I'm just going to add my take on the events to this thread.
Friday
******
Robert Rodan was unable to make it to the Adam and Eve reunione because of traffic. We were told that he would be present later in the weekend. In the meantime, Marie Wallace watched all the video clips herself and commented on them, gushing over Humbert Allen Astredo as Nicholas Blair. (That reminds me--the first act in Saturday's costume gala was Michael Culhane as Nicholas Blair, who led the audience in a salute commemorating the 40th anniversary of Astredo's first appearance on DS. Apparently, Jim Pierson was going to send Astredo the video.) All of the actors' panels featured extemely lengthy video clips. Usually, a 2-3 min clip is played to highlight one or two characters or to generate some conversation, but these were entire scenes, each at least 5-10 mins long, and there were 4-5 of them per panel. Personally, I would rather watch fewer videos and have extra time for Q&As.
"Willie Remembers" came next. While on-stage, Karlen wore sunglasses almost the entire time, looking quite cool and reminding me of Jack Nicholson. In between video clips, Johnny joked a lot about his role as Willie and how he had to drain cows for Barnabas ("Not one, not two, but three or four cows a night! Do you know how hard it is to sneak up behind a cow? Do you know what they do? They don't say 'Moo'"). He praised Dennis Patrick and reminisced about all the fun and laughter they shared. After seeing a clip of Willie talking with the Eagle Hill Cemetery caretaker, he also asked for a minute of silence to honor "Whatever his name was" (Daniel Keyes). One of my favorite questions for Johnny came from a woman in a wheelchair. She recalled the Las Vegas convention 10 years earlier. "You were kind enough to push me all the way down that long hallway at the MGM Grand to get to the ballroom," she said. "Oh, good. I thought you were going to tell me that I pushed you into the pool," Karlen laughed. He said the Vegas Fest was his favorite. Another lady asked him "a burning question that we ladies have wanted to know for the past 40 years." Since Willie had to help Barnabas find a new wardrobe for the 20th Century after releasing him, she wanted to know, "Does Barnabas wear boxers or briefs?" Karlen chuckled before reporting to the amusement of all, "He doesn't wear anything." Another fan complimented him on all the weight he'd lost and how good he looked. "The secret is to get rid of all the junk food," he explained. "You've got to have the willpower to just throw it out. Don't worry about the people in Shanghai and Thailand; they aren't going to be able to get it, so just get rid of it." I thought he was hilarious!
I missed Lara and Kathryn's Q&A because I had to get ready for the Collinsport Players' skit. Thank you to everyone who attended our performance of "Curtains"! I know it was very late and you were probably hungry, chilled, and tired from so much sitting already, but I appreciate that you came and supported us anyway!
Saturday
********
Marcy Robin was delayed, so her opening talk was cut short (mainly she reviewed how all of the actors died). Pierson spoke for five minutes about the Depp movie, and then we watched an episode of the comedy series "JJ and the Governor" guest-starring Joan Bennet (in her yellow tent dress from
House of DS) as a madam trying to make a political donation to the title character. This show was a lot funnier than I'd expected it to be, and Joan was terrific.
Stuart Manning took the stage for the Big Finish panel and revealed that we will soon be hearing a new audio drama (maybe two) from our own Mark Rainey!
![[clap2]](http://www.dsboards.com/SMF/Smileys/classic/clap2.gif "Clap")
Stuart said that the next season of audio dramas has already gone into production and should be available by the end of the year.
I was in and out of the room for Sy Thomashoff's talk.
Bob Cobert was another laugh-a-minute guest. He came onstage dancing to the DS soundtrack and pretending to conduct the music. Throughout the panel, he'd whistle and sing the songs (e.g. "Bee bee be bop be bee be bee"). He even came up with some lyrics for Josette's music box ("Hello, Jo. This is your music box...") Cobert retold the story of how he became a composer: "I was supposed to be 'My son the Doctor.' I did several years of medical school, but I just hated it. I'd always loved music and finally I told my parents that I wanted to be a composer. Well, naturally they were thrilled. Now instead of 'My Son the Doctor,' I was going to be 'My Son the Unemployed Composer.'" Cobert admitted that he's always been a lousy pianist and hated practicing piano. "I finally begged my parents, 'Get me a clarinet or a saxophone, anything but a piano!' So they gave me a clarinet, and I couldn't put it down. They'd say, 'Son, don't you want to eat?' I just kept playing."
