DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '10 II => Topic started by: Midnite on July 23, 2010, 01:40:00 AM
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FRIDAY
The Shadow Zone
I wouldn't have missed the sole Collinsport Players skit of the weekend (the reprise of "Golden Shadows" was canceled due to employment obligations, sigh). It was a DS/Twilight Zone crossover penned by our ProfStokes, who made a superb Vicki Winters struggling to think happy thoughts. I'd heard they were doing it without microphones so I was thrilled to learn that ProfStokes can really project! Enjoyed the sprinkling of Lost In Space references too.
It also starred Kyle Baric as David-channeling-Billy-Mumy, Jonathan Harrison as Roger, our VictoriaWinters-- can I say that I LOVED her Carolyn?!, and Jeff Black with another astonishing Rod Serling impersonation.
The Fest videographer posted it in two parts: Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4A0-iODGZM) and Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6aIsHmTq2Q)
Kathryn Leigh Scott and Marie Wallace
KLS and Marie were asked to speak about their latest projects. Marie talked briefly about her theater groups and KLS began talking and talking... a few highlights were that her "The Star and the Stalker" will be a feature documentary, her DS Companion has been remastered as a 3-CD package, her husband Jeff will take part in a UCLA study program for his movement disorder (God bless him, though I found myself wishing I was in the bar with him). We saw a clip of Maggie and Joe at the Blue Whale while he was under the powers of a certain blonde, and KLS shared that she did some of her best work while on that particular set, and she said Joel Crothers was like an older brother to her. We also learned that HAA was a close friend of her husband's in college, and that his nickname was "Bud"!! Next, we saw a clip of Megan biting Sky Rumson, and she commented that it was fun to work with Don Briscoe as well as Joel. A fan set her straight about the actor in the clip, and she responded, "Who is Geoff Scott?!" lol Then came the KLS story about the fake fingernails, yawn, followed by Marie saying she wished she still had her fangs, and she offered an amusing word of advice: "Don't use permanent glue." Then, a clip with Josette and the apparition of herself in those fangs, and KLS said that the Widows Hill set was 3 sq. ft. ("so easy to fall off the thing"). During the course of any Fest, a fan will invariably ask during a Q&A about the specifics of a scene, so we got that out of the way early with a fan asking about ep 250, prompting KLS to ask if he was sure it wasn't 251. (It became painfully obvious that the fan didn't get the joke.) Anyway, she explained that she didn't have a TV during most of her run on the show, so what she watched was the completed eps that aired in the studio while she was there.
A fan asked about the inspiration for Crazy Jenny. Marie: "My life." The next clip was Peter and Eve. Question: Did any of you have a crush on Frid? Answer: Absolutely. KLS: He was "such a huggy bunny." Marie mentioned living with him at the Governor's mansion while performing in "Lion in Winter." The usual question from KLS about how many have never been to a Fest before prompted about 50% of the audience to raise hands. She told us that they originally intended to use a dummy instead of doing her Josette scene with the SFX and makeup and fan. She also went into her Joan Bennett story on the set of HoDS, but ended it a bit differently ("Aren't you Joan Bennett?" "I was.").
Marie said she'd never played a crazy person before, but she said she didn't play it crazy and it just came out that way. Clip: Rachel attacked in the tower room by Jenny, and KLS commented that she thought they hadn't shared a scene, which begged the question did a standin play Jenny? (We didn't see her face.) Fan Michael Culhane did a few darn good Nicholas impressions into the mike ("Do not go near Julia Hoffman again," "Eve, do my bidding," "You must convince Adam you love him," etc.) and asked if he can call HAA "Bud" now. KLS said that HAA took on the role of acting coach and gave out tips. She added that being around the wonderful actors on DS made you "just rise to the game."
