Update Number 270.
August 13, 2012
---- SG REPORT: DS FESTIVAL'S "DS WEEKEND" - TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 28-29
---- SPECIAL "DS WEEKEND" ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR LIMITED TIME
**** REPORTING:
"DS DAY AT COLLINWOOD" & "LUNCHEON WITH THE DS STARS"
JULY 28 - 29, 2012
Since late last year, SG Online Updates have premiere-announced and shared news for the DS Festival's "DS Weekend" in Tarrytown, NY (north of Manhattan). Here is SG's initial report. The upcoming Double SG #122 - #123 published Newsletter will feature photos and more detailed information.
Approximately 1000 fans gathered to celebrate DS' ongoing appeal and to remember actor Jonathan Frid, who portrayed the iconic, sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins from 1967-71. Jonathan, age 87, passed away April 14, the actual 45th anniversary of his first DS appearance. ((See SG Online Update # 261, which shared the first public word provided directly from his family and associates.))
Jonathan was looking forward to joining us in Tarrytown and was actively considering DS scene clips to discuss at the Fest. His death also was less than a month before the international release of the new DS movie starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas..Jonathan made a brief cameo appearance in the film.
Weekend activities began at noon on Sat. at the majestic Lyndhurst Estate, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site, where the movies HOUSE OF DS (1970) and NIGHT OF DS (1971) were shot. Self-guided tours of the Lyndhurst mansion were available, providing fans with a glorious first-hand glimpse of the beautiful interiors, complete with original furnishings.
Both days, our guests Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie), Jerry Lacy (Rev. Trask), Marie Wallace (Eve), and Sharon Smyth (Sarah Collins) met fans, signed autographs, posed for pictures, and offered their photos, books, and CDs for sale Also available for purchase were SGs, and merchandise from the Fest and MPI Home Video, as well as Big Finish DS audio dramas on CD. Of special note were the tables with a great variety of one-of-a-kind items from Jonathan's personal collection. These were for sale, with some in silent auction as well.
All Saturday programming was held in a massive air-conditioned tent set up in the stables courtyard with theatre-style seating. A charity auction of DS memorabilia and collectibles benefited the preservation of Lyndhurst. Auction highlights were personal items from Jonathan's archive, including hand-written notes from his one-man shows and a DS poster that had hung in his home.
Each guest came onstage to answer questions and share DS remembrances. David Selby (Quentin Collins) regretted he could not attend, as he was starring in the West Coast premiere of the historic fact-based play "Divine Rivalry" in San Diego. ((See the coming Double SG #122-#123)) He sent a warm audio tribute to Jonathan, set to a touching photo montage covering the late 1960s-2011. David starred in NIGHT OF DS and a pre-taped video segment screened in which he spoke about location filming there at Lyndhurst.
A poignant weekend highlight was the very personal Tribute to Jonathan. His nephew Don Frid, Mark Lawrence (Jonathan's webmaster), Roberta Jacobs-Meadway, (his advisor), Stuart Goodman (original DS cameraman), and Marcy Robin (ShadowGram editor) all took part in the hour-long memorial, which included home movie footage taken during the last decade of his life. Jonathan's dedication to his craft, his sense of humor, and generosity to the DS fans all were recalled with great emotion.
On Sunday, many of the same fans and others gathered a short distance away at the Tarrytown DoubleTree Hotel for the Luncheon. Our 5 Lyndhurst guests were joined by Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard). She and Jerry Lacy presented a nostalgic performance on stage, wonderfully written by Jerry. They portrayed 2 of their original DS characters meeting again after 42 years. Each Luncheon attendee received a "Goody Bag" with DS merchandise donated by MPI Home Video. Autograph sessions were conducted afterwards.
The country atmosphere of the Weekend location provided a more intimate feeling than the traditional city hotel Fest events, and it is hoped all who were there had a great time with us
SG proudly announces - and thanks the attendees: The weekend helped raise over $10,000 for the National Trust for Historic Preservation to go towards maintaining and restoring the unique and beautiful Lyndhurst property.
It was announced that plans for 2013 call for the first-ever DS cruise, which is currently in the early planning stages. Interested fans may send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to the fan club address for details when they become available: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ, 07040.
**** SG Premiere Announcement:
LIMITED TIME OFFER / LIMITED SUPPLY: "DS WEEKEND" ITEMS
The Fest asks SG to announce:
--- "DS WEEKEND" 2012 BROCHURE / PROGRAM BOOK
Copies of this 8-page booklet are for sale now for only $5 each (includes postage). Printed on thick coated paper stock, the front cover features a previously-unpublished photo of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from "House of DS." There are more than a dozen never-before-seen images from both "House of DS" and "Night of DS," as well as a photo montage in remembrance of Jonathan through the decades. There also is a new biography and photo for each of our guests.
Please send payment of $5 each to: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
--- EXTREMELY LIMITED "DS WEEKEND" GOODY BAG
The Dark Shadows Festival/Official Fan Club has a very few extra "Goody Bags" from the Sun., 7-29 Luncheon in Tarrytown, priced at $30 each (includes postage). A white bag with the DS logo has a 3-D Barnabas keychain, an official Barnabas black-onyx replica ring, a "Dan Curtis' Dracula" DVD, and a 2012 DS Calendar.
Please send payment of $30 each to: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
NOTE: Payment will be returned if received after bags are sold out. Offer will expire by Mon., Aug. 20, so don't delay.
For your convenience, you can pay for a Program Book and Goody Bag together with one check/money order payable to Dark Shadows Festival. Sorry, PayPal and credit cards cannot be accepted.
Marcy Robin
