Warts and all, the Adam and Eve storyline contains many of my absolute favorite episodes of DS.  In particular, the confrontation scenes between Nicholas Blair and Julia are exceptionally well written and brilliantly played.  In one of these scenes Blair actually has the line, "Doctor, I think you've been reading too many gothic novels"--a very large wink from the writers to themselves and it never fails to make me fall about.

There's also all the wonderful stuff with Stokes from this period--again, I love his line on the phone to Carolyn in one high-tension moment:  "Miss Stoddard, are you much given to melodrama?  No, don't answer that; I'll answer it for myself shortly."  Brilliant!

I agree that Adam's scenes in the later part of the storyline become very one-note, whiny, repetitive and dull, but that's no fault of the actor.  I think that every storyline has scenes of this sort.  I personally find the scenes of Vicki's trial in 1795 unwatchably tedious.

G.

DDD just reduced the prices (or I just noticed the reduction) on their DS sets to around 36 bucks per set.  I wonder if this is just for the H'ween season or if this is the new price?  It's not being billed as one of their sales, so far as I can tell.

G.

James was no relation to Sam or Grayson.  I believe KLS did say that he was somebody she met in acting classes.  She definitely reported that he was fired because of a drinking problem.

While I do find an edgy intrigue in Hall's performance in the role, I definitely agree with the majority that the day John Karlen was hired to play Willie was one of the best days in DS history!

G.

I think my favorite Maggie scenes ever are when she's hooking Joe in the 1966 storyline.  She gets those devious little looks on her face whenever Joe's back is turned, rattles off a spree of naturical slang without turning a hair, shows him what having a girl who's genuinely interested in him is like, yet remains spirited and perky throughout.  I'm really sorry the character got slammed into permanent victim mode once Barn hit town.

Rainingwolf, Maggie's blonde phase only lasted for the first couple weeks of the show.

G.

Great review!  I love the photo chosen for the article on the web version.  Was the same one used for the print paper?

Let sales ring out merrily over autumn skies!

G.

Here's my review from amazombie.

If you're at all interested in Grayson Hall, you really do need to get this book!

Best, G.

My review:

Cult actress Grayson Hall has been best known to students of Tennessee Williams through her larger-than-life performance as the 'butch choir-mistress' in John Huston's film of Night of the Iguana, a role for which she received an Academy Award (tm) nomination. The actress is also fondly recalled for her yeoman work as a scheming gypsy tarot card reader, a French countess, a devious housekeeper and the ever-faithful 'Physician to the Vampire' on television's Dark Shadows. Now independent scholar RJ Jamison reveals the very complex woman behind the legendary, iconic, eyebrow-raising actress. Jamison's diligent spadework and spot-on reporting uncovers a wealth of hitherto unknown detail about Hall's life. The author situates her subject in her various contexts, illuminates her art and life, and most important of all, shows us what fun she had living Off and On Broadway as a 'gutsy broad' who gave her all to the Theatre but who remained powerfully devoted to her family, her kitchen, and those to whom she gave her heart. R J Jamison's book is a riveting read. You won't soon forget Grayson, or this book about her.

Hi Jackie, there are two radio interviews (where Thayer was on the phone, but his voice is quite clear) that Ron Barry did for his show.  I believe Bobubas sells them--doesn't he have a website now?  If you look around you can find transcriptions, too.  A transcription was published in Stuart's old DS fanzine in England.

He covers the same ground in both interviews.  I think the second one was done because of a technical problem in recording the first one.  They obviously date to around April or May 1969.

Best, G.