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Messages - CyrusL

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181
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Happy Birthday, Ben!
« on: September 13, 2006, 07:57:44 PM »
All the best but belated wishes for a big birthday to our DS brother Ben!!!

 [band]    [banana2]    [cheerleader]     [crowdhappy]     [occasion13]     [occasion1]    [occasion18]     [occasion16]

Michael

182
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Happy Birthday to Amanda
« on: September 13, 2006, 07:33:53 PM »
All the best to Amanda for a great birthday!

  [banana]    [clap]     [happy1]     [occasion13]     [occasion15]     [occasion1]      [thewave]   

Michael  [wavey]
    

183
Caption This! - The Werewolf-Quentin's Ghost / Re: Episode #0671
« on: September 13, 2006, 07:24:03 PM »
Ed Sullivan (voice offscreen) "...thank you, thank you. The Turtles will be back later in the show to play for the young people. Now, here's impressionist Chris Jennings as "Crazy Guggenheim."

184
Caption This! - Blackmailing Liz-Intro to Barnabas-Kidnapping Maggie-Intro to Julia / Re: Episode #0354
« on: September 13, 2006, 07:14:24 PM »
Julia's amazing new medical breakthrough...

Head On, apply directly to the forehead
Head On, apply directly to the forehead
Head On, apply directly to the forehead.

185
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: ShadowGram Update #157 -- 40th Anniv. Merchandise & Special Offer, Fan Shari
« on: September 13, 2006, 05:15:34 PM »
Quote from: BuzzH on September 13, 2006, 04:31:10 PM
Anyone know if the Barnbas figure mentioned above is the one they had at the Fest?  In other words, is it the one w/the 3 different heads (regular, old man, vampire)?

Hello Buzz, both of the Barnabas figures, the 1795 and 1967 have all the three heads. It was the costume that was different. In a way its good news they are sold out, gives a better chance for more figures. Also, shows like Chiller, or other web vendors may still offer the 1967 Barn for a while at least. Yes, these are the same ones offered at the fest.

Michael

186
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / OT Classic Haunts for less, DVD $4.99 sale
« on: September 12, 2006, 07:48:23 PM »
Not to advocate one retail outlet, but I was at Best Buy today and they have a selection of DVDs on sale for $4.99 each with a few titles that would be of interest to many Dark Shadows fans. First and most especially is 1963's "The Haunting",  [ghost] with Julie Harris, Claire Bloom and Russ Tamblyn and directed by Robert wise. This one is often cited by many as the best "haunted house" movie of all,  [Ghost00] and is superior to the remake, which probably goes without saying.  [toilet] This film almost certainly influenced not only Shadows, but other Dan Curtis productions such as "A Darkness at Blaisdon." Also available in the selection is "Poltergeist,"  [ghosty] "The Ninth Gate", "Queen of the Damned", "The Blair Witch Project"  [zoom] among others, mostly mainstream stuff. Anyway, just a heads up. The great thing about this time of year is expanding the spooky and supernatural home viewing collection.

Michael  [blackbat]

187
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Remembering the World Trade Center
« on: September 11, 2006, 05:07:25 AM »
For me, 9/11 will always have a deeper meaning than it would have had, if not for Dark Shadows. For the only times I had ever been to the Towers was because of the festivals. I always tell people, and most are unaware, that the Marriott was Tower # 3. I most especially remember in 2001, as we drove Diane's silver Honda right up to the door and unloaded. I remember walking straight out of the Marriott and into the Trade Center Mall. I still have two shirts I bought there, one was for the fest dinner that year. We took the subway into Times Square right from there, just took the escalators down. Conrad Brook shot some footage for one of his "no budget" films in the lobby, and Diane and I were extras. I have a funny memory of Roger Davis speaking from the stage that year, advising us of a great nearby store to get a great suit at bargain prices. The two things I will always remember most, tho, are first, eating breakfast in the Marriott restaurant, which had big windows that opened in the WTC courtyards. I can still see John Karlen sipping coffee two tables away, by himself. Another table seated Ben Martin, another Stuart Manning and his friends, and many more tables of fans with their badges pinned on, eagerly awaiting the day's events to start. From the table, the Towers stretched to the sky, like two opens arms reaching for heaven. My other memory is on Sunday night, after the banquet. First, we made many photos by that fountain and stairs in the lobby. After that, Diane, myself and a friend from Indiana decided to go into the Tower, # 2 I think, and go up to the observation deck. When we reached the end of the velvet ropes, the attendant told us, "Sorry. We've just closed for the night." We looked at each other and said, "Well, we'll be back next year or the year after that." And that opportunity never came...
        We went to Ground Zero while attending the 2003 fest.For some reason, I had taken a photo from our room's window of the buildings across the street, and I used it to orient myself at Ground Zero, to try to place where the Marriott was. I looked at that gaping hole and wondered on which level the car had been parked. I often have wondered what I might have grabbed, had it been "that day" and we were at the Marriott. I don't want to talk politics, that will divide us. But, I think that in some small way, we Dark Shadows attendees of festival 2001 are  lucky. Together we shared something very special, in a very special place. But also, because we were there, we may have just a little more understanding of the loss, than many who never saw them up close, two silver arms, that reached toward heaven. And a hotel, almost forgotten.