Kathy Cody and Jerry Lacy
I described Kathy's talk already in another thread, but I'll add that she said she was upset she had to miss the 2005 Fest because of gall bladder surgery. Also, we saw clips with Grayson as they discussed the secret of Melanie's mother. And Jerry Lacy said he just recently finished something called "Super Shark"; gosh, I hope I heard that wrong. I think the first JL clip was Reverend Trask's dream sent by Barnabas to get him to the Old House to meet his fate. Both actors mentioned knowing Clarice Blackburn before DS. Jerry said he didn't remember specifics from his scenes, and for help he occasionally turned to Charles Ellis in the audience. Then a clip of the possessed children attempting to summon a ghost that turned out to be Kate Jackson (who started on DS at the same time Kathy did). Next, a clip with Jerry opposite faux Carolyn. Jerry said he hadn't seen Robert Rodan (who was not at the Fest this year) in a while, but after seeing Adam smack him in that scene, added, "I owe him one." About Rev. Trask, Jerry said, "He was only doing what he thought was right." Next, a clip of Gregory locked in the West Wing who is told to look in the desk. Jerry: "Written out once again."
And that's all I can tell you about Friday's events in the auditorium because I left at the end of their talk. But by this point, I was already suspecting that the turnout was small. The ballroom felt crowded, but that may be because the chairs were arranged so that it was difficult passing other fans in the outside aisles. I heard that 1000 tickets were sold in advance, but how does that explain that I didn't register until the final day for mail-in registrations and received a receipt numbered 413? I also heard that there were 2000 fans including the walk-ins, but I'm guessing that it was more like the low 1000s and that's my final answer.
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Thanks for the report! [ghost_smiley]
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Thanks Midnite! I look forward to more!
I've heard others comment upon Humbert Allen Astredo's tremendous verve as an acting coach. It makes me regret all the more that we don't get to see him at the Festivals.
G.
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From Sunday, James Storm singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" with Tara Pennock (Chris' daughter, who also did a solo) and Sunshine Lee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq-eCKtKHH0
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SATURDAY
Sy Tomashoff
Before his introduction, Richie Halpern told the audience about the front page article on the Vista event in the Daily News ("another score for Dark Shadows!").
Not much new in this segment, I'm sorry to say.
Sy spoke about being told, after the beautiful stained glass windows in the foyer were created, that they had to be cut down because they reached too high. Then someone suggested raising the pipes on the ceiling instead... problem solved.
The 1995 set was partially made by the addition new pieces (i.e. ceiling rafters) and in part by wrecking the established set (i.e. doors taken off). Debris and dead foliage were brought in, and more "feeling" (?) was added to the plaster walls-- rather than remove anything, sheets of plastic brick got stapled on. He still has photos of it. Repair began the following Friday and restoration was done by Monday.
Robert Costello provided good ideas for the 1795 hanging scene-- the noose was hung from the beam, and at the appropriate time the camera cut to the top of the beam and viewers witnessed the tension on the rope. "It worked. That's all that mattered."
He was asked about the red bedspread in Josette's room, which he admitted was an intentional touch; it signified Barnabas' love for her.
On the design style: It was possibly Federalist-- a logical choice, but was actually a combination of an awful lot of styles, just so long as contemporary wasn't one of them. His influence came from movies, particularly historical depictions. It was Jane Eyre that Curtis had in mind when he (cough, cough) created Vicki, though after a year, it didn't seem to Curtis that the show had a strong thrust into any one direction.
Jonathan Harrison asked if the sets were designed for shorter actors. Sy said, "Higher is better," and he jumped on having sets way larger than normal scale when given the chance. The standard was 10 feet high, which was economically better-- it shifted more easily. (I assume he was discussing permanent vs. temporary sets.)
Question: Why was there never a holiday or Christmas segment? Sy admitted that Collinwood would have looked beautiful with a Christmas tree, especially with the tall sets. "I guess it never stopped raining."
Joe Integlia asked if he was related to TV Guide's [executive editor] Craig Tomashoff. Sy thought so, believing that all the Tomashoffs were descended from one of the Czars, but when he met him (at a Fest?) and suggested they might be cousins, Craig said, "No, we don't have any relationship at all."
The final question was about the figure on the table in the foyer. Sy promised to check photos of it and will have her answer at the next Fest. [applause]
Jim Pierson (arriving to start the first auction) commented that Collinwood would have been a painted backdrop if not for Sy.
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Thank you for your write-ups, Midnite. [ghost_smiley]
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This is fascinating. Many thanks, Midnite. I'd love to see Sy's photos from the work on the 1995 sets.
G.
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SATURDAY cont'd
The only thing I came away with at Saturday's auction was the belief that there's a dearth of good stuff available.
