DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '26 I => Current Talk '02 I => Topic started by: Bob_the_Bartender on May 16, 2002, 10:50:36 PM
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Dear Fellow Dark Shadows Fans,
Today was a particularly sad day for me. We have seen the last appearance (at least, the last living one) of Dr. Eric Lang. However, I am heartened by the realization that the good doctor handled his death with great style and panache and in the face of unbridled wackiness. He maintained his dignity even when that darned tape recorder did not want to cooperate with him.
You know, in an interview on PBS, Roger Davis recalled how he and the great Addison Powell used to engage in lighthearted pranks on the Dark Shadows set. For example, Mr. Davis said that he and Mr. Powell sometimes placed, how should I put this politely, somewhat racy notes in strategic places. I believe that Mr. Powell placed one of these "notes" in the flower box containing the phony arm which Jeff Clark delivered to Dr. Lang. Regretably, we never got to see Mr. Davis' reaction as he opened the box and discovered the missive. (It surely would have made MPI's Blooper Tape.)
As an avid fan of Lang & Clark, I can only dream about the great film comedies that would have made together, uproarious flicks such as "Lang & Clark Meet Adam, The Manmade Monster". Of course, the sequel would have been entitled "Lang & Clark Meet Eve, The Bride of Adam." There would have been other classic comedies like "Lang & Clark Meet Dr. Shaw & Mr. Yeager." But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"
An era ends on Dark Shadows. If the good Dr. Lang were here, I think that he'd probably say, "You won't have Eric Lang to kick around anymore." Well said, Dr. Lang.
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Dr. Eric Lang....
He may be dead, but his words will live on... as long as there is a tape recorder handy.
He truly lived and died for his work.
deron
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I finally figured out that Addison Powell got credited for so many appearances on DS because of that damned tape recording.
I wonder whether Powell received a check in the mail every time they played that recording?
Gothick
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As an avid fan of Lang & Clark, I can only dream about the great film comedies that would have made together, uproarious flicks such as "Lang & Clark Meet Adam, The Manmade Monster". Of course, the sequel would have been entitled "Lang & Clark Meet Eve, The Bride of Adam." There would have been other classic comedies like "Lang & Clark Meet Dr. Shaw & Mr. Yeager." But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"
ROFL! Bob the B, you are too much!!
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I too have to pay my deepest sympathies to the Lang family. What a tragic loss for the medical profession . Well, what's medicine's loss is Gorton's Fish's gain.
What was that funky music that was on the notorious tape machine? Was the good Dr. listening to that while he was putting Adam together?
Oh well, Bob you better give me a double.
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What was that funky music that was on the notorious tape machine? Was the good Dr. listening to that while he was putting Adam together?
That would be Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," a piece I actually used to like before I discovered DS. You will hear it over and over again, so I hope you enjoy it, lol.
Luciaphil
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But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"
What a classic that never was. After that there wasn't "Langed and Clarked", "Frolic on the Bus" and their more serious turn "Lang and Clark meet King Lear".
Predictably, that put an end to it, as they were considered box office poison from then on....
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Bob this may be a spoiler . but...
You haven't seen the last of Addison yet. Nicholas gets into the picture and raises Lang's ghost from the cemetary and forces him to tell him the truth about Adam. The split screen or whatever they used was terrible and Nicholas looked like a giant compare dto Lang.
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Oh Bob that was priceless!
I now think I'm going to miss that Duo
Oh what might have been!
jennifer
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What a classic that never was. After that there wasn't "Langed and Clarked", "Frolic on the Bus" and their more serious turn "Lang and Clark meet King Lear".
Predictably, that put an end to it, as they were considered box office poison from then on....
That must have been why they turned to the small screen in the early 70's with "Alias Lang and Clark" ... or am I confusing this with something else?
CastleBee - give me a decafinated green tea in a clean glass Bob and pass the gold fish crackers! [crazd]
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That must have been why they turned to the small screen in the early 70's with "Alias Lang and Clark" ... or am I confusing this with something else?
