**** NEW YEAR UPDATE FROM MARCY ROBIN – SHADOWGRAM
**** NOTE REGARDING DS FESTIVAL’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 
SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL DARK SHADOWS NEWS ONLINE UPDATE  # 373
February 1. 2016
 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
**** UPDATE MESSAGE FROM SHADOWGRAM’S MARCY ROBIN
 
It’s been several weeks since the last SG DS News Online Update and I’ve been silent during that time. I appreciate everyone’s patience and messages of concern and now explain why.
 
In the pre-dawn hours of a morning in late December, an accidental electrical fire (no way of knowing there was any danger) erupted in the garage of my home. It consumed the garage, which is attached to my house. The blaze destroyed virtually everything inside the garage (no cars were kept there).
 
Thankfully, the local fire station is very close to my home. I’d barely hung up on my 911 phone call when the firefighters and local sheriffs began arriving. Their wonderful efforts contained the blaze to the garage building itself. However, smoke permeated the entire house and all its contents, making it uninhabitable until the smoke damage and repairs can be fully cleaned, cleared, and completed.
 
I am most thankful that no one – including our 4 cats - was hurt. I also deeply appreciate the kindness and support from those superb first responders, then and since that terrible morning. However, we were (and have been) very shaken up and are continuing to cope with all aspects of the fire and its aftermath.
 
The insurance company was “on top of” things from the first call we made to report the fire – in fact, it was still burning when we called. Insurance personnel quickly arranged temporary housing for us (and also boarding the 4 cats at the veterinary hospital). Insurance also soon brought in the various appropriate companies to assess all the damage, clean out debris, determine construction requirements, procedures, needs, etc. Every single thing in the house had to be removed and is being restored and cleaned via the ozone process.
 
We and the cats now are settled in a long-term temporary location several miles from the house. We’ve also returned to our jobs. The insurance company and others involved in the work keep us fully informed, meeting and checking with us, etc., as things gradually progress.
 
This entire experience has been extremely upsetting, overwhelming, and disruptive in every possible way. Yet the support, concern, and encouragement from others have been so uplifting and true blessings. The house and garage will require thorough, extensive work inside and out. This is projected to take several months to complete. (The potential effects of predicted El Nino heavy rains hopefully won’t occur or create delays.)We are just so grateful for everyone and everything that have been – and are – there for us and the cats.
 
Thank you for your understanding.
 
 
**** NOTE: DS FESTIVAL – DS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 
With the terrific ongoing help of Kathy Resch, I WILL continue to post these ShadowGram Official Dark Shadows News Online Updates as I receive DS-related news, including confirmed developments for our Dark Shadows Festival DS 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 24-26 in Tarrytown, NY.
 
Thus, I soon will announce membership and Luncheon rates, procedure details, and the latest official information for this Celebration / Cast & Fan Reunion
 
These ShadowGram Official DS News Online Updates – always posted first through the ShadowGram Group at Yahoo,com – also will continue to announce and report DS and Fest news as the 50th Anniversary approaches.
 
If you haven’t done so yet, fans who plan to attend this very special commemorative event are encouraged to please send an unsealed business-size SAFSE (Self-Addressed Forever-Stamp Envelope) to:
 
Dark Shadows Festival
PO Box 92
Maplewood, NJ 07040
 
Your SAFSE later will be returned to you via postal-mail with the official Fest membership form and other information. You fill out the form and mail it, your check/money order payments, and 2 more SAFSEs to the Fest address above
 
I hope you can join us for this very special Commemoration weekend, June 24-26, 2016, in Tarrytown, NY (approx. 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan). Weekend activities and programming – with our DS guests and fans of all ages from across the US and beyond – will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel and the historic Lyndhurst Estate and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The estate and cemetery were filming locations for the 2 MGM theatrical movies “House of Dark Shadows” (1970) and “Night of Dark Shadows” (1971). They all are a few miles from each other.
 
These ShadowGram Official DS Online News Updates will report future Fest Celebration announcements and plans.
 
