DARK SHADOWS: General Discussion Forum - 10/27/01 2:00:43 AM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022 - * SHADOWGRAM UPDATE # 449
 
 IN MEMORY OF LONGTIME DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL / FAN CLUB COORDINATOR ANN WILSON
 
ShadowGram is saddened to report that longtime Dark Shadows Festival registration director and fan club coordinator Ann Wilson passed away on October 5, 2022 at the age of 91.
 
Born on June 1, 1931, Ann was an only child and was raised in her lifelong home of Maplewood, New Jersey.
 
Following graduation from college, Ann pursued a career as an executive assistant with a Wall Street firm in New York City, commuting by train.
 
At an early age, she developed a love of dogs and horses, including an interest in dog shows and rodeos throughout her life.
 
Ann was also a music fan with Hank Williams a particular favorite. In the 1960s, she embraced the British Invasion sound of The Beatles and other artists from England. She connected with Gerry Marsden of Gerry & The Pacemakers and headed up his American fan club for a number of years on a volunteer basis.
 
In her youth, Ann pursued a passionate interest in England and would make annual trips for many years. She enjoyed the country's history and theatre, befriending acclaimed stage and film actor Frank Finlay.
 
By the early 1980s, Ann had left Wall Street and began a part time employment with WNBC television, New York, working in audience services. It was during this time that the station joined other NBC affiliates and independent stations across the country in airing reruns of original "Dark Shadows" episodes from the 1960s. Ann had never seen the series before but a longtime friend urged her to watch and she quickly became attracted to Shakespearean actor Jonathan Frid's portrayal of the guilt-ridden vampire Barnabas Collins.
 
Ann met Frid a few years later as "Dark Shadows" moved to the New Jersey Network PBS stations. She assisted him with his first efforts to put together dramatic readings at the "Dark Shadows" Festival conventions, which began in Newark in 1983. Ann hosted an early Frid rehearsal at her home and would later join him for a special video shoot in Newport, Rhode Island at the Seaview Terrace estate which served as the exterior of the Collinwood mansion on "Dark Shadows."
 
From inception, Ann was enlisted to serve as registration director of the "Dark Shadows" Festival and her longtime P.O. Box 92 in Maplewood became the official fan club address for the next four decades.
 
Ann enjoyed the challenge of maintaining the "Dark Shadows" Festival and fan club mailing list, which would number in the tens of thousands over the years, handling mass-mailings to fans and coordinating the registration set-up at dozens of Festivals and related events in Newark, New York, Tarrytown, Los Angeles, Dallas, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Coronado and Burbank through the 50th anniversary of "Dark Shadows" in 2016.
 
Additionally, Ann treasured her antique collection of ornate buttons used for women's and men's apparel dating from the 1800s through the middle 20th Century. She was a longtime member and treasurer of the New Jersey State Button Society. Her other great hobby was reading huge numbers of books, magazines, and newspapers, including the daily New York Times for her entire life.
 
Ann was also involved with local and statewide historical organizations and endeavors in New Jersey.  She leaves no surviving family but many friends, neighbors and countless "Dark Shadows" fans with whom she interacted in person, online and via postal mail.
 
Memories of Ann may be posted at the following Legacy website address: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/ann-wilson-obituary?id=36729950
 

1985 "Dark Shadows" Special on New Jersey Network with Jonathan Frid as guest
during Public Television pledge break - Ann Wilson, bottom row, third from right

I also watched the original this week (Tuesday) for the first time ever.   

Happy Birthday, dear Josette! 

LOL, MB, and thank you for the captures.

What would Ms. Hoffman the housekeeper think of a beaded rotten lemon in her drawing room?

Thank you all!  ❤

Good to hear, Uncle Roger!  Thanks.

Larry Storch, who passed away this past Friday at the age of 99, made an appearance at the 2007 DS Fest, surprising his fellow Broadway tour co-star from Arsenic and Old Lace.  I thought I might repost the links to Joeytrom's fantastic photos from the event:

Larry Storch showed up as a surprise guest for Jonathan Frid today.

I have pictures to work on and will post them tomorrow.

This is an easier way to do it:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/1165714426_138b6e5e82_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/1165716888_91c9dcee4d_b.jpg

There are several other mentions of Larry Storch on the board, including this one from Uncle Roger in 2016 about a Marie Wallace appearance and tribute to her friend:

Marie Wallace will be making an appearance at the Metropolitan Room in NYC on July 10th for a 7pm show as part of a tribute to Larry Storch. Larry is best known as Corporal Agarn from F Troop but also appeared with Jonathan Frid in Arsenic and Old Lace and with Marie in I Oughta Be in Pictures. He has also popped in at least one Dark Shadows festival. Other guests on the schedule include Eddie Deezen from Grease and celebrity impressionist Marilyn Michaels. Tickets run from $24 to $115, with the usual two drink minimum.  metropolitanroom.com

RIP