News in Brief

• Vince O'Brien (Sheriff Patterson) died on June 19 at the age of 91. His long career as a character actor included roles in the movie Annie Hall, along with stints on television in The Edge of Night and Law and Order.
• Big Finish Productions have just released two new Dark Shadows audio dramas. The Night Whispers features Jonathan Frid's return as Barnabas, alongside John Karlen and Barbara Steele. London's Burning stars David Selby and Doctor Who actress Louise Jameson as Rosie Faye. Both titles are available on CD and download from the Big Finish website.
• Marley Shelton (2004 Victoria) has joined the cast for the upcoming movie Scream 4, which has just begun shooting in Michigan.
• The delayed hardback collections of Dark Shadows comic strips are finally due to debut in July, in time for the Dark Shadows Festival. Dark Shadows: The Complete Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2 are available a discount price from Amazon. Click on the hyperlinked titles to pre-order.

Dark Shadows Festival Schedule

The Dark Shadows Festival has released a tentative schedule for next month's event, which takes place from July 16-18 in Burbank, California. As previously reported, there is also a gala screening of House of Dark Shadows in Hollywood on Friday afternoon before the convention begins. For more information and to register to attend, visit the Festival website.

Friday July 16

6:00pm: Opening Ceremonies/Announcements, followed by a Dark Shadows episode with original commercials

6:30: Collinsport Players Skit I

7:00: Dark Shadows Recollections: Jerry Lacy and Marie Wallace

7:45: Dark Shadows Recollections: Kathleen Cody and Kathryn Leigh Scott

8:30: Dark Shadows Recollections: Lara Parker and John Karlen

9:15: Autographs/Dark Shadows rarities

10:15: Movie: Race With The Devil featuring Lara Parker

12:00: Movie: Seizure featuring Jonathan Frid

Saturday July 17

11:00am: Dark Shadows Fan Videos

11:30: Dark Shadows Video Vault

12:00: Remembering Grayson Hall

12:30: Guest: Set Designer Sy Tomashoff

1:00: Dark Shadows Memorabilia Charity Auction I

2:00: Dark Shadows Reborn - Part 1

2:30: Guest: Music Composer Robert Cobert

3:00: Guest Jonathan Frid Hosts The Game

4:00: Guest: David Selby

4:30: Dark Shadows Cast Reunion

5:15: Autographs/Dark Shadows Bloopers

6:00: Dark Shadows 1991 in an Hour

7:00: Dark Shadows In The 2000s

8:00: Dark Shadows Costume Gala

9:30: Collinsport Players Skit II

10:00: Movie: Night Of Dark Shadows

11:45: Movie: Late Night Horror Classic

Sunday July 18

11:00am: Dark Shadows Today Fan Discussion

11:30: House of Dan Curtis with Jeff Thompson

12:00: Dark Shadows Recollections: Roger Davis and Chris Pennock

12:45: Dark Shadows Video Vault

1:00: Dark Shadows Memorabilia Charity Auction II

2:00: Dark Shadows Reborn Part 2

2:30: Guest: Jim Storm

3:00: Guest: Kathleen Cody

3:30: Dramatic Shadows with David Selby and Lisa Richards

4:00: Jonathan Frid In Performance

5:00: Room Closes/Autographs

7:00: Dark Shadows Banquet Dinner with the Stars (by advance reservation only)

News Catch-up

• Big Finish are holding a Summer Sale, offering selected Dark Shadows audio dramas at discounted prices. The offer runs until June 30 and a price list can be viewed here.
• The latest issue of Big Finish's Vortex magazine features a special behind the scenes feature on Jonathan Frid's (Barnabas) return to Dark Shadows on audio. Download it for free by clicking here.
• David Selby (Quentin) is working on a new book about his time on Dark Shadows. My Shadowed Past will hopefully debut later this year. David is also taking part in FestivALL, a celebration of the arts held in Charleston, WV; He will be reading for In Their Own Words on June 26, followed a staged reading of his play Appalachia Tragedy. For more information, visit his official website.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) has overhauled her official website with a new look and previously unseen photographs. Pay a visit by clicking here.
• Finally, MPI Home Video have released two double-bill DVDs of Dan Curtis' 1970s TV movies. Shadow of Fear & Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest and Come Die With Me & The Invasion of Carol Enders originally aired as late-night thrillers on ABC. Look out for an appearance by John Karlen (Willie) in Hillcrest. To order either title from Amazon.com, click on the hyperlinked titles.

House of Dark Shadows Screening

Hollywood's Vista Theatre are now accepting bookings for their 40th Anniversary screening of House of Dark Shadows, which takes place on July 16 ahead of the Dark Shadows Festival in Burbank.