There was a varied assortment of DS mugs, a DS Companion with red lettering instead of white, DS The First Year, an original script autographed by Frid ($400), Shadows on the Wall, mint Josette's music boxes, Curtis' English language episode kinescopes, and sets of bordered trading cards.
From the '91 series-- a framed cast photo from Curtis' office ($100), a set of videos, DS Resurrected video and hardcover book, and a set of the Innovation comics.
From Curtis' walls-- his framed Emmy plaque for War & Remembrance and the series' Golden Globe certificate. Also, a package that included the DVD set, soundtrack autographed by Cobert, booklets autographed by Hart Bochner and Jane Seymour, and a plaque (a mere $200). The Humanitas certificate for Saving Milly was also auctioned, as was his 16 Magazine award plaque.
The neatest item may have been the original artwork of Collinwood used on the Volume 2 LP; it sold for $265. A promotional poster for Night Whispers autographed by Barbara Steele went for $230.
After the introduction of Frid's nephew and his children, a pair of JF's shoes, autographed, went for $60. Next, his handwritten genealogy notes-- research for "My Fridean Connections"-- sold for $200.
I should mention that there was a slight communication problem this year that resulted in personal items from Frid's collection NOT arriving in Los Angeles.
Dark Shadows Reborn, Session I
The panel: producer/writer Stuart Manning, Ursula Burton (Susan), Andrew Collins (Barnabas), director Darren Gross, writer Eric Wallace, producer Jason Haigh-Ellery
To prepare for the role, Andrew Collins watched a cross-section of DS to get a sense and feel for the character. Ursula Burton called her experience wonderful; she is the only castmember to have recorded in both the UK and the US. The latest series ("Kingdom of the Dead") recorded in LA, NY and London, and its cast hails from every version of DS.
Darren found the experience challenging-- the last day used 8 or 9 actors in one massive session. There was a chemistry the cast had that was evident behind the scenes-- it was "like 40 years ago." Jason noted a love that the actors had for the series, and said it was great to meet them.
Eric said he was a Trask fanatic to begin with and meeting Jerry Lacy caused him to "geek out majorly." He mentioned that his wife was pregnant when he co-wrote KotD in 2008, and Urusula said she was pregnant twice, beginning with her participation in the first series. Stuart said he wasn't pregnant during any of this.
Listening to Frid reprise his role as Barnabas had some of them "grinning like schoolchildren." Andrew recorded lines that were later replaced by Frid, and the end result was seamless. Stuart was excited when Barbara Steele agreed to join the cast, and neither Frid nor Steele said they would never do it again.
Andrew Collins, who occasionally gets recognized for his work on The Bold & Beautiful (Nancybe is one of them!), said that two others who work on B&B are also good friends with Jerry Lacy, so the first time he met him was on the set of that show. He was also approached once by someone who told him, "I do your voice in Spanish."
Nancy Barrett was keen to work on the series. The cast is their greatest asset. David Warner was complimented as being an amazing actor.
Charles Ellis mentioned Louise Jameson's participation (in "London's Burning") and asked if there will be a Dr. Who/DS crossover. Eric excitedly volunteered to write it. Properties and rights were mentioned as an issue. A panel member added, "You never know."
Andrew Collins and Ursula Burton were available later for autographs.
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Thanks for sharing these Midnite!!! I haven't been able to attend a DS convention yet, so these write ups are the next best thing! Again, thanks much! xo
--Heather
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Again, my thanks Midnite for this excellent reporting.
G.
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Yes, thank you! I hope someone recorded this panel. I'd be interested to hear what the new Barnabas and Mrs. Griffin have to say first hand!
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Very grateful for the inside scoop, Midnite. Thanks for sharing. Wish I'd been there to croon an evening tune with the gang at the hotel lobby piano like we did back in '02.
-Sandor
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Robert Cobert
Cobert, dressed in white, entered to music and tremendous applause and immediately started dancing. After bonding with the audience by having them shout, "Hi, Bob," he began his praise of Dan Curtis, without whom none of us would have been there. He was a man who wanted immediate gratification. Cobert, who was introduced to him by Bob Costello, was hired after 10 minutes. He was [only] doing 6 other shows at the time, but read the script and it smelled like a hit to him. He offered to have something in a couple of days, but Curtis asked if he could have it today, then, tomorrow? Cobert thought he was "dealing with a maniac here."
