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Number 196. June 28, 2009.

---

Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

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

- NEW DS FESTIVAL GUEST
- DS FESTIVAL BANQUET AVAILABILITY UPDATE
- NEW DEPP FILM UPDATE
- DAVID SELBY NEW PROJECT
- NEW MERCHANDISE
- DS PARADE MAGAZINE ARTICLE

***** UPDATING – DS RESURRECTED – DS FESTIVAL CONVENTION

The annual DS Festival convention is August 14-16 at the Renaissance Marriott Newark Airport Hotel, 100 Spring St., Elizabeth, NJ 07021. (908) 436-4600.

Recent SG Updates and the current SG #114 print issue premiere-announced our expected DS guests and other information.

--- SG Premiere Announcements:

--- We now welcome JERRY LACY (Tony Peterson, Rev. Trask, Gregory Trask, Lamar Trask) to our guest list.

He joins previously-announced guests JONATHAN FRID, LARA PARKER, JOHN KARLEN, KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT, MARIE WALLACE, and DONNA WANDREY.

Our guests participate in audience Q&A sessions, present dramatic readings or performances, comment on DS scene clips, talk about their special projects, books, and more. Jonathan is compiling a series of episode scenes – voted on by fans – that will screen accompanied by his commentary and reminscences. More information will be in the upcoming SG #115 print issue and email SG Updates.

Jonathan's personalized autograph will be on a commemorative photo of himself as Barnabas, available only to fans attending the closing night Banquet on Aug. 16. This is the only autograph he will provide. The other guests will be available for autographs during the weekend.

--- The Fest asks SG to announce:

"We have sold out of available banquet seats in the main ballroom, but we are able to offer seating for the banquet in a smaller adjacent ballroom, together with the personalized autographed photograph of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas. After the dinner you will join us in the main ballroom for all the post-banquet events.

"The cost is $60 per person. If you wish to participate under these circumstances, please print out the membership form and send it with your payment. Please state on the form that you are paying for seating in the adjacent ballroom."

The required membership registration / reservation form is on the Fest website or send a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to the Fest postal-mail address. Please send any questions directly to the Fest.

www.darkshadowsfestival.com
Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.

Fans can pre-register for daily or full-weekend memberships. Memberships at the same rates also will be available at the door. A tentative schedule of events will be sent to pre-registered members shortly before the convention.

The Renaissance Hotel is sold out of sleeping rooms, but SG Update #195 announced nearby hotels. Fans should contact these hotels directly for available rooms.

Fans looking for possible hotel roommates can contact our Hotel Roommate Coordinator Pam Jarman. She can put people in touch with each other; they then make their own arrangements between them. Pam cannot make room reservations, handle travel planning, etc. Please Note: Pam will be answering your correspondence after July 12. Email her at pljarman@hotmail.com or send a SASE to Pam Jarman, P.O. Box 45674, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Fans are encouraged to volunteer to help at the Fest. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Nina Johnson for more information. Email her at ds_volunteers@hotmail.com or send a SASE to Nina Johnson, 411 Victoria Dr. Columbia, MO 65201.

***** UPDATING – NEW DS FILM PROJECT WITH JOHNNY DEPP & TIM BURTON

Almost 2 years ago (7-26-07), SG announced a planned new DS movie with Johnny Depp. SG has updated official developments since then. The screenwriter is John August. There are no specifics yet as toscript, casting, or other production details. SG will announce confirmed news.

Johnny's new film "Public Enemies" opens 7-3. At its red-carpet premiere 6-23 in Westwood, CA,, he spoke about the DS project: Entertainment Weekly 6-25: At the LA premiere of Public Enemies, Johnny Depp confirmed that he'll star in an upcoming big screen version of the cult 1960's show Dark Shadows, directed by Tim Burton. Rumors of the project have circulated ever since Depp, an admitted fan of the gothic soap opera, acquired the rights to the series in 2007. Producer Richard D. Zanuck confirmed Depp and Burton's involvement last December, but this marks the first time that Depp has publicly said that Burton will direct. "Dark Shadows with Tim will also be down the line," Depp told EW June 23 in LA. "Tim has to finish [Alice in] Wonderland before he can start work on the next film. I love what he did with that. I think people are going to be so excited and satisfied when they see that film. Some of his best work. And I will be thrilled to work with him again on Dark Shadows. I was a big fan of it when I was a kid and I think it is another of those perfect projects for Tim to reimagine."

