Second Comics Collection Cover

Hermes Press have unveiled the cover image for Dark Shadows: The Complete Series Volume 2, which features a great vintage rendering of Barnabas Collins stalking a victim. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.The book is the second in a series of deluxe hardback reprints of the classic 1960s Dark Shadows comic books from Gold Key, and is due out on July 29 2010, priced $49.99. Amazon are

Michael Currie: 1928-2009

The Portland Press Herald has reported the death of actor Michael Currie, who played Sheriff Jonas Carter in the early episodes of Dark Shadows. Michael died on December 22 at his home in Freeport, Maine, aged 81. His other work included appearances on M*A*S*H, Soap, Dallas and Cheers. For a full obituary, click here.

Conard Fowkes: 1933-2009

Theatermania has reported the death of actor Conard Fowkes, who played lawyer Frank Garner in the early episodes of Dark Shadows. Conard died on December 14 at the age of 76.His career included roles on Broadway, stints on Secret Storm and As The World Turns, plus a long-serving position working for the Actor's Equity council, which he held until earlier this year. To read a full obituary, click

Final Judgement Due in January

Big Finish's next Dark Shadows audio drama is out on CD and download in January. Final Judgement is an all-new audio drama starring Lara Parker and Kathryn Leigh Scott in an exciting story that sees Angelique and Josette fighting for survival. Here's a teaser synopsis:"Do you swear to reveal to this jury of your peers, the truths you’ve withheld from your lord and master?"In the afterlife,

Dark Shadows Movie Confirmed for 2010

It's been a long time coming, but SciFiWire reports that Dark Shadows has been confirmed as Tim Burton's next film. The big budget feature film will begin shooting in late 2010, starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. 

The project had previously been delayed by director Tim Burton's ongoing commitments on his current project, Alice in Wonderland. Dark Shadows producer Graham King, updated the

Second Volume of Gold Key Reprints Announced

Hot on the heels of the announcement of the first volume of 1960s Dark Shadows comic book reprints, Hermes Press has confirmed the release of a second volume, due out in Summer 2010. The publisher plans to issue the entire series in five hardcover books.Dark Shadows: The Complete Collection Volume 2 is due out on July 29 2010 and includes digitally restored strips, plus bonus content and other

Ron Sproat Dies

It is with sadness that we report the death of longtime Dark Shadows writer Ron Sproat. Ron died at his apartment in Manhattan of a heart attack on November 6, aged 77. In addition to contributing numerous scripts for Dark Shadows, Ron was a key player in the development of the character of Barnabas, who cemented the show's transition into mainstream popularity. In addition to his work on Dark

Halloween Press Cuttings

With Halloween approaching, Dark Shadows has been getting plenty of mentions in the media:Canadian news source CNews profiles Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), with An Interview with a 'real' Vampire; Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Kevin Williamson, executive producer for CW's The Vampire Diaries acknowledges Dark Shadows as an influence on his new show; while Phil Guarnieri discusses the nostalgic

News Round-up

Dark Shadows fans could recently see some familiar faces amidst the new US fall line-up. US Ivana Milicevic (2004 Angelique) guested on the October 14 episode of ABC's Eastwick, while Michael Cavanaugh (1991 Sheriff Patterson) turned up in the October 22 episode of FlashFoward.Barnabas Collins is featured in a poll currently being conducted by the Paley Centre for the Media. You can vote for

Halloween is Coming

Halloween is just around the corner, so here's the Dark Shadows Journal's run-down on how to enjoy the holiday, Collinsport style. Way back when, this site hosted a Dark Shadows Halloween micro-site, featuring e-cards, desktop wallpaper and a a downloadable Barnabas jack-o-lantern pattern – just the thing for scaring away evil spirits and mad relatives in the attic. If you're having a Halloween

News Bites

Night of Dark Shadows, the second Dark Shadows spin-off movie, is now available as a digital download from the iTunes store source from a new HD transfer. This version is the original theatrical edit of the film and not the mooted extended director's cut. Rebecca Staab (1991 Daphne Collins) is to join the cast of ABC's Desperate Housewives, as the show enters its sixth season. Rebecca plays a new