He also told a funny story of how his kids, who were DS fans, were completely unaware that he wrote the music for it until a classmate pointed it out. "They asked me, 'Dad, are you Robert Cobert?' I said, 'Yes, that's my name.'
'Do you write the music for Dark Shadows?'
'Yes, Dark Shadows puts food on our table, puts clothes on your back, sends you through school.'
"Oh, OK.'"
He also mentioned what a thrill it was to take the kids Christmas shopping at Macy's and, upon visiting the record department, to learn that "Dark Shadows by Robert Cobert" was the Number 1 album. We learned that all the DS music, except for the theme song, was recorded in London because it was cheaper. Cobert told another amusing story of how he came up with the DS theme (the paycheck and the need to eat are always his inspiration, he says) and how Curtis mucked around with the base during the initial recording of the song. Curtis was sure the song would sound better without the base. Cobert tried to discourage him, pointing out that the experiment would waste both time and money, but he insisted. Upon hearing the baseless tune, Curtis asked, "What happened?" After that he never interfered with Cobert again. We also learned (it was news to me anyway) that Cobert was commissioned by MGM to co-write the score for the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. (They had asked a friend to write the main theme but the studio, to whom Cobert was contracted, needed a B-side song so they could release a record of the music. So he wrote "The Mediterannean Waltz"). Lastly, Cobert flirted with a young woman who asked a question (which I can't remember now) at the mike. "We'll talk later," he promised her. "I'll give you my phone number," she offered. Members of the audience whistled. "Just don't expect too much of me," Cobert warned, "I'm 83 years old. But I am a very good kisser. At least that's what I tell myself."
Frid's first panel was called "The Growth of Barnabas" where he screened clips of his favorite scenes from the show (Barnabas meeting David at the Old House, Barnabas and Burke having their 'duel' conversation at the Blue Whale, Barnabas hearing Sarah's voice singing for the first time in over a century, Barnabas learning Josette and Jeremiah were married). He discussed how mortified he was during the last scene because he forgot a line. He managed to persuade the editor to let him back into the studio after hours in exchange for a publicity favor in order to fix the scene and cover up the gaffe. Frid also mentioned what a wonderful actor Thayer David was and how much he admired him and enjoyed working with him. He played three clips of Thayer's characters (Ben, Sandor, and Prof. Stokes). The last scene was of Stokes conducting a seance to communicate with Pierre Cordier, the ghostly lover of Danielle Roget. After the clips, Frid took a few questions from the audience, including the question about Grayson Hall, whether he would accept a cameo role in the new movie (no), and what he thought of Johnny Depp playing the part of Barnabas. Frid confessed that he does not know who Depp is. "I have not been to a movie theater in years. I think the last film I saw was
Titanic...maybe one other. However, I'm told that he's a very good actor."
The cast reunion followed, featuring David Selby, Chris Pennock, John Karlen, Lara Parker, Jerry Lacy, KLS, Roger Davis, Marie Wallace and Robert Rodan. I had hoped Frid would participate in this event too, but perhaps he was too tired. It's always a treat to see the actors interacting and teasing each other. At one point in the Q&A, a fan asked Pennock if he was still selling his comic books and Karlen exclaimed, "He's a shill! Pennock planted him!"
Pennock was asked about his death scene as Gabriel in 1841 parallel time and whether he intentionally gave the middle finger to the camera (because that's what it sure looks like--MB, is there a screen cap anywhere on the board?) "Oh, I was very angry to be killed off," Pennock admitted. "I was not ready to leave. But no, I wasn't crazy enough to do that. I don't remember that at all." Pennock also said that he would be appearing in a comedic play in Idyllwild and another short film in which he plays a sociopath ("It's a stretch, I know.") who sells drugs to teenagers.
Lara Parker gushed about her new grandson Wesley, the light of her life. "After he was born, I went online to visit different Bad Mother-in-Law websites and read the advice. 'Don't ever criticize your daughter-in-law or question her. Don't tell her what to do with the baby.' She wants him to develop at his own pace so she tells us not to play with him or challenge him. When she leaves him with me, I listen to all of her instructions and say, 'OK'. Then I wait for her to leave and I wait about 10 more minutes in case she comes back--sometimes she does. Then, I take him out of the playpen and say, "Come on, Wesley! Let's play!" Her enthusiasm was adorable. Lara also mentioned that she is writing a new DS novel set in the 1920s where Elizabeth is a flapper who falls in love with Quentin. "Of course, he doesn't age, but she does." Her description of the book sounded fascinating. I've always like the Roaring 20s as a setting for DS. I simply wasn't sure if Elizabeth's age on the series fit the timeline (would she be old enough to be a flapper?) but after seeing the "Characters' Ages" topic now in Current Talk, I'm satisfied.
