Her NY Times obituary:

Madeleine L’Engle, Children’s Writer, Is Dead

L’Engle has occasionally been the object of discussion here as the author of the children's book "A Wrinkle in Time" and as the wife of Hugh Franklin (Liz's attorney and the senior partner of Garner & Garner).


Thanks, Kosmo.

JosettebyCandlelight, one of our newest members, passed along that Rob Yasinac's Spratt House page has been updated to include some FABULOUS photos of "the Old House," including a postcard image of the actual front (South side) of the house (!!!) that shows the steps and fountain that remain as ruins on the Lyndhurst property.

http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/spratt/spratt.html

I took these photos on 8/18/07:

ShadowGram Online Dark Shadows News Updates List
Marcy Robin's Cyberspace "Dark Shadows" News Update List
An Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM
ShadowGram@aol.com

Number 175. September 3, 2007.

*********************************************
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following breaking news.

**** DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES JONATHAN FRID'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY AS BARNABAS

Nearly 1,500 DS devotees from many states, Canada, and Britain joined together with actor Jonathan Frid and other DS guests at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York, on August 17-18, 2007. The convention celebrated the four-decade anniversary of his first appearance as Barnabas Collins. Also participating in the event were several of Frid's female co-stars: Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie/Josette), Marie Wallace (Eve), Betsy Durkin (Victoria Winters #2), and Diana Millay (Laura Collins). DS Sound Engineer Henry Plimack provided invaluable expert technical advice and assistance.

Highlights of the weekend included a pair of onstage appearances by Jonathan. One session spotlighted some of his favourite DS episode scenes, interlaced with his reminiscences and commentary about the scenes, his colleagues, and his interpretation of Barnabas. Jonathan also presented a selection of dramatic readings live and in 2 video screenings, featuring literary pieces by Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Groucho Marx, and others. In addition, Jonathan answered questions from the audience.

The festivities were capped with a Saturday evening banquet. A 30-minute video tribute called "Frid's 40th," compiled specifically for the banquet event, included interviews with Jonathan, DS creator Dan Curtis, director Lela Swift, and John Karlen. Jonathan was seen in DS clips with Kathryn, Lara, Joan Bennett, Alexandra Moltke, and Jerry Lacy. There also was archival footage of Jonathan on "The Merv Griffin Show," "What's My Line," "Generation Gap," and DS promos for ABC from the DS era, plus a DS pledge drive promo Jonathan did for PBS' New Jersey Network in the 1980s. (This video is not available for sale.) Lara, Kathryn, Marie, and Henry shared their own personal tributes and Jonathan graciously thanked everyone for attending and for welcoming him with such warmth. Each fan attending the banquet received a commemorative autographed photo of Jonathan as Barnabas.

Throughout the convention, our lady guests were autographing, posing for pictures, and talking with the fans. Each also was onstage to answer questions and talk about her projects and career. Friday's day trip took fans to nearby Lyndhurst Estate, filming location for the 2 DS movies. Those movies - "House of Dark Shadows" (1970) and "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971) - screened on Sat. evening.

The upcoming SG #112 print issue will highlight the Fest with details and photos. That issue also will feature the latest confirmed plans and news for our annual DS Festival event in 2008. Early information follows.

**** DARK SHADOWS RESURRECTED IN 2008

For next year, the Dark Shadows Festival is planning a special DARK SHADOWS RESURRECTED event at the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, over the weekend of July 18-20. It will celebrate, among other things, the upcoming DVD release of the feature films "House of DS" and "Night of DS," and also will note preparations for the planned new DS motion picture starring Johnny Depp. ((See the new SG #111 print issue for details and SG Online Update #173, dated July 26, 2007.))

Burbank is one of the entertainment capitals of the world, home to Warner Brothers, Walt Disney Studios, and NBC-TV Studios, among others. It is just minutes from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and famed attractions such as Universal Studios. Facilities at the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center are in the process of a 25-million dollar renovation and will be a beautiful new home for the DS Festival. The hotel is directly across the street from the Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR) and just 30-45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Plans are underway for this 2008 gathering. As soon as they are confirmed, Fest details will be announced on this Updates List and featured in the next SG #112 and subsequent SG print issues. Please wait until these specific details are announced. Thank you.