News in Brief

MPI's new Dark Shadows DVD compilations The Vampire Curse and The Haunting of Collinwood are out today. Order them from Amazon by clicking on the hyperlinked titles.David Selby (Quentin) guested in the September 6 episode of AMC's Mad Men. His episode, The Arrangements, is available from iTunes. David also features in the LA Theatre Works' production of The Autumn Garden, which has just been

Classic Comic Reprints Announced

Hermes Press has announced that it is to reprint the complete series of classic Gold Key Dark Shadows comics in a series of collector's hardcover books. Each volume will feature full-colour digitally restored strips plus bonus features, including poster reprints, documentary material from the show and new essays. Hermes' news release for the series describes the stories as: "thoughtful and

Amazon DVD Sale

Good news for readers with gaps in their Dark Shadows DVD collections, as Amazon are running another sale on the episode box sets. For a limited time, the entire range is available at half price, averaging at just $27.99 a volume. Here are ordering links for the discounted titles:Dark Shadows: The Beginning (pre-Barnabas episodes):Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4, Collection

Wayne Tippit: 1932-2009

The Los Angeles Times has reported that Wayne Tippit, who played Hiram Fisher on the 1991 Dark Shadows, died on August 28. He was 76 and had suffered from emphysema for a number of years. His many credits included stints on The Secret Storm, Search for Tomorrow and latterly Melrose Place, plus numerous television guest appearances. To read a full obituary, click here.

Literary Parallels

An obscure Dark Shadows crossover can be found in Thomas Pynchon's new seventies detective novel Infinite Vice. The author has done his homework and gets in a mention of Collinwood's 1970 parallel time storyline, along with a number of other contemporary shows. A review of the book on Britain's Catholic Herald website discussed the Dark Shadows connections with some background on the show. To

New DVD Trailers

Amazon.com have posted two video trailers for MPI's upcoming Dark Shadows DVD compilations, The Vampire Curse and The Haunting of Collinwood. To view them, click on the hyperlinked titles. Both titles are due out on September 15 and are available to pre-order at a discount price.

Curse of the Pharaoh

Big Finish are now taking orders for their latest Dark Shadows Dramatic Reading CD. Curse of the Pharaoh stars Nancy Barrett and Marie Wallace. Both actors have previously made cameo appearances in the full-cast Dark Shadows audio dramas and now take the lead for this new story. Nancy reprises her classic role as Carolyn Stoddard, while Marie tackles an intriguing new character. Famed

2010 Festival Announced

I'm back from last weekend's Dark Shadows Festival in Newark, NJ. It was wonderful to meet so many of this site's readers, so thanks to anyone who said hello. I didn't manage to take any photos, but if you attended and have pictures from the event that you'd like to share, get in touch and I'll post the best here.The Festival returns to the west coast for 2010's event, which will take place on

Dark Shadows Festival This Weekend

The Dark Shadows Festival takes place this weekend in Newark, NJ, at the Newark Renaissance Hotel. Guests include Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie). A full schedule of events for the weekend's activities can be seen here and for more information, visit the Festival's official website.I'll be there to promote my work on the Big Finish audio dramas

Audio Author Interviewed

The latest issue of Big Finish's magazine Vortex features an interview with writer Stephen Mark Rainey, discussing his Dark Shadows audio dramas The Path of Fate and the upcoming Curse of the Pharoah. Check it out by clicking here.In other Big Finish news, Echoes of Insanity, the latest in the ongoing series of Dark Shadows dramatic readings has just been released on CD and digital download. The

New DVDs Update

MPI's two new Dark Shadows compilation DVDs are on track for release in August, and here's a sneak look at the full covers, confirming special features for the discs. Both run approximately 210 minutes long and retail at $19.98.Curse of the Vampire, compiling Barnabas' finest moments has been retitled The Vampire Curse, and features a new interview with Jonathan Frid, a Dark Shadows promo hosted

