Famous Monsters sounds the death knell for DARK SHADOWS

(Note: I've got mixed feelings about sharing this feature. The text of this article is not among Famous Monsters' best ... given the magazine's proud tradition of purple prose, that's saying a lot. A few years earlier, Famous Monsters showcased DARK SHADOWS with interviews and lengthy photo series, but NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS received a fairly mundane summary and a selection of badly cropped photos. After sharing the magazine's other features on DARK SHADOWS, I felt obliged to include this one, which only gets interesting during its final paragraphs. 

If this issue is evidence of anything, it's that the death knell of DARK SHADOWS had been heard by everyone by the time this magazine hit the racks in 1971. Even the ever cheery cheerleader that was Famous Monsters couldn't muster the enthusiasm to pretend another film or television was on the way. While the magazine's story about NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS is forgettable, the show's obituary at the end is heartfelt.)

GOTHIC GHOSTS STRIKE AGAIN IN 
NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS 

Wouldn't you be scared out of your skin if you came upon your own skeleton from a previous life? Well, that's the predicament that Quentin is in as he discovers the mortal remains of himself when, in a past existence, he was known as Charles Collins.

THE CURSE OF COLLINWOOD

Imagine a great old decaying dark house, a survivor from the 19th century, where you might expect to be served a meal by a butler resembling Boris Karloff.

Walk down the dimly-lit gallery, where the ghost of Ann Radcliffe might materialize from behind a great gray curtain.

You are there: in the macabre mansion known as — Collinwood.

And to Collinwood comes young artist Quentin Collins (David Selby), who has just inherited the vast estate. With him, his bride Tracy (Kate
Jackson).

The young pair are awestruck by the hugeness of the house and the lavishness of its furnishings.

On hand to acquaint the pair with their new home is Carlotta the housekeeper (Grayson Hall). Miss Drake has lived in Collinwood since childhood.

High in the upper reaches of the mansion is a tower room. The first night, Quentin is mesmerically drawn to the room. Inexplicably, the next morning he remembers nothing of his nocturnal adventure.
Tracy has her share of concern: at breakfast she is unnerved to observe sinister man staring at her from the grounds. Two large fierce dogs accompany the mysterious man. Carlotta calms her fears by explaining, “He’s Gerard (James Storm), my nephew. He's the caretaker of your estate."

Later,  when Quentin goes to inspect the stables, he meets the man Gerard. Gerard recommends a particular horse to Quentin as being a gentle beast but the recommendation turn out to be far from the truth; the animal proves to be quite wild.

While Quentin is mastering the horse, he suddenly has a strange vision of a funeral.
Stranger yet, the mourners are dressed in the style the early 19th century.

HAUNTING VISIONS
As Quentin’s queer vision fades, his horse bolts, almost galloping into a car driven by Claire Jenkins (Nancy Barrett), a woman who lives with her husband Alex (John Karlen) in a cottage on the estate. They are old friends Of the Collins family.

Quentin. undecided as to which room out of the many he should employ as his studio, asks the advice of Carlotta.

"Why not the tower?” she recommends.

"It's quiet, remote from activity, ideal for concentration.”

Everything Carlotta says is true, and yet … somehow the suggestion fills Quentin with a sense of sinister foreboding.

That night, almost like the somnambulist from Dr. Caligari’s cabinet, Quentin again ascends to the tower. It seems to exert some hypnotic influence over him. Yet the next morning he remembers nothing of the visit.

However, he has another vision. This time the hallucination takes to form of two brothers quarreling in the master bedroom of the estate: one brother if Charles, who resembles Quentin to a remarkable degree; the other, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock), Angelique’s husband.

As the days go by, Quentin is increasingly troubled by visions.

He discovers portraits of Angelique by Charles Collins — or is it imagination? — that he sees Angelique (Lara Parker) being dragged from the tower room by her angry husband.

WHEN DAYDREAMS TURN TO NIGHTMARES …
Quentin continues his nocturnal visits to the strange tower room, which draws him more & more like magnet, like a helpless fly to a spider’s net. And something new has been added: someone awaits him there — the ghost of Angelique! And Angelque is very amorous.

Gerard becomes mad with jealousy and one night attacks Quentin while he is in his trance-like state in the tower. Tracy awakens intervenes; her husband, still mentally in the past, still tries to kill her!

