ShadowGram Update #164

[Teresa]

since alexandra penned the foreward to "dark shadows memories",attended the 2001 museum of television and radio tribute to dark shadows and is narrating the newly released first year dvds i don't think she's really "snubbed" the fans either.

but something about the live nature of the fests seems to scare her off.i find it extremely distressing that the claus von bulow business is still on people's minds and that is one of the reasons she never comes.it's the fans that are really missing out on that one.

There would always be that one person at a fest that would bring something of that nature up. Sometimes I am amazed at the poor manners people use at these fest. I've volunteered and just watched on several occasions. People in the lines willl go on forever and ask really strange questions. I've heard people comment directly to the person about weight gain, drinking, and within ear shot say something rude. Plus if you do dislike large crowds I can imagine. Maybe if the next event is much smaller and she may consider attending. That would be wonderful.

[Gerard]

Sometimes I am amazed at the poor manners people use at these fest. I've volunteered and just watched on several occasions. People in the lines willl go on forever and ask really strange questions. I've heard people comment directly to the person about weight gain, drinking, and within ear shot say something rude.

I've witnessed some of the rudeness at the 2003 convention in Brooklyn, the only one I've ever attended.  I and some friends were there just for a few hours on Saturday.  I got in the line to meet The Lovely and Talented Kathryn Leigh Scott, and when it was finally my turn, I didn't want to take up her time.  I simply told her about how much I appreciated all the joy she brought to me, and ask her to quickly autograph two things (my program, and the box containing Josette's Music Box which I had purchased), and for a photograph.  She was so obliging.  But while I was trying to rapidly "do my schtick" and move on, the guy next to me kept interrupting, adding his own two cents, not wanting to wait his turn.  Not only was I becoming perturbed, but I could tell Miss Scott was uncomfortable.  Finally I turned to him and sternly asked him to be quiet.  He quickly hushed up, and I saw Miss Scott give a sigh of relief.

Gerard

[David]

I won't  go into it now, but in the past I've posted about problems & bad behavior in fandom.

But we'll always have this board~~a safe space where these things can be discussed openly, honestly, & with mutual respect.

Thanks, mods.

David

[adamsgirl]

RE: her snubbing of fans:

I know of one fan who went to a screening of her second film with more than 25 (!!!!) items for her to sign.

I know of several others who, by their own admission, can't wait to ask her about the Von Bulow affair, a subject NO ONE WHO CARES ABOUT HER WOULD BROACH!!!!!

I'm sure she's gracious and lovely, and it's a shame about the Von Bulow thing, since fans are rude enough to ask her about it when they do see her. However, the reason I mentioned resentment was because of things I overheard at the last festival. Fans were angry that she didn't come to the 40th anniversary. They showed that anger by very warmly embracing Betsy Durkin, who only played Vicki for a very short time. Of course, she's a lovely lady in her own right, but it was telling to me that she got such a reception.

[BuzzH]

I'm sure she's gracious and lovely, and it's a shame about the Von Bulow thing, since fans are rude enough to ask her about it when they do see her. However, the reason I mentioned resentment was because of things I overheard at the last festival. Fans were angry that she didn't come to the 40th anniversary. They showed that anger by very warmly embracing Betsy Durkin, who only played Vicki for a very short time. Of course, she's a lovely lady in her own right, but it was telling to me that she got such a reception.

I have to disagree completely here.  While I have no doubt that ppl were disappointed, maybe even actually angry, that Alexandra (and for that matter David Henesy, Kate Jackson etc...) didn't attend the 40th, I don't think disappointment or anger at Alexandra was the reason Betsy was so warmly greeted.  Betsy was, to use a James Lipton quote, a delight!  She was very warm, gracious, friendly, inviting etc...to all fans, even the ones who didn't buy her book (like me).  This is the reaon she was so warmly greeted, because she was so warm to us!  Alexandra's absence had nothing to do w/it and to suggest such is actually a little insulting to Ms. Durkin. 

[Nancy]

I don't get fans who would be "angry" over an actor not coming to a festival or the anniversary.  These people have no idea what is going on in the private lives of any of these actors and other reasons that actor may not wish to be in the spotlight for even a weekend or a day.  These actors have real lives outside of work or their legacy on a show that goes on no matter what.  I know that Alexandra Moltke had a terrible time at one point, when it became known where she worked, fans just showing up not only at her work place but looking for her in the "break" room.  Perhaps that figures into her not wanting to be any more public than she already is.  Maybe she has other obligations, who knows?  But to actually be "angry" or resentful over it is beyond anything I understand.

nancy

I'm sure she's gracious and lovely, and it's a shame about the Von Bulow thing, since fans are rude enough to ask her about it when they do see her. However, the reason I mentioned resentment was because of things I overheard at the last festival. Fans were angry that she didn't come to the 40th anniversary. They showed that anger by very warmly embracing Betsy Durkin, who only played Vicki for a very short time. Of course, she's a lovely lady in her own right, but it was telling to me that she got such a reception.