***** DAVID SELBY TO GUEST ON "MAD MEN"

David (Quentin) filmed an episode of the Emmy-winning AMC series earlier this month. He plays "Horace Cook" in the show set in NY's intensely competitive Madison Avenue advertising agency world in 1960. No air date has been announced but the drama starts its 3rd season 8-16.

**** NEW DS MERCHANDISE

--- 2 DVDS TO BE RELEASED

"The Vampire Curse" and "The Haunting of Collinwood" are due 9-15 from MPI. Each is a single disc running approximately 3 hours apiece. They will be available at WalMart and other retailers at a $19.98 suggested retail price.

MPI tells SG: "`Curse' compiles episodes and scenes detailing Barnabas when he is cursed in 1795 and then arrives at Collinwood in 1967. There is a new video interview with Jonathan Frid. `Haunting' has episodes and scenes from 1968-69 chronicling how Quentin's ghost drives the Collins Family out of Collinwood."

--- 2 NEW AUDIODRAMAS TO BE RELEASED

These original stories on CD are recorded by DS cast members. "Echoes of Insanity" stars John Karlen as "Willie" and :Lara Parker as "Angelique." It is due in July and will be available at the Newark Festival. Publicity: "Framed by Barnabas to protect his secret, Willie lies injured in the Windcliff Institute, haunted by the memories of his ordeal. His only hope is the mysterious golden angel who appears in his dreams, but does she have her own agenda?"

Another new audiodrama recorded by Marie Wallace and Nancy Barrett is in the works. SG will report updated news in the coming SG #115 newsletter.

**** DS ARTICLE IN PARADE MAGAZINE

A photo of Jonathan Frid as "Barnabas" and information about DS and the Newark Fest will be in the Personality Parade column on Page 2 of Parade Magazine 7-5. The magazine is "seen by some 80 million readers in 400 U.S. papers each Sunday."

**** DS ON CHILLER TV

Last summer, the cable/satellite Chiller TV Network showed the theatrical release versions of both films "House of Dark Shadows" (1970) and "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971). The network ran a marathon of the entire 1991 DS revival TV series in March and again earlier this month. There are no current plans to regularly schedule any DS series on the channel, but Chiller occasionally may air the films or 1991 program.

**** NOTE:

Please send SG your photos and reports from the upcoming Fest, plus any articles, reviews, or other material you may find about the new DS film, David's "Mad Men" episode, the new compilation DVDs, audiodramas, DS on Chiller, and other DS-related news items. Use the SG addresses below.

Those sending in material will be named as Contributors in upcoming print issues. You also may receive a complimentary Contributor's Copy for major contributions of information, funds, stamps, supplies, publicity, etc.

**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will mail you the current SG #114 newsletter to begin / renew your subscription. The next SG #115 and subsequent issues will be sent to you and all postal-mail subscribers as they are published..

Thank you.

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

E-mail: ShadowGram@aol.com
YahooGroup e-mail: Shadowgram1@yahoo.com

Official ShadowGram Website: www.Shadowgram.com

This website devoted to names, especially obscure ones, discusses (in today's installment) names found in the Twilight series <yawn!>, but also briefly mentions DS and in particular the names Julia and Grayson:

Names from Twilight: Not Just for Vampires Anymore

I turned on Jeopardy a short while ago during the second half of the show, and the first thing I heard is this answer that finished the category-- "I remember this 1966 - 1971 soap opera about vampires, witches, and werewolves."  And the first person that rang in gave the correct question; it's too bad he finished in 2nd place.

