ShadowGram Update #406

[Midnite]

SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL DARK SHADOWS (DS) NEWS ONLINE UPDATE # 406
MAY 30, 2018
 
**** SHADOWGRAM PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT #1:
LATEST INFO:  FULL-LENGTH DARK SHADOWS DOCUMENTARY & DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL UPDATE
 
**** SHADOWGRAM PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT #2:
EXCITING NEW DS MERCHANDISE COMING SOON
 
**** KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT TO APPEAR AT TEXAS CONVENTION
 
**** LYNDHURST ESTATE:
# 1 ON AOL.COM LIST: “THE GRANDEST HISTORICAL HOMES IN AMERICA”

 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

**** PREMIERING  LATEST NEWS #1:
FULL-LENGTH DARK SHADOWS DOCUMENTARY & DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL UPDATE
 
After nearly two years in production, SHADOWGRAM is pleased to report that the new documentary, titled “MASTER OF DARK SHADOWS,” is in the final stages of completion.
 
The documentary explores and chronicles all aspects of DARK SHADOWS and the life and talents of its creator, DAN CURTIS. It also examines the background history, creation, production, impact, and ongoing appeal to original, rediscovering, and new fans of all ages and backgrounds worldwide. There are many new and perceptive interviews, personal reminiscences, and commentary from those involved with the show then and now, industry and media personnel, and more.
 
As recent SHADOWGRAM Updates previously announced, the MPI-Dan Curtis Productions-Severin Films project will receive special screenings. These will be held in Los Angeles and New York later this year in association with the Dark Shadows Festival. DARK SHADOWS cast/crew members and other participants will be in attendance. SHADOWGRAM Updates will announce details as they are determined in the coming weeks.
 
“MASTER OF DARK SHADOWS” also will receive a BluRay and DVD release from MPI, in addition to other distribution platforms in the future.
 
 
**** KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT TO APPEAR AT TEXAS CONVENTION
 
KATHRYN (Maggie, Josette, Rachel, Kitty) shares: “I will be at the Greater Austin Comic Con June 16-17. See you there!”  www.greateraustincomiccon.com
 
 
**** PREMIERING LATEST NEWS #2: NEW DS MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE SOON
 
SHADOWGRAM provides the latest confirmed news about exciting, upcoming DS merchandise:
 
---- The long-awaited, first-ever “MUSICAL DS COLLINWOOD SNOW GLOBE” from MPI is currently in manufacturing. It features a detailed model of the iconic Collinwood mansion and will play “Quentin’s Theme” / “Shadows of the Night.” The finished product is expected to be available this summer. SHADOWGRAM will report developments as they are set.
 
Among other new DS items also underway:
 
----- Recent SHADOWGRAM UPDATEs reported there will be “Talking Barnabas Collins” ceramic figure which will “speak” dialogue from the original daytime TV series. The words will be spoken by Jonathan Frid in character as the iconic vampire. SHADOWGRAM will update about the figure and provide ordering details once they are finalized.

 
---- HERMES PRESS DS COMIC STRIP BOOK
 
After publishing 6 deluxe volumes of the vintage 1968-76 Gold Key/Whitman DARK SHADOWS color comic book and Story Digest reprints, Hermes Press now will be offering a new, special hardbound book with the complete 1971-1972 DS daily newspaper comic strips, including full-color reproductions for the expanded Sunday editions. The strip ran for a year in newspapers across the country.
 
The strips, beautifully drawn by Kenneth Bald, feature high-quality artwork drawings of Barnabas Collins with a perfect resemblance to Jonathan Frid.
 
Advance copies of the DS comic strip book will debut at Comic Con in San Diego, CA, July 19-22. These will contain bookplates autographed by Lara Parker, who appears as Angelique in the strips. Other DS TV series characters depicted are Elizabeth and Carolyn, along with a number of characters unique to the strip. A new historical essay by longtime fan and comics expert Dr. Jeff Thompson is included.
 
General ordering information will follow soon in upcoming SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL DS NEWS ONLINE UPDATES.

 
**** LYNDHURST ESTATE (DS FILMING LOCATION) TOPS AOL.COM LISTOF “AMERICA’S GRANDEST HISTORICAL HOMES”
 
During this final week of May, AOL.COM headline news stories featured striking color photos illustrating an appreciative listing of “The Grandest Historical Homes in America.”
 
