Everyone In Collinsport's Favorite Word Slideshow

Yay, it's a Brian Sturdivant close-up! One of the very irregular players who is almost never discussed or acknowledged.

I've wondered if the Claude North character was one of the victims of Dan Curtis' bouts of sudden story switching midway through an established plotline. He's given such a huge buildup and then he's gone in 3 or 4 episodes. And so little is actually done with the character. Perhaps there was an issue with the actor. His career did not last very long... somewhere or other recently, I read that he was a personal friend of Jonathan Frid's.

G.

A note from Danny Horn from his blog for episode 1051/1052:

Claude North is played by Brian Sturdivant, who previously appeared on the show in January as the Bellboy in Mr. Best’s afterlife waiting room. In our universe, he’s only on Dark Shadows for three episodes, and then I’m not sure what happens to him. IMDb says that in 1971, he had a small part in a Roger Corman WWI pic called Von Richthofen and Brown, and a part in a TV-movie about a social worker called The Coming Asunder of Jimmy Bright. IBDb says that in 1972, he appeared on Broadway for three months in a background role in Vivat! Viva Regina! And then I don’t know what happened to him after that. I really do actually think that he’s handsome and potentially charismatic, and I wish they’d kept him around.

G.

He did appear in a 1969 production of A Patriot For Me in 1969. Also in the cast were Christopher Pennock and his then wife Marilyn Joseph. No credits of any kind for Sturdivant after 1972.

it's a Brian Sturdivant close-up!

It's a close-up, alright - an extreme close-up. But those became very popular during the show's latter period. I've seen it said that director Henry Kaplan instituted the practice. But while getting captures for this slideshow, I've also noticed Lela Swift doing the same thing (Louis Edmonds' Ep #1111 close-up back on the 11th is a perfect example of that). But be all that as it may, we're discussing Brian Sturdivant and here's his close-up -

- for anyone who might have missed it yesterday.

somewhere or other recently, I read that he was a personal friend of Jonathan Frid's.

That's very interesting - I'd never heard it before.

I had heard that as well, MB. I don't remember where though.

On the comments thread on one of Danny Horn's blog entries about the Claude North episodes, some fans report more gossip about Frid's relationship with Brian S. I did think Brian had a very intriguing presence on camera, so it's a shame he did not pursue acting, though it is always possible he continued to act on stage. Lots of actors did that, such as Marilyn Joseph, Chris Pennock's wife at the period when the show was in production. Marilyn appeared briefly as Collinsport strumpet Lorna Bell, who I always want to call Lorna Doone whenever the topic of her character comes up.

Talking of Pennock, loved yesterday's shot of Sebastian Shaw. Trippy, man!

cheers, Gothick

   I don't know what's written on that blog (and I'm too lazy to look, even at this early hour  ), but I would remind that just because something, particularly something of a gossipy nature, is posted online doesn't mean it's 100% truthful. Well, unless perhaps a specific/reliable source is cited and it's not just "I once read" or "a fan once said". While there is certainly the possibility that it's true, more often than not gossip that starts off like that should be taken with a grain of salt - especially if it's ever a case that there isn't necessarily anyone around anymore who can verify it. It can probably be fun to wonder if it's true - but it probably shouldn't be treated as fact. (If that were the case, for example, Joel Crothers would be porn star Wade Nichols, which was not only rumored online back in the '90s but was even actually once reported erroneously in a national entertainment magazine, instead of his Edge of Night and similarly mustachioed co-star Dennis Parker.)

As for Pennock's Sebastian, yet another extreme close-up thanks to -

- Henry Kaplan...

I just realized that yesterday I completely overlooked posting about yesterday's entry in the slideshow. Oops! But if you don't want to know the circumstances surrounding that entry in this slideshow, then don't read any further...






[spoiler]Yesterday's quote:
Ep #1081 (1970) - Sebastian - 'I'm not your husband, Mrs. Hawkes. You MUST have loved him very much to think that I was.'

From "#1080/1081: Robservations 08/26/03: Return of Roxanne!"

