DARK SHADOWS: Gothic Horror soap opera 1966-1971

[Memphremagog]

Starting these as a thread covering all things Dark Shadows, from the actors and episodes to the 1990 revival. the MGM films HOUSE and NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS to the merchandising and possible future of the show..Please feel free to list any memories of the show or favorite storylines/characters from its' fantastic run. Barnabas Collins was the original vampire that was more than just a monster and Jonathan Frid did a wonderful job in making him a television icon.

The cast was comprised of actors from many different theatrical backgrounds and this led to great performances from the likes of Joan Bennett, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, David Selby, Lara Parker, Katheryn Leigh-Scott, Alexandra Moltke, Roger Davis, Grayson Hall, Louis Edmonds and even future tv star Kate Jackson, to name several.

In five years we got to see a vampire curse, a Phoenix incarnate, a werewolf, a version of Mr Hyde, the Leviathans(ode to HP Lovecraft's Old Ones) ghosts, witches & warlocks, a man made monster and his mate, several vampires besides Barnabas, a cursed severed hand, a cursed severed head(!). storylines set in the present but also in the years 1795, 1840 and 1897 as well as a brief trip to far year(back  then) 1995! We saw parallel worlds where things turned out differently for the characters, sorcery galore, witch trials. people buried alive, living paintings, seances possession by the dead, evil children and more..

Starting out as a vision by Dan Curtis as a gothic soap, the show evolved into a iconic show and broadcast during the daytime hours to boot, Curtis would also bring his style for macabre tv to the tv films, THE NIGHT STALKER, THE NIGHT STRANGLER, TRILOGY OF TERROR and several other forays into classic horror over the years.

So please join me in celebrating all things DARK SHADOWS..

[Memphremagog]

Cast photos from the black & white era as well as the color: