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| 2003
Festival Venue Announced |
October
31 2002 |
The
2003 Dark Shadows Festival will take place on August
8-10, 2003 at the Brooklyn Marriott Hotel. Located near
the Brooklyn Bridge it is the first subway stop in Brooklyn
from Manhattan. It was named Marriott International's "Hotel
of the Year" in 1999 and 2000. Special reduced room
rates are available for the convention: $135.00 plus tax
per night.For
reservations, call 888-436-3759 or 718-246-7000.
The Festival mass mailing, with full membership details,
will follow shortly to fans on their mailing list and will
be available at darkshadowsfestival.com.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| Time
Changes for Sci-Fi |
October
31 2002 |
Dark
Shadows will continue to be seen on the US Sci-Fi
Channel throughout 2003. From Monday January 6, its
regular slot will change to 8:00-9:00am (Eastern/Pacific).
Pre-emptions
are scheduled for the following dates for special Sci-Fi
programming. The show will be off the air between November
25-December 15, and will not be screened on December 23-27,
nor December 30-January 1, or probably the rest of that
week.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 4 is due out on February 25,
beginning the 1795 flashback, with bonus interviews from
Dick Smith (make-up artist), producer Robert Costello, writer
Sam Hall, and Lara Parker (Angelique). Set 5 should
follow in April, Set 6 in June and a possibility
of monthly releases thereafter.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| News
in Brief |
October
31 2002 |
•
Joe Caldwell (original series writer) has written
a new novel, Bread for the Baker's Child. It is available
to order from Amazon.com.
• Alexandra Moltke Isles (Victoria Winters)
has directed a new documentary, Porraimos: Europe's Gypsies
in the Holocaust, which will screen at New York City's
Natural History Museum in November and be released on videotape.
• Mitchell Ryan (Burke Devlin) recently directed
a production of Fedunn for the stage in Los Angeles.
• The family of Keene Curtis have announced
that memorial donations can be made to the Keene H. Curtis
Charitable Foundation, a scholarship supporter at the University
of Utah Theater Dept., c/o Joal Curtis, 4720 N. Porsche
Way, Boise, ID 83713.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| Dennis
Patrick Tributes |
October
30 2002 |
The
Los Angeles Times paid tribute to the recently departed
Dennis Patrick in their October 29 edition with a
full obituary:
Dennis
Patrick
Dennis Patrick Harrison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
March 14 1918 and died in Los Angeles, California October
13, 2002. He was an actor, director, husband, father, grandfather
and friend.
Dennis
began performing as a child, his Irish-born father taking
him to Hiberian Orders of Irish immigrants, where Dennis
tap-danced for the faithful. In Boston during World War
II he made training movies for the Navy. As a young man,
Dennis acted in regional theatre around the northeast of
the United States. His first professional engagement was
doing Harvey in Surrey, Maine. Unsure of the financial
future in show business, Dennis found a steady job as a
traffic manager for Pan American Airways, where he met actress,
Amelia Baines, she convinced him to return to theatrical
pursuits. So smitten was he, he never did anything else.
He married Amelia and had two daughters with her.
By
early 1950's Dennis Harrison was one of the most recognisable
faces on television. He regularly appeared on Eye Witness,
Robert Montgomery Presents, Studio One and G-Men.
Dennis carried the distinction of being television's
first vampire in a 1950 episode of Studio 13. He
won awards for his theatrical portrayals in The Life
of Father Flannigan and The Life of Thomas Moore.
His big break was in The Liar, directed by Arthur
Drake. Kiss Me Kate took him on tour and got him
more good notices. Dennis' chiseled good looks, phenomenol
charm, and gifted singing voice brought him to Hollywood
using his middle name as his last and he was forever more
known as Dennis Patrick.
He
settled in the west with a home in the original Malibu Colony
and set about providing for his family by performing in
more than 1,000 television shows. His craft also included
directing and writings, but as an actor he was most successful.
