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Archive > March-May 2003
| Barnabas
the Bobblehead! |
May
28 2003 |
MPI
Home Video are expanding their Dark Shadows
ranges with a new series of caricature Bobbleheads -
nodding statues parodying Collinsport's finest. The prototype
for the first release, Barnabas, is shown left; click on
the thumbnail for a larger view. The figure will retail
at $29.98, and the initial series will comprise five characters,
the first of which should be available by mail order shortly.
MPI
has also launched a Dark Shadows DVD Club, allowing
fans to purchase their range of DVD Collections by subscription.
The Barnabas figurine is offered as a welcome gift to new
subscribers, along with an offer for an exclusive "Collector's
Casket" to display the Bobblehead figures. For more
information, visit www.darkshadowsdvd.com.
| Burnt
Offerings on DVD |
May
22 2003 |
Dark
Shadows creator Dan Curtis' early horror film Burnt
Offerings is to be released on DVD on August 26. The
new edition features restored 16:9 widescreen presentation,
with a newly recorded full-length audio commentary featuring
Curtis, moderated by Dark Shadows movie expert Darren
Gross. Amazon.com are offering a 25% pre-order discount
on the title - to place an order click
here.
| Dark
Shadows Festival Update |
May
19 2003 |
Following a huge reaction of disappointment and confusion
from fans, the Dark Shadows Festival has made
a statement clarifying the future of organised Dark Shadows
fan events. ShadowGram reports:
"The
Festival has announced this year's celebration will be its
last three-day convention. But this is not the end of Festival-sponsored
events. In order to offer new ideas, the three-day format
is being modified. Over the past two decades, the Festival
has been dedicated to providing fans with the best possible
value, and current economic conditions indicate that other
opportunities should be explored to continue that tradition.
Starting in 2004, the Festival plans to present other special
and exciting events for fans to enjoy, the first of which
will be announced later this year."
With
thanks to ShadowGram
MPI Home Video has announced tentative plans for
DVD releases in the latter half of 2003.
Contrary to previous reports the ongoing schedule is planned
to remain bi-monthly, with Dark Shadows DVD Collection
7 due in August, Collection 8 in October and
Collection 9 in November.
Lara
Parker (Angelique) will be the guest for online chat on
June 4 from 5.00-6.00pm CDT at www.darkshadowsdvd.com.
| A
Word from Kathryn Leigh Scott |
May
3 2003 |
Last week's announcement of the last fully-fledged Dark
Shadows Festival drew wide comment from fans, many of
whom wrote in to share their views. Can I reiterate that
this site has no official affilation with the Festival,
and comments concerning it should be addressed to pansyfaye@darkshadowsfestival.com.
Actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) shares
these words:
"Well,
my goodness... what a surprise! Since early last week I
have been flooded with messages from Dark Shadows friends
and fans about the "Farewell 20th Anniversary Festival."
In response, I can only tell you that I am as shocked as
any of you - and, it appears, quite a number of you knew
about this decision before any of the Dark Shadows actors.
We knew nothing about it beforehand, believe me.
I
quite often get emails through pompress
requesting information about the Festival and related topics,
and I always respond that, along with the other Dark
Shadows actors, I am only an invited guest. The Festival
dates, location and schedule of events are all decided by
Festival organizers long before the actors are informed
of these decisions. As a result, there are occasional snafus
- actors have unknowingly made personal plans in conflict
with Festival dates causing disappointment for everyone
involved.
This time, however, we were really caught unaware!
A
few days ago I called Lara Parker (Angelique), who
had just returned from a family holiday, to ask if she'd
heard the announcement that the upcoming Festival in August
would be our last:
"Noooo,"
she said. "Is it? Who said?"
"Well, it's been posted on Dark Shadows websites,
and I just got email about it."
"Nobody said anything to me about it. Of course, I
always think each Festival will be the last... but it's
disappointing, isn't it?"
"Very. I can't imagine why such an announcement has
to be made. It will only cast a pall on everything... well,
we'll make the best of it. We always do."
"Weird, isn't it?"
"Yeah, weird."
And
there you have it. The truth is, the Dark Shadows
actors really look forward to the Festivals-to seeing each
other and to mingling with fans who have become friends
over the years. I cannot speak for the other Dark Shadows
actors, but I will admit to my own disappointment that this
coming Festival has been billed as our "Farewell."
I am also sorry that we were not consulted in advance, as
I would probably have suggested other options than an announcement
of this sort. It's a shame that a massive mailing has gone
out to thousands of fans across the country who do not attend
the Festival, but are devoted to the series... what does
this "farewell" mean to them?
On
the bright side, how many times have Dark Shadows
actors played "farewell" scenes, only to reappear
a few weeks later as another character? Seen in that light,
a "farewell" seems anything but final... and that's
the way I choose to see things. I will be attending the
Festival and I look forward to seeing all of you. But please
do not mention the word "farewell" to me, or ask
"what shall we do about this?" I am only an invited
guest, and have nothing to do with any of the plans, now
or in the future. Let's just all go and have a good time...
stay tuned.
