**** ROBERT COBERT TO RECEIVE AWARD
**** IN REMEMBRANCE - ALEX STEVENS
**** FRIENDS OF 91 DS EVENT IN CONNECTICUT:UPDATE
SHADOWGRAM NEWS UPDATE # 357
May 1, 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."
**** ROBERT COBERT TO BE HONORED WITH “LIFE CAREER” AWARD
SG congratulates Robert (DS Music Composer), who will receive the “Life Career Award” honor from the Saturn Awards Organization at its 41st annual ceremony 6-25 in Burbank, CA.
The Award will be presented by DS’ DAVID SELBY and KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT.
Publicity: “The Saturn Awards is the official award presentation voted by the members of The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror,…a non-profit organization founded in 1972” to “honor and recognize” these genres in film. Later “the focus was broadened to include additional genres” and individual categories such as acting directing, writing, editing, effects, music, costuming, make-up, and other technical areas that go into any production in “the fields of film, television, home entertainment, and, on occasion, live stage production.” These awards “strive to honor film and television in categories which best reflect their genres.”
Bob composed all of DS’ music themes and cues as well as virtually all the music for DS creator DAN CURTIS’ feature films and TV movies/series/anthologies. His score for Dan’s monumental miniseries WAR & REMEMBRANCE brought Bob a 1988 Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 1981, he received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his music in the CBS AFTERNOON PLAYHOUSE SPECIAL: I THINK I’’M HAVING A BABY. Among Bob’s compositions are the themes for the game shows $25,000 PYRAMID, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, and PASSWORD.
The music industry has acknowledged Bob too. His composition for DS, “Quentin’s Theme,” was nominated for a Grammy Award. Also, the “performance rights licensing agency” BMI – Broadcast Music Incorporated – recognized him when the song received more than 1 million radio plays, which included many versions of “Quentin’s Theme” recorded by various artists, ranging from the hit single by Charles Randolph Grean to Henry Mancini and Mantovani.
LA Times online Hero Complex 4-29: “Cobert, who has been composing music since 1956, will be presented with the Life Career Award for his work on titles such as ‘DS,’ ‘The Night Stalker,’ ‘The Norliss Tapes,’ ‘Burnt Offerings,’ ‘The Winds of War,’ ‘War and Remembrance’ and the theme for the game show ‘The $25,000 Pyramid.’
SG #122-#123 reported the Academy created the Dan Curtis Legacy Award in 2013 to recognize those “who produce quality work in the field of television.”
More information and the list of categories and nominees (personnel and production itself) can be found at
http://saturnawards.org/ **** ALEX STEVENS PASSES AWAY
SG sadly shares that ALEX (Werewolf, Stuntman) died at age 80 on 4-14-15. Alex appeared in episodes between 1968 and 1970 as the snarling, lunging werewolf that in human forms was Quentin Collins or Chris Jennings. He also did stunt work for the 1971 movie NIGHT OF DS.
In 1970, he wore the full werewolf make-up as the “Mystery Guest” on WHAT’S MY LINE? He signed in as “The Wolfman” and stumped the blindfolded celebrity panel as to his identity. At the end, he removed the make-up on camera to reveal his “real” self.
Former president of the East Coast Stuntmen Association, Alex Poulos (Stevens) and his twin brother John Poulos were born in Hartford, CT 1-6-35.
Movie stunts: Stunt Double for Frank Sinatra in TONY ROME, LADY IN CEMENT, and THE DETECTIVE, plus GOODFELLAS, SCANNERS, SPLASH. SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT, CODE OF SILENCE, SUPER FLY, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and others. At times he’d briefly appear as a thug, policeman, or similar character who got in a fight, was thrown through a window, fell off something, etc. He was Stunt Coordinator for 1978’s SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, SHAFT’S BIG SCORE and the TV soap opera RYAN’S HOPE.
He was SESAME STREET’s “The Baker” in the 7-31-69 premiere episode, followed by more episodes through the years. In his floppy chef’s hat, he’d enter through a door again and again, bearing 2 loaded trays or assorted full plates. He’d proudly proclaim how many raspberry puddings, pumpkin pies, chocolate layer cakes, and other treats he held – even “one wedding cake”! He’d then step down a few low stairs, inevitably and abruptly tumbling forward each time, scattering the treats everywhere as a children’s chorus sang out “And that’s the song of ---!” number. To view the Sesame Street Baker’s Numbers 1-10:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3yOnr2cl3c **** FRIENDS OF 91 DS EVENT - OFFER EXTENDED
SG Update # 355 (4-19-15) announced a Friends of 91 DS Cast Reunion event at the Lockwood-Matthews Mansion and the Doubletree Hilton in Norwalk, CT 6-26/27-15. A special “SG guaranteed seat” offer was made in that Update. The event organizer asks SG to share the following.
As per information in that Update, “we will hold the section for SG subscribers until 5-26. They just have to write Shadowgram on the registration page to secure ticket.”
FRIENDS OF 91 DARK SHADOWS/CAST REUNIONS, PO BOX 469, WHITE MARSH MD 21162. “We will also be launching our new website soon. Sign up for our email blasts as well by emailing:
FO91DS@yahoo.com “
