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Messages - Ben

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76
Current Talk '03 II / Re:Lost Blooper - Does Anybody Know
« on: July 10, 2003, 03:28:56 PM »
Thank you, all, for your insights.  I was fairly confident that a set collapse would have made it into the bloopers tape or into your astute collective memories.

One thing Tony mentioned -- that seems quite plausible -- was noticing the actors (whoever they were at the time) struggling (not always successfully) to keep straight faces during that seance.  Now might THAT scene ring a bell (or light a candle)?

Ben

77
Current Talk '03 II / Lost Blooper - Does Anybody Know
« on: July 09, 2003, 03:02:20 PM »
Yesterday, Tony, the university systems guy, knocked on my office door to deliver a new, upgraded computer.  As he was transferring my files from the old to the new cpu, he noticed "DARK SHADOWS FORUMS" in my "Favorites" menu.   "Wow, I used to run home from school to watch that show!" he exclaimed.  And that's when I discovered yet another DS fan among my midst.

Tony described a blooper that he swears he and his mom had seen during the original run, but that I don't recall seeing (either in the MPI compilation video or from my modest personal recall).  He described a seance during which the walls of the set, which were flimsy to begin with, collapsed.  He could give no other details.

Does this sound familiar to anybody?

Ben

78
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Classic Blooper edited out on MPI DVD#6
« on: July 02, 2003, 01:17:50 PM »
I personally find the bloopers "charming," but that's not the point.  DS was the most ambitious program of its time, from its acting, production, and technical aspects.  The action was shot live-on-tape, meaning that everything we see was essentially live.  Actors were learning a script a day, shooting it once, then moving on to the next one.  Special effects were attempted using technology that was cutting edge then, primitive now.

Unlike most contemporary shows, which have the luxury of being shot and reshot to perfection (and often sterility), DS is THEATER.  I can enjoy the show on many levels -- following the imaginative storylines, watching how the actors handle the unexpected (often a real test of acting), studying how a special effect was attempted, listening to the musical score, and then just enjoying the bloopers (or Kathy Cody or Donna McKechnie whining, not necessarily in that order).

Given its time and relatively limited budget, DS was a huge accomplishment.  The only way the viewer -- old or new -- can appreciate what DS was all about is to see the show -- brilliance, warts, and all.

Ben

79
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Everybody's a pianist (and other random thoughts)
« on: June 19, 2003, 11:13:11 PM »
Quote from: Minja on June 19, 2003, 04:22:17 AM
Ben, I will always remember how beautifully you played the piano for our little informal gathering the Sat. nite of the LA DS fest last year!  It was a highlight of my first big fest experience!  Thank You so much for sharing your amazing musical talent with us! And accompaning Prof. Stokes during her marvelous rendition of "Dream Curse"!

I hope that someday we can all get together again and relive those fun moments!  Even though if we do I'm sure Midnite will limit my wine consumption!  ;) [8285]

You're so sweet, Minja!  Thanks for your kind words  :)  I remember the piano party fondly, getting to play my favorite tunes and making many new friends in the process (as well as $6 in tips) -- what more could I ask for?  I don't think there was any need for Midnite to limit your wine consumption!  Well, not really ...   ;D

Yeah, wasn't Prof. Stokes a bundle of talent?

I hope to help entertain at a future gathering, although at the moment there's not a very good chance it'll be at this September's fest.   :'(  I hope there'll still be other events where we can catch up.

Ben

80
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Everybody's a pianist (and other random thoughts)
« on: June 19, 2003, 01:06:15 AM »
Quote from: Dr. Eric Lang on June 19, 2003, 12:51:49 AM
I play the piano too :D
I have the DS sheet music. I have tried to learn how to play "Ode to Angelique" but it's really hard. It has all those rolling scales and I hate those.[crazd]

See, you proved my point ... everybody's a pianist today!  ;D  It's great to run into another player here!

I know what you mean about the rolling scales.  But you can still capture the sense of the piece if you just play the bass notes at the beginning of each measure, adding whatever you can on your left hand.

Of course, swaying violently back and forth while you play will compensate for any notes you skip, and I'm sure it'll enhance the understated mood that Bruno no doubt was trying to create.   8)

Ben

81
Current Talk '03 I / Everybody's a pianist (and other random thoughts)
« on: June 18, 2003, 11:14:28 PM »
I don't think it's just because I play the piano, but I was so tickled to see two different characters (Alexis and Bruno) tickling the ivories today (Wednesday).  I began asking myself, "Is everybody a pianist?"  I loved Bruno's over-the-top swaying while he casually carried on a conversation with Quentin (how subtle).   ::)

The legendary afghan-now-as-piano-cover added yet another subtle touch.

The way Bruno winced when his blood sample was drawn, you'd think Dr. Longworth had used a screwdriver instead of a hypodermic needle.  :D

I remember as a kid seeing Dr. Longworth's wire-framed glasses and thinking how cool they were -- a radical departure from the '50s and '60s-style horn-rimmed and tortoise-shell frames.  I HAD to get new glasses like that!  8)

And to see both Quentin's burnt orange blazer AND Bruno's disco ensemble in the same shot ... they were so loud together, I wanted to turn down the volume on my set.  ;)

Just being silly today,
Ben

82
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Memorial Day 2001
« on: May 23, 2003, 08:55:55 PM »
Quote from: Cassandra Blair on May 23, 2003, 03:13:17 PM
According to my records, episodes 11 and 12 aired on May 24th, and episodes 13 and 14 aired on May 25th.

