David,

In your wonderful article, Ms. Parker mentions that she's basically a shy person.  I believe that Dark Shadows writer Matthew Hall once wrote that Ms. Parker impressed him  (as a young boy) as also being a somewhat shy, albeit an extremely nice and obviously beautiful young woman, when Ms. Parker visited his parents Sam and Grayson Hall at their New York City apartment during Dark Shadows' filming during the late 1960s.

Of course, we all know that Dr. Julia Hoffman was also the author of books on both the history of the Collins family and on the life and times of the inimitable Dr. Eric Lang.  It's just too bad that the prolific writer/doctor did not also decide to write profiles on the many other notable and fascinating personalities of both Collinwood and Collinsport, a la the late writer, James Brady, in "Parade Magazine."  (Can you imagine how the keen-eyed Julia Hoffman would, no doubt, have written engrossing profiles on the heady likes of Nicholas Blair, Donna Friedlander and "Buzz" Hackett?)

Congratulations on your superb article on the eternally beautiful and talented Lara Parker.

Bob

Speaking of underwear, I happened to catch Jack Lemmon and Lara Parker recently in a local broadcast of the film, "Save the Tiger."

And, suffice to say, Ms. Parker looked especially fetching in her undies!

PS the late, great Thayer David also appeared in this fine flick as an icy cool arsonist.

Addison Powell, then now David Ford.   And, I'm only now getting over the DS departure of Daniel Keyes, the venerable and convivial Eagle Hill Cemetery Caretaker/Archivist. Oy vey!

(And, please, don't tell me that Keith Prentice was not afforded the opportunity to portray another character on Dark Shadows.  Mr. Prentice was always so understated as Morgan Collins on the show.)

Maybe Melinda Track looks like Persis Khambata's (sp?) character in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"?   

PS This Star Trek film was one of the only disappointments that the late, great Robert Wise ever directed during his distinguished career.

I just hope that that DOOL prosecutor named Trask, does NOT get his hair done wherever long time bad guy, Stefano DiMera, gets his "sweeps" done. 

Hey, gang,

Did you ever wonder what Barnabas did to pass the time of night on those occasions when he wasn't "quenching" his "thirst"?

Well, since we all know that Barnabas eschewed all of the "modern conveniences" in the Old House, maybe he spent a considerable amount of time by curling up in a chair in the Old House drawing room, and reading a good book by candlelight (just like he probably did during those cold winter nights in Maine during the late 18th century)?

Now, Barnabas did have a selection of books, albeit a rather small selection, in that bookcase in front of the secret room in the Old House.  So, perhaps he borrowed any number of books from Mrs. Stoddard's voluminous library in the great house of Collinwood?  Then again, perhaps he also sent Willie Loomis into town regularly, so that Willie could request the latest book releases at the Collinsport library or to purchase both books and magazines at Collinsport's local book store?  (Maybe Barnabas even became a regular subscriber to such respected magazines as National Geographic, Time and, possibly, National Lampoon?)

Of course, after being locked up in that coffin for so many years, Barnabas had a heck of a lot of catching up to do.  I'd have to think that Barnabas would want to read a cross section of works, encompassing history, fiction and world travel.

Here are a few titles I think that Mr. B. would enjoy reading at about three in the morning in the Old House:

1. "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy - coming in at 1388 pages long.

2. "Shogun: The Epic Novel of Japan" by James Clavell - coming in at 998 pages long.

3. "The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - with four novels and 56 short stories coming in at over 1000 pages.  (Note: The Strand Magazine began publishing Sir Arthur's stories about the world's most famous consulting detective in the late 19th century, so Barnabas might have read some of these works after he I-Chinged back to Collinwood in 1897, and Judith or Edward just happened to have the Strand Magazine lying about in the drawing room at Collinwood.) 

4. "Truman" by David G. McCullough - coming in at 1117 pages long.  Being an astute student of history, both American and European, perhaps Barnabas would enjoy reading Mr. McCullough's superb biography of "Give "Em Hell" Harry Truman.  (I venture to say that we could also use a truly great leader like Harry Truman today, but I digress.)

5. "Noble House" also by James Clavell  - coming in at 1370 pages.  Mr. Clavell's novel dealing with contemporary Hong Kong would probably keenly interest a former sea captain like Barnabas, who had traveled much of the known world in the 18th century.

Can you think of any other  books, preferably long ones, which might interest Barnabas and help him "make it through the night," so to speak?

Bob

Hey, gang,

I wanted to recommend a new biography on the life of the iconic film actor Lee Marvin, entitled "Lee Marvin: Point Blank," by Dwayne Epstein.  In the book, Mr. Epstein chronicles Mr. Marvin's early life (including his distinguished military service as a 20-year-old U.S. Marine during World War II in the Pacific) and Mr. Marvin's extensive television and film career.   Usually a tough guy in films, Mr. Marvin ironically won Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance as the uproariously funny gunslinger "Kid Shellen" in "Cat Ballou," along with the beautiful and (still at that time) rather "low-keyed" Jane Fonda.

In 1970, Mr. Marvin starred as an aging cowboy in a film entitled "Monte Walsh," along with Jack Palance, the perpetually sexy Jeanne Moreau, and also with "Dark Shadows" alumnus Mitchell Ryan, who portrayed Shorty Austin, one of Monte Walsh's fellow cowboys, who eventually turns outlaw.

According to author Dwayne Epstein, Lee Marvin and Mitchell Ryan became good friends during the filming of "Monte Walsh."   Apparently, they remained good friends, and were known to "occasionally kick back a few together," right up until Mr. Marvin's untimely death at the age of 63 in 1987.   The author points out that Mr. Ryan secured the role of Shorty Austin in "Monte Walsh" on the favorable impression he had made on the film's producers, who had seen him perform on stage on Broadway in New York several years before (and, I guess, during the same time he had also portrayed Burke Devlin on "Dark Shadows").

If you liked Lee Marvin as an actor, and would also like to read about something Mitchell Ryan's post-"Dark Shadows" career, I think that you'll enjoy reading this excellent biography.

Bob         

   

Midnite,

Thanks for the youtube clip of Mr. Reilly's great moment on "The Match Game."  (After all these years, I completely forgot about Mr. Reilly's cowboy hat!)  I recall that one critic said that with that "piece" on the top of his head, Mr. Reilly almost looked like Robert Redford's brother!   In later years, Mr. Reilly just wore a funny hat, just like the late, great Groucho Marx wore on guest appearances like "The Dick Cavett Show."

(Do you remember when Jonathan Frid appeared along with the rock group, The Association, on Dick Cavett's afternoon ABC show back, I think, in either the summer of 1967 or 1968?)

Several years ago, Mr. Reilly appeared at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City and he was absolutely terrific.  Mr. Reilly once remarked that immediately after watching an x-rated film he was very annoyed because, "I got to see people having more 'fun' in 50 minutes up there on the screen, than I had had in my ENTIRE life!"     

Bob