He was a working actor. His early credits read like a history
of television: Gunsmoke, Zane Grey Theater, Sugarfoot,
Alcoa Theatre, Tightrope, Riverboat, Alfred Hitchcock Presents,
One Step Beyond, Bonanza, The Untouchables, The Alfred Hitchcock
Hour, Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, Lost in Space, It Takes
a Thief…
In
the late 1960's, now divorced, Dennis returned to New York
and appeared in several plays including an award-winning
Marat Sade. There he met actress Barbara Cason and
the two were married in 1970. Dennis and Barbara were a
quintessential show biz couple. Both worked extensively,
travelled frequently from coast to coast, and shared everything
in life with family and friends. Lucky were those who were
guests at homey, funny dinner parties where food, music,
laughter and story telling were on the highest order. Dennis
had recurring roles in three television series: Bert
D'Angelo Superstar with Paul Sorvino, Dallas,
where he was one of the chief suspects in the shooting of
JR, and Dark Shadows, where he reprised his role
as a vampire [sic].
His
motion picture credits include, Joe with Peter Boyle,
The Air Up There with Kevin Bacon, The House of Dark
Shadows [sic], and the Secret of Nikola Tesla with
Orson Welles. Dennis worked steadily as an actor and doing
voice overs following the untimely death in 1990 of his
dear wife, Barbara Cason. He was forever changed by losing
her but he kept active and strong, daily visiting the dog
park with his standard poodle, Josh. A fire began somewhere
deep in the house Dennis and Barbara shared in the Hollywood
Hills off Mullholland, and Dennis and Josh perished by probable
smoke inhalation.
Dennis
Patrick was a word-loving voracious reader who enjoyed life,
remembered countless jokes and stories, and would sing at
the drop of a hat. He was proud, funny, sweet and eternally
in love with Barbara Cason. His ashes were scattered at
sea, where Barbara's ashes awaited, and with him Josh's
ashes went as well. Dennis is survived by his sisters Mary
and Joan, beloved daughter Chris and his granddaughter,
Autumn. The family requests that donations to honour the
memory of Dennis Patrick be made to the actor's fund.
With
thanks to Fran Robert
| New
Magazine Features |
October
30
2002 |
Trashfiend
magazine features a cover story on Dark Shadows
for their upcoming November issue, which will catalogue
the many collectables based on the show with an up-to-date
price list. The issue retails at $6.00 and will be available
from specialist stores from November 1. For
more information, visit the magazine's website by clicking
here.
Elsewhere,
Videoscope Magazine are devoting the cover of their
Fall 2002 edition to Dark Shadows, which hits newsstands
across the US from November 1 onwards. The issue also includes
a six-page interview with actress Kathryn Leigh Scott,
who discusses her experiences on the show with two fans
from its original run.
With
thanks to Fran Robert
| Dan
Curtis' War and Remembrance Comes to DVD |
October
24
2002 |
MPI
Home Video are releasing a deluxe DVD edition of Dark
Shadows creator Dan Curtis' acclaimed miniseries
War and Remembrance on October 29. The package includes
newly-shot interview material with Curtis and can be pre-ordered
at a discount price from Amazon.com by clicking
here.
| DVD
Updates |
October
16
2002 |
MPI
Home Video have confirmed that Dark Shadows DVD Collection
3 is fully duplicated and will meet its revised release
date of October 29. It can be pre-ordered at a discount
price with free shipping from Amazon.com by clicking
here. DVD Collection 4 is tentatively scheduled
for release on February 25 2003.
With
thanks to MPI Home Video
| Keene
Curtis: 1923-2002 |
October
16
2002 |
Keene
Curtis (voice of Judah Zachery) died on October 13 of
causes related to Alzheimer's disease. He was 79.
Though
his Dark Shadows role was relatively minor, his career
elsewhere was extensive, including Broadway roles in Division
Street, Via Galactica, Night Watch, A Patriot for Me, Hamlet,
Cock-a-Doodle Dandy, The Misanthrope and The Cocktail
Party. His role in the musical The Rothschilds won
him a Tony. His many television credits included M*A*S*H,
Star Trek Voyager, ER and Ally McBeal, along
with a recurring role on Cheers as John Hill, the
owner of the upstairs restaurant.
For
more information, view his obituary on Playbill
Online.
With
thanks to MsCriseyde
| Dennis
Patrick: 1918-2002 |
October
14
2002 |
It
is with great sadness we report the death of Dennis Patrick
(Jason McGuire, Paul Stoddard). He was 84. Dennis died
on the afternoon of Sunday October 13 in a fire that destroyed
much of his home in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Los
Angeles. He was found with the body of his beloved standard
poodle beside him.
