New addition to Chiller Theatre guest list-- Barbara Steele!


With thanks to Kosmo

Update Number 270.
August 13, 2012

---- SG REPORT: DS FESTIVAL'S "DS WEEKEND" - TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 28-29
---- SPECIAL "DS WEEKEND" ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR LIMITED TIME

**** REPORTING:
"DS DAY AT COLLINWOOD" & "LUNCHEON WITH THE DS STARS"
JULY 28 - 29, 2012
Since late last year, SG Online Updates have premiere-announced and shared news for the DS Festival's "DS Weekend" in Tarrytown, NY (north of Manhattan). Here is SG's initial report. The upcoming Double SG #122 - #123 published Newsletter will feature photos and more detailed information.

Approximately 1000 fans gathered to celebrate DS' ongoing appeal and to remember actor Jonathan Frid, who portrayed the iconic, sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins from 1967-71. Jonathan, age 87, passed away April 14, the actual 45th anniversary of his first DS appearance. ((See SG Online Update # 261, which shared the first public word provided directly from his family and associates.))

Jonathan was looking forward to joining us in Tarrytown and was actively considering DS scene clips to discuss at the Fest. His death also was less than a month before the international release of the new DS movie starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas..Jonathan made a brief cameo appearance in the film.

Weekend activities began at noon on Sat. at the majestic Lyndhurst Estate, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site, where the movies HOUSE OF DS (1970) and NIGHT OF DS (1971) were shot. Self-guided tours of the Lyndhurst mansion were available, providing fans with a glorious first-hand glimpse of the beautiful interiors, complete with original furnishings.

Both days, our guests Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie), Jerry Lacy (Rev. Trask), Marie Wallace (Eve), and Sharon Smyth (Sarah Collins) met fans, signed autographs, posed for pictures, and offered their photos, books, and CDs for sale Also available for purchase were SGs, and merchandise from the Fest and MPI Home Video, as well as Big Finish DS audio dramas on CD. Of special note were the tables with a great variety of one-of-a-kind items from Jonathan's personal collection. These were for sale, with some in silent auction as well.

All Saturday programming was held in a massive air-conditioned tent set up in the stables courtyard with theatre-style seating. A charity auction of DS memorabilia and collectibles benefited the preservation of Lyndhurst. Auction highlights were personal items from Jonathan's archive, including hand-written notes from his one-man shows and a DS poster that had hung in his home.

Each guest came onstage to answer questions and share DS remembrances. David Selby (Quentin Collins) regretted he could not attend, as he was starring in the West Coast premiere of the historic fact-based play "Divine Rivalry" in San Diego. ((See the coming Double SG #122-#123)) He sent a warm audio tribute to Jonathan, set to a touching photo montage covering the late 1960s-2011. David starred in NIGHT OF DS and a pre-taped video segment screened in which he spoke about location filming there at Lyndhurst.

A poignant weekend highlight was the very personal Tribute to Jonathan. His nephew Don Frid, Mark Lawrence (Jonathan's webmaster), Roberta Jacobs-Meadway, (his advisor), Stuart Goodman (original DS cameraman), and Marcy Robin (ShadowGram editor) all took part in the hour-long memorial, which included home movie footage taken during the last decade of his life. Jonathan's dedication to his craft, his sense of humor, and generosity to the DS fans all were recalled with great emotion.

On Sunday, many of the same fans and others gathered a short distance away at the Tarrytown DoubleTree Hotel for the Luncheon. Our 5 Lyndhurst guests were joined by Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard). She and Jerry Lacy presented a nostalgic performance on stage, wonderfully written by Jerry. They portrayed 2 of their original DS characters meeting again after 42 years. Each Luncheon attendee received a "Goody Bag" with DS merchandise donated by MPI Home Video. Autograph sessions were conducted afterwards.

