When I first heard that there would be a memorial service to honor the late, great Lara Parker, I was delighted. Ms. Parker was superb in the key role of Angelique Bouchard on DS. And, Ms. Parker was beloved by the many DS fans, who met her at the DS Festivals held in New York City and Los Angeles over the past forty years.

On a personal note, I first met Ms. Parker at the 1988 NYC DS Festival, which was held at the World Trade Center. Ms. Parker posed for a photograph with my fiancée and myself. Of course, Ms. Parker was very warm and gracious towards us and the many other DS fans at the festival. Over the years, I saw Ms. Parker at several  other of the NYC-based festivals: she was always friendly, cheerful and very interested in the lives of her many fans.

I recall that ProfStokes wrote a terrific account here on the DS Forums on the memorial service for Dennis Patrick, another beloved DS actor. ProfStokes wrote that several of Mr. Patrick’s friends and acting colleagues reminisced about Mr. Patrick’s life and acting career. ProfStokes also wrote that the memorial service was
conducted with class, respect and dignity.

So, I expected Ms. Parker’s upcoming memorial service would be handled in the same manner. But, then, I became aware of a “DS Celebration” to held on the very next day after Ms. Parker’s memorial service.
Apparently, this “DS Celebration” is an idea conceived by Jim Pierson, longtime producer of DS Festivals and
other DS-related endeavors. Now, I have seen and observed Jim Pierson at these NYC DS Festivals over the years; he has always impressed me as being ALL-business at these events. I recall at one festival, Mr. Pierson was acting as the auctioneer at a charity auction at that event. Mr. Pierson, in his soft Texas accent, announced, “that we now have a semi-nude photograph of Lara Parker for bidding.” I thought that that was a rather strange item to put up for bid at a charity auction.

Of course, at these DS Festivals, in addition to the acting skits and DS character  impersonations, there are the various vendors and DS actors also there, selling their books, photographs and other kitschy items, which no one really needs. And, no doubt, the ubiquitous Richie Halpern will be there, evidently channeling the spirit of the late comedian, Jerry Lewis, as Mr. Halpern monopolizes the stage in much the same way that “The Original Jerk” monopolized the stage during his long professional association with Dean Martin.

The reason that I mention all of this is that I think that all of these “fun-filled” activities seem to be very inappropriate to be held on the day everyone has assembled to honor the life and career of Lara Parker. To me, I think this idea of a DS Celebration” to honor Jonathan Frid’s 100th birthday on the next day after Ms. Parker’s memorial service is rather tacky and even unseemly. Couldn’t Jim Pierson and the other organizers of this “DS Celebration” have scheduled it for, at least, a month or so after and. Parker’s memorial service? By the way, I wonder if Ms. Parker’s husband and adult children are aware that this “DS Celebration” will take place a day after their beloved family member is to be honored.

I often corresponded with the late VAM, a wonderful and very insightful poster here on the DS Forums.VAM,  or actually Vera Ann, had also attended several of the NYC-based DS Festivals. I remember that Vera Ann and I once discussed how KLS’s repeated telling, at these DS Festivals, of when Louis Edmonds had to literally film a scene on DS with his pants off (and shot from the waist up, for obvious reasons) had become quite old and tiresome.

Vera Ann also once posted on this web site, that by continuing to attend the DS Festivals over the years, “were we all contributing to the Jim Pierson Retirement Fund?” I thought that Vera Ann’s caustic comment was very funny and also spot-on. Although some posters took offense at “VAM’s” orders irreverent remark. I wish that Vera Ann were here today to comment on this so-called “DS Celebration.”

I have been a poster here on the DS Forums for over twenty-five years, dating back to the Vantagenet days in 1998. In that time, I have never seen something as objectionable and as tacky as this “DS Celebration.” And, while I am speaking for myself, I know that there are several other longtime posters here on the DS Forums who also share my negative opinion on this highly questionable event,

I think that this so-called “DS Celebration” is one final (?), crass and especially cynical attempt to make a buck off of the DS fans who travel to Southern California to honor Lara Parker. Who knows, maybe Mr. Pierson can auction-off some more of those semi-nude photographs of Ms. Parker (if he still has any left ) on the day after
this beloved DS actor is memorialized? Shame on Mr. Pierson and the other individuals who are responsible for this all-too-obvious money grab.

