I started watching in June 1968 and at that point, Barnabas wasn't the villain, he was the hero.  Angelique (or Nicholas, or Quentin, or ...) was the villain.

H.

Joan Crawford would have been a disaster in the role of Liz.  Joan Bennett had a strong background in theatre, which was why she was so perfect in the role.  Granted, Joan Bennett occasionally forgot her lines, but she maintained her regal composure to the end onscreen. 

This is just personal, but I always felt that our Joan exuded a certain warmth, even when she was laying down the law in what appeared to be an unreasonable fashion to Miss Winters (in the early weeks).  I've never felt warmth from Joan C (although I admit I enjoy her film performances enormously).

I wonder if the "other actress" who "talked to" Joan C on the set of the Lucy show was Viv Vance.  I could see Viv doing that in a sensible, yet sensitive way, that would have gotten the message home without making Joan get her dander up.

G.

According to IMDB, Audrey Larkins played Crystal Cabot.  I barely remember the character, much less the name, and the only thing I remember about the character involves a big spoiler for her episode so I won't write it here.

Audrey died, I think the entry said, in 1994, while she was still in her early 60s. 

Some of you guys just make me feel as if I barely know the show at all.   I'm sure I would never have recognized Miss Larkins if she had appeared at an event I attended.

G.

Wow, Michael Hadge.  I remember many years ago he was going to attend a Festival, but couldn't make it due to scheduling conflicts.

I do hope somebody plays the clip where he utters his immortal line, "if ya feel it... SIT IT!"  Grand stuff.

I was really puzzled last Summer which I expected to be the biggest Festival in fan history due to the Burton/Depp redaction... instead what was done sounded fairly small and intimate.

The fandom started out in the early 1980s with small get-togethers here and there... for instance in the Magique discotheque, if I'm remembering correctly, around 1982--I was not involved with fandom then, but I've seen great photos from that party.  It seems to be ending (or that is what I surmise is happening) with small regionally focused get togethers.

Given this was a daytime drama of the 1960s which has broken every conceivable record (including managing to stay in print on home video for over 20 years... do you know how many entertainment products can match that record? not many at all)--I think the fandom has had a great run. 

I did love Alexandra's suggestion that at some point those of us who are left have a reunion around the ouija board. lol.

G.

Dracula's Daughter is a beautifully excecuted, classic horror film. There are some touches of humor, particularly when the stalwart hero informs his valet he's off to "run down a vampire" and the gentleman's gentleman responds, "but sir, don't you usually do that with your checkbook?" Around the 1890s/1900s, a "vampire" was a common name for an "adventuress" or "gold-digger" or woman who entertained men (sometimes but not always involving sexual favors) but was really after their cash.

House of Dracula IMO isn't as good as the preceding film, House of Frankenstein, but the scenes with John Carradine are fun to see and effective.  Despite the title, Dracula is only in the movie for the first half or so.

G.

Isn't that shot of that wrecked boat meant to be what is left of the boat the Collins sailed in on?

Forgive me if I am belaboring the obvious.

I seem to recall a derelict 1950s boat having been bought for the movie during the pre-production period.

G.

Antony is luscious.  unfortunately from the trailers and clips it all looks much too violent for my personal taste.

Nice to hear that Antony is getting such good... exposure.

G.

One of the original reviewers in 1964 wrote that the film only really came alive for him when Grayson was onscreen.

It really was her big Hollywood moment.  Thankfully for DS fans, she was less than thrilled with Hollywood (she had lived there back in the 1940s and I think the whole scene left a bad taste in her mouth--read R. J. Jamison's fascinating book, "Grayson Hall:  a hard act to follow" for MORE).

Had Grayson really embraced a Hollywood career, she wouldn't have been available for work on DS and so...

G.