ShadowGram Online Update # 370 (11-19-15) premiere-announced our confirmed DS guests as of that date and I’ll report more guests as they confirm. Subsequent ShadowGram Updates have provided further definite Fest news. These previous Updates can be read by Group members who go to the ShadowGram Group at Yahoo.com.

Thank you.
 
Marcy Robin
ShadowGram@aol.com
ShadowGram1@yahoo.com

The first official US trailer for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, where, as mentioned back in October, the DS movie's Bella Heathcote can frequently be seen as one of the fighting Bennett sisters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjfmdvLu9c

The film is based on the parody novel of the same name, which of course was written by Seth Grahame-Smith, major screenwriter of the DS movie.

A fan (Keith Dunmire) shared this sad news on the Official Fan Group page on Facebook:

"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Rhonda Foster. She was a devoted Dark Shadows fan. For those who remember her, please continue to do so..."

She will also be remembered as a lawyer, writer, poet, collector, crafter and dear friend.  Rho, you'll be missed!  Here's a photo from my collection taken at the 1999 Festival; Rhonda/PostCool1 is front, right:


(with Sally, Gothick, RobinV, Nicky, Nancybe, me, VictoriaW, and Elaine)

SHADOWGRAM NEWS UPDATE   # 371
December 1, 2015
 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following key breaking news in this ShadowGram Official Dark Shadows News Online Update "Bulletin."
 
 
**** NEW DS 2016 CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE DS FESTIVAL
 
LIMITED EDITION 50th ANNIVERSARY
DARK SHADOWS 2016 CALENDAR
 
With Previously-Unpublished Photos!
 
The Dark Shadows Festival asks ShadowGram to announce:
 
For many years, the Dark Shadows Festival has annually issued exclusive Dark Shadows Calendars featuring a wide variety of new and rare photos.
 
The 2016 Calendar can now be ordered – only from the Dark Shadows Festival.
 
“This high-quality calendar measures 8 ½” x 10" and is printed on extra-thick, coated paper with a supernaturally attractive selection in spine-tinglingly sharp, spooky black-and-white.
 
“Enjoy 15 rare and never-before-seen images for every month of the year from the original 1966-1971 Dark Shadows TV series, each digitally scanned in crisp, high resolution directly from the camera negatives and vintage publicity photographs from the Dan Curtis Productions archives.

“Included are dramatic pictures of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, Lara Parker as Angelique, David Selby as Quentin Collins, David Henesy as Jamison Collins, Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters, Roger Davis as Jeff Clark, Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Jerry Lacy as Gregory Trask, Nancy Barrett as Charity Trask, Robert Rodan as Adam, Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie Evans, Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins, and Grayson Hall as Dr. Julia Hoffman.
 
“This calendar is available exclusively while supplies last, from the Dark Shadows Official Fan Club”.
 
The Calendar is $15.00 (includes postage).
 
Please send payment by check/money order to:
 
Dark Shadows Festival
P.O. Box 92
Maplewood, NJ 07040
 
---- SPECIAL OFFER: Order the new 2016 DS 50th Anniversary Calendar and the collectible 2015 DS Calendar together for only $20.00 (includes postage) – for a total of 30 rare Dark Shadows photos.
 
---- PLEASE NOTE: The Dark Shadows Festival can NOT accept credit cards or PayPal.
 
This calendar is not available in stores.

**** DS AUDIO DRAMA “BLOODLUST” NOMINATED FOR AWARD
**** DONNA McKECHNIE HONORED BY PROFESSIONAL DANCERS GROUP
**** JERRY LACY & LISA RICHARDS IN AWARD-WINNING ONLINE FILM
**** JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT TO GUEST ON “THE MUPPETS”
**** 1991 DARK SHADOWS REVIVAL TV SERIES IN NEW DVD RELEASE
 
SHADOWGRAM NEWS UPDATE  # 369
November 18, 2015
 
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
 
Big Finish Productions (BFP) of England has produced and released 50 original  audio dramas firmly based in the DS universe. Recorded in-studio, original DS actors revise their TV characters or portray new ones. A number of notable actors also participate. Each drama is released on CD and as digital downloads. These all-new DS “episodes” run approximately 1 hour each with dramatic tales from Collinwood and beyond.
 
