I've given a lot of thought as to the identity of the actor who recorded the surprise cameo in the fourth installment of the Big Finish series.  If you recall, we were told that it was someone who attended the latest festival.  The most obvious choice would seem to be Nancy Barrett as Carolyn.  It also crossed my mind that Betsy Durkin may reprise her role as Vickie and give the character a more satisfying ending than she had on the screen.  Ordinarily, I'd tend to discount this possibility out of hand, considering how unpopular she has been with fans.  However, I wonder if Vickie might not be tied up with the book, in some way.  It also crossed my mind that Millicent might also be a candidate, as she fits the description of those who have been ensnared by the book.  Then again, maybe it's going to be one of Quentin's old flames.  If that's the case, Marie Wallace as Jenny, Donna Mckechnie as Amanda, or Diana Millay as Laura (no pun intended here..I promise) could be possible.  These are just random musings.  Any thoughts as to who it might be?

I agree. If it didn't happen on the show, it isn't to be counted.

Quote from: Mysterious Benefactor on November 28, 2005, 06:59:16 PM

Canon?!    Bite your tongue (or should that be sprain your fingers?  )!!    When it comes to the daytime DS, the only thing that I consider canon is what actually took place on the TV series.

I have to disagree.  I think any drama using the original actors, that is sanctioned by Dan Curtis Productions should be considered canonical, providing it doesn't contradict the series too terribly.  Return to Collinwood and the Big Finish Series have the original actors repirsing their roles.  Royalties are paid and I don't see any reason, at present, not to count them.  Yes, there are some fine points that need a bit of clarification.  But remember, this is DS. The accounts of Barnabas' early life don't coincide with what we see in 1795.

As for Vengeance at Collinwood, I'm unsure about that one.  Its never been released, but it was performed.

I also have disagree with a comment that nearly equated these plays with the Collinsport Player skits.  These professional dramas are on a different level.  The skits are funny, well written and acted, but they are not intended to extend the DS storyline.  They are the equivalent of a Saturday Night Live or Mad TV skit.

As for Lara's book, I'd have to put the audio dramas on a higher level.  As much as I enjoyed the books, DS was a DRAMA, as are the CDs.  Yes, the format is different, but they are essentially the same, with actors portraying familiare roles.  This is not unprecedented.  Some soaps started on radiio and continued on TV.  I'm told the Guiding Light acknowleges its Old Time Radio past and has made references to it.

Discounting the audio dramas out of hand would be similar to a Trekker disavowing the films because it wasn't they weren't TV shows.  In fact, I distinctly remember several people who tried to claim that the first motion picture was not canonical.

Any way, that's my two cents.  I suppose its a moot point.  Only Dan Curtis Productions can make a formal announcement regarding whether or not anything is canon.

"Vengeance at Collinwood" was the second reader's style theater performance of a Dark Shadows play.  Unlike "Return to Collinwood", this one was not released as a CD.  Its my understanding that it was recorded though.  Does anyone know why it was not released?  Do you all think there is a demand for a totally live DVD of this performance? I for one, feel a need to have it.  Its now the only totally "lost" episode of Dark Shadows. Incidentally, I'd also like to have the performance of the Art Wallace piliot as well.

Oh, and a side note on this.  Radio drama in this country isn't what it is in the UK, but it's not dead by any means.  There is an organization, LATheaterworks, who adapts plays to be performed on the radio.  The cast lists on their website are a whos who of the acting profession, so apparently many actors love working in the medium here as much as they do in the UK.

A friend of mine just turned me on to a long running of audio plays adapted from Louis L'Aamour stories.  These westerns have apparently been running for a while, so I guess audio drama is availablle in the US.  You just have to look for it.

A few years ago I discovered the Gunsmoke radio shows on ebay.  For about $45 I got over 400 eps of the series. Even though it wasn't the TV cast, the stories brought me back to the days when my dad and I watched the show in the 60s and early 70s.  I'm not takin g this too far away from DS, I hope, with this post.  It does relate, in a way.  In the case of Gunsmoke, I looked backward to the old time radio show.  Which by the way, don't sound hokey at all..just like TV without the pictures.  In fact many of the scriipts were later used for the TV show.  Hopefully, if this DS aoudio series continues, the reverse will happen with DS. We can look forward to the show continuing in "radio" format.

In 1984 I created a DS comic strip for THE PARALLEL TIMES fanzine this story is what I plan for the Tribute series that I have posted about. Here are a few pages. If anyone is interested in seeing more. Let me know

  I'd definately be interested in seeing more.  I used to subscribe to your zine and remember the Manhattan Shadows Cons fondly.  Any chance we might see another MS?

That sounds a lot like an item that was auctioned at this year's fest. Was that you?

(Nice to see another WHO-fan on here, BTW)

Yes, that was me.  I bought the grey box that had the opening pages to many scripts.  Most of them are just what Jim said they were, but a few had notes like various phone numbers for cast and crew, scribbles and doodles, and the occasional note.  One had a hand written note "the part of Carolyn Stoddard will be played by Miss Diana Walker".  I assume that was Costello writing it.  I'd like to get a sample of his handwriting to compare.  Many of the pages have his name written on them whether he wrote it or someone else did,  don't know.

Nice to see another who fan as well.

I recently purchased a box of documents from the Dan Curtis archives.  The box contained the cast and summary pages from Mr. Costello's scripts.  Most were blank pages, but a few had some notes and scribbles on them.  One in particular was interesting.  Someone, Mr. Costello probably, wrote that they had tried to tape the "memory scene" before lunch, but picked up "cross talk".  Because of the time lost taping that over, he then states that he had to tape the dress rehearsal as the aired version.  This brought a couple of questions to mind.  Does anyone know if this was the only time this happened?

Episode 584 is the one where [spoiler]Willie has kidnapped Maggie so Barnabas can't use h er as the life force for Eve. Maggie remembers being brought to the mausoleum before by Julia, during her stay at Wyndclyff.[/spoiler]