I love the new colors -- the deep blue background is like the ocean in the opening credits, and nicely complements the picture of Collinwood.  Also, the pale blue type is very comforting on the eyes.

The color scheme seems very appropriate overall for "Dark Shadows."

Crushed and depressed ... that's how I feel, especially knowing that I'm unable to attend this year.  But I was hoping I would be able to attend again in the next couple of years (although it was beginning to look like it might be of few years in the future before I'd be able to afford it again).

This is so shocking, I can't believe it.

The only strand of hope I hold on to is that there may be smaller gatherings organized -- but who is going to go through the enormous task of arranging those (Nancy makes some very good points about the tremendous amount of work involved, which many of us probably don't stop to think about).

I've heard that the Halloween events at Lockwood have gotten so overcrowded that if it gets much worse, that'll be a nightmare.

I don't even want to think that I might never see people like Midnite, Prof. Stokes, Ben, Teresa, happybat, and so many others, ever again.

If I weren't in a public place right now I'd probably be crying, but I guess I better call on my Scandinavian stoicism to pull me through ...

So many disappointments in life, and the festival was one bright spot ...

Could anyone help me with a technical difficulty?

Although I don't have a DVD player yet, I have purchased about half a dozen DVDs.  Upon opening the box of a couple just to see what they look like (and anxiously anticipating that future day when I'll be able to actually play them), I'm unsure how to remove the disk from the plastic thing that holds them in the center hole.

This is actually the same type of thing with CDs ... and I've never been able to figure out an easy way of lifting these out without bending the disk and yanking!!  Could I damage the CDs or DVD disks?

 

I get a major ick feeling from this entire plot, but this business about "your most precious possession" bothers me (surprise, surprise).

When I've heard that expression before, it's usually been in a rather different context. Usually as in physical objects (like a photograph, or a piece of furniture or some thing. Not as in actual people.

Come to think of it, if a person referred to me as a possession (which implies ownership), I would feel obliged to clock them. 

Interesting perspective.  Perhaps it is more appropriate for very young children.  I just read a brief story, I can't remember who the people involved were, but there was a wealthy countess or someone who showed off her many riches; and a woman of more limited means, who told a visitor to her home, as she showed her young children:  "These are my jewels."

And although Im really not to fond of this storyline I do think that Barnabas gives a superb perfomance as the "new evil human Barnabas."    Hey, he's more evil than his old vampire self

This is a good observation, Cassandra.  I meant to mention this in the Leviathan thread when I mentioned Frid's performance as one of the highlights of the new storyline.  You're right -- he's not identical to the "evil" Barnabas ... Frid has made a fine distinction in his portrayal; the "Leviathan" Barnabas is really an entirely new character.

Glad you pointed this out.

I was always under the impression that the good professor knew alot more than he cared to admit to the folks at Collinwood.  I think he was better off keeping a distance and not getting too involved in their crazy problems.  He sort of reminded me of the "helper" who always stood in the backround and only gave advice when asked.

Your comments make good sense, Deb.

I had blithely assumed all along that Professor Stokes was in the dark about Barnabas, etc., but this thread is beginning to convince me otherwise.

 :-

I didn't get this one taped after all, but it sounds like there are better movies with Joan Bennett.  Luciaphil, since you seem to be up on when these air, would you please post if "Woman in the Window" or "Scarlet Street" airs on cable?  Thank you.  Oh, and also "The Reckless Moment."

 

I've come to believe that the character of Professor Stokes was based on Professor Hans Holzer, an occultist and self-styled "ghost hunter" who has written a number of books about his encounters with the supernatural.  Prof. Holzer often uses mediums when going into the field; Prof. Stokes seemed to know Madame Findley pretty well--perhaps they worked together under similar circumstances prior to Quentin.  Holzer was prominent during the 1960's and was even called in as a consultant for the seance scene in Night of Dark Shadows so Curtis & co. must surely have known about him while writing the series.  He has a PhD, but I'm not sure what it's for.  Holzer was educated abroad, so it's possible that his degree is in parapsychology (there are no such programs in the states.)  I would agree that Stokes is primarily involved with psychology.

I don't know very much about Hans Holzer (my impression is that he is not as erudite as our professor), but it seems reasonable that he may have been at least partial inspiration for the character of Professor Stokes.

I guess not!  Have to confess to not watching the last few Leviathan shows but I'm gonna go check out the tape as soon as possible.  So, let's see - I'm searching for male sex organs?
Got it.   ROTFL

Well, male AND female.  I may not have been explicit enough ... the horizontal altar is "female" ... perceptions of this were reinforced when it "parted" to symbolically "receive" the vertical "member."  In other words, the opening of the altar (with the standing stone between it) symbolically enacted sexual union between the female "goddess" and male "god."

I hope that's clear enough!