ShadowGram
reports: "Firefighters responding to the call had a
difficult time navigating the narrow, winding roads in the
area. Apparently the blaze started in the bottom level of
the wood-frame split-level home. The lower levels were destroyed.
Dennis was found in the television room in the upper level,
which did not burn."
From
Associated Press: "Dennis Patrick, a veteran
actor best known for recurring
roles on the television series Dallas and Dark
Shadows, died Sunday as his house caught fire. He was
84. An
autopsy was pending.
Neighbours
said Patrick was battling cancer and needed kidney dialysis.
Investigators believe he may have died from smoke inhalation.
It
took about 50 firefighters to extinguish the blaze that
broke out at 1:17 p.m. in the 1937-era wood home, said Fire
Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Smoke billowing from
the house could be seen for miles.
Patrick,
who lived alone, was found dead with his dog next to him,
said fire Chief Daniel McCarty.
Many
of Patrick's roles leaned toward the macabre, including
appearances on The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock
Hour and the campy '60s soap opera Dark Shadows.
His recent appearances include the 1988 TV miniseries War
and Remembrance and the 1994 movie, The Air Up There."
Dennis'
career spanned nearly five decades, as an accomplished actor
and director of film, television and theatre. His canny
wit and personal warmth made him a much loved guest at the
Dark Shadows Festival fan conventions, which he attended
regularly up until last July's event in Annaheim, California.
Ever the consumate showman and gentleman, Dennis' unique
humour and insight will leave him greatly missed by the
Dark Shadows fan community. Our deepest sympathy
is extended to Dennis' family and friends.
To
read more about the life of this remarkable performer, click
here. To see a selection of photographs of Dennis at
the 2002 Dark Shadows Festival, click
here. To view the special tribute to Dennis that featured
on the homepage of this site, click
here.
With
thanks to Marcy Robin/ShadowGram, Alane Sue Megna and Fran
Robert
| Jonathan
Frid Updates |
October
13
2002 |
Jonathan
Frid (Barnabas) has updated his website with new features
and a selection of recent photographs in a comic vein. Access
them at www.jonathanfrid.com.
With
thanks to Nancy Kersey
| DIY
Selby! |
October
13
2002 |
David
Selby (Quentin) recently appeared on the Do It Yourself
Network's DIY Halloween show in a segment discussing
"scary storytelling." The episode is repeated
on October 18 at 11:00am and 2:00pm and on October 25 at
11:30am and 2:30pm.
With
thanks to MsCriseyde
| 1991
Actors at Large |
October
13
2002 |
Fans
of the 1991 Dark Shadows revival can now enjoy seeing
some of its actors on US daytime television. Rebecca
Staab (Daphne Collins, pictured) joins the cast of Port
Charles later this month, in a story about an unusual
rock band. Meanwhile, on Days of Our Lives, Veronica
Lauren (Sarah Collins) is now under contract in the
recurring role of Cynthia, a university freshman. Moviegoers,
meanwhile, can see Michael Cavanaugh (Sheriff Patterson)
as a forensic dentist in Red Dragon, the new Hannibal
Lecter film.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| New
Garage Kits Released |
October
9
2002 |
The
Clay Guy is offering a range of collectable Dark
Shadows figurines, affectionately caricaturing several
of Collinsport's finest. Barnabas Collins, Angelique, Quentin
Collins and Julia Hoffman are currently available and more
figures are planned. Each figure stands approximately six
inches tall and is available either assembled and painted
or in kit form. Painted figures range from $35.00-45.00
and unpainted figures retail at $20.00. For more information
and ordering details, visit clayguy.com
| Dark
Shadows
Feature in Autograph Collector |
October
7
2002 |
Autograph
Collector magazine is to feature an extensive two-part
feature called Return to Collinwood: Collecting Dark
Shadows, to feature in its November and December issues.
Written with the cooperation of Dan Curtis Prodictions,
it promises extensive illustrations, along with quotes from
long-time fans Dee Kearney (Louis Edmonds' Fan Club President)
and Robert Finocchio (Diana Millay's Fan Club President).
The magazine is available at Borders, Barnes and Noble and
other leading bookstores.
With
thanks to Rob Labbe
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