**** JONATHAN FRID ONE-MAN SHOW 1992 PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE

"Jonathan Frid's one-man show `Fridiculousness' is now available for the first time on DVD! This popular, satirical reader's theater program was recorded before a lively audience in 1992. Jonathan plays a variety of characters in this tour-de-force performance, which is being made available for just $10.00 plus $3.95 postage. If you have never had the chance to see Jonathan Frid on stage, this is your opportunity!"

Paypal payment to redceltt@aol.com or send a money order to Jonathan Frid DVD, 2003 Point Hamlet, Newark, DE 19702. No credit or debit card payments accepted.

**** DAVID SELBY CO-STARS IN NEW HBO SERIES DEBUTING SUN., SEPT. 9

SG has reported about David's role as "Arthur Foster" in the new series "Tell Me You Love Me." This explicit adult program premieres in its regular timeslot at 9:00 pm on Sun., Sept. 9. (Please check your local listings.)

Philadelphia Inquirer 8-13: His character is married to therapist "Dr. May Foster," played by Jane Alexander. The series looks at them and 3 other couples, who are clients of Dr. Foster. Each pair represents a commited relationship across different ages: "Engaged 20-somethings worried about maintaining monogamy; married 30-somethings worried about conceiving; and married-with-children 40-somethings worried about everything." David and Jane, "married 43 years, seem worried about nothing and have an exquisite conjugal relationship." It is "created, produced, written, and directed by women (and) is as much about intimacy and making a long-term relationship work, as it is about sexuality. It places sex within the context of love and companionship." The series "happens to be terrific."

The HBO website describes: "Rated TVMA: Adult Language, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Adult Content. Running Time: 54 minutes. Genre: Drama."
A schedule grid showing repeat screenings of the first episode and subsequent episodes through September is found at: http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=637749

Also, David's 1982 film "Rich & Famous" is due out on DVD in November.

**** MARY McKINLEY-HAAS ART EXHIBIT OPENS THIS MONTH

Mary (1840 Costume Designer) is an acclaimed artist whose interpretative works based in natural phenomena have been exhibited around the world.

She asks SG to tell everyone about her new solo "Dream Fragments" show at the Ezair Gallery at 905 Madison Avenue (between 72nd and 73rd) in New York City. Phone: 212-628-7828. The exhibit runs Sept. 4-30, with the opening reception on Sept. 12 from 6pm-8pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday from 12pm to 6pm.

Publicity: It "highlights the artist's venture into unexplored themes and a complex use of multi-media materials," as she enters "her own private world of dreams and vision, color and light, expressed through a combined media of oil paint, Asian paper, and iridescent materials."

**** "DS: THE BEGINNING" PRE-BARNABAS EPISODES NOW AVAILABLE FROM
RETAILERS

Early this year, MPI began releasing DS' first 10 months of episodes on DVD, making them available exclusively to its "DS DVD Club Members." As of late August, retail outlets such as amazon.com and other video sources started to offer the first collection for sale.

There eventually will be 6 "DS: The Beginning" DVD collections. Four have been released to the MPI Club Members thus far. Number 5 is due out in October, and Number 6 is planned for December. Retail release is approximately 6 months behind that schedule.

Each "Beginning" DVD collection has bonus interviews, most never before seen. The first one has a new series introduction with Alexandra Moltke Isles. The second one has a Collinsport History piece with Kathryn Leigh Scott. The sixth one will have numerous extra items, including a restored episode #211 (the arrival of Barnabas) with original 1967 commercials, syndication sales reel, and promos. Episode 191 (the destruction of Laura) will have extra footage.

SG in print and this SG Updates List will report further details as they are confirmed.

**** All fans who joined us in Tarrytown last month are invited and welcome to share with SG their Fest photos and reports to help SG readers worldwide enjoy the convention through your experience. My thanks to everyone who already has shared pictures and comments - each is unique and very appreciated. A Contributor's Copy issue is given in thanks for major input. Please send all materials to SG's e- or postal- mail addresses below.