The event begins at 12.30pm when Jonathan Frid (Barnabas) will be putting his handprints in cement for posterity, followed by a full screening of the House of Dark Shadows movie from an original 35mm print.

Tickets cost $10.00 each and can be purchased by calling the box office on 323-660-6639.

A Noted Quote

Site reader Keith Dunmire emailed in with a great keepsake, a classic Barnabas quote written by Jonathan Frid himself. Says Keith: "There was this special auction where I won Jonathan's notebook for his first Dark Shadows convention in 1984. There were dozens of handwritten notes."  The words themselves come from the pivotal scene where Barnabas disposes of Dr. Woodard: "Loathsome I am and evil. You can mock me for that, but leave my pain alone."

Fantastic Plastic

Some of Dark Shadows' most popular characters are due for the action figure treatment this summer, with the release of a new series of collectibles from Spectre Toys. Rick Phares is the driving force behind the range, and exclusively reveals what's in store...

Hi Rick, were you always a fan of Dark Shadows?

I am a huge Dark Shadows fan! I grew up watching the show and it had an impact on me at an early age. I think that's why I've had this life-long interest in horror and fantasy. I remember rushing home from school every day and sitting in front of the TV set, totally enthralled. It was really cutting edge – vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts... all on daytime television.

How did Spectre Toys come about?

I've worked in the toy and collectibles industry for many years, and few years ago I had a company, Majestic Studios, through which I released a few item, including three 1/6 scale Dark Shadows figures, which were very well received. The success of that line was very encouraging, but, due to my other consulting business, I found myself being spread very thin between two companies. I made the decision to focus on consulting, rather than try to release products through Majestic that I couldn't devote the right amount of time to. However, I never quite got rid of that desire to release my own products. Certain events over the past year have now enabled me to fulfill that desire and release products once again. I can now focus on Spectre Toys and devote the time needed to do it the way I always wanted to.

For the uninitiated, what are Mego-style of figures?

Mego was a very popular brand of 8-inch articulated figures with real cloth clothing released in the 1970s. It was known as being the first real action figure line, with numerous movie and TV characters issued as Mego figures. I'd always thought that Dark Shadows would have been a perfect line of figures, but sadly that never happened. In the past few years, EMCE toys has made that style of figure popular again, using the registered Mego-style body. Due to my consulting business, I had to opportunity to meet up with EMCE Toys and one thing led to another.

What's involved in getting a figure from concept to the finished product?

It's a lengthy and labour-intensive process. First is choosing the character, sculpting, prototyping the clothing with fabrics and getting licensor approvals. Then tooling and mould making, followed by actual production and further approvals. There's also packaging artwork and sales and marketing, and then the finished toys are finally shipped from China.

What are the plans for Dark Shadows figures beyond this initial wave?

We plan on releasing numerous figures in the coming years, including all of the most popular characters and some that may surprise even the diehard fans. We'll have Series 2 out later this year, around October or November, and will be at the San Diego Comic-Con this year with prototypes for upcoming figures. On display will be Quentin Collins, Josette DuPres, Dr. Julia Hoffman, Willie Loomis, and Adam!

That's quite a line-up. How are the characters chosen?

We wanted to start with popular characters to launch the line, then mix those with some others that may not be as high profile, but do have a following. We have a poll on our website, where fans can vote on what figures they would like to see released.

Did you have any personal faves you wanted to include?

I'd have to say Barnabas Collins, but the Chris Jennings werewolf is a very close second. I'm extremely pleased with how that figure's turned out. It really exceeded all our expectations and I'm confident fans and collectors alike will be very happy with it.

Chris is planned as a convention exclusive...

I'd like to take this opportunity to clarify some information on this figure. The Chris Jennings werewolf is a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive and we will be making 500 pieces available at the show. However, afterwards, we will have a limited number for sale on our site for fans and collectors that can't make it to San Diego. We want to make our figures collectible, but not impossible to get.

The Barnabas Collins, Angelique Bouchard and Werewolf figures are now available from Amazon. To order, click on the hyperlinked names.

London's Burning

Big Finish Productions have released the cover artwork and advance synopsis for June's Dark Shadows Dramatic Reading CD, London's Burning. The story features David Selby as Quentin and Doctor Who star Louise Jameson as Rosie Faye and is written by Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures script writer Joseph Lidster. Here's the teaser synopsis:

"I’m gonna dance for you, gonna dance your cares away…”

1941: As bombs fall on the city of London, Quentin Collins is reunited with his old friend, Rose. Trapped in an Underground station, she claims to have no memory of him. So he tells her how they met… 1906: Music hall star Rosie Fay is the talk of the town. But what connects her to the cases of spontaneous human combustion plaguing London’s ladies of the night? And why is Quentin so interested in the song she sings?