Quentin later remembers nothing of his savage attack on his own wife. He becomes more & more preoccupied with what he calls his “daydreams.”

HORROR HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY 
Carlotta claims to be a reincarnation of the daughter the housekeeper who looked after Collinwood in previous life. From knowledge remembered from her past existence she tells Quentin a terrible truth:
“Angelique Collins was hanged as a witch!"

Anil more: "And you, Quentin Collins, are the reincarnation of Angelique's lover, Charles!”
"No, no! I can't believe it! I won't! cries Quentin.

But slowly, surely, insidiously, Charles’ personality takes over Quentin.

Next, Claire & Alex are attacked in their own cottage. Not by a human, flesh-&-blood prowler, but by — "A ghostly phenomenon!” They warn the young couple: “A upernatural danger threatens us all!”

And that same night Quentin tries to drown his own beloved wife when, under the influence of Angelique the witch, he is drawn to the old ruined swimming pool of the estate.

Terrified Tracy flees to the Jenkins’.

As usual Quentin remembers nothing of what happened during his hypnotic trance and is horrified when Carlotta tells him. She tells him something even more shocking: “Gerard has gone to kill your wife!”

Quentin arrives on the scene in time to see sudden death: his wife killing Gerard in self-defense.

HUMANS AGAINST HAUNTS 
Claire & Alex, Quentin & Tracy return to Collinwood. “It is clear what we must do now: exorcise the ghost of Angelique.”

But all evil spirits resist destruction and Tracy is trapped in cellar room and attacked by the wicked witch Angelique.

In the nick of time, Quentin & Alex save Tracy.

Then Angelique appear to Quentin. “I renounce you, evil spirit!” he cries. “You and the spirit of Charles. Begone!”

The spirit seems to fade (seems) and Carlotta, hysterical, jumps from the tower to her death.
Quentin his bride have had enough. They prepare to leave Collinwood with Claire & Alex Jenkins.
But — one last thing — Quentin returns to the room to get his paintings.

He should not have.

BEHIND THE DARK HOUSE
There’s the story behind this latest Dark Shadows film and this (can you take it?) is it:
June 1966.

The first episode of the first Gothic soap opera appears on ABC-TV.

It is called Dark Shadows and no one would then would have predicted how far these sinister shapes would creep.

The action (and there was plenty) took place in Collinwood, an ancient house in Maine. After several months of a plot featuring sinister, but natural, menace. A new element was added that really caused the ratings to soar:

The supernatural.

A vampire entered the corridors of Collinwood in the the darkly attractive form of Jonathan Frid.
And Dark Shadows settled into a supernatural groove that attracted a fantastically varied audience in the millions. Among the most faithful of the Dark Shadows fans (to this editor's certain knowledge): Fritz Lang. far-famed director of M. DR. MABUSE, THE WEARY DEATH, THE SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR and many other film classics.

THRU THE YEARS, INCREASING FEARS 
Character actress Grayson Han became the familiar figure of the lady doctor who a contracted a case of vampiritis— that is, she fell in love with Jonathan Frid.

Quentin Collins was a malevolent ghost from the past of the old house.

Lara Parker was the witch who brought men to their doom.

Chills & thrills were provided by the many plots of varying lengths, often (via "'parallel time") taking place in other centuries, Worlds of If where even more variations of the familiar characters were introduced.

For awhile there was a Frankensteinian element to the episodes; at another time, a, wolfman was featured.

Last year Dan Curtis produced the first full-length film version of the TV series and HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS was one of the big horror hits o the year. The 82nd issue of FM featured a 10-page filmbook on the movie.

Early in '71, Dark Shadows, after five frightening years, finally went the way of all flesh (?) and "died". Not since the discontinuance of Star Trek did fans set up such a howl of protest.

To satisfy frustrated D.S. fans holding their breath for more of their favorite phantoms, MGM (Macabre Ghost Movies) has now produced the sequel to the original. Production, appropriately enough, began with a funeral and a mausoleum. The Weatherman cooperated to produce cold & drizzly day so that the mourners had an authentically woebegone appearance.

The séance scene promises to be one of the most nearly authentic ever seen on the screen as it was supervised by a world-famous authority on psychic phenomenon. When the mediumistic sequence photographed in the dimly-lit gallery of Collinwood, several takes were spoiled by
raps.

Ghosts, rapping with one another?

Well, that about wraps it up,

What next — BENEATH THE PLANET OF SHADOWS?

Famous Monsters enters HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, 1970

Famous Monsters and the 1970s made for an awkward pairing. Traditionally, horror movies were considered to be kids fare, but the implementation of the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings system in 1968 immediately changed the playing field. Overnight, horror movies became more bleak, sensational and violent ... none of which were a good fit for the corny stylings of Forrest J. Ackerman. HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS underscored cinema's rapid change in tone. All you need to see is the rare image below of Kathryn Leigh Scott wearing a wound appliance on her neck (courtesy of the late Dick Smith!) A few years earlier, vampire wounds were the kind of thing you could fix with Band-Aids. At the start of the '70s, though, vampire attacks began to look like the work of animals. I don't fully agree with Jonathan Frid's criticisms of the HoDS's violent tendencies, but I absolutely understand them.

Below is the HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS feature from Famous Monsters #82 in 1970, as well as a collection of the Nancy Barrett-heavy images that accompanied it.

Have your garlic & cross ready! 
You're about to enter the HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS

Above, a vengeful Barnabas strangles Julia Hoffman for putting a spider on his bed & scaring him out of 175 years growth.

TRAIN OF DESTINY
Through the fog-shrouded mountains of an eerie countryside, a lonely train makes its treacherous way toward an unknown destination.

Aboard the train, a pretty young girl stares down at the mysterious letter in her hand. She has been hired as a governess for a family she does not know. Suddenly, with a hiss of brakes, the train pulls into a station. The girl steps out onto a deserted platform, her feet bathed to the ankles in the thick mist that surrounds everything.

Sound like the opening scene to a horror film? It wasn't. It was only a dream.

FROM DREAM TO REALITY
When producer Dan Curtis awoke from this weird dream, he recognized the potential it had for a television series. It was from the seeds of this fantasy that DARK SHADOWS, one of TV's most successful daytime serials, was born. Together with writers Sam Hall & Gordon Russell, Curtis wove his tale of mystery that was destined to have daytime audiences spellbound for years.

They envisioned a proud old New England family, the Collins family, whose family tree passes through many generations. Their stately mansion, Collinwood, and the surrounding grounds, provide the setting for a tale of horror unlike any before told on daytime television.

For one year the series plodded along adding Gothic touches to the typical soap opera plot entanglements. Producer Curtis, not satisfied, came up with another idea.

A VAMPIRE!

The role of Barnabas Collins was created almost on a whim, to add spice to a series that was sorely lacking. Barnabas, a 175-year-old vampire, was scheduled to be a part of the series for only six weeks. But audience reaction to his role was so immediate and favorable that Barnabas stayed on in Collinwood and is still enjoying great popularity among soap opera viewers around the country.

Jonathan Frid, the actor who really sunk his teeth into the role of Barnabas, has become the first vampire matinee idol, whose fame & fan mail have reached tremendous heights. He saw the role of the vampire as more than just an inhuman monster, lusting for the life blood of the living. Rather, he chose to portray Barnabas much as he would any tortured man who had a skeleton in his closet. In this particular case, the skeleton just happens to be vampirism.

FROM TELEVISION TO TERRORVISION
With the success of the soap opera increasing by leaps & bounds, producer Dan Curtis decided to make still another innovation for the daytime serial. He decided to make it into a 'full-length feature motion picture.

The result, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, is currently being released around the country. It is Curtis's first theatrical film, although he was nominated for an Emmy award for a film he made especially for television: THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, which starred Jack Palance as the Doctor who finds himself with double trouble.

Some years back, when THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. was in its heyday, that series released episodes that had been on TV to movie theatres, padding them with a little extra footage. This is not the case with HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS. The film is more than just a physically enlarged version of the soap opera. It is a completely different film with a climax that may well shock devotee's of the serial.

"Messy, messy, messy!" says Willie (John Karlen) as he helps Carolyn after her attack by Barnabas.

HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS was filmed entirely on location, in and around three ancient and sinister mansions within striking distance of New York City. Another unique aspect of the film is its plot, which has its roots buried deep in Gothic tales of love & death. Its relationships are a bit more complicated than the usual girl-meets-monster, boy-saves-girl horror film. casting a dark shadow

All of the actors who have made DARK SHADOWS what it is today were called upon to repeat their roles for the movie. Since they have been playing these same parts for years, each is most uniquely qualified to bring his particular characterization to the screen.