SG congratulates BFP: Its 2015 13-part serial “Bloodlust” was nominated 11-17 on the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) “shortlist” for “Best Online Only Audio Drama” Award. It is 1 of 6 audio dramas cited, including 3 others (not DS) from BFP.
 
BBC.co.uk: “The finalists will be announced on Tues., 5 Jan., 2016. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House London on the evening of Sun., 31 Jan….. Celebrating Audio Drama in the UK,” these awards recognize “the range, originality and cut-through quality of audio drama on air and online and give recognition to the creativity of actors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in this genre.” There are 11 award categories overall.
 
Triple SG #124-#125-#126 published newsletter included details and comments directly from writer/co-producer Joe Lidster, co-producer David Darlington, and BFP’s Joseph Smith. The SG issue also notes the 7 original DS actors heard in the drama. That SG is available. Please contact Marcy Robin at ShadowGram@aol.com
 
Newest audio dramas available now: “And Red All Over” is Mitch Ryan’s first audio drama as he reprises “Burke Devlin” for the first time since 1967, with Kathryn Leigh Scott. “Deliver Us from Evil” stars Lisa Richards and Chris Pennock. Kathleen Cody is featured in “Tainted Love.”
 
--- To order “Bloodlust” and other CDs: Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.  darkshadowsfestival.com
(Note: A number of these dramas available from the Fest are autographed by the stars appearing in them)
To download the dramas from BFP:  http://www.bigfinish.com/hubs/v/dark-shadows
 
**** DONNA McKECHNIE TO RECEIVE LEGACY AWARD
 
DONNA’s (Amanda Harris, Olivia Corey) acclaimed international career as a dancer/singer/actress will be honored 12-7 by the Dancers Over 40 (DO40) organization. She is 1 of 5 honorees at the “holiday celebration and awards event” in NYC.
 
Publicity: Dancers Over 40's “7th Annual Legacy Awards presentation is its most joyous…. Each honoree holds a special place in the world of dance and have all contributed to promoting Dancers over 40 and the History, Legacy and Lives of our community. The DO40 members honored this year come from Broadway, Ballet and Radio City Music Hall. Each of the 5 has “over 50 years in show business (and) have worked with all the greats - Robbins, Fosse, Bennett, Champion, de Mille, Gennaro, Layton and more.” They “have been at the forefront of promoting the History, Legacy and Lives of the mature dance community.
 
“DO40 is an all-volunteer, membership-driven non-profit arts organization dedicated to preserving the History, Legacy and Lives of our mature creative community, while sharing the knowledge with the younger generation just beginning their careers. The event will be videotaped and donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Collection at Lincoln Center's Library for the Performing Arts.”
 
The Mon., 12-7 ceremony is 6-9pm at the LIPS Restaurant, 227 E. 56th St., NYC. Tickets $35-$50-$75. Reservations: Telecharge, 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com; DO40 members call 212-947-8844 orwww.broadwayoffers.com with discount code. St. Luke's Box Office open 2-6pm daily, at 308 W. 46th St. For more information on DO40 and this event, call our Hotline at 212-330-7016
 
Fans in the area and those attending the ceremony are invited and encouraged to please share photos, program book, publicity materials, media coverage, etc. Please send all items to SG’s postal- or e- mail addresses at the end of this Update.
 
**** JERRY LACY & LISA RICHARDS: AWARD-WINNING FILM NOW ONLINE
 
JERRY (Tony Peterson, Rev. Trask, Lamar Trask, Gregory Trask) is the title character and LISA (Sabrina Stuart) is his wife in writer/director Ansel Faraj’s THE LAST CASE OF AUGUST T. HARRISON, released to rent on Vimeo On Demand 11-13. The independent feature film recently won these awards:
 
*Official Selection - 2015 Depth of Field International Film Festival – Winner: Best Film (Sci-Fi), Best Actor Jerry Lacy, Best Supporting Actress Maggie Wagner
*Official Selection - 2016 Other Venice Film Festival
*Official Selection - 2015 August Los Angeles Independent Film Festival - Official Nominee: Best Feature Film, Best Director -Ansel Faraj
 
Press Release: “A dark neo-noir thriller influenced by Val Lewton and (‘the great horror-sci fi writer’’) H.P. Lovecraft, set in and around Venice Beach, CA. August T. Harrison, private eye, comes out of retirement to solve what seems at first to be a bizarre missing persons case. But as he digs deeper, he finds himself caught in the middle of a dark conspiracy involving the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Are Lovecraft's tales just fiction? Or do they hold the secrets of the cosmos?”
 