LOL!!!! CastleBee! Actually, I like your title better than the actual one! :)
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Rest in peace, my dear Dr. Lang,
To see you die gave me such a pang,
It was tough to decide who was best
As you versed old Jeff in a shouting contest,
You created a man, big everywhere,
With really bad scars and curly dark hair,
You spoke to a recorder that didn't work,
I know some folks think you're a jerk.
But Dr. Lang, I think they're wrong,
And for you I've written this sweet lil' song.
We knew you briefly but that was enough,
When the going got rough, you got tough.
Goodbye, Dr. Lang, it was whirlwind and wild,
Now Barnabas and Julia will raise your child;
Your death was an accident, a whoops, a slip,
Cassandra was startled and lost her grip.
The judges have decided--Dr. Lang, it's you!
You won the shouting contest, hands down, it's true!
Posthumously, we'll award it, stand proud and tall,
You did it--you're the overactingest actor of all!
Love, Robin
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Dear RobinV,
What a beautiful, poignant poem. I haven't been this moved since I read Joyce Killmer's arboreal paean, "Trees."
Sincerely,
Bob the Bartender, a tree nut
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Delightful, Robin!! :) :)
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"A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast"
(giggle)
We all laughed when we read that poem in junior high school. Like Beavis and Butthead, it was, "The teacher said. . .'breast.'"
I know this has nothing to do with Dr. Lang, but Bartender Bob brought up "Trees," so it's his fault!
Love, Robin
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Bad girl, Robin, very bad......
Keep this up, and Bob will have to teach YOU the Hail Mary's, Our Fathers and the Act of Contrition!! ;)
Rainey
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Dear RobinV,
Here'a another poem which, I believe, applies to the Dark Shadows universe:
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming you,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"
Now, I know that the prolific Rudyard Kipling passed away in 1936. Nevertheless, I am confident that when this wonderful author of "If" wrote this stirring poem, that he undoubtedly had in his mind, a man just like Eric Lang! A man who "kept his head" when everyone else just wanted to dart out of that laboratory room.
Sincerely,
Bob the Bartender, who still refers to his first grade catechism book for inspiration. (I just know that Raineypark must still have her copy as well.)
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Uh.....you mean the Baltimore Catechism....with the blue cover....? Hmmm....yep, got that!
Rainey
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I can't believe so many of us were brought up on the Baltimore Cathechism! I had just graduated from HS when DS came on so I can only imagine what the nuns would've thought of a show about vampires and the occult.
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Although I was not brought up in the faith, 95% of my family was! My cousin (whose best friend is a nun she met in the convent) thought the show was a hoot and watched it with me in the old days. Note: She was an adult at the time, 16 years my senior. Dawn :o
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Sung to the tune of AULD LANG SYNE
There was a doctor
Name of Lang
Who during his off time
Decided to create a man
From the bits we left behind
Refrain:
From bits we left behind my dear
From bits we left behind
He sent his mignon Jeff to get
The bits we left behind.
He got himself a sewing set
And started to combine
Into a more cohesive set
The bits we left behind
Repeat Refrain
He died before
His chance to get
A spark of life combined
With his human erector set
Made from bits we left behind.
Repeat Refrain
He died before
And all he left was
A body without a mind
A vampire who was very upset
and a tape set on rewind
A tape set on rewind my dear
A tape set on rewind
For one whole season
All we'll get
Is a tape set on rewind.
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I enjoyed that Elizabeth! LOL[lghy]
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Oh, just great....THANKS Elizabeth!!! The rest of the house is fast asleep and I"m here trying like hell not to laugh hysterically.
We've got quite a few talented lyricists around here....you should all get together and write "DS...The Musical"! Anyone in the crowd write music? [lghy]
Raineypark
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Brava, Elizabeth!!! :)
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Rest in peace, my dear Dr. Lang,
BRAVO ROBIN. I love him too. He had a ball doing the part and we all had fun watching him.
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I caaaan't take the credit for that silly song. Mr. Stodderd wrote it. :-[ Shortly before I hit him on the head. Could there be a connection????.... :D :D :D