Michael  

188
Current Talk '06 II / Re: If DS Had Been Cast With Classic Horror Actors
« on: September 07, 2006, 03:01:20 AM »
Here's my take on an "All Hammer" Dark Shadows....

"Curse of Dark Shadows" (1966) Dir. Terence Fisher. The Collins family, a wealthy but reclusive clan, living on the remote shore of Cornwall, are unexpectedly visited by a mysterious cousin,  Barnabas (Christopher Lee), and the village is beset by a mysterious series of deaths, with victims all drained..of blood. Impressive make-up by Phil Leakey, with a lush score by James Bernard

Other Cast

Elizabeth Stoddard...Joan Fontaine
Dr. David Woodard...Peter Cushing
Dr. Julia Hoffman...Barbara Shelley
Prof. Timothy Stokes...Herbert Lom
Roger Collins...Michael Gough
Maggie Evans...Yvonne Romaine
David Collins...Martin Stephens
Victoria Winters...Heather Sears
Carolyn Stoddard...Veronica Carlson
Chris Jennings...Oliver Reed
Joseph Haskell...Edward DeSouza
William Loomis...Michael Ripper
Sherrif Patterson...Peter Woodthorpe
Daphne...Martine Beswick
Mrs. Johnson...Freda Jackson
Cemetery Caretaker...Patrick Troughton

Screenplay by Tudor Gates from a short story by Dan Curtis

Distributed in the US by Warner 7 Arts

Michael  ;)

189
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Had Fun at the Fest
« on: September 04, 2006, 07:23:52 AM »
aaack!. Lemme try again.The files are too big. Any advice on how to reduce them would be welcome. ::)
Michael

190
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Had Fun at the Fest
« on: September 04, 2006, 07:05:40 AM »
I have had to be away a few days, as Diane has had a slight illness and we had an unwelcome visit from "Eduardo." I hope these photos attach.
Michael  

191
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Remembering Grayson Hall
« on: September 04, 2006, 05:35:21 AM »
Quote from: Julia99 on September 01, 2006, 02:33:39 PM
the plan is to put the video on  YouTube but a few clearances are required first.

I did not speculate in the book about the Graduate but I understand Nichols originally wanted Charles Grodin (it was offered to others but both have said in interviews the original choice was Grodin) to play Benjamin. . . perhaps when they ultimately switched to Dustin Hoffman they thought he and G weren't a good physical match--or didn't have the chemistry??

http://www.filmsite.org/grad.html
Interestingly, Burt "Robin the Boy Wonder" Ward has long claimed he too was up for Benjamin in "The Graduate." While all this may sound like a boast, truth is often stranger than fiction in Hollywood. Some documented "almost were's" include Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Zaius, (George Sanders also claimed he was considered), Richard Burton and Adam West as James Bond, Joan Bennett as Scarlet O'Hara, Linda "Nova" Harrison as Wonder Woman, Gig Young as "The Waco Kid" in Blazing Saddles, Christopher Walken as Han Solo, Leslie Ann Warren as Lois Lane (in Superman '78), Jaclyn Smith as Victoria Winters # 2,  and well, the list goes on...
Michael   [director] "next!"

