The piece was indeed a stock piece by Canadian composer Robert Farnon.  It's worth remembering that the music box was the first time in the show's history that a piece of music was required as a thematic "prop", so I assume that it was time-related issues that prevented Cobert providing it initially.

Cobert's composition was not composed for the soundtrack album, which did not debut until nearly a year later.

I think they're both nice compositions -- Farnon's has a more delicate, spectral quality, whereas Cobert's is a starker, more melancholy tune.

Dear DARK SHADOWS fans

After a long hiatus, I am pleased to announce the Dark Shadows Journal Online has moved to its new, permanent home at http://www.collinwood.net . It will continue to be accessible from http://www.darkshadows.co.uk, but for fastest access, the new URL is recommended.

New features on the site include:

* MULTIMEDIA: A selection of video and audio highlights from the original series are now available to download. You can also enjoy the beginnings of the new photograph gallery, which includes three rare photographs of HUMBERT ALLEN ASTREDO in some of his final theatre roles before his retirement, along with rare South American promotional material for "House of Dark Shadows".  [If anyone is able to identify the productions the photos of Humbert originate from, please get in touch]

* ARTICLES & FEATURES: Reviews of "Trilogy of Terror II" and the "Dark Shadows Comic Strip Book", along with "Dark Days at Collins House", a classic factual article on the origins of the show from the archives of the Dark Shadows Journal.

* NEWS: Many updates, including news on the new DVD range and BEN CROSS' London West End role in "Art"

* CAST BIOGRAPHIES: A new page on Kate Jackson's career and many minor updates to the existing pages.

* ILLUSTRATED EPISODE GUIDE: Over 50 new summaries added, taking the guide into Summer 1967.

I'd like to thank everyone for being so patient during the changeover in servers and I really hope you'll enjoy the new features it has allowed. Regular updates will now recommence and your interest and support is appreciated as always.  Let me know what you like about the site [and what you don't] and if anyone is interested in contributing, please get in touch.

Thanks

Stuart

The most alarming ones that come to mind are John Yaeger in 1970PT and the early Willie Loomis, where rape is hinted at in no uncertain terms.  That stuff is pretty harsh even by today's daytime standard, and I guess something that jars pretty harshly with the fairytale cosiness of the series elsewhere.

"Night of Dark Shadows" does the same in places too -- I'm in too minds about it.  On one level, it brings "Dark Shadows" more in the "real" world, but on another, I think it spoils the quaint enclosure it occupies.

Yeah, I think a lot of the flak had more to do with the fact that he wasn't Jonathan Frid than his actual portrayal.

At the end of the day, aping Frid was a pointless route to take, but I think Cross succeeded in making the role his own pretty easily.  And, most importantly, he projected the sort of timeless ambience that is crucial to Barnabas, without playing it in a "contemporary" manner.

I'm looking forward to seeing him on stage a great deal either way

In terms of picture and sound quality, the MPI masters are streets ahead of the versions that usually air on SciFi -- the compilations are a bit of a mixed bag, but the "Behind the Scenes" tape is very nicely done, with some cute home movie footage of the actors outside the studio

I think Professor Stokes was the best character -- the impact he made out of such a small number of appearances says it all, really.  He was just such a wonderful theatrical character, with that wonderful ability to make sardonic quips in a desperate situation sound like the most natural response imaginable.  And of course the majority of that is due to Thayer David's perfect delivery, along with the natural poise and class he brought to the role.

From an actor's point of view, John Karlen was such an accomplished performer in the role of Willie -- the ability to convey high intensity without scenery chewing or histrionics really stands out for me when I view the show nowadays.

Oooooh!  Curse you, evil Svengali that you are... ahem.

Consider moi profoundly disturbed  

I'll be there and I'll be doing a photo essay thingy like last year on my site or something for the creatures of the web.

Or something...