Hey gang,

No doubt, that Joan Bennett, Dennis Patrick, Mitchell Ryan, Betsy Durkin, Vince O’Brien and Jerry Lacy are all celebrating this great American holiday either here or up there in Heaven right now.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all my DS cousins/buddies. 

Erin go bragh!!!

Bob, half-Gaelic and half-Garlic.

Hey, gang,

As I’m sitting here watching a report on “The Today Show” on Halloween celebrations across the USA from Salem, MA down to Key West, FL and out to Deadwood, SD, it occurred to me that we never saw anyone either observing or even acknowledging the annual celebration of Halloween on DS.

Wouldn’t it have been cool (and even heartwarming) to have seen young David Collins and cute-as-a-button Amy Jennings walking from door-to-door in Collinsport and exclaiming, “Trick-or-Treat!” to such delighted Collinsport residents as Blue Whale bartender Bob Rooney, venerable Collinsport jeweler Ezra Braithwaite and Todd Antique Store proprietors, Phillip and Megan Todd?

And, who would David and Amy dress up as trick-or-treaters? Maybe David decided to go as Damien Thorn, the precocious child/demon from the film, “The Omen”? (Although, that wasn’t too much of a stretch for Davey Collins, as I’m sure you’ll all agree.) And, who would Amy dress up as? I’m thinking maybe Anne Shirley of “Anne of Green Gables.” Then again, the pixieish Amy might have opted to go as the “slightly” homicidal Rhoda Penmark from “The Bad Seed,” (one of Gerard’s and yours truly’s all-time favorite films). 

No doubt, back in 1956, when Maggie Evans, Joe Haskell, Harry Johnson, Buzz Hackett, Susie, the future silent waitress and the two Jennings brothers were all young trick-or-treaters, they all knew well enough to stay WAY away from Collinwood!  I mean, surly Collinwood groundskeeper Matthew Morgan was bad enough and to always be avoided, but the rumors that the ghosts of Josette Du Pres, Jeremiah Collins, Bathia Mapes, Hortense Smiley, Mordecai Grimes, Pansy Faye, Carl “The Comedian” Collins, Jenny Collins, Jason McGuire, Bruno Hess, Megan Todd and a host of others haunted the grounds of the great house of Collinwood nightly, was enough to scare away all of the young kids of Collinsport, Maine. 

Finally, I’d like to propose the question to everyone, who would the DS characters dress up as on Halloween? For example:

Would Carolyn Stoddard go out as either Taylor Swift or Gwen Stefani?

Would Willie Loomis go out as either Matthew Crowley from “Downton Abbey” or, more likely, as Ratso Rizzo from “Midnight Cowboy”?

Would Bob Rooney go out as either Father Jerry Connolly from “Angels With Dirty Faces” or Archie Bunker from “All in the Family”?

So, who do you think Vicky, Professor Stokes, Buzz Hackett and, of course, Barnabas would trick-or-treat as?

Bob, who’s heading for the annual Halloween Parade in a Greenwich Village tonight. 

Hey, gang,

I was re-watching the great Woody Allen film, “Radio Days,” which I hadn’t seen in over 25 years.

Okay, as I’m watching the end credits, I see Peter Lombard listed as the host of “The Mr. Abercrombie Program,” a sort of 1940s radio personal advice show version of today’s Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

So, I skimmed back through the dvd, and sure enough, with his deep, resonant voice, there was actor Peter Lombard, best known to loyal DS fans as Oberon, the Leviathan cult member, who, with the lovely Hazar, waylays and brainwashes Barnabas as Mr. B. is making his way on the path between the Old House and Collinwood during the 1897/1795 storyline.

Mr. Lombard appeared in four episodes of DS as the creepy and hooded Oberon, the Leviathan member, who initially advises and directs Barnabas as the temporary leader of the Leviathans.

