Good evening, Fledglings. For those of you who haven't heard this terribly sad news, I ask all of you to join me in saying a quiet prayer honoring the memory of Mr. Jonathan Frid. Jonathan, a Canadian Native, a multi-talented Shakesperian Actor, who appeared on the the big screen with Hollywood Superstars, Kathryn Hepburn, and Paul Newman, is best know for his role as the lovable, and melancholy vampire, Barnabas Collins. Jonathan, age 87, passed away peacefully in his sleep, this past Friday, April 13th, at his home in Canada. He had recently filmed a cameo performance for "Dark Shadows 2012", a Tim Burton, with Johnny Depp in the Jonathan's former role. He was also scheduled to appear in this weekend's "Dark Shadows" Festival in Terrytown, NY. I, myself, was devastated by the news of Jonathan's unexpected passing. Anyone of you who is familiar with, my fascination with vampires, vampire history, legend, and lore, knows that I have been, and will always be a devoted fan of Barnabas Collins, and the "Dark Shadows" TV series. I grew up watching the series, and had been a fan of the dark, and Gothic series, with it's eerie atmosphere, brooding characters, and remote, New England setting. I was there, in front of the TV for the very first episode on June 27, 1966. I was 15 years old, and was immediately captivated. Of course, in the beginning, Dark Shadows was yet another day time soap opera. It had yet to debut the first of it's list of unearthly, spectral characters. At the beginning, we got a daily glimpse of the guarded, reclusive lives of the Collins Family. Protected by the thick, stone walls of the family mansion, known as Collinwood, built upon an expansive, rambling stretch of land, situated on a lofty, hilltop, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and the rural, fishing village, of Collsport, Maine. The small, isolated town was founded by the Collins family, and that same very wealthy family, continued to own and control, not only the majority of the village's fishing boats, but it's primary industry, a large, and thriving Sea Food Cannery. I was very curious to discover the secret that kept the family Matriach, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard a prisoner of the majestic estate for 18 years, what hidden truth was her younger brother, Roger Collins hiding, and how was he linked to thee dark, and angry man (Burke Devlin), who had arrived on the same train that brought the series main character, Victoria Winters? Why was Roger's son, David, not able to attend school with children his own age, and what were the problems that kept Carolyn Stoddard, Elizabeth Stoddard's only child, from marrying her handsome boyfriend, Joe Haskell? All of this was probably standard soap opera story material, but, written with the eerie, Gothic tone that was the specialty of Dark Shadows' creative staff, and you had a story, and characters that just, plain gave you the creeps. Add to this mix, a spoiled, ill tempered, homicidal 9 year old brat, named David, who is not only ignored by his father, Roger, but despised by him at the same time, because he mistakenly believed the boy was not his own offspring, but was the result of his wife's affair with Burke Devlin.
Unfortunately, while I was enjoying the gloomy goings on at Collinwood, most other TV viewers, the Network critics, and the series' sponsors, didn't agree, and were planning to cancel the show. Series producer, Dan Curtis, having taken note of the sharp rise in viewer and sponsor ratings, along with a great deal of fan mail, that was sparked by the appearance of a shimmering, incandescent phantom, clad in a long, white, old-fashioned wedding gown. Her face was concealed by the layers of her bridal veil. As she emerged from her portrait, hung above the Drawing Room fireplace, of the former home of the Collins family, referred to as "The Old House", she walks slowly toward the camera. In her hands, she is still holding her wedding bouquet. This is the specter David claims he talks to - Josette Collins. Following Josette's rescue of Vicky Winters, we're confronted by the mystery of Laura Collins, Roger's wife. Her appearance in town causes quite a stir. Sam Evens and Burke Devilin are the most effected. The last time Roger had seen his wife, she was a patient in a mental hospital. Laura is a seriously weird lady. She's attracted to fire, and she claims to have been living alone in Phoenix, AZ, which is a clue. Laura is a Phoenix, and she's come to get her son, so she take him with her when she consumes herself in fire, in order to be reborn. After Laura, Jason McGuire turns up, and begins blackmailing Elizabeth, with the "secret" of her husband's disappearance. He brings along his short tempered friend, Willie Loomis, who menaces the women of the house. It's during the Jason McGuire story that Barnabas makes his first appearance. Willie, while searching for the legendary Collins family jewels, finds a chained coffin concealed in a secret room. He opens the chains, but he doesn't find any jewels, he finds Barnabas! The rest is history. I don't know how many of you are Dark Shadows fans, but, for me, this is a sad time. 46 years have passed since Dark Shadows first aired on TV. That's a long time. On Friday, April 13th 2012, a sizeable chunk of my childhood ceased to exist. That's a bitter pill to swallow... Gloria Right Fang Girl ____________________________________________________________ FREE 3D EARTH SCREENSAVER - Watch the Earth right on your desktop! Check it out at http://www.inbox.com/earth ------------------------------------ Come one come all Mortals who are willing to stick their neck out for a vampire to feed upon. We will be willing to share our Dark Gift to you mortals if you pass our test.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheDarkGift/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheDarkGift/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: thedarkgift-dig...@yahoogroups.com thedarkgift-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: thedarkgift-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
