Dark Shadows Cruise For 2015

The Dark Shadows Festival is to hold a Caribbean Cruise from January 10-15 2015, setting sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Martinique and the Virgin Islands on the Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas ocean liner. 

Dark Shadows viewers will know Martinique as the beautiful island where Barnabas Collins first met both his beloved Josette duPres and the evil witch Angelique. Joining the trip will be Josette and Angelique themselves, actresses Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker, along with co-stars Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask), Kathleen Cody (Hallie Stokes) and Marie Wallace (Eve).

Activities will include special Dark Shadows screenings and a themed costume party with the stars, question-and-answer sessions, autographs, a special Dark Shadows Origins in Martinique presentation, performances by the stars and a bus tour of Martinique.

Rates are per person based on double occupancy and include all meals, all shipboard entertainment, all port charges and the Dark Shadows registration fee. Fans who book with a refundable deposit by March 31 2014 will be able to attend a private cast party on the ship. For further details and to make reservations, call Hartford Holidays Travel on 1-800-828-4818, or visit their website by clicking here.

Doctor Mabuse and Dracula Screening

On Wednesday, April 30, the world premiere of Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar will be held at the historic Vista Theatre in Hollywood as part of a double feature celebrating the 40th anniversary of Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis' Dracula in a newly-restored print. Guests from both films will be in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans.

Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar is a new independent film starring Dark Shadows actors, following on from last year's Doctor Mabuse. Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) reprises his role as the mysterious title character, alongside Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) as supernatural sisters and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) as a new nemesis.

Dan Curtis' Dracula stars Oscar-winning actor Jack Palance as the legendary vampire in a critically acclaimed adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel which originally aired on CBS-TV in 1974 and was released theatrically outside America. Shot on location in Yugoslavia and England, the film includes an atmospheric music score by composer Dark Shadows composer Robert Cobert, who turns 90 this year. Cobert will attend the April 30 event and sign copies of the new CD of his Dracula soundtrack music, along with the Blu-Ray release of the film.

Doors open at 6.15pm, with the actors signing in the lobby, where a selection of merchandise will be available. A charity auction of special Dark Shadows memorabilia will be held at 7.30pm, before Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar is screened at 8.00pm. Afterwards director/writer Ansel Faraj and cast will take part in a question-and-answer session, before Dracula is screened at 10.00pm.

The Vista Theatre is located on 4473 Sunset Drive, Los Angeles, California 90027; Telephone: (323) 660-6639. Tickets for the evening are only $15.00 per person and can be purchased via PayPal from ShadowGram@aol.com or by sending checks payable to: ShadowGram, PO Box 1766, Temple City, CA 91780.

To pre-order Dracula on Blu-Ray at a discount price, click here. To pre-order the Dracula soundtrack, click here.

News In Brief

• Round 2 Models have re-released the original 1960s Dark Shadows model kits in a special collector's double pack, which includes brand new bonus heads featuring new improved sculpts of Jonathan Frid and the werewolf. To order the kits online at a discount price, click here.
• Nostalgia convention Monster-Mania is holding a Dark Shadows reunion as part of their March 7-9 event, which takes place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In attendance will be Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) and Marie Wallace (Eve). For more information, click here.
• The Dark Shadows Festival is now accepting registrations for its previously-announced June event in Tarrytown, New York. Joining the guest list are Sharon Smyth-Lentz (Sarah Collins) and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes). For more information, including a printable registration form, click here.
• The new Colin Farrell film Winter's Tale features scenes shots at Lyndhurst, which appeared as Collinwood in both original Dark Shadows movies. It can be seen in cinemas now.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott has just filmed a new guest spot for ABC sitcom The Goldbergs. Kathryn first appeared on the show last November, with her new episode set for broadcast soon.
• Dynamite are to release a second volume of their Dark Shadows comics in a collected format. The 224-page trade paperback is out in June and can be pre-ordered by clicking here.
• And don't forget, you can also follow the Dark Shadows News Page on Facebook and Twitter for daily Dark Shadows updates, on-this-day trivia and other exclusives. 

Picture of the Week: Taping Dr. Jekyll

This week, it's a rare colour shot of Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis and director Charles Jarrott on the set of Curtis' 1967 adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde. After Dark Shadows was commissioned in 1966, the show's producer wasted no time in getting more gothic-themed projects off the ground, and this lavish Canadian co-production was the result.

When the two-part TV special was first announced in October 1966, The Pittsburgh Press reported on plans to tape in London from a script by Twilight Zone supremo Rod Serling, and Jason Robards playing the title roles. By the time Dr. Jekyll finally stepped in front of the cameras in Spring 1967, Serling had moved on and taping had relocated to Canada via New York, with Jack Palance taking the lead role.

The finished production slouched in ABC's ratings but received critical acclaim, netting four Emmy nominations, including one for Dick Smith's special make-up. Dan Curtis used Smith again to create Jonathan Frid's memorable old-age make-up for Dark Shadows. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is available on DVD and can be purchased by clicking here. 

If you would like to submit an image for Picture of the Week, email webmaster@collinwood.net.