SHADOWGRAM NEWS UPDATE   # 354
April 13, 2015

Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following key breaking news in this Official Dark Shadows News Online Update "bulletin."
 
 
***** DAVID SELBY PARTICIPATES IN 150TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS COMMEMORATING ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S 1865 ASSASSINATION
 
DAVID (Quentin Collins) is a lifelong student of Lincoln, his presidency, his times, and his legacy. He will participate in the historical events and programs commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination on April 14-15, 1865.
 
All events will be held at the actual locations in Washington, DC on those dates - – Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 – at Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was shot 4-14-1865, while watching the “Our American Cousin” comedy play, and the Petersen House across the street, where he was taken and where he died early in the morning of 4-15-1865.
 
“The Lincoln Tribute” is Ford’s “round-the-clock event,” spanning all day Tuesday, 4-14 through to the evening of Wednesday, 4-15.
Ford’s Publicity: “Ford's Theatre will present a moving commemorative tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, 150 years to the day since his assassination. This evening event will include readings of Lincoln’s words and stories, Civil War-era music, excerpts from Lincoln’s favorite theatre and operas, and more. The event seeks to remind us that we not only lost a president; we lost a man who treasured his family, his friends and his country with a love so strong it could hold the Union together.”
David’s wife Chip tells SG: David “was asked to be part of the very special events.” The main focus is Tuesday night’s full special program, “Now He Belongs to the Ages.” She says “David is a big part of (this) program. This event has been sold out for a long time, but is being live-streamed.”
 
The “Now He Belongs to the Ages” program will begin at 9:00pm (ET) at Ford’s Theatre. (8:00pm CT, 7:00pm MT, 6:00pm PT).
 
LA Times 4-13: The live “performance will be streamed online at   fords.org  and also be shown on big-screen TVs in the courtyard of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.”
 
The live streaming video should be available on Ustream:  http://www.ustream.tv/
 
LA Times 4-13: “Ford’s Theatre today looks very much as it did during Lincoln’s time, thanks to photographs Matthew Brady took within days of the assassination. The plain-brick, 3-story Petersen House also looks much the same…. The parlors and bedroom where Lincoln died have been re-created with 1865-period furnishings, though none original to the house.”
 
In the mid-1990s, David wrote and starred in one of his first plays, “Lincoln & James.” It is based on the story of a National Park Service employee who helped maintain the iconic Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln Statue in Washington DC. David starred as Lincoln in Ford Theatre’s THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK  in 2009 and NECESSARY SACRIFICES in 2012. He portrayed a young Lincoln in the 1970 TV special FLATBOAT MAN. He also wrote the novel “Lincoln’s Better Angel,” based on his “Lincoln & James” play.
 
Chip: “This will strictly be about Lincoln and the assassination.” She anticipates “David will be doing at least 3 things with different people or groups.”
 
She continues: “Every year on April 15 the National Park Service holds a small wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate Lincoln's passing. This year they are raising the profile for the special anniversary.” She indicates plans call for “an Honor Guard from the USS Abraham Lincoln will help present the wreath. The Federal City Brass Band will play. The Secretary of the Department of the Interior ((Sally Jewell)) will make a few remarks. A commemorative wreath-laying ceremony will be held on the steps of the Petersen House at 7:22am, the time Lincoln died.”
 
Chip has indicated David is part of this event as well. She adds, “Major news channels will be filming the wreath-laying on Wednesday morning for the 7:00am news.” This event will not be live-streamed.
 
Chip shared: “We are delighted to be part of this ceremony. How wonderful for David to have been” one of the few actors “to portray Lincoln at Ford's and to be able to not only perform the night before,” but also to be a part of the ceremony “on the anniversary of his death.”
 
Ford’s Theatre publicity: “This around-the-clock event will mark the 150th  anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination…. Throughout the day and night on the street outside, living historians will provide first-person accounts about the end of the Civil War, the experience of being inside the theatre at the moment of the assassination, medical reports from the Petersen House, and the impact of Lincoln’s life and death. Both days will have ranger talks, performances, and panel discussions about the life, assassination and legacy of our 16th president….Starting the evening of 4-14, Ford’s will host Civil War living historians on Tenth Street to re-create the vigil for Abraham Lincoln. The public will be able to visit the Ford’s Theatre campus throughout the night. The morning of 4-15, Ford’s will mark Abraham Lincoln’s death at 7:22 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony; church bells will toll across the city, just as they did in 1865.”
 
SG asks that fans who are living in or visiting the Washington DC area during this special occasion please share their reports, photos, local media coverage, etc., particularly any items that refer to David and his participation.

Happy Birthday!   

Wonderful news, Unc!

It's always fun to be surprised by a DS alum showing up on the screen, but before today, HBO's docu-film on Scientology probably would have been the last place I'd expect to spot one.

Mere minutes beyond the halfway point of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, I recognized Michael D. Roberts (Sheriff Patterson in the '04 pilot) on the stage with John Travolta and others as they faced L. Ron Hubbard's image and sang Happy Birthday to the deceased founder.  Michael D. is not credited, but a quick Google search reveals that he is indeed a member of Scientology.

It's too bad the C of S didn't use its pull to get that pilot greenlit. 

Announcement from Chad Hopkins:

We are happy to announce the FRIENDS OF 91 DARK SHADOWS REUNION II.

This fundraiser, for Lockwood-Matthews Mansion (House of Dark Shadows shooting location), will take place on Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 27th, 2015 at the Double Tree Hotel in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Festivities include a BUS TRIP to Essex, Connecticut (home of Maggie Evans Cottage and The Collinsport Inn); Mini tours of Lockwood Matthews Mansion; Q&A Sessions with Dark Shadows Stars; Autographs and Raffles with a grand prize chance to explore the closed off Basement of Lockwood Matthews Mansion.

Flyer and Registration form with payment information to follow soon. Availability is EXTREMELY LIMITED, so it is first come, first serve event.

For updates, please join our mailing list at FO91DS@yahoo.com.