SHADOWGRAM
The Official Dark Shadows News Updates Yahoo Group
Marcy Robin's Cyberspace "Dark Shadows" News Updates
An Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM
ShadowGram@aol.com

Number 195. May 3, 2009.

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

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

***" BEN CROSS IN NEW "STAR TREK" MOVIE

Ben (1991 DS Barnabas) plays "Ambassador Sarek," father of "Spock," in the highly-anticipated eleventh film in the franchise, titled simply "Star Trek." It opens nationwide and in many other countries this Friday, May 8.

I attended the "Star Trek" premiere at Manns Chinese Theater in Hollywood on April 30. The entire movie cast, including Ben, was there. His character is only in a few scenes but they crucially illustrate Spock's relationship with his Vulcan father and human (Terran) mother, and offer insights into Spock's own self-identity and life choices.

Please share with SG any publicity, reviews, articles, interviews, or other material about the "Star Trek" movie. Send all materials to SG's e- or postal- mail addresses below. You will be named as a Contributor in the next print issue, SG #115, and may receive a Contributor's Copy of the issue as well.

**** DS MERCHANDISE ON SALE – DIRECT FROM MPI

MPI asks SG to announce a limited-time sale for * all * its products, including "Deep Discounts On All Dark Shadows Merchandise!"

"20% off all products now through Sunday, May 10!"

There is a range of DS items – clothing, accessories, collectibles, and more – as well as all the original series' episodes on dvd.

Publicity: MPI is "your complete source for a unique collection of classic television shows, movies, documentaries, and more on DVD and Blu-ray.

"We are proud to announce the launch of the new MPIHOMEVIDEO.com website. With this new launch, we have made many improvements for our site visitors" to enjoy and utilize.

For more information, please visit www.mpihomevideo.com
Or contact:

MPI Media Group
16101 S. 108th Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60647
800-323-0442

**** DS FESTIVAL – DS RESURRECTED – HOTEL UPDATE

The 2009 DS Festival convention is August 14-16 at the Marriott Newark Airport Renaissance Hotel, 100 Spring St., Elizabeth, NJ 07021. (908) 436-4600.

SG Update # 194 premiere-announced the Renaissance Hotel has sold out its final block of special-rate rooms for the DS weekend.

These nearby hotels should have rooms available. Please directly contact each of the following hotels to make reservations at their locations.

.--- Hampton Inn Newark Airport, 1128-38 Spring St., Elizabeth, NJ 07207. (908) 355-0500 www.hamptoninn.com

--- Hilton Newark Airport , 1170 Spring Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201. (908) 351-3900. www.hilton.com

SG reminds fans about the Fest's Roommate service. Fans looking for possible hotel roommates can contact Pam Jarman. She can put people in touch with each other and they then make their own hotel arrangements between them. Pam cannot make room reservations, handle travel planning, etc.

Email her at pljarman@hotmail.com or send a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to Pam Jarman, P.O. Box 45674, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Fans now can pre-register their daily or full-weekend memberships. Memberships at the same rates also will be available at the door. A tentative schedule of events will be sent to pre-registered members shortly before the convention.

It is recommended that fans planning to attend the traditional Banquet with the Stars should send in their non-refundable reservations/payments as soon as possible.
Banquet space is limited. Jonathan Frid's autograph – on a special commemorative Barnabas photograph – only will be available to pre-paid Banquet attendees

The Fest does not accept credit cards or PayPal. You must use the reservation form, which is found on the Fest website www.darkshadowsfestival.com or available by sending a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.

SG Update #192 and the latest print issue SG #114 had more information about guests, planned programming, hotel location, local attractions, and other details.

**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will send you the current SG #114 newsletter to begin / renew your subscription. The next SG #115 and subsequent issues will be sent to you and all postal-mail subscribers as they are published..

Thank you.

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

Official ShadowGram Website: www.Shadowgram.com

Holzer served as technical advisor to Night of Dark Shadows.  From the April 29 NY Times Books section:

Hans Holzer, Ghost Hunter, Dies at 89