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Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '06 I => Topic started by: MsCriseyde on April 21, 2006, 06:58:42 PM

Title: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: MsCriseyde on April 21, 2006, 06:58:42 PM
Craig Hamrick has posted a recent photo of Betsy Durkin along with information and links related to her new book on his Dark Shadows Online web site:
http://www.darkshadowsonline.com/
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Maria_Merriweather on April 21, 2006, 09:02:10 PM
I think she looks good in that photo. I found her rather unattractive when she was on Dark Shadows. She was miscast as Vicky but I'm glad she went on to a  long and fulfilling career. I liked (from what I read in the interview) her views on classic dressing. 8)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Midnite on April 22, 2006, 03:18:33 PM
Thanks, Criseyde!

Hey, she's a New Yorker... She MUST come to the Fest.  :D
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: BuzzH on April 24, 2006, 05:43:01 PM
Hey, she's a New Yorker... She MUST come to the Fest.  :D

Hmmm, I don't know...think ppl would rather see the REAL Vickie.   ;D  I'd love to meet Gene Lindsay, aka Randal Drew.  He was such a FOX!   [Wolfie]
(okay, it's a wolf!  But there wasn't a fox picture!  We NEED a fox!   ;D)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Midnite on April 24, 2006, 08:25:28 PM
I'd love to meet Gene Lindsay, aka Randal Drew.  He was such a FOX!

Sadly, Gene Lindsey passed away in the 80s.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: BuzzH on April 24, 2006, 08:29:45 PM
I'd love to meet Gene Lindsay, aka Randal Drew.  He was such a FOX!

Sadly, Gene Lindsey passed away in the 80s.

Hmmm, so he *won't* be at the Fest?  LOL!  ;)  Hey, laugh if you will, but someone asked me once if Joan Bennett was coming to a particular Fest, I said no, that she'd passed away in 1990, and they said, "Oh, so she WON'T be here?", and they weren't kidding like I was, LOL!   >:D

Seriously though, I didn't know Gene was dead, sad, very sad.  Do u know what he died from?
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: nedstuart on April 24, 2006, 08:34:04 PM
Hey, she's a New Yorker... She MUST come to the Fest. :D

Hmmm, I don't know...think ppl would rather see the REAL Vickie. ;D I'd love to meet Gene Lindsay, aka Randal Drew. He was such a FOX! [Wolfie]
(okay, it's a wolf! But there wasn't a fox picture! We NEED a fox! ;D)

I would like to see both of them come to the same fest. Others that I wish would make it to a fest are David Henesey, Humbert Allen Astredo, Kate Jackson.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Midnite on April 24, 2006, 08:53:55 PM
Hee hee, BuzzH

Quote
Seriously though, I didn't know Gene was dead, sad, very sad.  Do u know what he died from?

I don't.
Title: Betsy Durkin has written a book
Post by: Joeytrom on April 24, 2006, 11:37:47 PM
http://www.dressingthemanyoulove.com/author.html
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: D_Friedlander on April 27, 2006, 02:23:46 AM
Does anyone know in which commercials Ms. Durkin appeared?  For some reason I can actually rmember a lot of commercials from back in the day better than some of the shows (a little sad, isn't it?)    Betsy Durkin had such a distinctive appearance and voice, it would seem that her commercials would register in my memory banks, at least in retrospect.  Anyone else have even a faint recollection?
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: BuzzH on April 27, 2006, 02:01:42 PM
Does anyone know in which commercials Ms. Durkin appeared?  For some reason I can actually rmember a lot of commercials from back in the day better than some of the shows (a little sad, isn't it?)    Betsy Durkin had such a distinctive appearance and voice, it would seem that her commercials would register in my memory banks, at least in retrospect.  Anyone else have even a faint recollection?

You know what would be a great DVD Special from MPI?  If they put all the commercials that the various DS stars did (that are still around--Pierson shows them at Fest's so they gotta be around somewhere) on disk.  They could call it "Dark Shadows Goes Commercial" or something like that.  I'd buy it!   8)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: D_Friedlander on May 29, 2006, 08:03:57 AM
According to the "Appearances" page on her website, Ms. Durkin-Matthes IS coming to the DS Festiweekendival after all on Aug. 26 and 27, signing autographs and promoting her book. [book1]  Be sure to bring the Man You Love [love3], so he knows what he's in for.  [pimp] [shockeyes]

http://www.dressingthemanyoulove.com/appearances.html

But it WOULD be fun if Ms. Isles and the third Vicki (name escapes at moment) also showed up   And for that matter, maybe find James Hall--- I think these would be the two complete sets of survivng multiple players for one role, unless, I suppose one counts the Levathan Brats with Chris Pennock.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: sheenasma on May 29, 2006, 02:30:42 PM