Tim Burton Speaks

MTV's Movie Blog has interviewed Tim Burton on his upcoming Alice in Wonderland film, where he touches on the upcoming Dark Shadows movie project, which he is attached to direct. "That’s something that [Johnny Depp and I] both love and are excited about. When I’m done with this [Alice in Wonderland] I’ll definitely focus on that."Speaking about his plans for the film, Burton commented, “It’s... [

Kathryn Leigh Scott at Comic Con

Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) writes in with news that she's appearing at the San Diego Comic Con. Kathryn will be signing autographs on Thursday July 23 from 3-7pm. Adrian Paul (1991 Jeremiah) will also be signing at the same time, returning for an additional session on Sunday from 11am-2pm. For more information on the event, click here. Kathryn also reports: "I am thrilled that Opera News has

David Selby's Symphony

David Selby (Quentin) is to narrate an upcoming San Luis Obispo Symphony production of A Lincoln Portrait, following on from his recent acclaimed stint as Abraham Lincoln on stage in The Heavens are Hung in Black. The performance takes place on November 14 at 8.00pm. For more information, click here.

Audio Dramas Update

Big Finish Productions' series of Dark Shadows audio dramas continues apace, with several new CDs due out in the coming months. In addition to the previously announced Echoes of Insanity, released later in July, Curse of the Pharaoh, starring Nancy Barrett (Carolyn) and Marie Wallace (Eve) will follow in August. More details will be released soon, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peak from the

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

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

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

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

House of Dark Shadows on Demand

Following on from its recent addition to the Itunes store, the 1970 Dark Shadows movie House of Dark Shadows is now available to watch online on demand from Amazon. For more information, click here.

Movie Screenwriter Speaks

John August, the screenwriter for the upcoming Dark Shadows movie, starring Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, has spoken about the project at a recent personal appearance.

Discussing his work at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, John revealed: “Dark Shadows is the next thing [I’m writing] that shoots. Johnny’s producing, Tim’s directing... and it’s great, it’s going to be so much fun. So we’re just

Festival Hotel Sells Out

ShadowGram reports that the Newark Airport Renaissance Hotel has sold out of its discounted room allocation for August's Dark Shadows Festival convention. Fans still wishing to attend are advised to try the Hampton Inn Newark Airport and Hilton Newark Airport hotels, both of which are located nearby.The Dark Shadows Festival takes place on August 14-16, with special guest of honour Jonathan Frid

Dark Shadows Movie for 2010

News on the proposed Johnny Depp big screen Dark Shadows adaptation is still thin on the ground, but Shocktilyoudrop reports the promising appearance of Dark Shadows on a recently-issued Japanese press release schedule from Warner Bros, penciling the film in for a winter 2010 release. More news as it comes.

Sam Hall Speaks Out

Nostalgia website TVParty has posted a new interview with Sam Hall, prolific Dark Shadows scriptwriter and widower of actress Grayson Hall (Julia Hoffman). He discusses many aspects of the show in frank detail, and touches on other parts of his life and career. Check it out by clicking here.

Revival Series Bargain

For a limited time, Amazon.com are selling the 1991 Dark Shadows revival series DVD for just $14.99, a saving of over 60 percent from the retail price. The three-disc set features all 13 episodes of the prime time remake, starring Ben Cross and Joanna Going. To order, click here. As previously reported, Amazon are currently offering half-price discounts across the Dark Shadows DVD range.In

House of Dark Shadows on iTunes

While DVDs of the Dark Shadows films aren't due until 2010, House of Dark Shadows has recently been made available in digital download format via the iTunes Store. This new release makes use of a recent 16:9 widescreen transfer from the original materials, offering superior picture quality to the VHS version. The movie retails for $9.99.