Joan Bennett portrays Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, matriarch of the ill-fated Collins clan (on the TV show, Miss Bennett also played Naomi Collins in the 18th century episodes, Judith Collins in the 19th).

Jonathan Frid continues his famous role as Barnabas Collins, the victim of circumstances who has been cursed by a witch and forced to spend 175 years searching for blood as a vampire.

Grayson Hall, as Dr. Julia Hoffman, has the bad fortune to fall in love with Barnabas with tragic results.

Kathryn Leigh Scott is the perfect heroine as Maggie Evans. Softly pretty & prettily soft, she is the kind of girl meant to be carried off and then rescued.

Roger Davis takes on the romantic lead as Jeff Clark, the young artist who rescues the heroine. Strong jawed & steely-eyed, he is a man of both action & sensitivity.

Rounding out the cast is Nancy Barrett, Donald Briscoe, David Henesy, Thayer David and Louis Edmonds.

HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS: THE STORY
In Collinwood, a stately old mansion in Maine, live Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) , his son David (David Henesy), his sister Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Joan Bennett) and her daughter Carolyn (Nancy Barrett).

One stormy night events are unleashed which plunge them into a nightmare of the supernatural and drastically change their lives. Willie (John Karlen), a handyman, enters the Collins' crypt, searching for the lost family jewels. In a secret vault he finds a chained coffin, which he opens.

Soon after, a stranger enters Collinwood, claiming to be a cousin from England. The family accepts Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), due to his amazing resemblance to an 18th century portrait of the original Barnabas. He moves into and restores the Old House, a dwelling on the grounds where the "first" Barnabas had lived.

Shortly after he is settled, there are several mysterious deaths in the neighborhood, culminating in that of Carolyn after a costume party, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall), a doctor, and Eliot Stokes (Thayer David), a professor, are convinced that these are caused by a vampire, and that Carolyn will return from the dead. She does, and is killed by a stake through the heart while attacking her fiancée, Todd (Donald Briscoe).

Julia is attracted to Barnabas, and knowing him to be the vampire, convinces him that he can be cured. He wants to marry the governess, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott), and when Julia discovers this, she deliberately reverses his cure so that he ages to his true 175 years.

In an insane fury, he kills Julia, renews his youth with Maggie's blood, and carries her off. In a hair-raising climax, Maggie's fiancée, Jeff (Roger Davis), rescues her as she about to become the bride of the vampire in an abandoned monastery.

Do you, Maggie, take this vampire as your unholy husband of the night? Maggie & Barnabas prepare for their wedding in the abandoned monastery.

BLOOD & GORE, GALORE
HOUSE, OF DARK SHADOWS is characterized by liberal doses of gory murders & bloody deaths, in the great old Dan Curtis tradition. In an interview, Curtis related still another dream to the reporter. In this fantasy, he would invite the cast & crew of HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS to a big party to celebrate the success of the picture. He would hold the affair at Lockwood House in Norwalk, Conn., one of the 3 spooky mansions he used during the filming of the movie. When all the guests had gathered in the central rotunda, Curtis would press a button and huge steel doors would quickly slam closed, imprisoning the group. A motion picture camera, protected in glass, would then rise out of the floor and begin to revolve. Suddenly, Dan Curtis's recorded voice would shout: "So you thought you were coming to a party!” And, with that, 150 men with crossbows would appear on the balcony and begin shooting at the helpless people below. And while all this was going on, the camera would be filming the entire bloody mess.

One of Curtis's dreams, the girl on the train has brought him fame and fortune. This one, how ... well, who knows?

Video Vampire Number One, 1968

My knee-jerk response upon discovering this story many years ago was, "Why did it take so long for Famous Monsters to discover DARK SHADOWS?" This was a TV series definitely in the wheelhouse of FM major domo Forrest J. Ackerman, even before the addition of Frankensteins, wolfmen and zombies to the mix. Barnabas Collins first made the scene in the spring of 1967, yet it took Famous Monsters until the following Halloween to get around to addressing DARK SHADOWS.