[arashi]

It has recently been discovered that Jonathan Frid (Barnabas) made a guest appearance on actress-singer Della Reese (Touched by An Angel) television talk show, simply titled "Della," which aired from 1969-70. Jonathan, in fact, appeared on the very first show, telecast on Fri., June 6, 1969. This was during the height of DS' popularity. Interestingly, another guest on the show was Vincent Price.

Unfortunately, neither Ms. Reese nor the distributor retained copies of the show.

Oh man! Jonathan Frid AND Vincent Price? Come on! Talk about dream come true! The only way it could be better is if Christopher Lee was there as well. Alas! I hope they find it because I would love to hear it.

[Brandon Collins]

I totally understand AMI not being comfortable with large crowds. Sometimes people can be quite overbearing. Not to mention the fact that I rather see her like Jonathan Frid:

Would I like to see them at a fest? Who wouldn't?! But the fact that they haven't come for some time would only make their lines longer and their time there more grating and slow: Imagine the lines of people who would want autographs, pictures, to ask questions, share personal stories, etc etc. The lines with LP were bad last year, and these lines would be 10 times as horrible, I'm sure.

It doesn't mean they're snubbing the fans, but the fact of the matter is that if they DID attend, it'd be a madhouse to get to them. There's no telling what fans would do to get a minute alone--follow them to their room, interrupt their meals, follow them into the restroom, etc etc.

If it were me, I'd be hesitant to attend as well.

[Nancy]

It is one thing to be an actress on a show and get fan mail and attention on the street.  It's quite another to be an actor attending a festival where you are yourself.  No character to hide behind.  It's all about you. Some actors are not comfortable with that scenario.  Humbert Allen Astredo, to take one example, hated the one festival he attended and would rather not take a curtain call if he can avoid it in his stage work.  He isn't the type who would do well at a festival.  Maybe AM isn't either.  For anyone to be "angry" at her for not being a natural is in that kind of atmosphere is like faulting someone for not being a whiz at math.  You either are that or you are not.

Nancy

I totally understand AMI not being comfortable with large crowds. Sometimes people can be quite overbearing. Not to mention the fact that I rather see her like Jonathan Frid:

 it were me, I'd be hesitant to attend as well.

[michael c]

i thought alexandra isles was supposed to be this grand lady.her documentary films reek of noblesse oblige.

when did she ever have a job with a "break room"?

that is so "nine-to-five".i just can't picture her on the frozen-yogurt-diet-snapple-iced-tea-circuit.

[Jackie]

Well I hope even studios have break rooms to relax between takes. 

[Nancy]

She worked at the Museum of Broadcasting for a few years.  Most work places have a "break room."

Nancy

i thought alexandra isles was supposed to be this grand lady.her documentary films reek of noblesse oblige.

when did she ever have a job with a "break room"?

that is so "nine-to-five".i just can't picture her on the frozen-yogurt-diet-snapple-iced-tea-circuit.

[MsCriseyde]

She worked at the Museum of Broadcasting for a few years.  Most work places have a "break room."

Getting a little off topic, but I always find this amusing. Our grad student lounge is named in honor of a gentleman whose last name was Work, which makes it the Work Room; however, the Work Room is actually more of a break room. Confused yet? 

People's perceptions of Alexandra Moltke are interesting. Last time I checked, you don't need to be a blue blood to produce a documentary. Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock, just to name a couple of documentary filmmakers, weren't exactly to the manor born.

[Nancy]

Yes, they have been interesting.  A friend if mine interned at Doubleday in New York and worked in the same department as Jackie Kennedy Onassis.  Mrs. Onassis eat her sandwiches while seated on the floor while going through manuscripts.  So did the intern who really loved Mrs. O.'s sandwiches, by the way.  Yeppers, Mrs. O' brownbagged her lunch most days.

Nancy

People's perceptions of Alexandra Moltke are interesting. Last time I checked, you don't need to be a blue blood to produce a documentary. Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock, just to name a couple of documentary filmmakers, weren't exactly to the manor born.

[BuzzH]

There's no telling what fans would do to get a minute alone--follow them to their room, interrupt their meals, follow them into the restroom, etc etc.

This is so true!  I remember one of the LA Fests where Karlenfan and I had gone to lunch w/Louie Edmonds, after he'd become frail because of the cancer and could only do short appearances onstage and at the Fest in general.  We had to keep ppl from coming up to his table, WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO EAT, and bugging him for autographs etc...Later, when we escorted him back to his room so he could take a nap, we had ppl following us for the same reasons and we had to run interferance there as well.  This also occured at a NY Fest the following year when we took him down to the lobby of the Marriot Marquis at the end of a very long, tiring day for him to put him in a taxi to go home for the night.  It took us like 20 minutes!  It was ridiculous.