A Postcard from the Past

"Dear Julia,How are you? Weather in 1897 is lovely, and I've bought a nice new furry collar for my cape. Am thinking that I maybe should have paid more attention to Stokes' warnings about dangerously altering established history. Might only be a hiccup, but this week I've managed to dispatch Laura Collins in a ball of flame, and then turned Dirk Wilkins into a vampire, resulting in a rampage

Amazon DVD Sale

For a limited time, Amazon.com are holding a special sale of Dark Shadows DVD Collections, with all 32 titles in MPI's complete episode box sets cut by at least 50 percent Here are ordering links for the discounted titles:Dark Shadows: The Beginning (pre-Barnabas episodes):Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4, Collection 5, Collection 6Dark Shadows DVD Collections (episodes from

Audio Dramas Distribution Update

As previously reported, Big Finish have succeeded in gaining wider distribution for their Dark Shadows CD audio dramas, which have been repackaged for the US market. The initial wave of DVD case reissues are now available, which can be read about here, and Amazon are now listing the next three titles, which are now available to order:The Skin Walkers Starring David Selby and Lara ParkerThe Path

Bonnet Watch II

"What? This old thing?"

Dark Shadows Movie "Active"

MTV's Movie Blog has posted an update on the proposed Warner Bros Dark Shadows movie, due to begin filming later this year, starring Johnny Depp. Sam Sakar, head of development at Depp's Infinitum-Nihil production company declined to comment on rumours of Tim Burton directing, but confirmed Depp's involvement and said that the project is "very active... The studio will be making some

A Chat About Dan

The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis has just been released, a new book offering a scholarly overview of the Dark Shadows creator's work. Here are some words from its author, Jeff Thompson.When did you first start watching Dark Shadows and what attracted you to the show? I first saw Dark Shadows in September 1967. I ran across it by accident when I was home sick from elementary school. The first

The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis

Academic publishers McFarland have just released The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis, a detailed analysis of the work and career of creator of Dark Shadows. The 200-page hardcover book features photographs and a foreword by Jim Pierson of Dan Curtis Productions. Author Jeff Thompson is a longtime Dark Shadows fan historian, who has contributed to this site, notably this feature on the Gold Key

Bonnet Watch

That will be all.

Actor News

Ben Cross (1991 Barnabas) can be seen in trailers for J.J. Abrams forthcoming Star Trek movie. Ben plays Spock's father, Sarek.Lysette Anthony (1991 Angelique) is a guest star in Dark Shadows audio producers Big Finish's latest series of Doctor Who dramas. Lysette guests in Hothouse, due out on CD and download in April. For more information, click here.Ely Pouget (1991 Maggie) guested as a

MIchael T. Weiss in Impressionism

Michael T. Weiss (1991 Joe) is appearing off-Broadway in the play Impressionism, alongside Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, and Marsha Mason, who – for a bonus Dark Shadows connection – cameoed in the Leviathan storyline on the original series. The show is currently running previews ahead of beginning an 18-week run from March 12 at New York's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. To find out more about the

The Chiselers

Marie Wallace (Eve) writes in with this update on her new play The Chiselers, which concluded its run at the weekend. "Our show has been going great – sellouts almost every night and a number of Dark Shadows fans have attended." NYTheatre.com praises the production, describing it as a "clever gathering of puns, quips, repartee, and oh, murder... It's a good time, fun silly and entertaining." To

News and Links

At last, some news! Here's what happening in the Dark Shadows world...MGM have reissued their 1991 Dark Shadows revival series DVD with a new cover design. Unfortunately, the episodes are still presented in widescreen, rather than their native 4:3 picture format, but this remains the only official release available. To order the set from Amazon, click here.Fans of the Dark Shadows movies have a

Adventures in 1897

Sadly, there is no actual news this week, so instead here are some thoughts on my current Dark Shadows viewing. I recently started re-watching the 1897 flashback – the first time I've seen a sustained run of Dark Shadows episodes in several years. I often dip in and out of isolated shows, but it's no match for proper sit-down storylines. So, like Barnabas, I set off on a quest to discover the

Audio Dramas to be Reissued

Big Finish Productions are to reissue a number of their Dark Shadows CD audio dramas for the US retail market, as part of a new broader distribution for the range. Eight titles have been repackaged in larger DVD-style cases, with the aim of making the stories available from more mainstream sales outlets.The new editions will be available from February 25, and are only available from US retailers.

