DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '25 I => Current Talk '02 II => Topic started by: Julia99 on July 23, 2002, 06:59:12 AM

Title: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Julia99 on July 23, 2002, 06:59:12 AM
The picture of Barnabas carrying a very *stiff* Julia into the Old House makes me wonder .. . Was Grayson wearing  a corset?  Did she have a bad back, did she just like the fit of it or what?  I definitely, as director, would've told her to let her head drop back . ..she looked like she had a rod from her bum to her head.  .still luv her though. . .forgive me Oh Great Mother for criticizing. . .
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Gothick on July 23, 2002, 05:40:09 PM
Hi Julia,

I'm ba-ack from my trip to Maryland.  Sorry to hear about your computer woes.  I hope everything is all sorted out now!

In the Seventies, Grayson suffered from osteoperosis, and I think if you look carefully you can already see signs of a stoop in her Sixties episodes on Dark Shadows.  One fan who spent some time with Grayson in the early Eighties told me that she thought a big reason why G avoided attending the DS conventions that they held then was because she was worried about pushing, shoving fans such as she had been around on certain occasions in the Sixties.  She could have easily fallen and suffered another major break (she broke an arm in 1977 and her hip in 1980).

In addition, I have been informed that an actress who did stage work with Grayson recalls her wearing a back brace.  I don't have a time frame for that but I imagine it was in the Seventies, possibly at some point in the early Eighties.  

One last note on this topic--I believe that in the script for the conclusion of the 1995 Parallel Time sequence, Barnabas was supposed to pick Julia up from the floor and carry her up the Stairway through Time.  If you play the tape you'll see that they settled for having her lean on him.  I suspect that back issues may have been responsible for how they played that scene.

Given all this, it is truly remarkable that Grayson seemed so limber and physically vibrant in the video of the Suicide production in 1980.  She had just recovered from a broken hip when she did this!

She was, in every sense of the word, a truly REMARKABLE woman.

Steve  
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: TERRY308 on July 23, 2002, 05:54:55 PM
After reading about her bout with osteoperosis, I love her even more.  Bravo Ms. Hall.  Go get 'em.
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Karen_#2 on July 24, 2002, 03:50:07 AM
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One last note on this topic--I believe that in the script for the conclusion of the 1995 Parallel Time sequence, Barnabas was supposed to pick Julia up from the floor and carry her up the Stairway through Time.  If you play the tape you'll see that they settled for having her lean on him.  I suspect that back issues may have been responsible for how they played that scene.

I understand Jonathan Frid had his share of back problems as well, from a lot of "physical" work on stage. Between the both of them, that sounded like the safest way to do that scene! Sure sounds like, at least for those two, they could've used a good physical therapist on the set![wink2] [wavey][hello][wink2][aprvy] ;D

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She was, in every sense of the word, a truly REMARKABLE woman.
Steve  

She sure was Steve, bless her heart!
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: RingoCollins on July 24, 2002, 04:37:08 AM
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they could've used a good physical therapist on the set![wavey]


Might you have those magic hands?  Since my wreck in '93 [rear ended - in my car ;) - by a drunk, in a '91 Jag, who was the president of a bank :D - hey if ya gotta be rear ended....] I have been at the mercy of my PT. I love that little 'lectro shock thingy! [but better living thru chemicals is still my motto![smokn]] :o Back pain is a thing ya don't need to know! :-/

That jolt outta my chair the other day didn't help, either! ;)
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Cassandra on July 24, 2002, 08:18:45 PM
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I'm ba-ack from my trip to Maryland.  

She was, in every sense of the word, a truly REMARKABLE woman.

Hi Gothick,  Welcome back!   :)

Yes, I agree with you there, Grayson was surely that!

I had no idea she had those problems while being on the set, but now that you've pointed it out, I can see now where her walk had a slight stoop to it, and I notice how stiff her neck & shoulders appear to be when she walks.

Thanks for the write up about her and letting us know this. I had always wondered why she never attended a fest.
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Julia99 on July 25, 2002, 03:14:14 AM
Always love your little tidbits Steve . . . yes I have noted on occassion that you could see signs of the osteoporosis even on DS . . . and I too was very surprised by how she skipped along the stage in Suicide. . .considering she'd just tossed away the cane from her broken hip episode.  Wow. . luv her!
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: Karen_#2 on July 25, 2002, 03:58:47 AM
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Might you have those magic hands?

[blshy] ;D ;D ;D ....dat I yam I yam! (and I'm great with my hands, so I'm told....[evily]

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That jolt outta my chair the other day didn't help, either! ;)


OUCH! [hdscrt]
I thought about that when I say that pic...heck of a bump on that noggin! [crazd]

K#2
Title: Re: Bad back, corset or both???
Post by: RingoCollins on July 25, 2002, 05:25:07 AM
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and I'm great with my hands, so I'm told....[evily]

...bump on that noggin! [crazd]


ahhhh HATES rrrrabbits!

but I've always been crazed!

Ringo [jester]

Idjit Dragon!