Pomegranate Press published a book called the DARK SHADOWS EPISODE GUIDE, which listed every episode, its original number, airdate, and on which MPI VHS volume it appeared. I believe this guide was reprinted in DARK SHADOWS MEMORIES (the book with the David Henesy interview).
The Shadows Memories book does not show the listing of the episodes by tape, but the DS Episode Guide does. The DVDs have unedited episodes unlike Vol.s 1-8 of the VHS; those episodes were complete on the "Blue Tapes" aka the Collector's Series as well. The main difference is that the DVDs does not include the little "bonus" seconds on the "Blue Tapes" that is bascially Vicky, David, Bob Costello whoever setting up that's episodes taping. As far as the numbering, the DS Episode Guide uses the same correct numbering to show what episodes that are on a given tape, as they are numbered on the DVDs. If you go to MPI's webiste, they tell you what numbers of episodes from this system are on a given box. The tapes had 5 episodes each, the DVDs have 40 each. (Shelf saving, eh?
) I would highly suspect the DS Episode guide will be reissued with both numbering for VHS and DVD eventually. However, it will take a few years before all the DVDs are issued. The reason the numbering system may seem "screwy" is that some numbers were skipped or combined, like say 861/862 for days when now show aired. I have never been able to figure out the numbering SciFi used, but it didn't correspond to MPI's. I believe they used a numbering for sydication purposes. Anyway, to summarize, the book is essential to collecting the tapes and episodes.
The guide has a few errors, but none in the numbering. The only mistakes in the book are where its off a few times on who does the opening narration or a character appearing. I hope this helps.
Cyrus aka Michael
