This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://darkshadowsnews.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://darkshadowsnews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

New Action Figures

Spectre Toys have announced that they are to produce a new range of limited edition Dark Shadows action figures. Each 8-inch scale figure will feature a detailed likeness, with authentic clothing, styled like the famed Mego action figures of the 1970s.

July sees the release of Barnabas Collins, in present day clothing with walking cane, and a 1795 Angelique figure, each limited to 3,000 pieces, available from July. There will also be a Werewolf Chris Jennings figure issued as an exclusive for July's San Diego Comic Con, which is limited to just 500.

The Barnabas and Angelique figures are available to pre-order now from Spectre's website. The company is also running a poll asking which Dark Shadows characters fans would like to be produced as figures in the future. 

Actor Appearances

• Julianna McCarthy (1991 Mrs Johnson) is to return to The Young as the Restless as a regular cast member. Julia has played matriarch Liz Foster intermittently for over 20 years and should be on screens later this year.
• Rebecca Staab (1991 Daphne) can be seen this weekend at the Hollywood Show, taking place in Burbank, California. For more information, click here. On June 18-20, she's appearing at the Florida Supercon in Miami. For full details, visit the event website.
• Roy Thinnes (1991 Roger) is making a personal appearance in Maryland at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, which runs from September 23-25. Roy will be signing autographs and discussing his work on The Invaders. Visit the website for more information.

A Visit to the Studio

As we recently reported, the old Dark Shadows studio on Manhattan's West 53rd Street has become the home of The Wendy Williams Show. Gene and David, readers of this site, paid a visit, and shared these photos. 

"We walked by on a Friday when Wendy was not taping, but we were invited inside," says Gene. "We were asked not to photograph beyond the lobby; we did not have a full studio tour. I travel into Manhattan and walk the streets around this address frequently. I never got around to taking photos until last week. I just felt the urge. Many of the surrounding buildings are being torn down and replaced by high rise condos. I hope the studio remains forever!"

Own a Bobblehead!

Amazon have recently begun offering MPI's series of officially-licensed Dark Shadows bobbleheads, caricatured sculptures of classic characters from the show. Each one is fully-painted and cast in resin. The set of five is made up of Barnabas, Angelique, Quentin, Josette and the Werewolf. To order, click on the hyperlinks.

Dark Shadows Festival Update

The Dark Shadows Festival has updated its official site with membership details for its 2010 convention. The weekend-long celebration takes place on July 16-18 at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel, located in Burbank, California. Newly confirmed guests include Michael Brockman (Unit Manager), Sy Tomashoff (Scenic Designer) and Bob Cobert (Music Composer). 

The Festival is also hosting a separate event on Friday July 16, with Jonathan Frid (Barnabas) as guest of honour. The Vista Theater in Hollywood will play host to a special matinee screening of House of Dark Shadows on the big screen, which will be followed by Jonathan putting his handprints in cement. For more information, visit the Festival website.

News in Brief

• The Dark Shadows studio, located on West 53rd Street, New York City, has a new tenant. For several years, the facility housed The Montel Williams Show, and is the home of The Wendy Williams Show. Tickets for upcoming tapings can be obtained here.
• Barbara Woronko Anzalone, who guested as Nurse Pritchett on Dark Shadows as Bobbi Ann Woronko, has written her autobiography, The Girl Next Door. The book includes reminiscences of Dark Shadows and can be ordered online by clicking here.
• And finally, birthday wishes to Humbert Allen Astredo (Nicholas Blair), who celebrated his 81st birthday this weekend. This particular legion of the damned salutes you.