All
the best
Kathryn"
With
thanks to Kathryn Leigh Scott
| Dark
Shadows Festival to End |
April
24 2003 |
In a shock development, the Dark Shadows Festival has
announced that the upcoming August 2003 celebration is to
be the last. In a statement, the Festival comments:
"After
two decades of annual fan gatherings, this year marks the
final full-fledged Festival celebration. It has been a joyous
20 years of welcoming dozens of Dark Shadows alumni along
with thousands of fans from all across the United States
and beyond. Although interest in DS remains strong - thanks
to the video/DVD releases and reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel
- the decision has been made to finish the traditional Festival
event on this special anniversary occasion with the exciting,
first-ever reunion of the original Dark Shadows actors
performing a sequel on stage.
The
Dark Shadows Festival will continue to explore the
presentation of other Dark Shadows activities in
the future, but we hope you'll be able to join us for this
memorable three-day finale in August."
The
highlight of the event promises to be the dramatic event
Return to Collinwood, a dramatic presentation scheduled
for Sunday, with actors reprising their roles from the show.
"You’ll discover what’s happened to Quentin, Angelique
and others in the years since Dark Shadows ended."
The play is written by Jamison Selby and will include music
and effects. Elsewhere, planned auction lots include Josette's
portrait from the 1991 revival series, and the traditional
banquet will close the festivities.
The
final celebration takes place from August 29 - 31 at the
Brooklyn Marriott Hotel. For full membership details, visit
www.darkshadowsfestival.com.
As
the primary outlet for Dark Shadows fandom and promotion,
the demise of the Festival marks a crushing blow to the
show's profile
and fandom. Its contribution in uniting so many of the show's
followers and its role in sustaining interest in the show's
legacy cannot be underestimated.
With
thanks to the Dark Shadows Festival
| DVD
Collection 6 |
April
24 2003 |
MPI Home Video has issued the cover design and technical
details for June's release Dark Shadows DVD Collection
6, which continues the 1795 flashback. Click
on the thumbnail image to see a larger version of the cover.
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 6 ·
Released June 24
 ·
Episodes 412-451, presented on four disks
· Disc 1: Roger
Davis interview
· Disc 2: Lara Parker interview
· Disc 3: Louis Edmonds interview
· Disc 4: Sy Tomashoff interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com
|
|
| New
Louis Edmonds Biography |
April
10 2002 |
The
life and career of Louis Edmonds (Roger) is celebrated
with the publication of a new editon of his biography, Big
Lou. The new edition has been extensively updated and
revised, providing an intimate portrait of one of the show's
most dearly-missed actors. From the publisher:
"Louis
Edmonds was well known for his TV soap opera roles as Dark
Shadows' Roger Collins and All My Children's
Langley Wallingford, but his career spanned much further
than that. Working with such performers as Charlton Heston,
Kaye Ballard, Joan Bennett, and Carol Burnett, he was a
pioneer performer on live television in the 1950s and played
numerous critically acclaimed roles on and off Broadway
and on TV for five decades. Throughout his life, the gay
actor battled - and conquered - depression, alcoholism,
and cancer. In a revealing biography, author Craig Hamrick
chronicles the life and career of this remarkable man."
To
order the book from Amazon.com, click
here. To read this site's review of the book, click
here.
| Kathryn
Leigh Scott in the UK |
April
7 2003 |
Kathryn
Leigh Scott (Maggie) made her first personal appearance
in the United Kingdom for three years when she was a guest
at the massive Memorabilia collector's fair held over April
5-6.
To view a larger picture, click on the thumbnail image.
Kathryn also took a break from signing to record a special
video greeting for visitors to this site, which can be viewed
in Realplayer format by clicking
here.
| DVD
Collection 5 |
March
22 2003 |
MPI Home Video has issued the cover design and technical
details for June's release Dark Shadows DVD Collection
5. Click
on the thumbnail image to see a larger version of the cover.
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 5 ·
Released June 24
 ·
Episodes 371-411, presented on four disks
· Disc 1: Jonathan
Frid interview
· Disc 2: Kathryn Leigh Scott interview
· Disc 3: Jerry Lacy interview
· Disc 4: Robert Cobert interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com
|
|
| War
and Remembrance on DVD |
March
17 2003 |
War and Remembrance, Dark Shadows creator
Dan Curtis' epic WW2 mini-series concludes its DVD release
from MPI with a second deluxe seven disc box-set, due out
on March 25. Including appearances from Dark Shadows
actors Dennis Patrick (Jason) and Barbara Steele (1991 Julia),
the set includes a bonus CD of Bob Cobert's orchestral score,
and newly shot behind-the-scenes features. It can be pre-ordered
from Amazon.com by clicking
here.
| String
Fever for Jim Fyfe |
March
13 2003 |
Jim Fyfe (1991 Willie) stars alongside Sex and the
City star Cynthia Nixon in String Fever, a new play
which runs until March 23 at the Ensemble Studio Theater,
549 West 52nd Street, New York City. To make reservations
call: 212-247-4982.
The
production is described as a "romantic comedy is about
a neurotic woman dealing with relationship and personal
issues. She meets a physicist (Fyfe) who believes in the
string theory that all matter is made of inter-related microscopic
strings." The play was commissioned by the Sloan Foundation,
which supports playwrights who focus on science-related
subjects.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
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