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Messages - drwhotrades

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1
Calendar Events / Announcements '13 II / Re: July 2013 DS Cast Reunion at Lyndhurst / Added Guests
« on: March 26, 2013, 06:20:17 PM »
Quote from: Midnite on March 24, 2013, 04:46:01 AM
We are please to bring you the following guests from the original series

All I have to say about this event is that any DS event that has BUZZ as a guest is tops in my book! MY friend and I have been talking about Buzz at a DS event for years. In fact, my friend, who was never interested in going to a DS Fest, told me that he'd only go if Buzz ever showed up - now I will have to call his bluff!

On a related note, I also like the wider variety of guests at this event - it's cool to see!

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Calendar Events / Announcements '12 I / Re: STRANGE PARADISE - Supernatural Canadian Soap Produced By DS's Robert Costello
« on: June 14, 2012, 04:43:31 PM »
Quote from: Gothick on May 30, 2012, 02:26:03 AM
It's illustrated with a never before published photo of Raxl (as portrayed deliciously by Cosette Lee) and scans of two of the Dorothy Daniels paperback covers.


Hi All,

I just saw this thread on SP and thought I'd drop a line in reply - the photo of Raxl in Rue Morgue is one that I supplied to the author - he had wanted to do a bigger spread on SP but didn't have the space. It's publicity shot of Cosette Lee that I got from a former productioon crew member on the program. It was nice to be able to have it published for the first time.

If anyone wants to check out developments with SP, I have a Facebook page about it as well. I'm not a real Facebook fan, but since so many are, it is where I put info that hasn't yet made it to the general web site. Please feel free to check it out:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Strange-Paradise-CBC/46188362261

Thanks!

Bryan


3
Current Talk '24 I / Re: Depp/Burton DARK SHADOWS Is In Release!!
« on: May 14, 2012, 05:42:42 PM »
Nothing related to the review of the movie (for what it's worth, I found the first 30 minutes engaging, the rest - kind of dull) but when Barnabas is walking through Collinsport and he looks at the movie theater, it seemed to me that one of the posters was for the Spanish version of House of Dark Shadows. I could be imagining, but it certainly looked like it to me - if so, that would be a nice nod to the series.

4
Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / Strange Paradise: The Missing Episode - Revealed!
« on: January 28, 2009, 05:33:49 AM »
All:

Here's some great new information concerning Strange Paradise. I do hope that posting it here is OK:

Much like Dark Shadows, Strange Paradise also has a missing episode. As a result, for many years the syndicated broadcasts of Strange Paradise have been incomplete, with this particular episode being skipped over.

Unlike Dark Shadows, though, which has the script and off-air audio for its missing episode, allowing for a reasonably complete fascimile to be put together, any reference materials to Strange Paradise's missing episode have long since disappeared, and as such only the sketchiest of details remain about its content.

Until recently, why this particular episode, (episode 171) was missing, and its ultimate fate, were unknown. However, Strangeparadise.net is happy to report that, due to some fortuitous circumstances, a copy episode 171 has been recovered and has been archived in a digital format, allowing the Strange Paradise story to be complete again for the first time in over thirty years.

In a web exclusive, strangeparadise.net has put together everything you need to know about episode 171, including the history of its disappearance, the story of its rediscovery and, for the first time anywhere, a complete synopsis and photo gallery. For all of the details, please check out the link below:

www.strangeparadise.net/missingepisode.html

Additionally, for a limited time, strangeparadise.net is proud to present a full slideshow of the entire episode. Please go to the link below to view it. Please excuse the white text on the light backgound. It is a peculiarity of the program used to create the slideshow.

www.youtube.com/strangeparadisenet

Enjoy!

5
Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / OT: Some new sections added to Strangeparadise.net
« on: January 26, 2009, 03:36:38 AM »
Strangeparadise.net is happy to announce that not one, not two, but THREE entirely new sections are now online for your perusing pleasure. Do you want information on the minute details of the Maljardin storyline? We've got it. Do you have a burning desire to take a look at Irene Hatter's kaftan up close? We've got that, too. Do you want to find out the behind the scenes stories that didn't make it onto TV? Yep, we've got the goods there, too.

Click on the links below to check out our three newest sections - History, Photos and Trivia. All are works in progress, but for now everyone can get their fill of trivia for all 65 episodes of the Maljardin storyline, read a summary of the Show in the history section, and take a gander at full episode galleries for episodes 1-5, plus samplings of behind the scenes photos of the cast, crew and production. There's also a miscellaneous photos section, too, so enjoy!

TRIVIA: www.strangeparadise.net/trivialanding.html

PHOTOS: www.strangeparadise.net/photolanding.html

HISTORY: www.strangeparadise.net/historylanding.html

Again, thanks for all of the support and please let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see.

Regards,

Bryan

6
Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / Re: OT: Strangeparadise.net Updates
« on: January 26, 2009, 03:33:59 AM »
Quote from: retzev on January 22, 2009, 06:35:36 AM
Great stuff. What are the chances we'll ever see a legit DVD release?