192
Current Talk '06 II / Re: Bloopers DVD
« on: September 04, 2006, 05:14:17 AM »
Hi katsfan,
Yes, the new DVD contains pretty much the original "Blooper VHS," including that famous hottie, Bathia Mapes, although that section wasn't really expanded. (Although some MPI promo clip bloopers are included separately) For example, the Parallel Time ending credits with the crew guy eating his sandwich was NOT added for example.  :-X The DVD is well worth it, tho. There's also the "Music Videos" as it was on VHS. (No fan videos included, wish they would have added Guy Haines video of the Pet Shop Boys "Always on My Mind," Julia and Barnabas tribute.) The old games shows are a genuine "Treasure", not the usual hype. This segment, previously seen in clips at fests, have three "What's My Line?" appearances, those of Joan Bennett, Jonathan Frid and Alex Stevens in character as the Werewolf. [Wolfie] A much rarer show, "The Generation Gap," has three edits as well, Jonathan in character as Barnabas (1897 costume), Jonathan as a guest contestant, and David Henesey and his mom playing against each other. These segments are amazing time capsules, and its truly cool to see such other celebs as Soupy Sales (lots of Soupy!, and one of his sons), Sandy Baron (Seinfeld's Jack Klompus), Mom Cowsill, Alejandro Ray (looking like a Sergio Aragones caricature of himself, eh Sister Bertille?), Arlene Francis of course and more, all in their prime of (their game show) life. The clips are from '69-'70. Also included are two brief sketches from "Comedy Tonight" with Jerry Lacey, one with Diana Canova (from "Soap") and the late and dearly missed Madeline Khan, the latter of which is a Dark Shadows spoof; an all new segment of Lara Parker in Salem, Mass , a nicely produced look at the witch trials and the tourist industry there; some new promos for David Selby's book, and a very Gothic spot for the new audio dramas, a brief tease for the new CD box, Lara's new book, and MPI itself; and making its DVD debut, the amazing and almost indescribable "Dark Shadows Horror Heads" tv commercial! "Groovy! [flower] Cuddly! From Centsable Toys, who make lots of stuffed things for YOU!"  [_witch_]
Now, that as they say, is worth the price of admission....
Michael  [banana2]

193
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / OT-Chiller Theatre Convention, Oct 27-28
« on: August 30, 2006, 10:33:22 PM »
For those of us now going through post-convention-partum withdrawal, Chiller is the prescription. They have begun to announce their guest list for the Oct 27-29 Show. Of special interest here may be Juliet Landau, aka Druisilla on Buffy, "Wednesday" and "Puglsey" from The Addams Family, and Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the original Monster Mash singer. Here a link... http://www.chillertheatre.com/ch4.htm

Michael  8)   

194
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Had Fun at the Fest
« on: August 30, 2006, 06:33:58 PM »
Quote from: Midnite on August 30, 2006, 05:34:29 PM
I was in the city during the banquet, and since I don't recall seeing any mention of it in Fest reports I must ask... Was anything said during or following the banquet about the next Fest?  Was a next Fest even mentioned by the Fest staff or actors, as in "see you all next year," or anything?

My friends and I want Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!   (hint hint for Ann Wilson)
Yes Midnite, there was a cursory, "See you next year", which I think was from KLS if memory serves. No mention about where. (Remember the famous, "We'll see you next year in San Francisco"?? Great idea, never happened. )Although, I suspect the who festival might be even pricier there than NYC or LA. Likewise, I'd LOOOOOVVVEEEE the fest in Vegas again.  ;D Its especially meaningful to Diane and I as that's where we met in person, so we are with you on "Viva City!" (We had been regulars on the old AOL chats prior to that.)
      Not to belabor the point, but I think as previously discussed we are back to NYC/LA pretty much. But, we can always hope. Wouldn't it be great to have DS in either New Orleans, Boston or ...Bangor?!?!

Michael  :)

195
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Ot Tragic News
« on: August 30, 2006, 04:01:34 PM »
My thoughts and prayers as do Diane's go out to you. The importance of friendship can never be underestimated. This past weekend was proof of that. Our hopes and hearts will band together to try to send you a small miracle.
Michael 

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