Hi Doombuggy,

Just curious, do any of your copies of the original ABC episode broadcasts from 1970-71 contain Grayson Hall's Playtex commercial? I know it used to be run sometimes as a commercial for DS (which is a real hoot, when you think about it).  I saw the tape of episodes with original commercials released as the final tape of the original MPI collectors series, and I wish they would issue more of these.  They are a real blast for those of us old enough to remember watching the show during the original broadcast.

Best,

Gothick

Hi John,

Well, thanks for thinking of me!  I'm afraid I've never heard of Trading Spaces.  Is TLC the Learning Channel? I really haven't had much time to watch ANYTHING this Summer.  I recently checked the first episode of The Prisoner out of the library as I had never seen it--it took 4 separate occasions for me to get through the 52 minute tape!  Pitiful, I know.  It's just been a busy summer--fun, but busy.  Thankfully, I'm about to take my annual week of going to stay on a farm way upstate NY where I don't do much except lounge around in a state of undress and paddle in a pond.  Oh, and cooking, of course--chopping veggies is terribly therapeutic for me.

The one show I have been watching regularly (albeit on tape) is Sonya the Pet Psychic on Animal Planet.  It's sort of like a remake of Dr. Dolittle with Patsy Stone from Ab Fab in the title role.  It's a hoot, and of course some of the cuddly critters get me all lachrymose and sentimental.

Gothick

That's very nice to read; it's nice to think of Jonathan Frid admiring James Marsters' performance.  They share in common a strong background in theatre (stage) work, and I've seen Marsters comment in interviews that if you want to learn how to act, join a local theatre company and just spend years grinding away at plays.

In my opinion, James Marsters is one of the best actors around today.  And apart from that, he's a damned sexy minx, y'know?

Gothick

Re Julia's handwriting:  I often thought that it was because Grayson was feeling a bit on-edge and playing with a glove, the bedpost or whatever was a way of keeping herself on cue with the scene.  The scenes were often revised at the very last minute, and the actors were often caught in a vise between getting their cues right, performing whatever camera blocking had been decided (sometimes not revised for the changed script), and dealing with any special FX or lighting tricks thrown into the mix.

I was impressed that as Hoffman, Grayson did not allow herself ANY of these mannerisms.  She seems to have enjoyed the challenge of that role.  But bear in mind that she played Hoffman in far fewer episodes than either Julia or Magda.

The handwringing was clearly in some cases part of the actual direction.  The most effective use of it that comes to mind was a scene between Liz and Jason when Liz's hands were in the foreground of the shot--beautifully managed playing from Joan Bennett and beautiful work from the cameraman that day.

Gothick

I was thinking of Grayson off and on throughout the day yesterday, so it was gratifying to log on here and see this space--thank you again, Julia darling.

One thing that is little known about Grayson in the world of fandom (or so it would seem) is how very kind and giving she so often was to Dark Shadows fans.  Robert Finnocchio's memoir of the time he spent with her (available on the beautiful Remembering Grayson website maintained by Nancy and Lynn) is typical of how much she enjoyed spending time with fans and getting to know them as people.  I have heard of cases of her telling fans they could call her collect.  I also heard a story about her calling a child long distance in Maryland to wish the little girl a happy birthday because she had received a note in which the child said hearing from "Julia" would make her day complete.

Grayson was definitely a bohemian.  She lived life to the fullest and she had no time for bullsh&t.  I've seen a video of a Fest held a year or two after her death in which Bob Costello (I think it was him) described her, with deepest affection, as "a gutsy broad."  He was smiling widely as he spoke about her.

Underneath the colorful wardrobe (we all loved the Bulgarian peasant widow look, accessorized with leather bomber jacket), the fabulous laughter and the booming asides, she had a vulnerable side which only her closest friends were allowed to see.  This did come out in her acting.  If you watch closely in certain scenes, you'll see what DS director Henry Kaplan referred to as her remarkable inner stillness.

Still missing that most fabulous of redheads....

Gothick

I did get to watch some of the recent weeks' shows on tape (now you know I need no excuse at all to watch Tom Jennings do his thang!) and I wouldn't be surprised if the "Adam kidnaps Vicki" storyline was the nail in the proverbial coffin for Ms. Moltke.  I mean, after 3 years on the show, the best they can come up with is a very lame repeat of the Matthew Morgan storyline from 1966?  (and compared to Thayer David's Matthew Morgan, Adam was a non-entity).  I can just imagine her seething inwardly, waiting for that closet door to open, plotting just how she was going to get out of her contract.

Lara Parker mentioned that Moltke wouldn't wear makeup either during her final months on the show--I wonder about this.  I suspect that the makeup artists kept Vicki's look "natural" since she was supposed to be good and virginal, while Lara and the rest of the women had the pancake and eyelashes slathered on with a trowel.

Gothick

Dear Dark Shadows,

Is your brother a fan of the original Star Trek?  (Gawd, I wish I didn't have to call it that.  For me, there is ONLY ONE Star Trek.  Not that I'm a fanatic about it, or anything.)

If so, I wonder whether he might have noticed a resemblance between Joan in the City on the Edge of Forever (Harlan Ellison script, Emmy nominee) and Lara Parker in her Cassandra persona.  I've noticed that as well.  Of course Lara Parker wins for dishiness and camp elan hands down.

I did see a photo of Joan taken at a party recently that reminded me of Grandmamma Edith Collins in 1897.  Maybe your brother was at that party??

Gothick