Selby's Sunday Forum

David Selby (Quentin) will be appearing at the Sunday Forum at the Washington National Cathedral on February 22, as part of their celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday. Admission is free and the event will be webcast live on the event website. For more information, click here.

Audio Dramas Facebook Group

Listeners of Big Finish's range of Dark Shadows Audio Dramas can now keep up to date with the latest news at their official Facebook group. The site includes recording photos, information and discussion. Pay it a visit by clicking here. The latest Dark Shadows Dramatic Reading, The Wicked and the Dead, has just been released, starring Jerry Lacy as Reverend Trask and John Karlen as Carl Collins.

Dark Shadows 2009 Festival News

The Dark Shadows Festival is now accepting memberships for its 2009 celebrations, taking place on August 15-16 at Newark, NJ's Renaissance Airport Hotel. Special guests include Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), John Karlen (Willie), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie), Lara Parker (Angelique), Marie Wallace (Eve) and Donna Wandrey (Roxanne). The Festival are also offering some new merchandise, including Dark

David Selby Interview

The TheaterMania website has interviewed David Selby (Quentin) on his upcoming role as Abraham Lincoln in The Heavens are Hung in Black, due to open at the historic Ford's Theatre in Washington DC on February 8. David discusses his life-long fascination with Lincoln and the role of Quentin Collins. To read more, click here.

This Week's News

The latest issue of horror magazine Rue Morgue features a tribute to departed Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis, with screenwriter William F Nolan sharing his memories of their long association. For more information, click here.Author Stephen Mark Rainey is interviewed on the FearZone horror blog about his new Dark Shadows audio drama The Path of Fate. To read the article, click here.And finally, a

Odds and Ends

A couple of quick updates. I've been busy re-listing some lost content to the Articles and Features section of the site, restoring dozens of classic features, reviews and interviews which have been unavailable for some time. Enjoy!Also, Amazon have started selling Frank Borzellieri's new book The Physics of Dark Shadows, a fun collection of academic speculation about the show's weird and

Marie Wallace Onstage

Marie Wallace (Eve) is to appear in Mark Finley's The Chiselers, a new comedy featuring as part of the Emerging Artists Theatre's Spring Eatfest 2009 in New York City.  Performances run from 9.30pm on February 26-28 and March 5-7 at the TADA Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

News in Brief

Amazon.com has recently re-stocked the Majestic Studios Barnabas Collins action figure, a rare piece of merchandise issued in 2006. The deluxe 12-inch articulated figure of Jonathan Frid as the present day Barnabas sold out shortly after its release, and has never been re-issued, as Majestic have since ceased trading. The figure includes a detailed costume, an alternate 'Old Barnabas' head and

The Wicked and the Dead

Big Finish Productions have confirmed their next Dark Shadows dramatic reading CD, which is due out at the end of January. The Wicked and the Dead stars Jerry Lacy and John Karlen in an all-story based on the 1897 flashback storyline. Here’s the synopsis:“Sometimes a devout man must do evil in the name of the greater good...”Collinwood in the year 1897. The Reverend Gregory Trask has been walled

DVD Bargains

Want to kick start your Dark Shadows DVD collection? Well, Amazon have a couple of New Year bargains on the MPI range of episode box sets. Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1, featuring the first 40 Barnabas episodes, is now available for just $23.99 (a saving of 60%), whilst Dark Shadows: The Beginning Collection 2, featuring the show's early storylines, is reduced to $31.49 (almost half price). Click

Into 2009...

2009 promises to be another exciting year for Dark Shadows, as the development of the Johnny Deep movie continues, and the original series lives on in special events, new merchandise and DVD releases. The recent release of Dark Shadows: The Beginning Collection 6 now means that the entire Dark Shadows archive is finally available on DVD, and the Big Finish range of CDs continues to expand, with