The country atmosphere of the Weekend location provided a more intimate feeling than the traditional city hotel Fest events, and it is hoped all who were there had a great time with us

SG proudly announces - and thanks the attendees: The weekend helped raise over $10,000 for the National Trust for Historic Preservation to go towards maintaining and restoring the unique and beautiful Lyndhurst property.

It was announced that plans for 2013 call for the first-ever DS cruise, which is currently in the early planning stages. Interested fans may send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to the fan club address for details when they become available: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ, 07040.

**** SG Premiere Announcement:
LIMITED TIME OFFER / LIMITED SUPPLY: "DS WEEKEND" ITEMS
The Fest asks SG to announce:

--- "DS WEEKEND" 2012 BROCHURE / PROGRAM BOOK
Copies of this 8-page booklet are for sale now for only $5 each (includes postage). Printed on thick coated paper stock, the front cover features a previously-unpublished photo of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from "House of DS." There are more than a dozen never-before-seen images from both "House of DS" and "Night of DS," as well as a photo montage in remembrance of Jonathan through the decades. There also is a new biography and photo for each of our guests.

Please send payment of $5 each to: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.

--- EXTREMELY LIMITED "DS WEEKEND" GOODY BAG
The Dark Shadows Festival/Official Fan Club has a very few extra "Goody Bags" from the Sun., 7-29 Luncheon in Tarrytown, priced at $30 each (includes postage). A white bag with the DS logo has a 3-D Barnabas keychain, an official Barnabas black-onyx replica ring, a "Dan Curtis' Dracula" DVD, and a 2012 DS Calendar.

Please send payment of $30 each to: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
NOTE: Payment will be returned if received after bags are sold out. Offer will expire by Mon., Aug. 20, so don't delay.

For your convenience, you can pay for a Program Book and Goody Bag together with one check/money order payable to Dark Shadows Festival. Sorry, PayPal and credit cards cannot be accepted.

Marcy Robin

I'll be unable to post timely birthday greetings for the members who will be celebrating next Monday, so if a volunteer (or two) were to agree to create a topic for each of the two members, I'd be very grateful. 

SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL ONLINE DARK SHADOWS NEWS
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/ShadowGram/

---

Update Number 267.
July 24, 2012

---

---- UPDATE: PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S "DS DAY AT COLLINWOOD" & "LUNCHEON WITH THE STARS"
---- ALL 3 DARK SHADOWS MOVIES TO BE RELEASED ON DVD / BLU-RAY
---- A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MARCY ROBIN, SG EDITOR / SG OFFICIAL DS NEWS ONLINE UPDATES & SG YAHOOGROUP

**** UPDATING:
DS FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENTS:
"DAY AT COLLINWOOD"
"LUNCHEON WITH THE STARS"
THIS WEEKEND: JULY 28-29, 2012

Saturday, July 28 - A DAY AT COLLINWOOD
Lyndhurst Estate, 635 South Broadway,Tarrytown, NY 10591
Sunday, July 29, 2012 - DARK SHADOWS LUNCHEON
DoubleTree Hotel, 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 631-5700

SG is asked to report: "The Saturday event at the historic Lyndhurst Estate - the filming location for the movies 'House of DS' (1970) and 'Night of DS' (1971) has reached capacity and unfortunately no entries at the door will be allowed. (The event was advertised as limited with required advance registration.)
"For anyone attending the Sunday Luncheon and autograph session, the extensive Lyndhurst grounds will be open that afternoon to those who would like to visit and did not attend the Saturday activities. Fans also may go to the historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, a short 5-10 minute taxi ride from the hotel and Lyndhurst."
---- GUESTS: Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Jerry Lacy, Marie Wallace, Sharon Smyth.
Other special appearances expected.
Our guests will speak on Saturday, and on both days will sign autographs, pose for pictures, and offer their photos, books, and CDs for purchase. Fans may bring their own items to be signed, but please limit to one item each so all attendees can have time to speak with the guests.

---- SATURDAY, JULY 28
We honor the memory, career, life, and legacy of JONATHAN FRID, DS' "Barnabas Collins."