Carolyn, seated on the drawing room sofa, reads ASTROLOGY by Louis MacNeice. She answers the door to Sebastian Shaw, who wants to talk to her about "that look in your eyes."  It's the resemblance to my dead husband, explains Carolyn, I'm sorry--did you bring my horoscope? He nods.  I so hoped you would, says Carolyn--I've been reading the book you gave my mother--it's fascinating, really. Isn't that a dilettante's word? he asks sarcastically--you don't believe in astrology at all, do you?  I never have, admits Carolyn. You're honest, says Shaw, that will make this easier--I started your horoscope, Mrs. Hawkes, but I had difficulty finishing it--you didn't come to me for your horoscope--it was all an excuse--I KNOW why you came, because of all the questions you asked--I'm not your husband, Mrs. Hawkes--you must have loved him very much to think that I was. The dead do return, states Carolyn, I do believe that. I'm not proof of that, he says, and you must accept that.  She looks sad.

[/spoiler]

I have no idea how, even after posting the screen cap of Sebastian, I didn't immediately realize I hadn't posted this.    Yesterday I can understand having overlooked it because I was juggling several different things all day - but not today...

And if you don't want to know the circumstances surrounding today's entry in this slideshow, then don't read any further...






[spoiler]Today's quote:
Ep #1113 (1840) - Ben - 'You MUST not. Mr. Barnabas, you MUST talk to that woman, that Julia-- she's from the future, from 1970.'

From "#1113/1114: Robservations 09/19/03: Barnabas to the Rescue!"

Old House - Josette's room, where the furniture has been covered.  We hear Josette's music box theme playing.  Barnabas enters the room and gazes up at her portrait--how I've longed to see your face again, he says--I will never forget, but now I'm free again, I must begin a new life--forgive me--I had to say goodbye.  He lifts the portrait off the mantle and puts it, face down, against the fireplace.  He turns, startled to find Ben there. 

Barnabas and Ben stare at each other.  You know me well, says Barnabas.  Well enough to know you'd come here, says Ben.  For the last time, says Barnabas.  What does that mean? asks Ben.  Josette can never be mine, says Barn, I will make an existence without her.  You hated your life before! Ben reminds him.  I will no longer condemn myself to that coffin, insists Barnabas.  You've got to, says Ben.  You've served me well, says Barnabas gently, but you cannot understand the eternal darkness of that tomb--I will not involve you this time as I did before--I will take whatever chances I must--alone.  You must not, says Ben, you must talk to that Julia, she's from the future, from 1970.  What an incredible story, says Barnabas, I do not have your naivete.  She can help you, says Ben.  No one can help me, says Barnabas.

[/spoiler]

If you don't want to know the circumstances surrounding today's entry in this slideshow, then don't read any further...






[spoiler]Today's quote:
Ep #52 (1966) - Maggie - 'Oh Pop, this MUST be the purest atmosphere in the country. Why do you think all those summer people come up here every year?'

From "#0051/0052: Robservations 06/22/01: Dead Man Body Surfing"

Evans cottage - Did you hear me?--Pop? says Maggie, shaking her father by the arm. He's lying on the sofa and he asks what it is. It's almost one in the morning, she says. I didn't know it was that late, says Sam. Why don't you go to bed? she asks him. For what? he asks--to toss and turn?--it's no use, I've got too much on my mind. What's bugging you? she asks, sitting on the sofa beside him--do you want to talk to me about it? I don't want to worry you, he says, with my petty little problems. It would be worse if you didn't, says Maggie. All right, if you're so inquisitive, he says--I'm worried about Bill Malloy. He's a big fella, he can take care of himself, points out Maggie. Normally, agrees Sam, I'd say yes, but these aren't normal times--there are forces loose in Collinsport that frighten me to think of--evil forces--you can smell it in the very atmosphere. Maggie laughs--this must be the purest atmosphere in the country, she says--why do you think all those summer people come up here every year?--to get away from the air pollution, that's why. This pollution lies in the souls of men, not the air, says Sam. I've never seen you so gloomy, she says. I've never had as much to be gloomy about before, he says.