Below is the magazine's first feature on DARK SHADOWS, which had already become a cultural phenomenon by the time this issue was published. But publishing schedules can be a little misleading. Dated "October, 1968," comic books and magazines have a history of intentionally mislabeling publication dates to make them seem more timely. Factor in the lead time needed for physical production of a magazine and it's likely that Famous Monsters might begun work on this story many, many months earlier.

Below is the text of the DARK SHADOWS feature from Famous Monsters #52 as it originally appeared, in all its cheesy glory. Whenever possible I used crisp scans of the original photos that accompanied the feature. I also went all Ted Turner with the feature's opening spread, colorizing the image and text for no other reason than the novelty of it.

Enjoy!

A DAYTIME DRACULA LURKS IN THE DEPTHS
OF TERRORVISION'S DARK SHADOWS
October, 1968

Video Vampire Number One
His parents christened him Barnabas Collins.

Nothing unusual about that. Except. it took place 175 years ago.

Grown to manhood. one dark night in Barnabas' life he became unchristened. The night he took on an unholy new kind of pseudo-life. a living death. The night he became — a vampire.

But Barnabas is such a human vampire that his vast television public has great sympathy for him. His gentility has endeared him to the hearts (and hemoglobin of millions of mesmerized TV watchers who can't live without their daily dose of DARK SHADOWS.

Left: Who's afraid Of Jonathon Frid? Everybody!  Right: "l want to Bite Your Hand." Pity Victoria!

ONE MAN'S DREAM BECOMES MILLIONS' DAYMARE
DARK SHADOWS, the daytime thrillodrama of eerie suspense, murder, ghosts and even, most recently, a Frankenstein-type monster, began in the drowsing brain of Dan Curtis, television producer.

The Dream Merchant Of Menace!

"The dream was extremely vivid," Curtis told FM. "I saw a girl on a train, huddled against the window and looking out into the brooding night of small New England villages. She was a quiet, dreamy looking girl. and her long flowing hair fell back over the top of her coat. I remember watching her reflection in the window and hearing her
whisper:

" 'My name is Victoria Winters. I am going on a journey that will bring me to a strange dark house on the edge of the sea at Widow's Hill. There, I am going to governess to a young boy and the companion of a mysterious woman.' "

Curtis' dream was given body — in fact a number of them — in DARK SHADOWS, the first TV series ever patterned on the lines of the Gothic novel, the type of fright book that members of the Count Dracula Society read for bedtime stories.

Katherine Leigh Scott goes to pot as bride with fried egg for any eye in TV's daily "vampire opera", Dark Shadows.

HOUSE OF HORROR 
Death stalks the great halls of Collinwood, the sinister mansion that is the locale of DARK SHADOWS Before the series. final title was decided on, such suggestions were considered as Terror at Collinwood and The House on Widow Hill. Then, accidentally, the producer stumbled on thee answer. "Maybe," he quipped. "I should go to a museum and film some dark shadows." He mused for a moment, did a devil-take, slapped his horns and cried, "That's it!"

And daytime television's spookiest show was born.

Gaining experience in the eerie from DARK SHADOWS, its producer covered himself with gory —correction: glory—by masterminding the exciting televesion of Jack Palance as Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde.

WHO is HE?? 
One writer has called him "the ghoul the girls go for."

Another, "the grooviest vampire."

His fangmail arrives in sacks at the rate of 2000 letters a week.

After changing his phone number several times he got an unlisted number. And after a short while had to change that because too many admirers somehow found out where to call him. Clubs dedicated to him have sprung up like mushrooms all over the nation.

At night when he removes his fangs (from a victim's throat, that is) he is really mild-mannered Clark Kent—correction, Jonathan Frid. Of English, Danish and German ancestry, he stands 6' tall, weighs 175 lbs., and has brown hair and hazel eyes. And speaking of having hazel eyes, Hazel says she'd like to have them back.

Canadian born, the acting bug bit him when he was in college. After graduation he went to England to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and appeared on the stage in 1949 & '50. Asked about his working habits while portraying Barnabas Collins, Jonathan Frid told FM: "When I leave the studio I go home and work 2 or 3 hours on the script. I have no social life at all. I must get up at 6:30 or 7 and work for an hour over breakfast going to the studio. At the studio I work on the script all day long, when I'm not rehearsing."

And remember: before you can rehearse you have to hearse!

