I think in KLS's very first PomPress book, MY SCRAPBOOK MEMORIES (the original edition, not the revision), she mentioned a kind of pamphlet that some church or religious (Christian) group circulated about how DS was teaching kids Satanism.  They were fighting to get it off the air.

I think that back in the 1960s, this kind of thing was never taken seriously by the mass media.  Times have certainly changed.

G.

Those memories of Humbert's performances are fascinating, Uncle Roger.  I'm one of those who never watched any other soap operas unless you count STRANGE PARADISE which wasn't really very soapy and I was only able to watch it for about four months.  Thankfully they did save that one so I have it all now.

I used to correspond with Ellen.  She changed her name legally to Julia Collins.  I read about the TV photos from ALL MY CHILDREN in a Grayson fan newsletter that came out at the time.  A fan was kind enough to give me photocopies of it years ago.  The photos weren't credited to Ellen, but to another fan, whose name escapes me.  You could order prints of the photos through the club. So maybe they're out there somewhere.  I imagine that nearly all this kind of thing was tossed in a garbage bag years ago.   But I guess some really diligent fan may have kept it.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that DS is now officially 50 years old, or at least, will be as of June.

Sometime today Lara Parker posted this lovely tribute to Mr. Astredo on FaceBeast:

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news yesterday of Humbert’s death. He was a fascinating man with a wicked gleam in his eye, vibrant panache, an infectious sense of humor, and his performances with his Errol Flynn good looks, so perfectly reflected and contributed to the mood and magnetism that was Dark Shadows. He was a dear friend and acting partner on the show, wonderful to work with, to joke with, to battle with, and so many people have told me that our scenes were the best ones I did. As the witch and the warlock, we had some mighty clashes. I have been in touch with him over the years, exchanging Christmas cards and emails, but I had no idea that he was in poor health. I still hoped that he would forgo his hermit ways and show up at our 50 year reunion this summer, or that I might talk him into making a Big Finish recording so that we could hear again his mellifluous voice. All of us in the cast mourn him, and will miss him terribly. (end of Lara's tribute)

G.

I would crawl through broken glass to see footage of HAA as the interior decorator on ANOTHER WORLD.  The fastidious and relentless piano maestro sounds like another great role for him.

Unfortunately I don't think any of this survives anywhere.  Around the same time Grayson Hall had a brief role on another soap--the details elude me, I think character was named something like Madge.  I heard that a fan took and made copies of some TV photos but even those have never surfaced.

At least it's better than knowing that Grayson's Playtex commercial exists on the original DS tapes, but nobody could be bothered to track it down and have it added to the goodie package for one of the disc releases.

G.

A sad loss for DS fans.  Humbert created Nicholas Blair, a character specifically invented for him, at the behest of Dan Curtis who was impressed by Humbert when he came to the studio to audition for another role.  Nicholas was and always will be my favorite Warlock. "Get hip to the Warlock!"

Humbert was only interviewed a very few times.  This podcast interview from two years ago was by far the best of all of them.  However, Humbert only speaks about DS during the final minute or so of the interview.

From listening to this, it would appear that one of Humbert's favorite roles was in the stage play, EQUUS.

http://www.collinsporthistoricalsociety.com/2014/03/podcast-humbert-allen-astredo.html

May his spirit know true Peace.

G.

I'm really ready for Vanessa to do something other than shred the walls in the loony bin. 

After the events of the last season, I would expect to find Malcolm in there, not her. 

But, we'll have to see how it all plays out.

G.

Fabulous.

G.

Hi Patti,

There are different photo montages that show up each time you navigate to a fresh screen on the board.  This is February of 2016 which means that the original series montage shows episodes that aired in February of 1967 through Feb. of 1971.  So, the Laura and David shot aired in Feb. of 1967, while the Pennock/Edmonds shot (showing the actors in the roles of Jeb and Roger) aired in Feb. of 1970, towards the end of Leviathan.  I also see Millicent from 1795 and Julia and Morgan from PT 1841. Those eps aired respectively in 1968 and 1971.

G.

Bob Costello's first episode was episode 45.  I personally would recommend starting around episode 50.

G.