The theme came into his head while he was shaving, so he found Curtis putting golf balls in his office and whistled it for him. Curtis smiled with his many teeth and said, "I ___ love it." [He didn't actually say the word.] Curtis: ""When can I hear it with the orchestra?" Cobert: "Tomorrow." Curtis to Costello, "I love this guy."
Later, when Curtis asked how soon he could have a theme for his new spook named Quentin, Cobert said in a minute. "I did it for Jekyll & Hyde and you loved it." It was re-engineered; he said he wasn't in the mood to write something new.
Cobert admired Curtis' loyalty. The only way you would not work for him was if you screwed up really badly, or you were nasty or not good people.
Paramount wanted someone else to score Winds of War, i.e. Jerry Goldsmith (Cobert was a NY composer), but Curtis told them, "I want Cobert and Cobert is the best... I'm going with Cobert." Cobert: "And the rest is history." At Chasen's later, Brandon Stoddard would tell Curtis that he was right ("You made us forget all the rest of those bums").
Cobert repeated a question during the Q&A: "Do I have a favorite movie composer? Yeah, his name is Bob Cobert."
Some personal background-- he was originally pre-med but shocked his family when he changed career paths. Once he had his penthouse on 74th and Park Avenue, he asked, "What about your starving composer son now?"
He said he did not earn a cent from the other (Nancy Barrett/David Selby) commercial record. ("Crooked company.") He did, however, make a fortune on Quentin's Theme.
A fan thought they heard his music in a commercial. Cobert: "All I can do right now is call my lawyer."
The theremin effect was created using a Yamaha with a string attached-- it was more accurate to handle than a theremin. NBC used a 25-piece orchestra, whereas the series did it with 5 guys and a piano (also bass, vibraphone, harp, alto flute). It was much more effective.
For Burnt Offerings, he thought the music in the opening scene should have been done differently, and instead of the music stopping when Karen Black entered the room, it should have carried through to the closeup of the pictures. He and Curtis fought about it for a half hour, they took a vote and his side won, and yet they wound up doing it Curtis' way. Later, both of them were watching the movie, and his phone rang and Curtis told him, "It should have gone until she got to the pictures."
Cobert said that the DS theme, and others, will be used for the new DS movie; it's contractually important to them. He said he doesn't need the money, and why knock himself out? "But I might." Jeff Thompson added, "Otherwise, it's not a Dark Shadows movie." But the bottom line, Cobert said, was that no one has asked him.
Regarding the Blue Whale themes, he said there were 3 or 4 pieces written for the BW. [It seemed he could hum any piece at a moment's notice-- amazing!]
He said the Revival Series had wall to wall music-- 30 - 40 minutes of it, but he never had more than 3 days to write a score. Chris Ledesma was the music editor for the '91 series (and is credited on the soundtrack [the first Festival mention of it?!]); his job consisted of taking notes, followed by a spotting session the next day; but for the series, the music supervisor (Sybil Weinberger) determined during rehearsal "what music went where." Cobert would not be in the DS studio, but when the time came, he would be told, "Bob, I need more music."
He ended with a second mention of the '91 soundtrack.
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Interesting. I thought there was a London session with full orchestra for Jekyll and Hyde and these were the versions of the cues used in hoDS and, subsequently, in several of DC's early 1970s telefilms.
G.
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Gothick, that's what he has said in other interviews, but if you're referring to his comment that Quentin's Theme was re-engineered, he was referring to the tracks heard on the series.
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The Game
In this year's version, fans were asked fans to submit their favorite scene that included Frid and one of a list of 10 actors. (Was Alexandra one of the choices? Of course she should have been, but I don't recall there being 11.) The most popular are presented here, in the order they appear on the show, along with comments and, in some cases, his observations. This is the only segment that I'm aware of that was standing room only. And because these scenes really were some of the best of the best, watching these clips was quite enjoyable.
#221 (with KLS)-- Barnabas and Maggie meet for the first time at the Collinsport Inn;
JF: "Is he actually drinking that coffee?" It looks to him like he really was, and he noted that he had a second cup.