Sadly, Gene Lindsey passed away

That doesn't stop Diana.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: michael c on May 29, 2006, 05:19:48 PM
i hate to be negative but i think it's extremely unwise on ms.durkin's part to attend the fest and get up on stage with the original actors from the show.what is she going to have to say?wasn't she released from the show because of poor viewer reaction?

she has to know what a fiercly devoted fanbase d.s. has and that the fans are going to want to meet the actress who originated the part of victoria winters and played her for nearly three years as apposed to an actress who assumed the role for only ten episodes.

i realize that she has books to sell and this probably seems like a good business opportunity but i think it's an error in judgement.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: CrazyJenny on May 29, 2006, 09:41:34 PM
i hate to be negative but i think it's extremely unwise on ms.durkin's part to attend the fest and get up on stage with the original actors from the show.what is she going to have to say?wasn't she released from the show because of poor viewer reaction?

she has to know what a fiercly devoted fanbase d.s. has and that the fans are going to want to meet the actress who originated the part of victoria winters and played her for nearly three years as apposed to an actress who assumed the role for only ten episodes.

i realize that she has books to sell and this probably seems like a good business opportunity but i think it's an error in judgement.

I think it's very cool that she's coming.  With this being the 40th and all, it will be nice to get some fresh meat :)  David Henesy's mother showed up and certian cast members were not shy about mentioning their dislike of her.  I had hoped that her coming would send David out to us soon after, but we can always hope he shows up this year.

I know another confirmed guest will be Chris Pennock.  No huge news there but there was a year that he wasn't on the guest list.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Raineypark on May 29, 2006, 10:57:58 PM
You make it sound as tho we DS fans are too ill-mannered to be polite to Ms. Durkin, should she decide to attend.  I'd like to think that we would make every performer who attends feel very welcome, indeed.  After all, if they didn't show up, it would hardly be a Fest, would it?
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: michael c on May 30, 2006, 12:12:35 AM
rainey,

we've been posting here together for a long time.you know i would never suggest that we as a fanbase were too "ill-mannered" to be polite to anyone who attended the fest.

but tell me the truth.what do you invision as a reception for ms.durkin?standing ovations?lengthy autograph lines?a huge run on her book about men's tailoring?

more than anything else i just feel as though it might prove to be an awkward and not especially lucrative experience for her.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Raineypark on May 30, 2006, 04:26:43 AM
more than anything else i just feel as though it might prove to be an awkward and not especially lucrative experience for her.

That's entirely possible. But don't you think Ms. Durkin will also have thought of the same things that you're concerned about?  I have to believe that, if Ms. Durkin has decided to do this, she's given it careful consideration, and has come to the conclusion that it's worth the effort to show up, and see what happens.

After all these years, I've come to the conclusion that there's a fan base for every single performer who ever appeared on DS....no matter  how small the part they played.  If Ms. Durkin wants to show up and see if she's still got fans, I say go for it!!  ;)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: D_Friedlander on May 30, 2006, 04:53:17 AM
After all these years, I've come to the conclusion that there's a fan base for every single performer who ever appeared on DS....no matter  how small the part they played.  If Ms. Durkin wants to show up and see if she's still got fans, I say go for it!!  ;)

Yes, I am looking forward to seeing her, and I recall a male poster from the DS NG who expressed the greatest admiration for her--- liked the spunk and strength she brought back to the role, plus thought she was beautiful. (Though I won't buy her book if she happens to be selling them there--- no further use for it whatsoever, and as for my adult son, he hasn't taken my sartorial advice since he was about 12. ::) )

 I can understand it was a tough act to follow another actress who had pretty firmly established the Vicki character, but if Ms. Durkin had been the first, I suppose there would have been dismay at HER abrupt replacement by someone very different, like Alexandra Moltke or Carolyn Groves (yes, got off the duff and looked it up.)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Midnite on May 30, 2006, 04:57:48 AM
D_Friedlander, thank you for letting us know!
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: jennifer on May 30, 2006, 03:41:23 PM
i think the fans will also be nice to her but i agree
that she was only in a few shows but hey we are all
paying attention to the  show after 40 years and she really
doesn't have anything to lose! is the list of who will be there on the site?

jennifer
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: MsCriseyde on May 30, 2006, 04:07:45 PM
By the time Betsy Durkin appeared on DS, they had done such a hatchet job with Victoria Winters' character that I don't think anyone could've saved her. Alexandra Moltke's final episodes weren't exactly high points for the character either.

It will be interesting to hear a new perspective at the Festival, and she certainly wouldn't be the first actor with a very limited run on the series to make a Festival appearance. Paul Michael has been to at least two Festivals in recent years, and I know at least one of the series regulars didn't have the foggiest notion who he was when he showed up even though they worked together.

From a personal perspective, I would also point out that Betsy Durkin Matthes seems to be a very gracious, well-mannered person. I recently posted information about her book on my DS Alumni site, and I had the release date wrong because Amazon had it listed incorrectly. She contacted me with the correction, and she thanked me profusely for mentioning her book on my web site.

Besides all that, I'm for any additional programming at the Festival that will cut into the possibility of Millay telling that damn trapped at Lyndhurst story again.  [8311]
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: BuzzH on May 30, 2006, 04:15:05 PM
It will be interesting to hear a new perspective at the Festival, and she certainly wouldn't be the first actor with a very limited run on the series to make a Festival appearance.

True, I personally would love to meet Michael Hadge.   8)
Besides all that, I'm for any additional programming at the Festival that will cut into the possibility of Millay telling that damn trapped at Lyndhurst story again.

Too true!
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: CyrusL on May 31, 2006, 10:15:43 PM
After all these years, I've come to the conclusion that there's a fan base for every single performer who ever appeared on DS....no matter  how small the part they played.  If Ms. Durkin wants to show up and see if she's still got fans, I say go for it!!
 Amen!!! You know, after many years in music retail and fan conventions, I have concluded that anyone who had two hit singles or two appearences on any "Star Trek" show will have  fan club for life! I can tell you I have seen tables of rabid fans for Morgan Woodward, Duncan Regehr, Bobby Sherman,the Bay City Rollers,  etc. And as anyone who has gone to DS or Chiller, etc can tell you, most of the actor themselves are both a little taken back but then again appreciative that at least part of their work was well remembered. So, while I do understand that Ms. Durkin indeed had a more challenging and debatably more thankless job in filling in for a character necessary to finish a storyline, most especially a favorite cast member, I as a DS fan indeed welcome Betsy Durkin no less than I would James Hall, Carolyn Groves or Brian Sturdivant. They are all welcome and... sign my book, please!  [beg]  Lol!
Michael  [a_monkey]
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: BuzzH on June 01, 2006, 02:34:36 PM
I think it will be interesting to see a new face.  I have no problem w/Betsy Durkin coming to the Fest.  Hey, like it or not, she WAS part of DS.  ;)
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Devlin66 on June 01, 2006, 06:02:26 PM
Betsy could of played Monica Lewinsky if we could back history up about 38 years....wonder what clinton was doing in 1968? >:D
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: ClaudeNorth on June 02, 2006, 04:47:35 AM
Oh, I would love it if Brian Sturdivant showed up!

I think it's great, though, about Betsy Durkin and I do hope that she turns out to be the first of several first timers at this year's Fest.
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: Charles_Ellis on June 02, 2006, 01:51:55 PM
I'm willing to give her a try, although she was horribly miscast in the role- I mean it's right up there with Emma Samms replacing Pamela Sue Martin on "Dynasty" and Sofia Coppola replacing Winona Ryder for "Godfather III".  We must respect her for coming to the Festival, unlike those stars who have yet to appear like Alexandra, Kate, and David Henesy. I just found out that Donna McKechnie will show up- Quentin & Amanda together again.  If my dear Terry Crawford shows up as well, it'll be back to the Beth-Quentin-Amanda triangle of 1897- what joy!  And Chris Pennock is always fun- he once told me the most amazing piece of DS backstage gossip that I can't repeat it here! 
Title: Re: Recent Betsy Durkin Photo & Info on Dark Shadows Online Site
Post by: michael c on June 10, 2006, 05:20:30 PM
how's this for a coincidence???

yesterday a piece of mail came into my office simply adressed to the department.a co-worker opend it and it was a book.i asked him what it was and it turned out to be none other than "dressing the man you love" by betsy durkin matthes!needless to say i had a minor d.s. freak out(something my co-workers indulge with roled-eyes).

better yet it was an autographed copy intended for my boss.apparently they met and spent some time together on shelter island where she has a home and she sent him a copy of the book.he wasn't around so i couldn't ask him about it. :P