Hope this helps you and your friend.  :)
How efficient of you, Cassandra!  I'm sure this will help.  Thanks!

Ben

83
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Prof. Stokes' "Flat"
« on: May 23, 2003, 02:01:49 PM »
Quote from: Mysterious Benefactor on May 23, 2003, 01:33:06 AM
Quote from: Vlad on May 23, 2003, 01:23:33 AM
Also, it's odd that they would use a British term, isn't it?  Or do they call apartments "flats" in New England?

Not in any parts of NE that I'm aware of - and I've lived here for more than 40 years...

Are you sure you haven't been living a sheltered life out there, MB?  ;D

I guess I didn't realize that the term is so regional.  Here in Chicago, older, smaller apartment buildings are referred to as "two-flats," "three-flats," etc.   Each flat would occupy the entire floor of the building.

But it was a nice, subtle touch for the writers to use an English reference to describe the living quarters of the erudite Professor Stokes.  I mean, would any of us be comfortable hearing Julia or Barnabas say, "I'm heading over to Prof. Stokes' pad ..."?

Ben

84
Current Talk '03 I / Memorial Day 2001
« on: May 23, 2003, 01:34:51 PM »
Does anybody know which episode numbers aired on May 24 and 25, 2001?  That was the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day weekend of that year.

You see, I have this friend who is in a nostalgic mood because he caught DS for the first time in over 30 years on those days ...  and it reawakened his passion for the show.  I just can't get him to join this board.  :(

Thanks for your help!

Ben

85
Current Talk '03 I / How handy
« on: May 16, 2003, 02:22:03 PM »
I did a double-take watching the scene in which Sabrina was at the Jennings cottage, imploring him to open the string-tied box containing the "magic" flower.  How handy for Chris to be standing -- at that very moment -- beside a pair of scissors ... conveniently laying on the mantel!

Isn't that where we all keep a pair of scissors ... just in case?

I began wondering how the scene might have gone, had Chris been unable to locate a scissors.  An hour would have gone by, and a agonized Sabrina would have been asking, "Don't you know where your scissors are?", while Chris, frustrated, would have kept shouting, "I don't know!  I don't know!"

And that flower -- even the way it opened at the end of the ep -- reminded me of its cousin on "Little Shop of Horrors."

What other show contains so many charming moments like these?

Ben

86
Current Talk '03 I / Re:The incredible doppelganger
« on: April 03, 2003, 05:22:33 AM »
Quote from: kuanyin on April 01, 2003, 05:24:28 AM
Can't Barney think of ANOTHER story other than the cousin from England? ... Maybe saying he was from Australia would have been better.

LOL!  I can just hear Barney, with the help of Mr. Frid's distinguished accent, trying out different rouses:

"I'm a cousin from Montana and just sold my cattle ranching business."

"I'm a cousin from California, and I've come here to Collinsport to open a new fern bar."

"I'm a cousin from Texas, and I've come here to buy the Blue Whale and turn it into an urban cowboy bar."

Maybe cousin from England, as unimaginative (and often preposterous) as it was, was the only plausible choice.   8)

87
Current Talk '03 I / Re:TODAY IN DARK SHADOWS HISTORY
« on: April 03, 2003, 04:50:09 AM »
I remember watching that last episode after running home from school for the last time.  I was in the final quarter of eighth grade.   I'd been having a hard time following 1841-PT storyline and maintaining interest in it, so perhaps that eased things a bit.

As I listened to Thayer David recite the "epitaph," I remember lamenting to myself, "This is it.  I'll never see this show again ..."

Little did I realize that I would become more involved than ever in the show 28 years later.  The daily reruns, the videos, being able to watch the show for the first time in color, the Fests, and the DS friends I've made along the way ... who'd've thunk it?  :)

Ben

88
Current Talk '03 I / Re:The Q-Man's Top Ten Change of Life "Adjustments"
« on: March 27, 2003, 04:31:58 AM »
Quote from: CastleBee on March 26, 2003, 09:46:09 PM
just one tiny addition if you don't mind Ben...

Collapses on floor in frustration.

Don't mind at all, Castlebee!  Your "tiny addition" is priceless!

I know there's another thread discussing Petofi's nose, but after seeing this Petofi-pic, I'm convinced that the rest of his head had to be fake, too ...  8)

Ben

89
Calendar Events / Announcements '03 I / Re:GOOD LUCK GERARD TOMORROW/OT
« on: March 26, 2003, 08:14:12 PM »
Hi, Gerard:

So good to hear things have gone well for you.  If the pain doesn't go away, just remember to call Julia, if only to hear her utter (ever so nonchalantly) my favorite line, "Here, this will relax you."  :)

Ben

90
Current Talk '03 I / Re:Strange thing happened at work today..
« on: March 26, 2003, 03:08:09 PM »
Quote from: Birdie on March 20, 2003, 02:12:27 AM
Dark Shadows follows us in small ways through our daily lives.
A cute thought, Birdie, but in your case I think it's in more than small ways ... are you sure it isn't stalking you? 8)

I have to admit that I was startled to learn that the last name of my first new boss in 19 years is "Collins."   When I first met her a year ago to interview for the position, I felt good vibes, in part because of her last name.  Fortunately, her first name isn't DS-related, or I'd have acquired a reputation as the mad, laughing professor at the law school where I now work.

Ben

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