#366 (with Alexandra Moltke)-- Vicki finds herself in 1795 and meets Barnabas, who doesn't recognize her;
JF makes reference to a young and innocent Barnabas.
#383 (with Anthony George, KLS and David Ford)-- Josette and Jeremiah reveal that they're married, and Barnabas strikes him;
JF calls this a powerful scene and one of his favorites. It was the biggest event in DS history for him. It was also remarkably challenging and contains a classic boo-boo that was caught barely in time by editing. He always remembered it because of his long pause that had to be corrected and so he bargained with the technician since this was a truly classic scene.
#401 (with Thayer David) Ben reveals the identity of the witch to Barnabas;
JF: Thayer David was one of his favorite guys on the show. "I really thought he was a a brilliant actor." He said he worked nicely and kindly.
#442 (with Jerry Lacy) Barnabas has lured Trask to the Old House and forces his confession;
JF: "That was fun."
#446 (with Louis Edmonds) Joshua tells his son that only one of them will leave the basement alive;
#570 (with John Karlen) While dealing with both Tom and Adam, Barnabas admits to Willie that he cares for Julia;
#703 (with Joan Bennett, David Selby) Judith and Quentin meet Barnabas, and after she has left to see to serving tea, Quentin pulls a sword on him;
JF called the scene pointed. [groan]
#744 (with Marie Wallace) Jenny goes to the Old House looking for Quentin and meets Barnabas;
#1070 (with Grayson Hall) While she is under Gerard's power, Barnabas tells Julia, "Never without you";
#1198 (with Lara Parker, Jerry Lacy) Barnabas declares his love for Angelique, who has died;
Finally, Frid presented his personal favorite--a scene from #661. Barnabas relates the events of 1796, with his father insisting on ending the curse.
Frid said he hadn't seen some of these scenes in ages. On the whole, he thought they were rather good. The cast was given little rehearsal time yet that company of actors still gives pleasure some 40 years later.
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David Selby
At times, Selby he seemed all over the map to me, straying occasionally from his two new projects, so I'm just going to do the best I can with this writeup.
The 60s were a time of personal, social and political changes for him, and Dark Shadows was his constant. He talked about being recruited by the FBI to check out a few places in NYC. Drugs were rampant on the Upper West Side. He'd once had a romantic view of the FBI, having written a high school paper on becoming an agent. But he turned down their request.
Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice "stuck to me." He understood the things he and Angela Davis were fighting for. After he came to LA, he'd attend a gathering at the Inglewood Forum.
To a certain extent, the things that still concern us today-- the environment, toxic air, child care, senior care-- began for him back then; they were paramount in his thinking when he came onto DS. Though somewhat apolitical when he he arrived in NY, he enjoyed the music of Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs ("I ain't Marchin Anymore"), and Bob Dylan ("Blowin In the Wind").
Speaking about the show (which he much less that day than in My Shadowed Past), if Barnabas had left, the show would have died a quick death. Also, "Has there ever been a better character than what Jerry did with Trask? The true villain, though, was Angelique." As for Quentin, he only wanted people to like him.
He said Lara Parker once went to DC to protest, and friends of his went to hear ML King's speech. He wrote his dissertation while on the show, something that David Henesy teased him about. Frid had gone to Yale, Thayer David to Harvard, Don Briscoe to Columbia, Roger Davis to Columbia and UCLA, Nancy Barrett to UCLA, and Lara Parker to the University of Iowa. He said he got to know Virginia Vestoff during their occasional walks home together. He learned she had been orphaned and on her own since she was 10 years old. She managed to survive in NYC, but she had a vulnerability in her eyes. Donna, Grayson, and Humbert had a lot of theater experience. Chris Pennock was from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; Kate Jackson also went there. KLS was off a farm in Minnosota, Lara Parker is from Tennessee, and Karlen is from Brooklyn.
His other new book, The Blue Door, is about politics in S. Appalachia. (Blue wards off evil spirits.) We must learn to "get rid of those evil spirits" and move on. He read a couple of excerpts from early in the book; I decided then to buy it, and it didn't hurt that Sally is a strong woman.
He was asked if he felt Lincoln's presence while playing him in The Heavens Are Hung In Black. He said the Secret Service was everywhere on opening night. They were "not going to let what happened happen again." It made him a little nervous to see the military fatigues. "Don't worry," he was told. There were helicopters, too.