Someone asked Karlen about working with Tyne Daly on "Cagney & Lacey". He said they still keep in touch and had had dinner together recently. "In all the years we worked together, we never once had to exchange notes on our scenes. That's remarkable for an actor." Karlen also started reciting Shakespeare at one point. He was pretty passionate. He confessed that he misses acting ("I stopped doing it because I just got lazy") but that he is considering getting back into the business. I was thrilled to hear this. I think Johnny's work on the DS audio dramas is spectacular and I would absolutely love to see him on TV again, or the stage.
The biggest surprise of the panel was from Roger Davis, returning to the Fest for the first time since 2003. He told us that his brother had recently died of a heart problem, and it inspired him to get a cardiogram of his own. "The doctor told me, 'You have a blockage. In another 90 days, you'll be dead.' It was the same thing that killed Tim Russert. I had a bypass and I've been on a special diet ever since." He talked about attending events for "Alias, Smith & Jones" with Ben Murphy. "Murphy told me, 'I would have been nicer to you if I had known this was going to be the high point of my career."
The cast was asked if they ever attended conventions for their other shows besides DS (e.g. "Falcon Crest," "Smith and Jones," "Cagney & Lacey.") Nearly everyone all said no. "We only love you!" John Karlen declared. The cast was also asked about their most memorable moments on DS. Selby remembered the studio catching fire and the fire department coming to put it out. Karlen remembered everyone going out for drinks to the Brittany du Soir after taping. Roger Davis recalled that when he played vampire Dirk, he rushed at Joan Bennet and she fell over. "That's because you pushed her," KLS scolded. "I didn't mean to," he argued back. "I just get so caught up in my roles." The panel talked at length and were very interesting. I think a lot of people from the audience missed this event though because they had gone to get food.
I missed Darren Gross's
Night of DS panel because I was getting ready for the costume gala.
A couple of people told me the next day that there were technical difficulties and Darren was not able to show the special restored scene after all! This clip did play at the banquet (the one good thing about the event). It's a scene where Angelique (in the past) is playing Quentin's Theme and tells Charles that it reminds her of him when he's away. They flirt--right in front of Charles's wife Laura, who accuses Angelique of bewitching her husband. It was a splendid scene, one that really helps to round out the characters. The only downside is that Diana Millay's voice sounds so much rougher and older than she did in 1971, so it's not a seamless redo.
Sunday
*******
After Frank's lecture and Chris's video, KLS spoke. She complimented his short film as a compassionate study of homeless life, explaining that she knows a lot of people in show business who have fallen on hard times and are now living out of their cars. Kathryn volunteers with the homeless through her church during the weekends. She is working on three different novels right now, including two mysteries, and has also just filmed a commercial for Actonel (Osteoporosis medication). "Apparently at my age," she joked, "the only commercials you get to make anymore feature body parts that don't work anymore or are falling off." She spent the bulk of her Q&A outlining her vision for Maggie's character in the new movie (see my reply to "Movie Cast Ideas" in Current Talk '08 II).
Jerry Lacy watched clips of all of his performances as Trask (but not Tony Peterson). Asked what was 1795 Rev. Trasks's first name, he christened him Orville, then admitted the character had never been given a first name. Lacy was also asked if he'd ever received hate mail because his characters were so evil. "If I did, nobody ever gave them to me."
I missed Lara Parker's Q&A, the auction, and the first part of the "lost script." I've already written about the rest of Sunday's events.
Each night of the Festival, I stayed up until the wee hours socializing with other fasn, both old and new friends, and had a blast! On Saturday night, we even had a little birthday celebration for Minja and sheenasma in the corridor between the West Wing tower elevators and the Daily Grill. The friendships and camaraderie are always the highlight of these events in my book.
![[ghost_smiley]](http://www.dsboards.com/SMF/Smileys/classic/ghost_smiley.gif "Smiley")
I already can't wait for next year.
![[ghost_grin]](http://www.dsboards.com/SMF/Smileys/classic/ghost_grin.gif "Grin")
ProfStokes