Mr. Lombard was born in Spokane, Washington in 1935. He had a long career on Broadway as a stage actor, appearing in “Promises, Promises” as Jerry Orbach’s understudy. Mr. Lombard also appeared as Thomas Jefferson in the play, “1776,” along with such other DS alumni as David Ford, Virginia Vestoff and Daniel Keyes.

After retiring from acting, Mr. Lombard and his wife ran an antique store, “The Salvage Barn” on Hudson Street in Manhattan. The Lombards also ran a bed & breakfast in upstate New York, Mr. Lombard died in 2015 and was survived by his wife and two children.

Even though Mr. Lombard appeared in only a few DS episodes, I think that he left a lasting impression with his fine acting and that oh-so-wonderfully eloquent voice of his.

Requiem aeternam, Mr. Lombard.

Hey, gang,

I was watching the very early episodes of DS and Mrs. Stoddard was apologizing to Carolyn for the apparently tough time Carolyn had as a student at Collinsport High School. This got me to thinking, what was Carolyn’s life like when she was a high school kid? The other kids must have either been in awe of her or resented her wealth and privilege. I can’t decide which scenario it might have been.

Do you think Carolyn participated in many (or any) extracurricular activities at Collinsport High School? Do you think Carolyn wrote articles for the school paper? Did Carolyn participate in sports like tennis or softball at Collinsport High? Was Carolyn a cheerleader like the slightly older Maggie Evans apparently was? Did Carolyn develop a crush on Joe Haskell, when Joe was the starting quarterback for an admittedly so-so Collinsport High School football team?

I could see Carolyn being driven to and from Collinsport High School everyday by that old softie, Matthew Morgan.  No doubt, the other kids thought that was “slightly” weird. And, did Carolyn ever invite the other kids up to Collinwood for a party? With Mrs. Stoddard so concerned that someone might discover that her “beloved” husband was taking a permanent “dirt nap” under the floor of one of the locked rooms in the basement of Collinwood, I kind of doubt if Carolyn was ever allowed to bring friends from school up to the great house.

And, do you think that Carolyn was ever embarrassed when the other kids would gossip about why her mother never left that spooky old mansion?

Oh, what we might have seen if they had done a flashback of the early 1960 years at Collinwood. Anyway, you know in high school yearbooks how they sometimes make predictions about members of the graduating class? Well, maybe the 1965 Collinsport High School Yearbook had these predictions:

Most Likely to Switch Careers: Maggie Evans.

Most Likely to Succeed: Chris Jennings (future architect).

Most Likely to be Incarcerated: Harry Johnson.

Most Likely to Snag a Gig on WGBH’s “This Old House”: Tom Jennings (handyman extraordinaire).

Most Likely to Drive a Top-of-the-Line BMW and STILL be Unhappy: Carolyn Stoddard.

Most Likely to Enter Local or State Politics: Susie (Hoffenmuller?) (current Collinsport Inn Waitress).

Most Likely to be Featured in “Field and Stream Magazine”: Joe Haskell.

Most Likely to Finally Find Jesus: Irwin (?) “Buzz” Hackett.

Hey, gang,

Over on YouTube there’s a new posting of DS actors, appearing as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line” from the early 1970s.

Jonathan Frid in his traditional Barnabas Collins attire, Joan Bennett as the great lady of Collinwood and stunt man Alex Stevens, appearing in his lycanthropic get-up, appear in three episodes of WML.

This is the first time I have ever seen the the late Mr. Stevens in an interview. And, he actually removes his werewolf makeup during his conversation with the celebrity panelists. In addition, there is film of Mr. Stevens performing two stunts in film appearances.

The posting is entitled “NEW DS Specials Programs - What’s My Line on YouTube. I think that you all will enjoy it.

Bob

Hey, gang,

When I heard the news this morning that someone in the great state of Maine had won last night’s Mega Millions lottery prize of $1.35 Billion Dollars last night, I immediately wondered if “you-know-who” had bought the winning ticket in Collinsport?