He got up the nerve to finally look at some DS eps. The "roving hand"-- if that doesn't bring a smile! He just about fell over. "No wonder people laughed." As for Quentin-- he always had a problem.
About his early career: Sometimes you can't convince yourself that you're enough. For his first theater audition, he didn't get the job. He did not perform "Come to Me" from Brigadoon (he once played Sandy in a college production), but he brought it up here. Grease (set in 58/59) was and still is special to him, because Sandy's song at the end ("Look At Me") sums up how he felt.
Grayson as Julia knew Barnabas' secret, but what Dan Curtis wanted for Barnabas was the last thing the fans wanted.
Pansity asked if there was a connection between his new book and his play Final Assault. Yes. He was told, "What you've got here is a novel."
While Robert Mulligan was signed on to direct Rich and Famous, he wanted Selby's hair to be short. But the actor's strike went on for 3 months and George Cukor was brought in. He thought he wouldn't keep the job since Cukor should have his own cast, but Jacqueline Bisset, who was also a producer, said no way. George Cukor: "Who in the hell told you to cut your hair?" He was on the set the day Liz Taylor paid a visit to Fox. He also met Cary Grant at the commissary one day and thought he was very nice; he'd meet him again while doing Falcon Crest. (I recommend watching a tape to hear the quotes for these stories; I prefer to leave them alone.)
Joan Bennett, who did Little Women with George Cukor, almost got the lead in Gone with the Wind, but David Selznick wanted Vivien Leigh. Cukor was replaced but he continued working privately with Leigh; Gable never got him fired.
Jim Pierson seemed to grow restless about the time and started toward the stage, but it was at that point that Selby said he dedicated his new DS book to Pierson and also to Ed Limato. Pierson stopped in his tracks.
His book seems to tie these thoughts to a central theme. But while he was on stage, there were a few times when I wondered what the point was that Selby was trying to make. But that's me.
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Thanks again, Midnite. One thing that David's remarks highlight for me is the intellectuality of the show which was one of the things that attracted me to it for the long term. Even with the often absurd plots and scripts, the intellectuality of the actors and their commitment to the work brought a layered quality to all of it that was unique. Without the seriality of each installment unwinding five days a week, I don't think it would have built up to such an extraordinary edifice (if that's the right metaphor).
From his appearance here at Harvard a couple of years ago, I would say that David is a very confident extemporaneous public speaker. But there's so much going on in his head that he does wander from point to point and it doesn't always necessarily tie up into the neat little package one might expect in this modern world of the soundbyte.
G.
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The Costume Gala
I enjoyed the gala more than ever before! Here are the participants; my apologies if I don't get a name right.
Charles Ellis returned as Charnac, with Richie Halpern assisting.
Angelique and the Supremes sang "Where Did Our Blood Go?," featuring our own Mary and Cassandra along with Cassandra's daughter Marlena, all in blonde curls, with an appearance by the Forum's Evan Hanley as Nicholas Blair.
Cathy Young spoke of unrequited love in an interior monologue called "Julia's Lament."
A couple (Phil and Taia?) as Joshua and Naomi
"The Zombie" (our VictoriaWinters... did hubby get his tie back?)
Alice Faye as a belly dancing Magda
Margaret as Queen Elizabeth Balmforth of Bavaria
Paul Kerr (sp?) as Nicholas Blair, constantly disappointed in his minions
Adamsgirl sang as the bride Josette (What a beautiful voice!)
ProfStokes sang "Hey Judah," a terrific song she wrote herself
Ann Kerr as Dr. Julia Hoffman (a Grayson fan!)
(name?) Elizabeth Collins as a 1920s flapper
Brianna in "Becoming Josette," with her own music box created with her mother
Margaret danced as a tree from NoDS; it was to have been a tribute to Cobert's music, but when the music wouldn't play, the audience encouraged her to dance without it.
Johnny Wheeler as Professor Stokes
Michael McKnight sang "From a Distance" as a tribute to castmembers no longer with us.
Evan Hanley was back as Nicholas Blair, reminding us that the Legions of the Damned salute you!
