Dr. Eric Lang: 1915 to 1968, Requiem Aeternam

[Bob_the_Bartender]

Dear Fellow Dark Shadows Fans,

Today was a particularly sad day for me.  We have seen the last appearance (at least, the last living one) of Dr. Eric Lang.  However, I am heartened by the realization that the good doctor handled his death with great style and panache and in the face of unbridled wackiness.  He maintained his dignity even when that darned tape recorder did not want to cooperate with him.

You know, in an interview on PBS, Roger Davis recalled how he and the great Addison Powell used to engage in lighthearted pranks on the Dark Shadows set.  For example,  Mr. Davis said that he and Mr. Powell sometimes placed, how should I put this politely, somewhat racy notes in strategic places.  I believe that Mr. Powell placed one of these "notes" in the flower box containing the phony arm which Jeff Clark delivered to Dr. Lang.  Regretably, we never got to see Mr. Davis' reaction as he opened the box and discovered the missive.  (It surely would have made MPI's Blooper Tape.)

As an avid fan of Lang & Clark, I can only dream about the great film comedies that would have made together, uproarious flicks  such as "Lang & Clark Meet Adam, The Manmade Monster".  Of course, the sequel would have been entitled "Lang & Clark Meet Eve, The Bride of Adam."  There would have been other classic comedies like "Lang & Clark Meet Dr. Shaw & Mr. Yeager."  But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"  

An era ends on Dark Shadows.  If the good Dr. Lang were here, I think that he'd probably say, "You won't have Eric Lang to kick around anymore."  Well said, Dr. Lang.

[deron]

Dr. Eric Lang....

He may be dead, but his words will live on... as long as there is a tape recorder handy.

He truly lived and died for his work.

deron

[Gothick]

I finally figured out that Addison Powell got credited for so many appearances on DS because of that damned tape recording.

I wonder whether Powell received a check in the mail every time they played that recording?

Gothick

[Midnite]

As an avid fan of Lang & Clark, I can only dream about the great film comedies that would have made together, uproarious flicks  such as "Lang & Clark Meet Adam, The Manmade Monster".  Of course, the sequel would have been entitled "Lang & Clark Meet Eve, The Bride of Adam."  There would have been other classic comedies like "Lang & Clark Meet Dr. Shaw & Mr. Yeager."  But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"

ROFL!  Bob the B, you are too much!!

[Blue_Whale_Barfly]

I too have to pay my deepest sympathies to the Lang family.  What a tragic loss for the medical profession .  Well, what's medicine's loss is Gorton's Fish's gain.

What was that funky music that was on the notorious tape machine?  Was the good Dr. listening to that while he was putting  Adam together?

Oh well, Bob you better give me a double.

[Luciaphile]

What was that funky music that was on the notorious tape machine?  Was the good Dr. listening to that while he was putting  Adam together?

That would be Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," a piece I actually used to like before I discovered DS.  You will hear it over and over again, so I hope you enjoy it, lol.

Luciaphil

[kuanyin]

 But, perhaps my favorite film would have been Lang & Clark in "Hold That Doppelganger!"  

What a classic that never was. After that there wasn't "Langed and Clarked", "Frolic on the Bus" and their more serious turn "Lang and Clark meet King Lear".
Predictably, that put an end to it, as they were considered box office poison from then on....

[Thom]

Bob this may be a spoiler . but...







You haven't seen the last of Addison yet. Nicholas gets into the picture and raises Lang's ghost from the cemetary and forces him to tell him the truth about Adam. The split screen or whatever they used was terrible and Nicholas looked like a giant compare dto Lang.

[jennifer]

Oh Bob that was priceless!
I now think I'm going to miss that Duo
Oh what might have been!

jennifer

[CastleBee]

What a classic that never was. After that there wasn't "Langed and Clarked", "Frolic on the Bus" and their more serious turn "Lang and Clark meet King Lear".
Predictably, that put an end to it, as they were considered box office poison from then on....

That must have been why they turned to the small screen in the early 70's with "Alias Lang and Clark" ... or am I confusing this with something else?

CastleBee - give me a decafinated green tea in a clean glass Bob and pass the gold fish crackers!

[Cassandra]

That must have been why they turned to the small screen in the early 70's with "Alias Lang and Clark" ... or am I confusing this with something else?

LOL!!!!  CastleBee! Actually, I like your title better than the actual one!

[ROBINV]

Rest in peace, my dear Dr. Lang,
To see you die gave me such a pang,

It was tough to decide who was best
As you versed old Jeff in a shouting contest,

You created a man, big everywhere,
With really bad scars and curly dark hair,

You spoke to a recorder that didn't work,
I know some folks think you're a jerk.

But Dr. Lang, I think they're wrong,
And for you I've written this sweet lil' song.

We knew you briefly but that was enough,
When the going got rough, you got tough.

Goodbye, Dr. Lang, it was whirlwind and wild,
Now Barnabas and Julia will raise your child;

Your death was an accident, a whoops, a slip,
Cassandra was startled and lost her grip.

The judges have decided--Dr. Lang, it's you!
You won the shouting contest, hands down, it's true!

Posthumously, we'll award it, stand proud and tall,
You did it--you're the overactingest actor of all!

Love, Robin

[Bob_the_Bartender]

Dear RobinV,

What a beautiful, poignant poem.  I haven't been this moved since I read Joyce Killmer's arboreal paean, "Trees."

Sincerely,

Bob the Bartender, a tree nut

[Josette]

Delightful, Robin!!

[ROBINV]

"A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast"

(giggle)

We all laughed when we read that poem in junior high school.  Like Beavis and Butthead, it was, "The teacher said. . .'breast.'"  

I know this has nothing to do with Dr. Lang, but Bartender Bob brought up "Trees," so it's his fault!

Love, Robin