How many times did Barnabas say variations on the line "You have betrayed me" or "You know better than to betray me" in 1967?  I remember when I started watching DS in 1968 that the fact that they used the word "betray" with the same frequency as regular folk ask for the salt at the dinner table made a definite impression upon me.

So many of the fans complain about how unreal DS was--for me that was one of the top draws of the show!

Steve

As if you couldn't guess ...

Julia! Julia! Julia!  

Other characters for whom I have a sentimental attachment...

Barnabas ... I wonder whether other gay men of my generation (early 40s) identified with Barnabas as a child?  He just seemed to encapsulate so perfectly the sense of being an outsider, a misfit, someone who didn't belong.  I felt there was a world of difference between how his curse affected Barnabas, and how it affected Quentin.  

Cassandra.  I'm looking forward to the comments about her imminent introduction!  She was on my second episode of DS, and her melodramatic flair had a lot to do with my getting hooked into watching the show.

Prof.  T. Eliot Stokes was in my FIRST episode of DS, and I thought he was simply grand!  Still think so today!

Nicholas.  I still remember his arrival at Collinwood, and how intriguing he was.  I thought Humbert added a very different kind of flair to the show--just as Grayson did when she arrived.

Chris.  For some it's Barnabas, for others it's Quentin--for me, Chris is the major male heart throb of DS.  And I thought that Don Briscoe made Chris (originally not a very sympathetic character--I think the "Marilyn" Ross novel involving the character gives you an idea of how DC might have seen the character play out) more three dimensional, poignant and real.

Count Petofi.  I just love ALL of Thayer David's characters, but Petofi has such wonderful wit and cosmopolitan grandeur.  I never tire of watching his episodes!

Pansy/Charity.  I really love her scenes, especially whenever she's onscreen with Jerry Lacey (and he starts barking "Daughter!" at her).

Magda.  Grayson Hall's favorite character, and I can really understand why!

There are others, too, but I am starting to write a book, so I'll desist for now.  Julia still rules!

Gothick

Darling, You know, I just realized that the initials "MM" can mean both "Maestro Misterioso" AND "Marilyn Monroe"!  As well of course as the more "common" meaning of a sweet, colorful candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hand (a wonderful attribute, to be sure!).

Thanks so much for thinking of me!  I just adore that photo.  Although I'm starting to realize the repercussions that may ensue from the fact that people will now associate me with a screaming, hysterical, red-headed physician!

No Marcus Welby, I.

TTFN,  Gothick

Oops, guess I should make it clear that I'm not going to try to "set" the Julia photo for my "avatar" (I'm sorry, that word BOTHERS me used this way).  I remember seeing the option when I was setting up my profile but just don't have the 2 hours it would probably take now to figure out how to put it in!

So, anyone else who wants this DIVOON PHOTO OF HYSTERICAL JULIA being advised by evil, crafty Barn to "remember SOMEONE," ... be my guest!

Isn't Dark Shadows a great show???

Steve

Well, I'm interested, but I long ago gave up on webchats--generally one either can't log on, or the chatroom keeps getting flooded and everyone gets kicked out, or the mods just ignore one ... or a combination of all 3...

If anybody here does go, I'd love it if you would ask Karlen if he has any memories from working with Grayson Hall.

And tell him he should get Sharon Gless on the horn and have her get him on Queer as folk!

Best,  Gothick

To the Mysterious Benefactor in all his mysterious May Day delight,

Many thanks for including that FAB shot of the Queen of Fabness Herself, Dr. Julia Hoffman, fervently clutching the phone at Collinwood, as gnostic and hieratic as an image in a Wallace Stevens alchemical chapbook.

Wish I had a nice, crisp, large jpg of this image for my very own.

I just love that scene where Julia goes to the Old House and lays down the law to vampy Barn.  And even more I love the scene between Julia and Dr. Lang in the hospital.  I can just see Julia thinking:  "time to get one of Angelique's voodoo dolls out and one of Eric Lang's scarves for a special treat!"

I swear, that scene where poor befuddled Addison Powell blurts out (obviously struggling not to burst out laughing), "He's a vampire, isn't he?" always cracks me up!  ONLY Grayson's dignity and focused saved that scene from degenerating into a Monty Python skit!

Gothick (hoping for a post from HENRY the Magnificent about the new shows!)

Hi Darren, Just a note to thank you again for alerting me to the restoration of Price's Over the Rainbow vocals on the Phibes Rises Again DVD.  I wonder whether the scenes that were cut from the VHS release due to music rights issues were restored as well?  I checked a couple of online DVD reviews but obviously none of the reviewers knew the films well enough to comment.

Good luck with your quest for the Japanese print of hoDS.  I still feel doubtful whether the footage of the Barnabas/Julia walk scene will be recovered there, but perhaps the hanging David scene will be.  I don't know that the Stokes/Willie scene was ever included in ANY print--ditto for the Barnabas/Julia one ...  Obviously, though, you've researched this thoroughly!

I just lent VHS copies (taken from the LaserDisc, in my untutored opinion the best available versions) to a friend for viewing.  He was quite complimentary about NoDS, believe it or not--in my opinion even in its current "trimmed" state it's head and shoulders above hoDS as a film and a theatrical artifact. There ARE characters, there ARE motives, which is more than one can say for hoDS.  About the latter, my friend made a witty comment you might appreciate (or see as the unkindest "cut" of all???):

I have some old trees I'd like to clear off my property, and wonder where the editors of HODS got the *AXE* they edited the movie with! I guess that and a blindfold were all they needed. Dear, I've haven't seen editing that bad since Paul Morrissey made it an art form in the Warhol films. There are times when the soundtrack just DIES.

I did warn him that as it stands, the movie is something of a train wreck... It does remain one of my guilty pleasures, nonetheless!

Steve