ShadowGram Update #174

[Midnite]

ShadowGram Online Dark Shadows News Updates List
Marcy Robin's Cyberspace "Dark Shadows" News Update List
An Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM
ShadowGram@aol.com

Number 174. August 6, 2007.

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Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following breaking news.

The DS Festival asks SG to announce that the following Progress Report and Fest Schedule of Events will be mailed soon to all those who pre-registered for this year's Celebration of Jonathan Frid's 40th Anniversary as "Barnabas Collins," being held August 17-18 at the Westchester Marriott Hotel, 670 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591. 914-631-2200.

DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL
PRESENTS JONATHAN FRID'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
AUGUST 17 & 18, 2007
WESTCHESTER MARRIOTT HOTEL
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK

DISCOUNT 2-DAY MEMBERSHIP RATE - $30.00
OR
Friday (6pm-midnight) - $15.00
OR
Saturday - $15.00 (11am-7pm)
Children 6-12 - Half Price

Payable at the door only. For those who have already paid, please bring your receipt with you to Registration, which begins at 3:00 pm on August 17.

NEWLY-ADDED GUESTS: Betsy Durkin Matthes (Victoria – 2nd Casting) and Diana Millay (Laura).

JONATHAN FRID DRAMATIC READINGS
On Saturday afternoon, special guest Jonathan Frid will present Stephen King's HERE THERE BE TYGRES AND OTHER TELL-TALE MONEY BUSINESS from such authors as Edgar Allan Poe, Groucho Marx and Frid himself. This special dramatic reading of spooky and quirky selections will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Fans wishing to ask questions must line up to speak through the microphone placed in the center of the audience.

GUEST AUTOGRAPHS
On Friday and Saturday, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Diana Millay, Betsy Durkin-Matthes and Marie Wallace will sign autographs during most of the celebration, while sitting at tables in the foyer. On Saturday, Jonathan Frid will be signing a special, commemorative photograph only at the banquet dinner. Jonathan will not be signing any other items at the banquet or during the celebration weekend.

JONATHAN FRID RECALLS SOME FAVOURITE MOMENTS FROM DARK SHADOWS
Jonathan Frid will host a Saturday afternoon session that will screen several specially selected scenes from DARK SHADOWS, followed by Jonathan's recollections of playing Barnabas.

DARK SHADOWS MERCHANDISE SALE
A large variety of DARK SHADOWS DVDs, books, photos and other collectibles will be for sale all weekend.

MEMORABILIA AUCTION
On midday Saturday, a wide variety of rare and desirable DARK SHADOWS collectibles will be offered at auction, with proceeds to benefit a charity to be chosen by the DS actors. Among the featured materials will be original DARK SHADOWS memorabilia from the 1960s and many unique items.

DARK SHADOWS REBORN
Big Finish Productions have issued over a dozen new DARK SHADOWS episodes with the original cast on audio CD format. More dramas are on the way, including an audio book adaptation of Lara Parker's novel "Angelique's Descent." Stuart Manning will discuss these extensions of the DS legacy and the exciting plans that lie ahead.

VIDEO SCREENINGS
On Friday evening, BARNABAS UNBOUND includes original DARK SHADOWS episodes 209 and 211, which will be screened with original 1967 commercials. Additionally, episode 211 (the debut of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins) has been restored from the videotape master, which hasn't been seen in 40 years. (A filmed kinescope copy has been utilized since then.) WRITING & PRODUCING SHADOWS offers unseen interviews with original series writers Malcolm Marmorstein and Ron Sproat, in addition to producer Robert Costello. The M-G-M motion pictures HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (1970) and NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS (1971), both filmed at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, NY, will be screened on Friday night. The 1972 Dan Curtis produced and directed pilot movie THE NORLISS TAPES, starring Roy Thinnes (Roger in the 1991 DARK SHADOWS) will also be shown.

FAN PANEL – UPDATING & DISCUSSING DARK SHADOWS
Marcy Robin is the longtime Editor/Publisher of ShadowGram, The Official Dark Shadows Newsletter. She also is ListMaster for the ShadowGram Official Online Dark Shadows News Updates List. She will share the latest Dark Shadows news; update fans about the possibility of original Dark Shadows episodes returning to TV; tell about recent projects and activities for the cast/crew members; discuss the history of Dark Shadows fandom; and answer related questions from the audience.

SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET & JONATHAN FRID AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO
The Saturday, August 18, evening DARK SHADOWS dinner at the Westchester Marriott has sold out and no more seats will be available. We are sorry if you were unable to secure a reservation, but there is still space to attend the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon DS activities at the hotel. For those of you who have reservations for the dinner, tickets will be distributed Saturday afternoon, August 18, at the hotel just prior to the dinner. Please bring your receipt with you at that time. Your autographed photo from Jonathan Frid will be given to you when you pick up your Celebration badge at registration. If you have a banquet reservation, an information sheet is enclosed regarding the personalization of your photo by Jonathan at the banquet, as well as blank cards for each person who has bought a banquet ticket. Please note that Jonathan will not be autographing any other items, only the special photograph at the banquet.