LAST CASE was privately screened for the cast, crew, and invited guests 6-28-15 at the historic Los Feliz Theatre in LA. The receptive audience included Jerry, Lara Parker, David & Chip Selby, Jim Pierson (Dan Curtis Productions, DS Festival), Marcy Robin (ShadowGram, DS Festival), and Kathy Resch (ShadowGram, DS Festival). Photos will be in the upcoming SGF #127 print newsletter.
 
SG thanks Ansel for the information and congratulates him, the excellent cast, and everyone involved in this moody, intriguing film.
 
*** JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT GUESTS ON “THE MUPPETS” 12-1
 
JOE (1991 DS David, Daniel) will guest star as himself on the ABC comedy THE MUPPETS 12-1.
 
Variety 11-16: On the episode titled “Going, Going, Gonzo”, Joe will perform “a show-stopping duet with Miss Piggy” on her TV talk show “Up Late with Miss Piggy,” He’ll then “join Scooter, Pepe and the gang for poker night.” Entertainment Weekly 11-16: Joe “will find himself involved in poker night with Scooter, Pepe, and the ‘cool’ gang.” It also noted Joe “is set to produce and star in the upcoming FRAGGLE ROCK movie.”  Joe first guested with the Muppets in 2013’s LADY GAGA & THE MUPPETS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. He and Lady Gaga dueted on a version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – with a twist. He also told Kermit the Frog that he remembered watching the Muppets on TV when he was young 
 
Please share with SG any media publicity, articles, etc. you find about Joe’s appearance.
 
**** 1991 DS TV SERIES ON DVD – REISSUE IN FULL-SCREEN FORMAT
 
Dan Curtis Productions: “This past summer, the complete 12 episodes of the 1991 DS primetime NBC series starring Ben Cross were reissued on DVD by TGG Direct, which has licensed the program from MGM.
 
“Unlike previous DVD releases of DS '91, this TGG version for the first time offers the episodes in their original broadcast ratio of 4:3, as they aired on NBC and, later, the Sci-Fi Channel, in reruns. Previous DVDs of the series were formatted only in a widescreen aspect ratio that cropped the top and bottom of the screen. DS creator Dan Curtis actually directed the pilot movie and initial episodes with an eye towards framing what he shot in wide screen and he therefore did not object to the widescreen DVDs. However, subsequent episode directors did not follow the same visual template, so it is nice for fans and purists to have the entire DS '91 series in the full screen format as it was broadcast.”
 
--- PLEASE NOTE: “This is a standard definition DVD release. The episodes are not available on BluRay high definition. Additionally, the TGG set utilizes the same transfers from the earlier DVD sets. That means the scenes shot ‘day for night’ in the pilot are not properly ‘color timed,’ so it appears Barnabas is lurking in partial daylight.
 
“Even more disappointing is the fact that the deleted scenes and other bonus material issued on VHS tape by MPI are not included and have yet to find their way to DVD. Hopefully at some point a Blu Ray set might offer those elusive extras.
 
The TGG set has a $49.98 list price and can be purchased at Amazon.com and other online and retail outlets.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Complete-Ben-Cross/dp/B001PXYH9G/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1447560301&sr=1-1&keywords=dark+shadows+1991
 
The NBC primetime revival DS originally was a midseason replacement series that ran 1-13/3-22-1991.

Marcy Robin

Here's the Wikipedia page for Joel Crothers, with fond remembrance on the 30th anniversary of his death:

Joel Crothers


With thanks to Kosmo