ShadowGram Update #391 - Halloween event; DS Cruise; Lara Parker book signing

**** SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL DS NEWS ONLINE UPDATE #391: REPORTING DARK SHADOWS (DS) 50TH ANNIVERSARY ENCORE:
“HALLOWEEN IN HOLLYWOOD” OCT. 29-30

**** CELEBRATING DS IN 2017: THE DS NEW ENGLAND CRUISE

**** LARA PARKER – BOOK-SIGNING EVENT – SAT., NOV. 12

**** MORE TV, PRINT, & ONLINE SALUTES TO DS’ 50 YEARS & PUBLICATION OF LARA’S 4th DS NOVEL

SHADOWGRAM OFFICIAL DARK SHADOWS NEWS ONLINE UPDATE # 391
November 7, 2016

Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), provides the following news in this ShadowGram Official Dark Shadows News Online Update "Bulletin."

**** SHADOWGRAM REPORTS: DARK SHADOWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY ENCORE EVENT: “HALLOWEEN IN HOLLYWOOD”

Sat.-Sun., Oct. 29-30 2016
Woman's Club of Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA

On Sat., Oct. 29, more than 350 fans and 10 DS guests convened at the intimate and historic Woman’s Club of Hollywood in the heart of Hollywood, CA. Fans came from throughout California and Delaware, Missouri, South Dakota, New York, Minnesota, Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Georgia, Nevada, and Maryland, plus Vancouver, BC, Canada (coming specifically just for this event).

A highlight was the premiere of Lara Parker's 4th DS novel "Dark Shadows: Heiress of Collinwood" before its official Nov. publication date. Together, everyone shared a full afternoon and evening of ongoing activities commemorating 5 decades of DS and its ongoing popularity among original, rediscovering, and newly-discovering fans of all ages.

Opening at noon, attendees were welcomed by SHADOWGRAM Newsletter editor Marcy Robin and Kathleen Resch, longtime editor of THE WORLD OF DARK SHADOWS fanzines: numerous DS fan novels and anthologies, and7 full-size illustrated DS Concordance Episode Guide books. Both of them – 2 of the co-founders of the DS Festivals (1983) – manned the registration table, which also offered special and popular DS merchandise for purchase: the retro-styled metal DS lunchbox, a variety of Big Finish Productions’ DS audio dramas on CD, and more. Kathy and Marcy also handled other responsibilities during the day.

Fans filled the large side room that was completely lined with tables where our DS guests greeted them, signed autographs, posed for photos, and offered pictures, books, and other items for sale. All day long, fans also settled in the airy auditorium to enjoy guest talks / presentations and to watch exclusive video screenings.

Guest onstage appearances highlighted the day. With regrets, Nancy Barrett, Mitchell Ryan, and Sy Tomashoff were unable to join us at the last minute.

First, John Karlen appeared after a half-hour video highlighted DS’ first year pre-Barnabas episodes. John shared stories about portraying “Willie Loomis” and other DS characters, plus acting experiences such as his Emmy Award-winning role on "Cagney & Lacey."

DS music composer Robert (Bob) Cobert, who celebrated his 92nd birthday earlier in the week, was a delightful speaker, candidly discussing his decades-long association with DS creator/executive producer Dan Curtis. He answered audience questions, chronicled his extensive career, and hummed some of his memorable DS music. He then sat down to chat with every fan who approached and to autograph the limited edition re-release of his original 1969 DS soundtrack album on commemorative purple vinyl, which was available at the event. Fans also had him sign their original 1969 albums, “Shadows of the Night” sheet music or vintage 45rpm records, and other pieces representing some of Bob’s many memorable musical creations across his career. A highlight – in addition to his lively interactions with individual fans – was his tendency to accent autographs by jotting in a variety of musical notes, which he then hummed and sang to the recipient fan, grinning all the way.

Actor James Hall, who portrayed “Willie Loomis” for only a week when the character was introduced, attended his first DS event. He was paired onstage with Kathryn Leigh Scott to talk about the early days of DS. Jerry Lacy, Chris Pennock, Lisa Richards, and Roger Davis also participated in interesting audience Q&A sessions. A special highlight was Jim Storm, who played his guitar and wonderfully entertained the audience with several country-western songs.

A 2-part memorabilia auction was held midday and in the evening. Proceeds benefited the Woman's Club and CurePSP, the latter in memory of Kathryn's late husband Geoff Miller. Numerous rare and unique items were won by the highest bidders. Notable pieces: Nancy Barrett's actual fangs from the 1970 movie "House of DS"; one of Kathryn's original DS scripts and a costume hairpiece; Bob Cobert's personal vintage clarinet; Josette Music Box reproductions; original DS production slides; DS episode 16mm kinescope films; and other rarities.

Lara Parker took the stage in honor of her highly-anticipated new DS novel “Heiress of Collinwood.” Unfortunately, due to lingering laryngitis issues, she did not read from the book as planned. Instead she answered questions and then spoke about the craft of writing. Together, she and the keenly-interested audience engaged in a fascinating and thoughtful shared discussion about what makes a story come alive on many levels: tone, mood, themes, characterizations, descriptions, settings, each reader’s personal interpretations, and more.

In the evening, a number of costumed fans came onstage to show their DS and Halloween creativity and enthusiasm, participating in the Fest’s traditional For-Fun Fans’ Costume & Presentation Gala. Each entry was unique, including a delightful “baby werewolf” named Sebastian. Wearing a bright Halloween costume “disguise,” he’s really a service dog to his “mom” (owner), who indicated he’s also “single and looking.”