LYNDHURST VISIT
The Friday, August 17, day trip to the Lyndhurst estate ("Collinwood" in the M-G-M films HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS) has been filled. Shuttle vans will begin taking fans from the Westchester Marriott to Lyndhurst (about 3 miles in distance) at 10:45 am and continue until shortly after noon. Shuttle vans will bring fans back to the hotel from Lyndhurst starting at 1:30 and continue until 3:00. If fans have their own transportation, they may drive themselves directly to Lyndhurst if they request their ticket(s) in advance by e-mailing the Festival at pansyfaye@darkshadowsfestival.com. Please include your complete name in the email.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
[can be found here:]

From Shadowgram

HOTEL DETAILS
The Westchester Marriott is located near the Tappan Zee Bridge off Route 119. (For details, visit: www.marriott.com) Driving directions: From New York City, travel north on US-87 to the second Exit 9 (Route 110 in Tarrytown). Turn right onto Route 119. Go East one mile.
Travel time, approx. 25 minutes. From New Jersey & upstate New York, from the Tappan Zee Bridge, after toll booth, take Exit 9. Turn right at Route 9 North, in 1/4 mile, turn right on Route 119. Go one mile East. From Connecticut, go South on I-95 to 287 West for 12
miles.Take Exit 1. Turn right into hotel.

[Midnite]

JONATHAN FRID DRAMATIC READINGS
On Saturday afternoon, special guest Jonathan Frid will present Stephen King's HERE THERE BE TYGRES AND OTHER TELL-TALE MONEY BUSINESS from such authors as Edgar Allan Poe, Groucho Marx and Frid himself.

Shouldn't that be TELL-TALE MONKEY BUSINESS?  It almost sounds like a Freudian slip about old issues. 

[Mary]

If you have a banquet reservation, an information sheet is enclosed regarding the personalization of your photo by Jonathan at the banquet, as well as blank cards for each person who has bought a banquet ticket.

Does anyone know what the blank cards are for?

[adamsgirl]

That's confusing, Mary. Hopefully, they'll clear it up when we register.

[MsCriseyde]

Does anyone know what the blank cards are for?

Probably to write the name of the person to whom you'd like the autograph personalized in order to speed up the process. (At book signings, it's usually done with a Post-it note.)

[Brandon Collins]

Yea, they information sheet probably tells you what to do when you get there, and probably explains again, for the thick-skulled ones out there that JF isn't signing anything other than this photo. He'll probably come around to each table, and if you'd like him to personalize it beyond his name already being signed, that's what the card will be used for, to tell him what to write on it.

[jennifer]

sorry i'm going to miss now that i know how to get there lovely area hope you all
have a great time
jennifer
is it just JF and women from the show?

[Mary]

Thanks, MsCriseyde and Brandon. Yes, you're right, adamsgirl, I'm sure they'll explain it to us.  Yes, when I went to a book signing last year, it was done with a Post-It, so I thought a card seemed a little unusual.  But whatever works best for Jonathan Frid and/or those in charge is good.

[Nancy]

Mary, as others indicated in replying to you, the blank card is to write the name down of how you want JF to personalize the already autographed photo that will be given out to all attendees.  The banquet is the only place he will be doing that.  He will not be signing anything else other than the Barnabas photos.  I hope people do not bring stacks of things they want signed because they will be disappointed.

nancy

Does anyone know what the blank cards are for?

[Mary]

I hope people do not bring stacks of things they want signed because they will be disappointed.

Thanks, Nancy.  Why do I have the feeling there will be a few people who think the "do not bring extra things to sign" instruction doesn't apply to them and will be disappointed?  LOL!

[retzev]

DARK SHADOWS REBORN
Big Finish Productions have issued over a dozen new DARK SHADOWS episodes with the original cast on audio CD format.

Over a dozen? Is this right?

[Charles_Ellis]

Well, given Jonathan's age, it makes sense that he'd limit it to one signature per person.  Let's just be grateful he came back to the Festival this year!

[Midnite]

Over a dozen? Is this right?

Hi, retzev.  Each story is told in at least 3 episodes, so I guess it is right.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Why do I have the feeling there will be a few people who think the "do not bring extra things to sign" instruction doesn't apply to them and will be disappointed?

Because you know human nature. There are always a fraction of people in any group who feel the rules don't apply to them. But that's a situation that's much larger in scope than what goes on in DS fandom - and, sadly, it's also a situation that seems to become more rampant/timely with each passing day...

[Nancy]

You're right, Mary, there will be people like that but they will indeed be disappointed.  This policy will be enforced because if Jonathan does extra for one fan, he has to do it for another.  In his eyes, there isn't any fan more important than another at fan gatherings.  If a fan gets pushy about this, they stand to get treated to the Fridster getting angry.  Never a good thing to be on the receiving end of.  He can be quite intimidating even without a cane or fangs.

Nancy

Thanks, Nancy.  Why do I have the feeling there will be a few people who think the "do not bring extra things to sign" instruction doesn't apply to them and will be disappointed?  LOL!