Oops. . .I didn't know about DC's suit against ABC as reported by Variety back then.  So, you're probably right.

LOL--you're certainly right about the actors "mixing" their facts.

So, I guess in the end, DC doesn't get all that money I thought he's been getting from MPI's VHS and DVD releases, while the actors allegedly get nothing. 

OK - now I'm really jealous that you might actually get to see Stan Hywet Hall in person one day, while the likelihood of my passing anywhere near it is slim to none. 

Don't be jealous, MB.  I've lived in Florida for almost 20 years and rarely go back to the Dayton area--which is about two hours from Akron--except for family stuff.   So I certainly have no plans to visit this estate in the near or distant future.

On the other hand, there's a great old house on US 1 between Vero Beach and Fort Pierce (FL) that I'm told was once a winter home for Gloria Swanson sometime during the 1950s or '60s.  Prior to that, I believe it was a brothel for servicemen during WWII.  Last time I drove by, it was an antique emporium.  If I can find some pics, I'll post them.  (It would make a great "Old House"--that's why I mentioned it.)

I remember the final days of DS in 1971--and yes! I did care about Catherine and Bramwell.  I also recall that on April 1st (the show's final episode was on April 2) I told my mother (I was 12 years old, thank you very much!) that DS would not end and it was all an April Fools joke!

Okay--I was wrong. 

Now, about the end of 1840, or Barnabas' and Julia's final scene:

[spoiler]In hindsight, upon watching show # 1198 several times over the last few years, after returning to 1971, Julia and Barnabas have the following exchange:

JULIA: "We changed all of their lives by being in 1840."

BARNABAS: "As well as ours.  Think, Julia, think back to 1840.  Those stairways are likely no more.  Desmond has probably destroyed them by now."

JULIA:  "We'll never forget any of them, Barnabas."

BARNABAS "Never."

And they leave the drawing room.[/spoiler]

As I said above, in hindsite, this exchange solidifies (for me) that Julia and Barnabas have put all their past conflicts behind and will move toward their friendship--and more.  And it seems to me to put a "button" on the modern story lines, even without some of the resolutions we would have liked to have seen.  From what I recall about conversations with Keith Prentice nearly 20 years ago, the show had been given notice of cancellation well enough in advance of the end of 1840, and the 1841PT storyline was a way to give Frid what he wanted (playing a different character), and a way to end the show without leaving the viewers hanging about the 1971 story and characters and resolution to their stories.  (Personally, I am satisfied with that final scene in 1971 with Barnabas, Julia, and Eliot and Liz.  I don't recall what I thought about it more tha 30 years ago. . .)

That's my 2 cents worth....

On Monday, August 4, 1986, I stayed home from work because I had gotten up very early on that Monday morning to tape HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (with commercials) from the TBS cable broadcast on my relatively new Sharp VHS machine (cable was also very new to me back then.)

As I watched the movie, taping it, I was in heaven since this was the first time I had seen HODS since 1971!!

How strange that HODS subsequently ended up on "Home Video" via MGM and Turner VHS (c. 1989).

And now I'm watching yet another recorded HODS:  this one from TCM last week that I recorded on DVD--and how superior this picture is to that long ago VHS recording--and subsequent VHS releases by MGM/Turner.

So I guess I've come full circle--HODS 1971 on the big screen to various VHS tapes and finally my own DVD recording.

The only thing better would be for Turner to release a remastered DVD of both HODS and NODS!! (And how about reconstructing the deleted footage into the new releases!)

Brian

(Who is thrilled to have seen DS in its original 1960-70s airing and realizes he's getting older by the minute--LOL.)

It's a curse.  I remember what happened on the forums ages ago but not where I put my coffee cup or keys. :-

LOL--I can relate!

Thanks, Bette, for the Best Buy mention--I got the cancellation notice from Amazon earlier this week, and assumed the DVD was delayed, but I went to BB today and picked up a copy.  Just finishing watching it--what a great tribute to DS to be featured at the Museum of TV and Radio.  Fun to see them all together again.  Definitely worth buying!!   

Brian

I recently watched SWEET CHARITY (1969) on DVD and noted a young actress playing a 60s Flower Child near the end of the film.  She looked and sounded a lot like Kathy Cody to me, but there are no credits on the disc to confirm this.  Does anyone have info on this film and whether or not Ms. Cody was in it (it was filmed in NY.)  Just curious.

Brian

(But the weird thing is they don't have any negative feedback. What are we to assume from that?

Maybe some of the buyers simply don't know any better.  If one has no frame of reference for quality, then maybe they don't know to post negatives.  (I've seen this with other buyers--they don't know they're being sold "damaged goods" so they think they've got a great buy.)

Brian