That's probably the question I get most often - to keep the answer very short (as the entire story is rather involved), right now the chances of an actual DVD release are close to zero. The current owners are basically looking for more money than they might reasonably expect to get out of the property. Part of the issue is that Strange Paradise is but one of many properties owned by this particular company and it's simply not a priority.

I can tell you that they were approached recently with an offer to put the show out on DVD but turned it down.

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Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / Re: OT: Strangeparadise.net Updates
« on: January 20, 2009, 11:34:55 PM »
Quote from: Gothick on January 20, 2009, 09:13:31 PM
Some of those rare photos you have posted on the Archives section of your site really knock my socks off.  The publicity photo from Pat Moffatt alone has warranted multiple visits to the site... love the one of Cosette and Trudy together as well, and so many more...

Glad you liked the shots! I do have some more candid photos (actually quite a few more) but I am saving some for the book, so I'm being rather judicious about putting them all up in the archives....I loved the Pat Moffatt one as well - she had that photo specially made for her own personal use while she was making the program.

I can tell you, also that several of the new sections will feature parts of some of those behind the scenes photos in their design, so you'll get to see some of them soon!


8
Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / Re: OT: Strangeparadise.net Updates
« on: January 20, 2009, 07:57:50 PM »
Steve,

Thanks so much for the kind words. I am very happy that my little labor of love (lots of alliteration there) has brought enjoyment to people. I am often torn between announcing what I'm working on and waiting to actually post it before I do, so I thought the blog idea might be a good one to kind of tell people that yes, there are things going on without actually having to wait until each section is ready.

Rest assured there will be lots more to come, and more info on the book (perhaps even some sample sections) later on in 2009. For now, the archiveshave been updated through yesterday (1/19/09) - anyone can check them out at www.strangeparadise.net/Archives.html

Thanks again for the kind words of support. That's what keeps me going!

Bryan

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Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I / Slightly OT: Strangeparadise.net Updates/Missing Episode Revealed (see reply #9)
« on: January 20, 2009, 03:03:04 AM »
Hello again all:

I just thought I'd drop in to give everyone an update on what's been happening over at www.strangeparadise.net. It may not seem like much has happened in the past couple of months, including a trip to New York to interview Bob Costello and a couple of others involved in the production of "Strange Paradise" Also, work on the website has been progressing steadily. I've set up a blog over at blogspot so that peoplecan keep up to date on the latest happenings "behind the scenes", before things actually show up on the website. Please feel free to check it out!

strangeparadisenet.blogspot.com/

Bryan

10
Calendar Events / Announcements '08 II / Re: Slightly OT: Strange Paradise
« on: November 13, 2008, 07:22:24 PM »
Quote from: Brian on November 11, 2008, 05:18:23 AM
but after watching about 20 episodes, I gave up on this show.  Maybe someday I'll go back to watching again, but I found the show a pale (can I say again, PALE!) imitation of DS, and I just could not get into it.  That's my "humble" opinion, for what it's worth.

I'd have to agree that the first portion of the show moves slowly, but really it would be more akin to the first months of Dark Shadows, albeit with the supernatural items already present. The show picks up about episode 35 or so, and chugs along (with some slow bits) until the  end of the first story arc, which is episode 65.

A lot of the issues with the program came during the first 13 week cycle, where production problems, lower than expected ratings and some lack of direction wound up taking their toll. Simply put, the production was unlike anything that had been attempted in Canada at that time, and both the cast and crew were somewhat unaccustomed to the rigors of a daily serialzed drama. However, things straightened out eventually, and the show found its feet. Unfortunately it was a case of "too little, too late" in terms of keeping the show on the air.

Still, though, there is a lot in the show that can be recommended IMO.

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Calendar Events / Announcements '08 II / Re: Slightly OT: Strange Paradise
« on: November 06, 2008, 08:27:52 PM »
Quote from: Gothick on November 06, 2008, 04:26:00 PM
I thought the series jumped the shark after the completion of Tudi Wiggins' second story arc. 

Very interesting - I have to say that, in my opinion, the second 13 weeks of the show kind of ran out of steam about 2/3 of the way through. I was very interested in the first part of the 2nd storyline, but then there seemed to be a lot of "What do we do next?" type of plot decisions (I don't want to get specific and spoil anything for anyone). Ironically, I find the last 13 weeks to be some of the most interesting, and I actually tend to disagree somewhat with the notion of the radical change in continuity. There was a shift, to be sure, but to me there are at least somewhat valid reasons for it.

On an interesting note, I actually asked Harding Lemay (the writer for the final 13 weeks) why he did what he did plotwise, and he did say it was very deliberate, as opposed to being a case of a writer unfamiliar with the previous episodes simply writing based on lack of previous continuity. Again, I don't want to spoil anything by revealing the plot twists. Sorry to be so vague, but I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's potential viewing!

One tidbit of information about the second 65 episodes - one big plotline that was dropped was the character of Cort as an evil warlock type who dabbled in necromancy in order to manipulate events to his liking. Although this is vaguely hinted at on screen, originally it formed the basis for a lot of the plotting of episodes 66-130.