**** Please share with SG any publicity, reviews, articles, photos, programs, or other media coverage you find about "Tell Me You Love Me," Mary's art exhibit, the DS DVD collections, or other news in this Update. Send materials to SG's e- or postal- mail addresses below.

**** HIGHLIGHTS – SG #111 PRINT ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE!

The latest published edition of The Official DS Newsletter has been sent to regular postal-mail subscribers and is available to new and renewing subscribers. Highlights follow.

--- The actual article published in Variety 7-27, announcing a possible new DS film from Johnny Depp's production company, Graham King's GK Films, Warner Brothers, and Dan Curtis' estate. SG #111 also features 1999 interview excerpts with Johnny about his lifelong love for DS as well as media response to the announcement.

--- Detailed plans for the Tarrytown Festival.

--- Recent photo of Jonathan Frid as well as 2 DS-era pictures: One in a casual, candid moment and the other a posed, intense Barnabas image.

--- Photos from the 2006 Brooklyn DS Festival of Marie, Lara, and Kathryn – courtesy of Marie.

--- Updates about new and available DS merchandise, including Lara Parker's audiobook of her 1998 novel "Angelique's Descent." The 2-CD set debuted at the Tarrytown Fest.

--- Personal messages to the fans from BOB COBERT (Music Composer) about the sad loss of his wife Helen on 7-17, and from Kathryn on the 7-6 passing of her mother, Hilda Kringstad. Excerpts from a detailed obituary of Kathryn's mother also are included.

--- News from DS writer JOSEPH CALDWELL about his new novel, "The Pig Did It," first in a humorous trilogy about a contemporary young American who visits his ancestral home in Ireland – and encounters a most unusual "friend."

--- Rare photos: JOAN BENNETT during the classic film noir Golden Era of Hollywood, and GRAYSON & SAM HALL in the 1970s.

--- The upcoming publication of DAVID SELBY's novel, "Lincoln's Better Angel," adapted from his stage play about a National Park Service employee and the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Plus: Early publicity and news about David's role as "Arthur" in HBO's "Tell Me You Love Me," and news about David's son Jamison Todd writing for the popular tourism/informational website, www.about.la.com (Jamison also wrote and directed the first 2 staged-reading DS sequels, "Return to Collinwood" and "Vengeance at Collinwood.")

--- DONNA WANDREY (Roxanne Drew) shares news about her Best Actress 2006-2007 Award from the Connecticut Critics Circle for her role in "Murderers" in Hartford this spring.

--- Extensive coverage for JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (1991 DS David, Daniel) in his starring role in the thriller "The Lookout." Also: His own website and interview excerpts about his career, attitudes, and the art of acting.

--- BARBARA STEELE (1991 DS Julia, Natalie) starred in the groundbreaking 1960 Italian "Black Sunday," featured on the DVD collection of director Mario Bava's classic horror films.

--- ALEXANDER GOULD and MARTIN DONOVAN (WB Pilot David and Roger) in Showtime's "Weeds." Though Martin's character was killed at the end of last season, Alexander continues as a regular on the show in its new 3rd season.

--- The 7-10 death of CHARLES LANE (WB Pilot Antique Dealer) at age 102 in Los Angeles. He was a very familiar character actor in countless films and TV shows since the 1930s.  [It was in the '91 series that Mr. Lane appeared. --Midnite]

--- Continued media coverage of MARLEY SHELTON (WB Pilot Victoria) in her role in the "2-movies-within-a-movie" horror tribute "Grindhouse."

--- A 1980 postage stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office depicting Lyndhurst – 1970-71 filming location for the 2 DS movies.

--- Plus: DS Filming Locations, DS in the Media and DS Merchandise / Publications, your own Fan News, and much more.

**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will send you the new SG #111 published issue to start your subscription. SG #112 and subsequent issues will be sent to postal-mail subscribers as they are published..

Thank you.
Marcy Robin

ShadowGram Editor / Publisher
Marcy Robin, P.O. Box 1766, Temple City, CA 91780-7766

Happy Day to Elmont!  Hope your birthday is great.

Happy Birthday to CyrusL!

Michael, it was wonderful seeing you.  I hope your special day is going great!!