During the day, a variety of special video presentations were shown on the auditorium big screen. One was the 1954 live television drama "The House," written by future DS writer Art Wallace. In 1966 he and Dan Curtis adapted the story as the template for DS' original storyline and characters. Also seen was a long-lost 1966 ABC-TV DS promotional spot with unique film footage and narration not seen on the series. We shared color newsreel footage of Jonathan Frid in costume as Barnabas at the White House for a 1969 underprivileged children's Halloween party. Also screened were long-unseen 1960s TV commercials with Joan Bennett and Joel Crothers, plus the unaired and uncompleted 2004 DS TV pilot. A special treat was a rough-cut reconstruction of deleted scenes from the 1971 MGM motion picture “Night of DS.” Using closed-captions because the soundtrack is missing, there were 2 sequences. One showed part of a séance to contact Angelique’s spirit. A lengthy segment followed Tracy (Kate Jackson) and Quentin (David Selby) as they search Collinwood’s basement and are terrorized and haunted by Angelique’s ghost.

Due to a delivery error, the preview "teaser trailer” for the DS documentary film could not be shown. ShadowGram will provide and update definite information on this exciting full-length feature project very soon.

That information and ongoing confirmed DS news will be announced in upcoming ShadowGram Official DS News Online Updates, posted FIRST directly to fans’ inboxes through the free ShadowGram Group List at Yahoo.com.

Please contact Marcy Robin at ShadowGram@aol.com or ShadowGram1@yahoo.com for an invitation and/or the easy directions for becoming a Group member.

At the Woman’s Club all Saturday, sandwiches, salads, soft drinks, sweets, and snacks were available for purchase. Attendees also received complimentary DS gift items: DVDs, photos, calendars, promotional materials, and much more.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, a number of fans journeyed to nearby Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills, a city-owned park that served as Collinwood and the Old House in both the 1991 DS primetime NBC-TV series and in the 2004 unsold WB series pilot. This elegant hilltop estate also is a familiar location for movies, TV shows, commercials, music videos, and other projects.

**** DS’ 50th anniversary year is drawing to a close. But there’s an exciting special opportunity to share during DS’ 51st year: The next official event currently set is Oct. 1-8, 2017: The DS New England Cruise.

Aboard the Royal Caribbean Line’s “Serenade of the Seas” ship, fans will travel to/from Boston along the New England coast to Maine and beyond, joining DS guests Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and others to be announced.

For early details, please visit the Hartford Holidays Travel website page devoted to this specific trip: www.vbdusa.com/darkshadowscruise2017 or call 800-828-4813.

**** LARA PARKER – SIGNING EVENT FOR HER NEW DS NOVEL NOV. 12

Fresh from the Hollywood event, LARA presents a book-signing for her 4th DS novel, “Heiress of Collinwood,” at the Dark Delicacies Bookstore in Burbank, CA, on Sat., Nov. 12, from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm.

The novel explores the mystery of Victoria Winters, an infant abandoned on the steps of a NYC foundling home in the mid-1900s. That was the only life she knew until, as a young woman, she is mysteriously hired as governess for an unknown family in Collinsport, Maine. There her life becomes a swirl of secrets, magic, danger, supernatural experiences, mysteries – and a love that carries her back in time to the 1790s. But her past and contemporary lives blur and merge until she returns to the 20th century to start a new life and career. Then she receives an odd letter from a Collinsport lawyer urging her to come immediately, for the family she once knew there is in danger…yet again.

The Dark Delicacies Bookstore is a long-recognized popular Los Angeles-area resource for books, posters, specialty items and in-person events related to the horror, fantasy, and science fiction genres.

Dark Delicacies Bookstore, 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA. (818) 556-6660.
Located on Magnolia Blvd. just off Hollywood Way.

Website - http://www.darkdel.com/store/c2/SIGNINGS_.html
Scroll down to see Lara’s event

**** SALUTING DS’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY:
TV, ONLINE, MAGAZINE, & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

ShadowGram Online Update #390 (10-27-16) announced broadcast, online, and print sources and publications acknowledging DS’ 50 years, Lara’s new novel, and the show’s history, legacy, and continuing popularity worldwide.

Here ShadowGram reports additional broadcast, online, and print coverage of this milestone for the daytime TV series that aired 6-27-1966 to 4-2-1971.

---- TV: DECADES CHANNEL SALUTES LARA PARKER & AIRS DS EPISODES MARATHON FOR HALLOWEEN

From Sat., 10-29 (12:00 noon) to Mon., 10-31 (6:00am), the channel aired a sequential-episode marathon block, starting after Barnabas’ introduction and ending with Dr. Woodard’s death.

It also featured an online factual list focused on Lara: http://www.decades.com/lists/7-spellbinding-things-you-didnt-know-about-lara-parker-from-dark-shadows

---- MeTV shared the same online list about Lara:
http://www.metv.com/lists/7-spellbinding-things-you-didnt-know-about-lara-parker-from-dark-shadows

* Please Note: MeTV has mentioned DS in the past but has not broadcast any episodes. Should this change, ShadowGram Online Updates will announce all definite details.

---- VANITY FAIR acknowledges DS’ 5 decades and publicizes the Hollywood event:
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/dark-shadows-celebrates-50-years

(SG Update #390 reported the Vanity fair article was coming. This is the actual piece)

---- Tolucan Times (Hollywood/Los Angeles-area newspaper: http://tolucantimes.info/inside-this-issue/dark-shadows-50th-anniversary-reunion-oct-29/

---- Now available in print: REMINISCE magazine October/November 2016 has a 3-page article, spotlighting the Hollywood event