The overall headline read “Experience the Grandest Historic Homes in the U.S.” Cited as #1, the opening photo on the AOL news page was Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY.
 
http://definition.org/grand-historical-homes-america/?spadid=703376&utm_source=aol&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=def_us_d_aol_42212_18601&utm_content=703376&spcid=86dca9262f90919edaf6ecaf386b3380

The impressive mansion’s interiors, exteriors, outbuildings, and the estate’s sprawling landscaped grounds were used as “Collinwood” for on-location filming of both DS major motion pictures: MGM’s 1970’s HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and 1971’s NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS. Each marked the first times any theatrical movies were based in a daytime TV series.
 
AOL Lyndhurst description: “Lyndhurst mansion, also known as the Jay Gould estate, was built in 1838 in the style of Gothic Revival along the Hudson River. Lyndhurst has been occupied by notable New Yorkers since its construction, and today visitors can stroll through the estate’s gardens and halls…. Photo A1. Lyndhurst: Tarrytown, New York”
 
The photo, taken 9-26-17, shows Lyndhurst in autumn with lofty, full trees cloaked in shades of green and brilliant fall colors bracketing the mansion’s iconic front entry.
 
Lyndhurst has also been a filming location for various movies and more. The mansion, grounds, outbuildings, and local area are open to the public. The mansion itself is open for interior tours that showcase 19th century tycoon Jay Gould’s original furnishings, art collection, and special features. In addition, Lyndhurst hosts many historic, local history, creative arts & crafts, educational, music, gardening, seasonal, and other events held virtually year-round.
 
Official website:  lyndhurst.org/
“Lyndhurst Mansion: Overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, is Lyndhurst, one of America's iconic Gothic Revival mansions.”
 
Tarrytown is about 25 miles north of Manhattan, easily accessible by train from NYC direct to the Tarrytown train station (a short taxi ride to Lyndhurst), and also by car on North Route 9.
 
Over the years, a number of DS FESTIVAL fan/cast/crew convention events have been held in Tarrytown, focusing on Lyndhurst, which is within walking distance of the center of town. A short drive away is historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in the town of Sleepy Hollow, also a filming location for both DS movies.
 
AOL explanation: “These informative, entertaining, and downright awe-inspiring buildings are an easy and stunning alternative to other expensive family vacations…within driving distance” of cities across the U.S. “Seeing historic American homes is a great alternative to boring, cliche family vacations. Why spend your time off observing an unimpressive geyser when you can walk through the halls that once housed Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Cornelius Vanderbilt (among many others)...?. We put together a list of the grandest historic homes in America.”

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Thanks for sharing the SG Update here, Midnite.

I'm sure we're all happy to learn that MPI will be releasing the documentary on DVD/Blu-ray. But the thing is that from MPI's perspective one might have presumed that they would have held off for a while on a video release and instead used the documentary as an incentive to get fans to subscribe to their streaming service by only offering the documentary there. But it doesn't seem that will be the case. And, of course, the fact that it doesn't seem to be is great as far as we fans are concerned - but how does MPI ever expect their streaming service to survive if what they offer is only material that many fans already own or will own in the near future? Their business model for the streaming service seems more than a little off...

“Talking Barnabas Collins” ceramic figure which will “speak” dialogue from the original daytime TV series. The words will be spoken by Jonathan Frid in character as the iconic vampire

I'm positive it won't be one of the lines, and more's the pity, but it would be great if one bit of dialogue might be from the 1796 scene in which Barnabas explains to Joshua that he killed Angelique but never said she was dead. That is one of my all-time favorite lines ever on DS! And only on a show like DS could it ever make a bit of sense. 

We might just have to settle for "You've betrayed me!!" 

[Uncle Roger]

Or, perhaps, "Did I startle you?"😉😉

If they had a little more imagination (a big if, I'm afraid), they could have gone with the tried and true Mattel concept where you pulled a string on the doll's neck (or noose, as the case may be) to have it speak random phrases. I still remember the talking Porky Pig that seemed to endlessly repeat "When in doubt, pinch my snout."

[Gothick]

They need to rig it so that Barn speaks when you pull on his cane. And one of his lines HAS to be, "this night must go nothing wrong."

Another one could be:  "Juuuulia!!!"  And yet another:  "Dear GOD."

I wish the snowglobe played the Collinwood music (the name of the slightly sad, wistful music that played while the episode opening synopsis was read).

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

I wish the snowglobe played the Collinwood music (the name of the slightly sad, wistful music that played while the episode opening synopsis was read).

That would have been great because we all associate that music with all the various opening shots of Collinwood. But alas...