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Calendar Events / Announcements '08 II / Re: Slightly OT: Strange Paradise
« on: November 05, 2008, 09:46:59 PM »
Steve,

Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it! The website and book are a labor of love and it's been a long process, but the good news is that I think I've got enough good information to last for quite a long time...!


13
Calendar Events / Announcements '08 II / Slightly OT: Strange Paradise
« on: November 05, 2008, 06:35:20 PM »
Hello All:

Longtime lurker, but very infrequent poster on these boards. I thought that fellow Dark Shadows fans might like to know that www.strangeparadise.net, the website for the Canadian soap opera "Strange Paradise", often called the "Dark Shadows of the North", has been updated.

For those who might not know, there are plans in the works for a book about "Strange Paradise" and the website is a companion piece to it. Although the website is not yet complete, it currently features a brief summary of the show, the beginnings of a feature article section, detailed synposes of the first 65 episodes of "Strange Paradise" and some hopefully interesting archive materials. The site will continue to grow and will soon feature more rich content, including in-depth production articles, behind the scenes materials, rare photos and  exclusive interviews with almost all of the surviving cast and crew, including some comments from DS writers Ron Sproat and Joe Caldwell, both of whom were brought in to write for "Strange Paradise."

Please feel free to take a look at this work in progress. Hopefully you'll find something interesting.

Regards,

Bryan Gruszka
www.strangeparadise.net


14
Current Talk '06 II / Re: The Salem Branch - Your thoughts
« on: September 22, 2006, 03:59:28 PM »
Quote from: Gothick on September 21, 2006, 09:25:11 PM
the scene you mention with [spoiler]Julia slitting her throat so Barnabas can drink her blood[/spoiler] is a steal/paraphrase of a scene in Dracula where [spoiler]Dracula slits open his chest and has Mina drink from his blood--from this point on, there is a psychic link between the two, which is eventually exploited by Van Helsing.[/spoiler]

Thanks for the clarification! It's been a long time since I've read Dracula, so I didn't recall that...it still doesn't make much sense to me though...

Quote
Also, I seriously doubt whether Parker did much in the way of being a hippie, dropping acid and turning on back in the Flower Power era (btw, the phrase Flower Power was completely passe by 1969) since she was raising two small children and, in between working on DS, pretty much being a "homemaker" (a word I always found intriguing).

I was just basing my thoughts on Lara Parker's comments that Antoinette in Salem Branch is based a lot on how she lived her life during the making of DS. Lara Parker has commented on how she lived in the woods and swam naked, etc...I just extrapolated from there  :)

15
Current Talk '06 II / Re: The Salem Branch - Your thoughts
« on: September 21, 2006, 08:22:43 PM »
Having read AD when it first came out and having found it relatively boring through the first 2/3 of it, I wasn't expecting much from Salem Branch. It is clear to me that Lara Parker is simply using DS as a vehicle for her writing, knowing DS fans will buy the book. Not that I am criticizing this at all - lots of former actors/actresses try to reap the benefits of the things they have done in the past that have gerned a large fan following. If I was in LP's shows I'd probably do the same thing if I wanted my book to sell. However, I still feel that LP has a duty to the characters to make them authentic and not to just use them as ciphers or to insert them so as to namecheck the important DS figures (Quentin, in particular, suffers from this in Salem Branch IMO).

That being said, here are my thoughts on Salem Branch, both good and bad:

Good
  • Less gratuitous sex than in AD. While the sex scenes are (IMO) still unnecessary, they, at least, all serve a purpose within the context of Salem Branch
  • Decent characterization of some DS characters, such as Roger Collins - Personally, I thought it was spot on, and the only character in the novel that I could actually hear "speaking" the lines given them
  • The courtroom scenes in 1692, particularly [spoiler]Judah's trial and Miranda's hanging.[/spoiler]

Bad:
  • The flowery language - yes, I know LP has a degree in Creative writing, but I don't need to be reminded in every sentence. Most overused phrase (IMO): [Someone's] skirt billowed, floated, was lifted, dragged, etc.
  • The mischaracterizations and plot contrivances: [spoiler]Barnabas' interest in Persian rugs, his fighting with the police to the point of severely injuring one of them, getting shot and then being allowed to go free with no one stopping him, his falling in love with Toni, etc.[/spoiler]
  • The "feel" - I got the impression that this was LP trying to show readers things she likes or has knowledge of. It screamed to me: "Hey, I like Indian lore, so here's a story" and "Hey, guess where I went on my summer vacation? Salem!" and finally, "I was a hippie and we tripped on acid and had lots of sex, so DS characters should, too!"

Overall, it was, to me, more of a LP telling her interests story with DS characters in it. I have to say the "twist" ending didn't bother me, but the execution of it did, [spoiler]particularly when Julia (who I am assuming is a vampire and is dead) slits her throat so Barnabas can feast on her blood¢â‚¬¦odd, that.[/spoiler]

In short, I'd stick with the Dreams of the Dark and Labyrinth of Souls, both of which capture DS very well IMO.

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