[/spoiler]

Talk about summer tourists descending on Collinsport is frequently mentioned in the background info on the show but I don't recall it being mentioned that often on the show. Today's quote may even be the only instance where it is. And what's even more interesting is that we never really see evidence of those tourists - well, unless we're supposed to presume that some of the dancers at the Blue Whale are tourists. Who knows? But maybe Sam was more right than he realized with regard to evil forces being loose in Collinsport. Maybe it was a case that before too long unsuspecting tourists fell prey to supernatural happenings around Collinsport that we never saw anything about. Start those fan fiction stories now!   

If you don't want to know the circumstances surrounding today's entry in this slideshow, then don't read any further...






[spoiler]Today's quote:
Ep #197 (1967) - Roger - 'Well, it MUST be very personal and very important to have such a special padlock on it.'

From "#0196/0197: Robervations 10/09/01: Blackmailed by a Blackguard"

Liz holds a key in her hand, on a chain, and she hears a door slam and begins putting roses in a vase. Roger bursts in and tells her he's been searching the house from turrets to foundations, looking for paintings--has she seen them? What paintings, she asks. About a dozen, he says, some in frames, some not. Family portraits? She asked, most of them are hanging. No, says Roger, he picked them up about 10 years ago and not important, but he needs to have them--has she seen them? Liz doesn't remember them. I need them for personal reasons, says Roger, and he's searched everywhere except the locked room in the basement. (uh oh!) They wouldn't be there, she says, but Roger wants to check anyway--does she have the key? She doesn't know where it is. What do you mean? he asks. Angrily, she says, "I'm telling you, I don't know!" Take it easy, he says, staring at her strangely. The paintings aren't in there, she says, she knows. Roger wants to see for himself. You can't, insists Liz. Furious, Roger wants to know why she keeps telling him that--what's in that room? Some personal belongings, says Liz, and she doesn't want anyone poking around! It must be very personal and important, since it had a special padlock on it

[/spoiler]

I just love today's quote - another classic Liz/Roger scene! Though the most amusing exchange in this ep might be after Roger asks Jason why he was so closely examining the lock on the basement door and Jason claims it was because he used to collect old padlocks, Roger replies that Jason looked like he wanted to add the padlock to his collection, but then Jason claims that he's switched to collecting stamps, though he still can't resist looking at an old padlock. The way Dennis Patrick and Louis Edmonds play it is priceless! 

I'm getting itchy to watch the pre Barns!

Wow MB, I do not remember that scene between Lou and Dennis at all. Need to get these out again! I think technically this comes in the early weeks of Barnabas. I still remember when I finally got to see these in early syndication back in '76 not knowing what was going on with the Jason storyline... I somehow didn't have my old issues of 16 magazine conveying the "Whole True Story of Dark Shadows" (there were considerable lacunae and errors in there, as I only learned years later) at hand to check. Fans today don't realize just how little info was available back then, particularly about almost anything prior to June of '67.

Great shot of Liz and Roger!

G.

I'm getting itchy to watch the pre Barns!

Whenever I see great Liz/Roger scenes like the ones that have recently been highlighted in this slideshow, I also get the impulse to want to see more. One of my other favorite pieces of Roger dialogue from around this same time is after he's learned Willie is staying at Collinwood, he sarcastically remarks that perhaps they should put in a revolving door in case Jason has other guests he wants to stay at Collinwood! Too funny!! 

Wow MB, I do not remember that scene between Lou and Dennis at all.

It's funny how things about the show will strike/stay with fans differently. That scene has been one of my favorites since after I saw it for the first time in August of 1995 (wow - almost 25 years ago) on Sci-Fi. But then I love Dennis Patrick as Jason, and I particularly love how he interacts with Louis Edmonds' Roger. I know some people dislike the Blackmailing Liz storyline, but I love it. As I've said before, it's one of my absolute favorite storylines on the show.

Great shot of Liz and Roger!

Yes! Once again, I love how Roger is looking at Liz: