generously agreed to impromptu signing sessions. The dealer's room included comic books, magazines, photographs, original autographs, stationery, and even some of the original sound cartridges used to record the shows' incidental music on. The auctions were also fun, but frantic, as fans vied for props from the series and rare merchandise. Lots included a complete set of Paperback Library novels, a complete set of the Innovation Comics, and a selection of Dark Shadows records. Most of the props were from the new Dark Shadows series and included obscure items, such as a book seen in Sarah's room that sold for $35.00 and Ben Cross' Barnabas ring, which fetched an astonishing $2,000.00.
The undeniable highlight of the weekend was Nancy Barrett's appearance, which took place on Sunday, and was the last event before the concluding cast banquet. After a droll introduction from Louis Edmonds, who declared, "I am not Nancy Barrett," Nancy launched into her cabaret, which consisted of original songs, and brand new material. Upon reflecting on the seclusion of Carolyn's life at Collinwood, Barrett sang a re-worked version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, sympathising with her character's plight. Anyone who had doubted either singing ability or range, soon decided otherwise, as the song changed to a hearty rendition of that jaunty Dark Shadows classic, I'm Gonna Dance With You. Halfway through the show, I glanced to my side and realised that Louis Edmonds was standing at the edge of the ballroom applauding. At the end of the performance, he was still standing there and clapping just as much as before. Hopefully, with the success of the 1997 Festival under her belt, Nancy will be encouraged to attend future Festivals.
The Festival concluded with its celebrity banquet, which featured numerous guests sharing tables with the fans. Roger Davis and Terry Crawford acted as after-dinner speakers, though Davis' wit tended to dominate, making for a hilarious, if unconventional tone. Raffle prizes were given out at random, and actor John Karlen was lucky enough to win, choosing to express his appreciation to Roger Davis as only he knew how!
I cannot emphasise how much fun the Festival is, and any Dark
Shadows fan should make attending
such an event a high-priority. One enters the location as an enthusiast,
and finds oneself embraced as a part of this huge friendly family.
By attending the Festivals, fans can come closest to being a part
of their favourite show. We all know that Dark
Shadows is long gone, and
it would be futile to pretend otherwise, yet for one weekend a year,
Dark Shadows
lives once again. Something tells me that this is what keeps the
guests returning, demonstrating the remarkable ability the Festival
possesses to transcend time and the other barriers that would ordinarily
exist within such a large body of people. Whilst some could claim
that this strange bond between the actors and the fans verges on
the mutually sycophantic, I tend to believe that it fulfils our
desire to find proper acknowledgement for our enthusiasm. And what
better company to be acknowledged by?
Back
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Shadows Journal
Original Content and Design ©
Copyright Stuart Manning
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Shadows © 1966
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