"I play Barnabas as a lonely man with a conscience," Frid continued. "He is a guilt-ridden monster because of his need for blood. But he is also a sympathetic human who yearns to be a normal man. My character is unpredictable: I'll go along for a while being very quiet & tragic, then suddenly I'll lunge as the lust for blood overwhelms me.

Even the make-up artist (left) looks as tho he fears his job as he adds years (later fangs) to the face of Jonathon Frid.

ANNIVERSARY IN A JUGULAR VEIN 
ABC is the network that features Barnabas Collins.

In fact, it was rumored as recently as April 14th that ABC had taken on a new meaning:

Anniversary
Barnabas
Collins

On the occasion Of the celebration of Barnabas Collins' first year of fear on TV, ABC released the following bulletin far & wide thruout the land:

BARNABAS COLLINS fans and all those whose blood kindles at the thought of vampirism, hear ye!

A darkly memorable date in the annals of daytime television history is rapidly approaching: April 14, 1968.

On this day, television's most macabre matinee idol will celebrate his first anniversary on ABC-TV's weekday drama series, DARK SHADOWS.

It was just one year ago that Barnabas Collins, alias actor Jonathan Frid, made his first appearance on ABC-TV's eerie series seen weekdays in color from 3:30 to 4 p.m. He was originally slated to hover around for just 3 weeks but he created such a great flap that Barnabas stayed … and stayed … and stayed.

The 175-year-old vampire has become so popular with daytime television viewers that recently he signed a new contract to stick with the series for at least 2 more years. His malevolent magnetism spreads from coast to coast and encompasses fans of all ages. And don't think that his impending First Anniversary has been ignored by his followers. Many of the letters he has been receiving lately have focused on this important date. In fact, Frid did not recall the exact day on which he joined the DARK SHADOWS cast until his fan mail brought it to his attention.

One of his most faithful worshippers, a Californian, even sent him an engraved plaque to commemorate the event. In an accompanying letter she wrote:

"I cannot let your first year's anniversary as Barnabas Collins on DARK SHADOWS go by without doing something about it. I shall never forget the first time you appeared on the show. From that instant on, I was hopelessly 'hooked' on this outstanding series! 

"Your mystery and magnetism make DARK SHADOWS irresistible. In your matchless way, you have managed to captivate hundreds of thousands — nay, millions—of hearts.

"And so, in my small way of saying 'thank you' for a year of splendid acting, and a superb portrayal of an extremely difficult part, I am sending you a plaque which I hope will bring you as much pleasure looking at it, as it did for me in having it made up for you.

"Happy anniversary, Barnabas! May you have many, many more in the future." 

What is Frid's reaction to the tremendous stir he has created with his portrayal of Barnabas Collins?

"It's simply ghoulish," he says with a sinister smile.

Jonathan Frid, far left, holds a copy of this issue of Famous Monsters.

REMEMBER ELEPHANT JOKES?
What happens when you cross a vampire with an elephant?
You get a bat that can spend the daylight hours in its own trunk or an elephant with the world's biggest nosebleed. 
(You have just read a Shaggy Elephant story.) 
(Tusk tusk.) 

What happens when you cross a vampire with a volkswagen?
You get a Volkswagen that gets 50 miles to the  gallon—of blood. 

What happens When you cross a vampire with a turtle?
You get the world's slowest vampire. 
(Would you believe mock vampire soup?) 

What happens when you cross a vampire with a stream?
You don't know much about vampires if you don't know they can’t cross running water!

What happens when you cross a vampire with a hippopotamus?
You get a hippopotamus that casts no reflection in a mirror. 

What happens when you cross a vampire with a dinosaur?
You get a vampire that's been undead for millions of years!

What happens when you deduct a pair of vampires from 50 cents?
You get two bats change. 

What happens when you cross a vampire with a train?
Trained vampire. 

How does a vampire keep his children entertained?
He sends them out into the yard make blood pies. 

Do you know what happened when Voivode Dracula and Barnabas Collins met for the firstime?
They shook fangs. 

What did Barnabas protest when he blundered into another vampire's burial place?
"It's not my vault." 

What happens when you cross a vampire with a necklace?
The vampire develops beady eyes. 

How can you tell when a vampire has been in the bathtub?
He leaves a red ring. 