No doubt, many of the residents of the quaint and charming fishing village of Collinsport, Maine were/are faithful lottery players. I could see Mrs. Sarah Johnson, Sheriff George Patterson, Bob Rooney, Susie, the silent waitress, Willie Loomis, the Eagle Bill Cemetery Caretaker, Professor T. Elliott Stokes, Collinsport undertaker Mr. Jaret and, even the usually iconoclastic Buzz Hackett queuing up for a chance to win a prize that only requires a dollar (actually two dollars) and a dream!

Yet, I wonder if the reclusive Barnabas Collins employed his knowledge of such arcane and esoteric subjects as the “secret number of the universe” to provide him with the Mega Millions’ winning numbers? And, what would the wise and introspective, former (?) vampire spend his lottery winnings on? Would Barnabas make a substantial contribution to his good friend, Professor T. Elliott Stokes’ unnamed university, specifically an endowment to fund an expanded department on the study of the paranormal, including witchcraft, the concept of Parallel Time and the ancient Chinese divination practice of the I-Ching?

Would Barnabas invest in the popular Brewster’s’ Department Store in Collinsport, with a new line of men’s clothes and accessories, featuring Inverness coats, black onyx rings and extremely stylish men’s silver wolf’s head walking canes?

Or, would Barnabas finally decide to renovate and modernize the Old House by paying the expert craftsmen from the PBS series, “This Old House,” very handsomely, indeed, to transform the Old House into an incredibly stately home, which Stephen King, Elon Musk or even Taylor Swift would like to live in at Collinsport’s sister city, the toney and very upscale Bar Harbor,
Maine?

Yes, Barnabas could now be living “la dolce vita” (the sweet life) if he lucked out last night by winning the Mega
Millions lottery prize. When you got it, flaunt it, Barnabas, baby!!!     

Hey, gang,

I venture to say that every Dark Shadows fan, especially those of a “certain” age, can perfectly recite the truly enigmatic words of Angelique’s Dream Curse:

Through sight and sound and faceless terror,

Through endless corridors by trial and error,

Ahead a blazing light does burn,

And one door leads to the point of return.

One question about these stirring words that I’ve thought about over the years, is which DS writer actually wrote those famous words? Was it Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, Ron Sproat or one of the other DS writers? Some of the most memorable lines on DS were written by Gordon Russell, such as Barnabas’ pithy remark, which he uttered in the Blue Whale, “Serenity is my favorite emotion.”   

You know, several lifelong, rabid fans of the Green Bay Packers have made arrangements to have their coffins interiors lined in Packer bay green and cheese gold colors and to be attired in Packer sweatshirts featuring the retired numbers of such Packer greats as Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Herb Adderley. Some diehard Packer fans even have the numbers of those Packer greats carved into their gravestones along with the inspirational words of the great Green Bay Packers coach, the legendary Vince Lombardi. (I wonder if our DS cousin, Gerard, being a proud native of The Badger State, regularly wears Packer green and gold to display his undying Packer allegiance?)

Well, I wonder if some equally loyal and fanatical DS fans have made similar pre-arrangements to insure that their coffins with be decorated exactly the same as the coffin Barnabas crammed into during his four years on the show? Will some DS fans make arrangements to be clothed in their coffins, wearing the same Inverness coat Barnabas always wore on the show, even during the warm summer months in Collinsport? (Even the legendary Bela “Dracula” Lugosi arranged to be attired in his famous Dracula cape in his coffin.)

Who knows, maybe some more loyal and dedicated DS fans will even arrange to have some memorable DS quotes, carved into their headstones, such as, “Don’t Go Tomcatting Around Collinsport!” (the unfailingly gracious Mordecai Grimes), “What Do You With  a Drunken Sailor?” (the water-logged ghost of poor and unfortunate Bill Malloy) and “Let the Legions of the Damned Salute You!” (Warlock Nicholas Blair’s Especially Touching Love Paean to Maggie Evans). 

I could go on, but what limits could there possibly be for any lifelong DS fan to express their love and affection for the beloved residents of Collinsport, Maine as they pass over to the other side?

Bob the Bartender, who looks forward to being attired in my coffin, wearing my stylish Bob Rooney Sears-Roebuck Royal Stewart flannel shirt and with a pack of Bob’s trademark El Producto cigars placed in my breast shirt pocket to accompany me throughout eternity.