Sorry to be the bearer of such awful news, but WB has officially announced a date for the hoDS and NoDS DVD/BD film releases.

The UNRESTORED prints.

The "extras" consist of one theatrical trailer per film.

Words fail me.  To Darren, I am so very sorry... what a devastating blow for you. We all know you gave 500 percent and we'll always honor your efforts on behalf of the films we love.

G.

Thanks for the reminder, Dark Lady.  I'll have to check this out.

G.

Fans, it was forty-six years ago that we first tuned in to hear those mystic words uttered: "My name is Victoria Winters..."  On June 27, 1966.  (I personally did not start watching until nearly two years later, in June 1968, so I have no personal memories of this day to share.  But I know there are fans here who started watching on this day.)

Happy Birthday DS!

cheers, Gothique

I am revisiting the mid November conclusion of the "1968" storyline and just watched episode 624 (which aired on Nov. 14, 1968).  I was surprised to find what must surely have been the very last reference to the Foundling Home whence Victoria Winters began her momentous journey.  Vicki has received [spoiler]two wedding gifts, and one of them proves to be a necklace that had been a family heirloom from a favorite nurse at the Home (her name sounds like Norris or Norridge).  Vicki reflects that she always felt so alone when she was at the Home, when in fact there were people all around her who cared about her.  It's a very poignant moment, and Liz is present.[/spoiler]

One or two episodes later, there's an episode where Vicki is studying the old Collins Family History and she tells Liz:  "I want to understand."  "You'll NEVAH understand," declares the Mistress of Collinwood.  Another poignant moment in the saga of Victoria Winters....

I'm really sorry that the writers did not allow [spoiler]Vicki and Jeff to go off to a happy ending in time for Moltke to finish out the storyline. Moltke's departure is so abrupt, I always think that she must have had a bad episode of morning sickness and simply been unable to come to work.  Curtis took her departure as a fait accompli.[/spoiler]

I also always think of Lara Parker at a 1990s Festival informing fans who asked why Moltke left:  "She didn't want to be on the show!  She REFUSED to wear make-up!"

Memories light the corner of my mind....

G.

A friend of mine who has more patience for current pop culture trends than do I saw the movie on Friday.  She praised the performance of the actor who played Lincoln (Ben Walker, I think, was his name? she said he was Meryl Streep's son-in-law) but particularly mentioned the ever-luscious Rufus Sewell, who plays the head vampire.  On a whim, she decided to buy the novel on her way to see the movie.  She started reading it on her way, I think.  Anyhow she thinks that the movie is a bit of fun but the novel is much, much better.  Just letting folks know one fan's opinion.  She is also a diehard DS fan (she gave the Depp movie a lukewarm review--for anyone who's counting heads, I still haven't seen the Deep creature).

G.

Fans,

looking through the Collinsport Historical Society site, I found this clipping from what is clearly a late Summer or Early Fall 1966 newspaper article interviewing Joan Bennett about her work on DS.  If this clipping was passed around by fans in the early years, it may account for why the story spread for awhile that Joan "hated" being on DS:

http://www.collinsporthistoricalsociety.com/2012/01/joan-bennett-talks-dark-shadows.html

Note that in the interview, she refers to already having a contract to do a play in February 1967--Liz's first "breakdown" as a result of a certain plot incident coincided with this.

G.

Yay!  congrats, cousin Taeylor!

G.