Here are three pages of a MOCK Dark Shadows Fan Club newsletter, circa March/April 1969. I wrote it for an article I'm doing on Dark Shadows...and based it on actual newsletters of the day. Since the content has to do with 1897, I think you guys will enjoy this!
THE
COLLINSPORT
GAZETTE
Volume 1, # 1
April 1969
Editors: Bob Finocchio, President - The Diana Millay Fan Club!
Dot Money, President - The Louis Edmonds Fan Club!
Rodney Labbe, President - The Dennis Patrick Fan Club!
Hey, all you groovy guys and chicks out there in Dark Shadows land! Welcome to the very first edition of the DS Collinsport Gazette! Ok, you're probably wondering "do we really need another Dark Shadows fan club?" And the boss and far-out answer is "yeah, baby!" Instead of concentrating on a single star, like Jonathan Frid, or Kathryn Leigh-Scott, The Collinsport Gazette will be covering the entire weird, wacky, wild and wonderful world of Dark Shadows! Isn't that super cool? You bet your bippy! This is THE rocking' place to be for the latest in DS happenings, and--as all of you know--Collinsport is one smokin' town!
Yep, that's right! We'll fill you in on everything that's "goin' down" with your ultra-fave show, DARK SHADOWS! Right now, the 1897 flashback is holding us entranced every day--isn't it great to finally hear David Selby talk? He's sooooo menacing! All those weeks of him just staring at David and laughing...brrr! Dynamite Dave reminds us quite a bit of a young Henry Fonda, don't you think? He towers over everybody on the show! Keep your fingers crossed, cause we're working on an interview with Mr. Selby, right now! He's new to all this fan stuff, but from what the Gazette hears, he's friendly and never turns down a request for an autograph. That's what we call gear! He's one kool kat!
Well, we could bend your ear all day, but hey, that would take away from what we've got in store for you...so, on with the show!
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Happy Easter!
Hard to believe that Easter is here, already! The year is just flying! Wonder what 1969 will bring? It's the last year of the Sixties, and we're all holding on for dear life! We have a new President (Richard Nixon), the Vietnam war is still raging, Rodney bought his first pair of bell bottom pants (super-fab ones, with checks!), and Laugh-in is topping the Nielsen charts! Talk about diversity! Can you imagine what the 1970's will be like?! We'll probably be living on Mars by the time 1980 rolls around! Doesn't that sound weird? 1980? Like something out of a science fiction movie or the Jetsons!
A brand-new fan club has just been formed for marvelous Marie (Eve; Mad Jenny Collins) Wallace! It's run by Cathe Horodowich, of Brooklyn, NY, and we predict this will be one hot club, so don't miss out! For one dollar, you'll receive an 8 x 10 personally autographed photo of Marie, a year's worth of club bulletins, official club pencil, and several small photographs! Thanks, Cathe! Hugs and lots of kisses!
Marie is making quite a stir on DS as "Mad Jenny Collins!" Wasn't it wild when she began talking to her "babies," which are really just dolls!? Zonked-out, man! She's very scary, what with all that teased-up hair and weird make-up! It's a crazy look--just like her character! Let's hope Marie stays in the storyline for months and months! Wouldn't it be terrible if they killed her off?
There's lots in store for DS fans over the next few months! The rumor mill has it that none other than David Selby and Nancy Barrett will be releasing a 45 rpm single together! And here's an interesting tidbit: "Quentin's Theme" has already been "cut" and should be hitting the radio waves in early summer! It's an instrumental! The Selby/Barrett duet is called, tentatively "I Wanna Dance With You!"
There are also definite plans for a long-playing album of DS music, so watch your record shelves! Dashing Davey and jittery Jonathan Frid are currently laying down some "right-on" tracks for the album! Groo--vee! The Collinsport Gazette gives this its highest recommendation! We're getting our turntables ready!
Also, we've just heard that the 1897 flashback won't resolve itself until November! And you thought the 1795 storyline was long! Watch for a strange new character called "Count Petoofi!" We took a peek at future scripts and discovered that this Count Petoofi has only one arm! And he has a henchman named Aristotle! Wonder if he's related to Jackie O? Sounds spooky!
As you can see by our masthead, The Collinsport Gazette is edited by Bob Finocchio, of the Diana Millay Fan Club, Dot Money, of the Louis Edmonds Fan Club, and Rodney Labbe, of the Dennis Patrick Fan Club. Everyone knows Diana is Collinwood's resident phoenix, and Louis Edmonds needs no introduction--his performance as Edward Collins really knocks our socks off!
As for Dennis Patrick, keep an eye out for a return to DS, probably before the end of the year. He caused a lot of trouble the last time he was around (remember Jason McGuire?), and you'll be surprised at his new character--somebody named (are you ready for this?) PAUL STODDARD! That's right! Paul Stoddard, Liz' supposedly "late" husband and Carolyn's dear-departed daddy. How he's managed to stay alive and why he's returning to Collinsport will begin a whole new storyline, right after 1897 ends. We can't give you any details, except to say it's a mighty FISHY story! Pee-yew!
Bob, Dot, and Rodney have taken the time from their own fan clubs to create, write, produce, edit, mail out and generally sweat over every issue of THE COLLINSPORT GAZETTE. They'll be glad to answer any and all questions you might have about Dark Shadows! All three are currently high school students. Bob lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Dot calls Philadelphia, PA her home, and Rodney hails from the woods of Maine--right next to Collinsport! In our next issue, we'll be printing a fax sheet on Bob Finocchio! Find out what he has in common with a phoenix! Does he like to burn things, too? Wooooo!
FLASH!
Philadelphia Gum Company has just released the second series of Dark Shadows cards, featuring Quentin, Mad Jenny, and all the characters from 1897! They're super cool, and soooo boss, boss, boss! Rumor has it that these cards will be framed in green--and, of course, a delicious piece of bubble gum is included with every pack! Yum! Collect the entire set! We sure will! Who knows? Twenty years from now, these could be worth a fortune! Maybe even $25.00! Isn't that a gas?
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