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Calendar Events / Announcements '02 I / Re: What ways do you think the Dark Shadows Festivals be improve
« on: March 21, 2002, 12:37:25 AM »
Hi Raineypark,
Love your post about the anachronisms in the current storyline btw--I foresee that as turning into a very long section. The Countess' clothing is about 40 years out of date (maybe more, but those dresses were on their way OUT by 1770 for sure--why didn't they put her in a powdered wig? Maybe the powder gave Grayson a sneezing fit!) So there's lots to write about on that topic.
I've been a very erratic Festival attendee myself. The main reason I keep going is because of my friends among the fans. I do think there is some backbiting or cliquishness as Joe's friend mentioned, but I think if you don't hang out with certain groups of people who mainly keep to themselves, you'd never notice it. I think this kind of thing was more noticeable back in the 1980s when an event that drew 200 people was big news. They routinely get 1500 on Saturday alone in NYC and last year's not-previously-announced mail-registration only for Sat. was presumably to circumvent fire code violations due to the crowds who always show up for the New York Festivals. I think the fandom has really grown now that the show has become a mainstay (and wisely so) on the Sci Fi Channel. It clearly has an appeal that transcends time! And DS fandom has a magic that transcends petty fannish squabbling.
So, I hope you encourage your friend to join you at a Festival. I bet you'll have a great time.
As for improving the Festivals--the actors I really loved on the show are all dead. They used to do more skits (I will never forget a marvelous one act thing Marie Wallace did one year) but if the skits are non-DS the fans often don't have much interest. I was so upset about people coming in and going out and talking during a wonderful performance David Selby did in NYC a few years ago. There used to be a video room set up where they would screen episodes and rare videos of other projects the actors had appeared in. Perhaps these features will appear again at future festivals. I've been meaning for years to approach the Festival committee about doing a tribute to Grayson Hall featuring clips from my collection, but I haven't ever managed to find the time to write up a proposal. It would be lovely to have one for Thayer David, as well, though presumably fan interest would be smaller in that. He is one of my top favorite DS thespians ... I do appreciate it that a few others here have written appreciatively about his work, as well. Jonathan Frid commented once at a Festival about how sweet Thayer was and how he was like everyone's favorite Uncle on set.
Gawd, that was a never ending post!
Cheers, Steve
Love your post about the anachronisms in the current storyline btw--I foresee that as turning into a very long section. The Countess' clothing is about 40 years out of date (maybe more, but those dresses were on their way OUT by 1770 for sure--why didn't they put her in a powdered wig? Maybe the powder gave Grayson a sneezing fit!) So there's lots to write about on that topic.
I've been a very erratic Festival attendee myself. The main reason I keep going is because of my friends among the fans. I do think there is some backbiting or cliquishness as Joe's friend mentioned, but I think if you don't hang out with certain groups of people who mainly keep to themselves, you'd never notice it. I think this kind of thing was more noticeable back in the 1980s when an event that drew 200 people was big news. They routinely get 1500 on Saturday alone in NYC and last year's not-previously-announced mail-registration only for Sat. was presumably to circumvent fire code violations due to the crowds who always show up for the New York Festivals. I think the fandom has really grown now that the show has become a mainstay (and wisely so) on the Sci Fi Channel. It clearly has an appeal that transcends time! And DS fandom has a magic that transcends petty fannish squabbling.
So, I hope you encourage your friend to join you at a Festival. I bet you'll have a great time.
As for improving the Festivals--the actors I really loved on the show are all dead. They used to do more skits (I will never forget a marvelous one act thing Marie Wallace did one year) but if the skits are non-DS the fans often don't have much interest. I was so upset about people coming in and going out and talking during a wonderful performance David Selby did in NYC a few years ago. There used to be a video room set up where they would screen episodes and rare videos of other projects the actors had appeared in. Perhaps these features will appear again at future festivals. I've been meaning for years to approach the Festival committee about doing a tribute to Grayson Hall featuring clips from my collection, but I haven't ever managed to find the time to write up a proposal. It would be lovely to have one for Thayer David, as well, though presumably fan interest would be smaller in that. He is one of my top favorite DS thespians ... I do appreciate it that a few others here have written appreciatively about his work, as well. Jonathan Frid commented once at a Festival about how sweet Thayer was and how he was like everyone's favorite Uncle on set.
Gawd, that was a never ending post!
Cheers, Steve