Out of Print Books on Kindle

Amazon have begun offering a selection of out-of-print Dark Shadows reference books as digital editions, available for viewing on their Kindle handheld reader. The titles available are The Dark Shadows Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection, the Dark Shadows Almanac: Millennium Edition and Dark Shadows Memories: 35th Anniversary. To order, click on the hyperlinked titles.

New DVD Releases for September

TVShowsonDVD reports that MPI Home Video are to release two new Dark Shadows compilation DVDs, showcasing the classic scenes from two of the show's most popular characters, Barnabas and Quentin. The Curse of the Vampire features material from the introduction of Barnabas and 1795, while The Haunting of Collinwood condenses the ghost of Quentin's possession of David Collins. Both releases are due out on September 15. Here's some advance information and cover graphics:

The Curse of the Vampire

Cursed by the scorned witch Angelique, Barnabas Collins returns to Collinwood as a creature of the night. The character of Barnabas Collins, a sympathetic vampire, turned the Dark Shadows series into a must-see event for over 20 million viewers. In this special release, the story of how Barnabas was cursed as one of the living dead is detailed in a selection of scenes from the most popular episodes. pecial features include a new interview with Jonathan Frid (Barnabas).

Pre-order The Curse of the Vampire at a discount price from Amazon.com

The Haunting of Collinwood

High atop Widows' Hill, off the stormy Maine coast, sits the foreboding Collinwood, home for centuries of the wealthy Collins family. An exorcist is summoned after the children a Collinwood are possessed. In this special release, the story of how the ghost of Quentin Collins haunted the eerie estate of Collinwood is detailed in a selection of scenes from the most popular episodes. Special features include a new interview with David Selby (Quentin).

Pre-order The Haunting of Collinwood at a discount price from Amazon.com

Dark Shadows Movie Delayed Until 2010

Collider.com reports that filming on the upcoming Dark Shadows feature film, starring Johnny Depp, has been delayed until 2010. As previously announced, Depp will star as Barnabas Collins, and Tim Burton, Depp's long-time collaborator, is pencilled in to direct. Speaking at a press conference for his new movie Public Enemies, Depp gave an update on the project:

"Dark Shadows is happening. Tim is working on Alice in Wonderland which is obviously quite a large piece of work there. So when Tim is done with Alice and we get the script, which is very, very close, in order we’ll probably attack it next year. It’s exciting... very exciting. It’s like a lifelong dream for me. I loved the show when I was a kid. I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins. I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was five or six. I’m very excited to do it.”

Audio Dramas Offer

Amazon are offering a great deal on the latest batch of Dark Shadows audio drama reissues. For a limited time, The Skin Walkers and The Path of Fate, starring Lara Parker and David Selby, plus The Wicked and the Dead, starring Jerry Lacy and John Karlen, are all available at a 32% discount from their retail price. Each CD contains an original hour-long story, with sound effects and music. To order, click on the linked titles.

David Selby in Mad Men

David Selby's (Quentin) official website reports that he's just filmed an appearance for AMC's acclaimed 1960s drama Mad Men. The unplaced episode, titled The Greatest Generation, sees David guest starring as Horace Cook, Sr. No airdate is set yet, but the new season begins airing from August 16.

Echoes of Insanity

Big Finish productions have announced the final title in their current series of Dark Shadows dramatic readings, which is due out in July. Lara Parker and John Karlen star in Echoes of Insanity, which explores the shady past of Willie Loomis.

Framed by Barnabas to protect his secret, Willie lies injured in the Windcliff Institute, haunted by the memories of his ordeal. His only hope is the mysterious golden angel who appears in his dreams, but does she have her own agenda?

The script is by D. Lynn Smith, a new contributor to the range, whose screenwriting credits include episodes of Murder, She Wrote, Touched by an Angel and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. "Watching the show as a child, Angelique and Willie always particularly intrigued me," she explains.

"Angelique was a witch, she was also a strong, intelligent woman who knew what she wanted and went after it – a great role model at a time when female role models were hard to come by. Willie was wild and handsome and brash. Writing this story gave me an opportunity to explore Willie's adventures before Collinsport, exploring a past to which the original series only alluded."

Echoes of Insanity can be purchased on CD by clicking here.