Ben, thanks for posting this thoughtful topic about the relationship between Barnabas and Ben Stokes ...  You've touched on a topic that I find very meaningful personally; I'm always drawn by presentations such as what we'll be seeing with Barnabas and Ben ... Such friendships are seemingly all too rare in real life.  I have literally had people end a friendship because I voted for a different political candidate, for example, and another because I didn't watch the World Series when "we" were in it (I went to browse at Borders Books instead).  

Thanks, Vlad.  Your posts on this thread are not only thoughtful and astute, but eloquent, too!  Seems like those petty people you described weren't really true friends to begin with, so be glad they are out of your life.  Ultimately, they make you deepen your appreciation for those who stick by you, year after year.

Ben

Paperback Writer - Flora Collins

I've Got You Under My Skin - Count Petofi to Quentin Collins

Piano Man - Laszlo Powi

Alone Again (Naturally) - Barnabas Collins

Will the Circle Be Unbroken - The Seance Singers

I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Count Petofi Fan Club

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Laura Collins

Leaving on a Jet Plane - Burke Devlin

And we can't forget The Theme from "Cheers" for Bob the Bartender

Ben

Hmmm ... let's see:

Reel-to-Reel Recording for Dummies by Dr. Eric Lang

Subtle Piano Performance by Laszlo Powi

The Art of Whispering by Peter Bradford, as told to Jeff Clark and Ned Stuart

That City in Brazil by Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Move Over, Garfield! by Joshua Collins

The Collins Family: None of My Business (Vols. 1 & 2) by Sarah Johnson

Innocent Until Proven Innocent by Barnabas Collins

Ben
(who wishes to thank Mark Rainey for his recommendation, Tonight Must Go Nothing Wrong -- I've enjoyed that one many times!)

A number of things got me hooked during my first DS go-around in 1969.  One was the alliances between Barnabas, Julia, Prof. Stokes, and Willie.  It wasn't until a very brief syndicated run eight years later that I discovered that it was Willie who released Barnabas and how Barn kept such a tight reign over his servant.  It wasn't until the 1999 Sci-Fi run that I discovered how adversarial the initial relationship was between Barn and Julia (and what a shock that was).  Moreover, Julia's unrequited love for Barnabas had totally gone over my 12-year-old head!

Another hook was the Quentin storyline -- the first full storyline I remember -- and finding it fascinating that a kid close to my age (David) could get entwined in this spooky fantasy involving a magic telephone and ghosts.  

Equally riveting was the haunting DS score.  I got the first DS soundtrack LP (with the Barn and Quentin poster inside) for Christmas in 1969.  The music has never left me.  Sometimes, even at work, when bombshell news is announced, one of the musical cues starts playing in my head!

Ben

Welcome back, Gerard ... we missed you!  

Hope your return to this board will bring you an occasional smile, as you ease back into your daily routine.

Take care,
Ben

Dear Lurkers:

Two years ago, I got fed up with another DS board where the posters frequently attacked each other.  I stumbled across this one (known by a different name at the time) and was impressed with its collegiality, intelligence, warmth, and wit.  It didn't occur to me, but yes, this is indeed a safe, decent place.

After posting here for over a year, I met a number of our group for the first time at last year's fest in NYC, and they are very nice, fun bunch.  Plus, if you're a little eccentric (okay, crazy), you'll fit right in with the rest of us!  

Inasmuch as the last fest took place in the World Trade Center -- just three weeks before September 11 -- I was also deeply moved by the thoughts we exchanged on this board shortly after the tragedy.   We went from being friends to becoming a family.  

I, too, was once intimidated by the scholarly knowledge level of some posters.  I don't consider myself a DS scholar, but I'm a longtime fan who loves so many aspects of the show.  I think that's really all you need to contribute your own unique viewpoints.  And the scholars are always more than happy to answer your questions.

So come on in ... the water's fine!  

Ben

How can people be so heartless!

For a minute there, Ringo, I thought you were about to launch into the next line of an appropriate theme song for Angie (from "Hair") which continues, "How can people be so cruel ... Easy to be hard ... easy to be cold ..."

Feel better, Ringo!  Hope the hot toddies do the trick.
Ben