A couple of days ago when the images from the Leona Eltridge episodes (from 1968) were up on the front page, I started a post about Leona and what a unique lady she is, but found myself making comments probably inappropriate to the tone of these boards.

I'll simply say now that I find myself intrigued by Leona, her hair, her clothing, her husky voice, and even her formidable chin (one of the shots selected by the MB certainly showed that chin off to find advantage).

Erica Fitz, the Actress who performed as Leona (and, I would think, the Ghost of Danielle Roget?) also played the Goddess Venus in a 1970 movie called Hercules Does New York.  I think a friend of mine owns this movie (he collects Herculesiana) and I'll have to borrow this just to get another look at that shapely being who incarnated "the most EEE-vil woman of the Eighteenth Century."

smiling beguilingly,

Gothick

Among the episodes featured for the 9/25 screen captures is episode 849.  I've always thought that was one of the best written, directed, and acted episodes of Dark Shadows.  For once, everything works really well, and the use of cuts is handled particularly smoothly.

Just one of those days when you look at the show and think "what a phenomenal achievement!"

G.

Dear fans, earlier today a friend was kind enough to send me this link to a website promoting a show last summer by Pop Artist Glenn Barr:

http://www.mmoderngallery.com/galleries/25_glenn_barr/

If you scroll down the menu on the lefthand side box, look for "Satan in High Heels" and the main panel on the right will disolay a charming, early Sixties exploitation-style portrait of our very own Grayson Hall in her role in the cult 1962 Times Square feature film.

For fans of the movie, the painting titled "Stacey" depicts Meg Myles (later known for her work on soap operas as well) in her role in Satan in High Heels.

Enjoy!

Gothick

Dear Fans,

A friend of mine informed me last week that selected episodes of the Dick Cavett Show are being given a
release on DVD.  He just bought the first set with the theme "Rock Stars" (or something like that) and described performances by Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin and other luminaries of the time.

I speculated to him whether the Jonathan Frid episode would be included in a future release and he just sent me this note in today's email:

Dick Cavett reads questions from the audience on little note cards.  Someone
asks "When you had Jonathan Frid on your show last week, did he really bite you
and leave teeth marks on your hand?"

I thought this was a hoot!  I remember when JF was on Merv Griffin, some rather dippy-looking dame appeared to be afraid he was going to bite her!  Amusing as it seems now, I'm sure it was very tiresome for JF as a serious actor to have to put up with these antics during "those years of insanity."

I heard a rumor a year or two ago that a similar release of the Mike Douglas Show was being prepared, but heard nothing further regarding this.

Best wishes,

Gothick

I just need to say that I *love* the two Liz-and-Roger shots from the August 9, 1966 episode.  It doesn't get much more classic than the smirk on Roger's face in the first one, or the damn-the-torpedoes look on Liz's in the third one.

Lovely shot of Vampilique's unveiling at the end, too.  I'm tempted to write "Fangs for the memories." Oy.

G.

Greetings fans,

Since I was again offline for most of the last three days, I am very glad I got to see the images selected by MB to mark the August 7 anniversary.  As fans of the Divine Grayson Hall will recall, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the date when we lost our lovely lady to the ultimate Dark Shadow--the scythe wielded by the Reaping Crone of Death.  It's a very sad memorial for Grayson's fans, but these images are a fitting testimony to the artistic legacy she left, which includes many of her performances on Dark Shadows.

I particularly love the shots darling Mysterioso chose for the "front page" today--that's meant to be a grimace on "Miss" Hoffman's face but he caught it just at the moment when it looks more as if she is enjoying a romantic moment at the thought of "Mr Collins'" visit to her bedchamber--certainly a nice touch of foreshadowing here!

I also LOVE the shot of Julia and Barnabas from the Summer of 1970.  It just captures the later phase of the two characters' relationship so well.

Not related to Grayson, but I have to say that I enjoy that picture of Quentin from '70 wearing THAT tie, too!

Thanks again to our cuddly, charming, cyberific Mysterious Benefactor for these treats!

G.

With reference to the point I made yesterday about how it's sometimes interesting how certain elements of the stories either reference things that had happened the previous year or compare/contrast with previous events, what I found most interesting about eps #263 and #524 was how in ep #263, when Vicki asks Sam if she can help him dispose of Maggie's things, he explains that he prefers to keep all of her stuff just as it is, and then in ep #524 Maggie says the exact same thing with regard to Sam's things. Of course, the reason Sam doesn't want to dispose of Maggie's things is because she isn't really dead and only sequestered away at Windcliff. But even so, watching the two eps one after the other somehow seems to make Maggie's real reaction that much more touching.

And thankfully today not only did Liz offer tea to both Vicki and Carolyn in ep #2, but Joe shares his coffee with Carolyn in ep #263 and Maggie offers to make coffee for Joe in ep #524. My faith in the residents of Collinsport's polite amenities has been restored!    (Though one does wonder why Maggie and Joe would have wanted to drink coffee just before going to bed?!    But who knows, maybe Maggie served Sanka?  )