Finally, 16 year old Alex Meisner did a dead-on impersonation of Jim Pierson that you must see to believe!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I23BvDn2oMY
Ann and Paul Kerr:
(http://www.dsboards.com/images/CostGala.jpg)
Alex as Pierson, on the hotel patio:
(http://www.dsboards.com/images/alexpierson.jpg)
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The Costume Gala
(name?) Elizabeth Collins as a 1920s flapper
That would be Heather Rollerskate, pictured to the left of victoriawinters.
ProfStokes
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Thanks. Wonderful photo!
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Wow, what a gallery.
If anyone posts Youtube video of Evan Hanley, I'd love to see it. He's uncannily on-target as Nicholas.
G.
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Ryan Nicholas Blair Dark Shadows Festival 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnbNQX7vTAQ)
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As usual, Midnite, many thanks for the great continuing Fest reports, I was curious to see what scenes made it into JF's game, most of them from 1795, one of his finest times on the show...
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Thank you for the kind words. BTW, a Frid quote from his Game elicited some chuckles from the fans around me-- about the scene between Barnabas and Willie, Frid said, "Karlen's Willie grew considerably." Whaaa??!
SUNDAY
I don't know what they were thinking when Pennock and Roger Davis were scheduled to be on stage together, but it was all Pennock. His shouts (reading from his comics) carried into the reception area, but it was Tara Pennock's a capella singing that drew me in; she did a very fine job with "Home."
Charity Auction
From Curtis' personal collection came a framed War & Remembrance photo, W&R scripts, his framed People's Choice Award for the same, his Emmy plaque for Outstanding Miniseries, a Hallmark plaque for Love Letters, his Producer's Guild of America plaque for Winds of War and W&R, his last kinescope (the infamous #211), and a pillow from his office. The neatest item may have been his 16 Magazine plaque from 1969 for "Most Popular TV Show" that sold for $450.
There were the complete W&R scripts along with the soundtrack (usually only sold with the DVD), Curtis' miniseries Intruders Among Us on video, and the complete 1991 series on video; also some individual vids (collectible for containing scenes not on the DVD).
Also, artwork slates for the DS soundtrack albums, Barnabas posters (one wrinkled with a personalized autograph), groupings of calendars or Fest programs, a grouping of 6 DS special vids, copies of The Blue Whale/1st year book, and The DS Music Book autographed by Selby and Parker. Spanish kinescopes went for $5 each. A cracked HoDS commemorative mug went for $20 (seriously)...
Majestic dolls of Quentin and both versions of Barnabas, autographed Josette's music box, Imagine trading cards (1993 and the rarer 2001 set)...
Daughters of Darkness on DVD.
As already mentioned, Frid's items did not arrive, so the final bidding was for his script (and possibly his notes, but I'm not sure about that) from The Game II along with the DVD seen on Saturday ($875), and a seat at his banquet table that sold for $500. I hope the winner of the latter got her money's worth since Frid departed after 30 minutes.
David Selby and Lisa Richards
Kathy Cody's segment, discussed in another topic, was followed by a superb performance by Selby and Lisa Richards from Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke-- the same scene Selby chose for his audition with Dan Curtis (performed before that in acting class), with Curtis' secretary reading Alma's part. In the scene, the delicate Alma is sitting on a park bench and meets up with John, a doctor and terrible flirt who teases her ("You're swallowing air") and offers her applejack brandy. He eventually invites her to go riding with him, but not before he tells her she has a doppelganger inside of her.
I can't say much more about Sunday's events, nor can I report what Frid did in his Reader's Theater beyond his reading of a discussion and the first Act of Richard III. I'm very much looking forward to ProfStokes' Fest writeup. (No pressure.) Was Alex's impersonation of Pierson shown at the banquet?
Amazingly, the weekend events ran fairly on time.
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Frid read a discussion? Wow.
Kind of sad for the lady who paid $500 to have dinner with him, and he left after 30 minutes.
So, RD failed to show up for the thing with Pennock, or just wasn't there for the weekend?
It sounds as if the days of the charity auctions are pretty much over, unless they try coaxing the 1991 personnel to come in and contribute mementos they might have in their garages that they'd like to offload.
G.
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Maybe discourse would have been a better choice than discussion. But he paused only briefly before reading, "Now is the winter of our discontent..." I'm not so sure that it was an audience that appreciated what he was doing anyway.