To pre-order London's Burning, click here.

Jonathan Frid Returns as Barnabas

Big Finish Productions have announced that Jonathan Frid will return to the role of Barnabas in The Night Whispers, a new Dark Shadows audio drama. Jonathan recorded his lines last week in Toronto, and the CD will be available in June.

The story also stars John Karlen as Willie Loomis and Barbara Steele (1991 Julia Hoffman) making her audio drama debut as Celeste. Big Finish have posted a teaser trailer for the release on their website, which can be heard here.

Audio Update

Big Finish Productions have been hard at word, as their range of Dark Shadows audio dramas gears up for a bumper crop of releases over the next few months. Out this week is Blood Dance, starring David Selby (Quentin) and Lisa Richards (Sabrina Stuart), which is now available on CD from the Big Finish website.

David also recently recorded London's Burning, which is out in June. The story features Quentin investigating cases of spontaneous human combustion in 1906, accompanied by former Doctor Who actress Louise Jameson as Rosie Faye. Louise is pictured above with the story's writer Joseph Lidster, and regular series sound designer and composer Nigel Fairs.

To keep up with the latest audio news, visit the Dark Shadows Audio Dramas Facebook Group. Big Finish have also posted a special Dark Shadows podcast, featuring writer Joseph Lidster and series producer Stuart Manning discussing the range, with story excerpts and teasers for future release. To hear it, click here.

Imax Treatment for Dark Shadows Movie

As pre-production on the Dark Shadows feature film continues, Warner Bros have announced that the film will be released in conjunction with Imax. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Imax will showcase up to 20 Warner movies in the next three years, including Dark Shadows.

Imax is a high definition format, projected on much larger screens than conventional cinema, and can accommodate 3D movies. In recent years, Warners have released 10 3D titles, though it's unconfirmed that Dark Shadows will be a candidate for 3D treatment.

New Action Figures

Spectre Toys have announced that they are to produce a new range of limited edition Dark Shadows action figures. Each 8-inch scale figure will feature a detailed likeness, with authentic clothing, styled like the famed Mego action figures of the 1970s.

July sees the release of Barnabas Collins, in present day clothing with walking cane, and a 1795 Angelique figure, each limited to 3,000 pieces, available from July. There will also be a Werewolf Chris Jennings figure issued as an exclusive for July's San Diego Comic Con, which is limited to just 500.

The Barnabas and Angelique figures are available to pre-order now from Spectre's website. The company is also running a poll asking which Dark Shadows characters fans would like to be produced as figures in the future.

Actor Appearances

• Julianna McCarthy (1991 Mrs Johnson) is to return to The Young as the Restless as a regular cast member. Julia has played matriarch Liz Foster intermittently for over 20 years and should be on screens later this year.
• Rebecca Staab (1991 Daphne) can be seen this weekend at the Hollywood Show, taking place in Burbank, California. For more information, click here. On June 18-20, she's appearing at the Florida Supercon in Miami. For full details, visit the event website.
• Roy Thinnes (1991 Roger) is making a personal appearance in Maryland at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, which runs from September 23-25. Roy will be signing autographs and discussing his work on The Invaders. Visit the website for more information.

A Visit to the Studio

As we recently reported, the old Dark Shadows studio on Manhattan's West 53rd Street has become the home of The Wendy Williams Show. Gene and David, readers of this site, paid a visit, and shared these photos.

"We walked by on a Friday when Wendy was not taping, but we were invited inside," says Gene. "We were asked not to photograph beyond the lobby; we did not have a full studio tour. I travel into Manhattan and walk the streets around this address frequently. I never got around to taking photos until last week. I just felt the urge. Many of the surrounding buildings are being torn down and replaced by high rise condos. I hope the studio remains forever!"

Own a Bobblehead!

Amazon have recently begun offering MPI's series of officially-licensed Dark Shadows bobbleheads, caricatured sculptures of classic characters from the show. Each one is fully-painted and cast in resin. The set of five is made up of Barnabas, Angelique, Quentin, Josette and the Werewolf. To order, click on the hyperlinks.

Dark Shadows Festival Update

The Dark Shadows Festival has updated its official site with membership details for its 2010 convention. The weekend-long celebration takes place on July 16-18 at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel, located in Burbank, California. Newly confirmed guests include Michael Brockman (Unit Manager), Sy Tomashoff (Scenic Designer) and Bob Cobert (Music Composer).

The Festival is also hosting a separate event on Friday July 16, with Jonathan Frid (Barnabas) as guest of honour. The Vista Theater in Hollywood will play host to a special matinee screening of House of Dark Shadows on the big screen, which will be followed by Jonathan putting his handprints in cement. For more information, visit the Festival website.