SG PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Jonathan was looking forward to joining us this weekend and was in the process of selecting scene clips to discuss onstage. Sadly, as SG and international media reported, he was 87 when he passed away on April 14 at a hospital in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Our special memorial salute to Mr. John Herbert Frid is Saturday afternoon at the Lyndhurst Estate.
The DS scene clips he had selected will be shown, with comments on the theme 'The Many Moods of Barnabas.'" Mark Lawrence worked closely with John on his recent one-man presentations and talks at the Fests, for DVD performance collections, and other projects. Mark also was webmaster and helped immensely with all areas of John's website, its commentaries and content. Mark will screen "never-before-seen videos he and Jonathan did, including one of a working session." John's nephew Don Frid "will speak about his Uncle John." A number of personal reminscences also will be shared.

Many special items from John's personal collection will be available for purchase. These include "tapes from his one-man shows, DVDs, signed documents, hand-written notes and more. Auction items include the 'Night Whispers' poster signed by John Karlen, which hung in John's gallery in his home in Ontario.

--- SG welcomes and appreciates photos, video footage, media coverage, and other material fans share about the Tarrytown weekend.

I hope to see you there!

***** "HOUSE OF DS"(1970) & "NIGHT OF DS" (1971) BEING RELEASED AT LAST

**** "DARK SHADOWS" (2012) STARRING JOHNNY DEPP BEING RELEASED

SG is asked to report: The MGM motion pictures HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS are finally being issued on DVD and on BluRay Disc by Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, on Oct. 30.

SG reports this latest confirmed information: "Both films have been digitally re-mastered. The releases will feature the original US theatrical trailer for each but, unfortunately, no other bonus material is to be included. These will be the original theatrical versions of both movies.

"It was hoped that Dan Curtis' director's cut of NIGHT OF DS, which includes over half-an-hour of deleted material, would be offered. But Warners has decided not to pursue this at this time. Hopefully the full-length NIGHT OF DS will be restored soon for future distribution. "

Also just confirmed:"The 2012 DARK SHADOWS movie starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton will be out on DVD and BluRay on Oct. 2 This release will have a number of bonus features, such as behind-the-scenes interviews, including comments from original DS actors David Selby, Lara Parker and Kathryn Leigh Scott, who were seen in cameo appearances in the recent film."

SG has chronicled this DS movie since it was first publicly announced July 27, 2007. Shot on locations in England last year, it was released in the US and other countries on May 11 and had more international releases in the weeks following. It still is being shown in some theaters across the US and beyond.

((See SGs from 2007 on for ongoing coverage of the film as it developed from first announcement to filming. Also see the upcoming Double SG #122-#123 print issue, the full and complete Official DS Newsletter.))

**** A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MARCY ROBIN

SG in print and these Online Updates have had a rough time over the past couple of years. I've mentioned how Real Life matters have unexpectedly and repeatedly impacted my entire life, not just my all-volunteer SG/DS work.

I've had a number of major health / medical challenges that required extensive sick leave from my job. I've returned to work, where there are time-consuming demands as well. Through it all, I've tried to keep up with e- and postal- mail correspondence and everything else. But often it just wasn't possible to do all I want to do.

I regret any concern or inconvenience caused by periods when I did not post a SG Online Update. I'm also sorry there's been a long delay between SG print issues.

Yet most of all, I am touched by the caring, encouraging thoughts and wishes from so many DS cast / crew / fan friends, SG subscribers, and SG YahooGroup members. Your kindness, patience, and understanding have helped me through so much. Thank you.

I've continued working on a new Double SG #122-#123 whenever I can. It will include much DS news, a tribute to Jonathan Frid and acknowledgements of other DS personnel we've recently lost. There also will be the DS movie, Fest events, new merchandise, special DS references, DS in the Media, DS filming locations, and YOU, The Fans.

Marcy Robin
ShadowGram@aol.com
ShadowGram1@yahoo.com
www.ShadowGram.com (hopefully to be updated soon)