Oh, Roger was there-- selling t-shirts and tote bags and such, and excitedly telling visitors to his table about his real estate ventures. I asked if he would sign a photo taken 5 years ago, and even he commented on how much weight he has lost since it was taken.
Did anyone else see the expensively-dressed "suits" that surveyed the tables of merchandise? Two letters came to mind...
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Thanks so much Midnite! :)
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I'm very much looking forward to ProfStokes' Fest writeup. (No pressure.)
Thanks for the shout-out, Midnite. However, I have retired from Fest reporting. I just don't have the time for it anymore, and as a matter of fact, I didn't attend very many of the events this year. So thank you for all of the reports you've shared so far. I've really enjoyed being able to catch up on the news and the Q & A's that I missed. I hope more people will post their recollections and opinions of the weekend; it's always so interesting to read different perspectives.
Was Alex's impersonation of Pierson shown at the banquet.
Alas, no. We saw a short video of Frid putting his hands in cement and the many fans crowding around the Vista (I was suprised someone had been able to edit a video together so quickly), the Depp/Burton interview on the British TV program (which kept freezing), and a reel of clips and trailers from movies in which the stars had appeared (e.g., Race with the Devil, The Girl in Blue).
ProfStokes
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WOW! Your recollections from the weekend are amazing Midnite. I was there, but didn't spend a lot of time in the main ballroom, so I've really enjoyed you bringing me up to speed with your detailed reports. It was great seeing you and getting to pose for our annual hug photo. [ghost_grin]
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I hope more people will post their recollections and opinions of the weekend; it's always so interesting to read different perspectives.
Me too! And I understand about your Fest reporting. I've heard lots of good buzz about your CP skit, btw, and hope it's finding its way to you. And thank you for answering my question about the banquet.
Thanks, Bobubas. Loved the photo. [ghost_happy]
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Angelique and the Supremes sang "Where Did Our Blood Go?," featuring our own Mary and Cassandra along with Cassandra's daughter Marlena, all in blonde curls, with an appearance by the Forum's Evan Hanley as Nicholas Blair.
Direct from their engagement at the Blue Whale [thumb]...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WiWlIqdD30
Love it! Thanks, jimbo. (That's Cassandra's mom and granddaughter at the end.)
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Amazingly, the weekend events ran fairly on time.
That IS amazing! [b003]
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That is great! I know all of them and they are great people and this is hysterically funny!
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The Costume Gala
Alice Faye as a belly dancing Magda
Sadly, Alice Faye passed away on August 4 at an Indiana hospital, leaving behind a husband, daughter, son and 4 grandchildren. Anyone who has attended a Fest may remember Alice dressed for the daytime events in beautiful period dresses and curls, and perhaps has seen her on stage in one of the previous Costume Galas.
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Alice Faye Landis (far right) at the last Brooklyn Fest:
http://bobubas.topcities.com/fest2006/album/slides/costume_gala_3.html
With apologies to Bobubas for linking to a single page on his site [embb]
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Angelique and the Supremes sang "Where Did Our Blood Go?," featuring our own Mary and Cassandra along with Cassandra's daughter Marlena, all in blonde curls, with an appearance by the Forum's Evan Hanley as Nicholas Blair.
Love it! Thanks, jimbo.
Thanks Midnite! Thanks Jimbo!
And thanks Taeylor!
And I was so sorry to hear about Alice's passing. She will be missed at the Fests.
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Here is the video of Alice Faye's last performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmnH6BYgegM
She was such a distinctive presence at the Festivals. I couldn't believe it when I heard she had died. I will miss seeing her each year.
ProfStokes
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Thanks ProfStokes. I was so saddened to learn of Alice's sudden passing. I was glad to have spoken to her much more at this year's Fest. I got to know her a lot better. Alice really gave it her all at the Fests and it shows in her performances. A truly devoted Dark Shadows fan and a real nice person who will be missed at future Festivals.
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Well all right for Miss Alice. God Bless her. I like to think that she is dancing up a storm in the great beyond with Grayson, Joel, Don and all the others we have lost from DS. She seemed like a totally cool lady! [ghost_smiley]
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Thanks for posting that, ProfStokes. There will be an empty spot in the Costume Gala now without Alice.