What did Barnabas Collins say to Larry Talbot when Hairy Larry got indigestion?
"l told you not to wolf down down that food!” 

Why do vampires prefer to take their meals indoors?
Because a burp in the hand is worth two in the bush.

What is Barnabas Collins' favorite time of day?
Time for DARK SHADOWS!

Who's A-Frid of the Big Bad Vampire?

DARK SHADOWS quickly became one of the most popular topics of conversation in Famous Monsters of Filmland. It was a "Match Made in Hades," as Forrest J. Ackerman might have said. DARK SHADOWS carried the banner of the magazine's "Monster Kid" aesthetic higher and prouder than any other television show of its day. The series would be featured numerous times in the magazine, not only in the feature pages but in the advertising section, as well. Many a monster kid purchased their favorite  DARK SHADOWS merch from the back pages of Famous Monsters.

Below is a popular feature from the magazine, published near the end of 1969. You've almost certainly seen it before ... I even shared scans of the issue, myself, back in 2012. This time, though, I decided to do something a little different. Rather than punish you by making you read B&W text on a muddy JPEG, I've transcribed the text of the story. Whenever possible, I've also replaced the hazy, moiré patterned photos with crisper images, and retooled them for online viewing.

Enjoy!

MORE MENACE PROM THE TV VAMPIRE ...
WHO'S A-FRID OF THE BIG BAD VAMPIRE?
By Simon Laurie
Nov. 1, 1969

Jonathan Frid is the idol of millions as Barnabas the Vampire on ABC-TV's daytime serial "Dark Shadows" yet he remains the "reluctant dragon."

Don't expect him, though he is dedicated to his role, to eagerly anticipate being cast in “The Son of Barnabas" or “The Return Of Barnabas."

“I enjoy my part in 'Dark Shadows,” Frid explains, "but I am not a horror actor and I wouldn't want to be compared with a Lugosi or Christopher Lee in my characterization of the vampire. I play Barnabas as a being with human emotions. I'm not copying Lugosi because in fact I didn't know much about his characterization of the vampire until I caught the 'Dracula' movie on the late movie recently. I'll admit I was fascinated by Lugosi. His performance was like a ballet. Yet, his vampire was a bloodless, evil, passionless monster. With the white face and full, red lips, he gave the appearance of death.

Mr. Frid, with Mr. Lugosi in the background.

"I never took that tack. The 'Dark Shadows'  writers gave full life to Barnabas. He was a human being more like Mr. Hyde with a lust for blood.

"Lugosi played his character in a monotone. No range, no warmth. Just a cold-blooded vampire which actually is more legitimate in keeping with the legends.

"I suppose women see Barnabas as a romantic figure because I portray him as a lonely, tormented man who bites girls in the neck, but only when my uncontrollable need for blood drives me to it. And I always feel remorseful about it later. He has a nasty problem. He craves blood. Afterwards, like an alcoholic or addict, he's ashamed but simply can't control himself.

"Remember, too, Lugosi's 'Dracula' wasn't particular about where the blood came from. Renfield was a male, among his early victims. Barnabas is partial to women which makes him again a more romantic character."

Barnabas Collins lurks in the shadows, brandishing his wolf's head cane, as Dr. Julia Hoffman cringes in the background.

Frid, who considers himself a leading character actor rather than a horror actor, is not knocking the field. He just does not think of himself as the mad scientist type although physically he admits he could easily fall into that type of casting.

"In the past my forte has been appearing in villainous roles, a great many in Shakespeare dramas," he explains. "I've been the heavy in so many Shakespeare summer festivals that even today I owe my allegiance to the House of York."

Jonathan's acting arrow is aimed at one day playing Richard the Third.

"He's a study in hate," Jonathan explains, "and I can exude all the villainy called for in monster parts in this monster-of-sorts role whose direction and thinking motivates hate."

Frid, who maintains a near-phobia about being horror-type cast, was heartened recently when he learned Boris Karloff had also starred in other than supernatural roles.

The Werewolf of Collinsport.

"My only experience in seeing Karloff was with grotesque make-up or in lunatic professor parts," Frid notes, "so I was greatly encouraged by the fact that he was credited with non-horror performances, as well. In fact, when you mention Lon Chaney, Jr., I think immediately 'Of Mice and Men.’”

Frid's reading tastes are directed more to current news stories rather than fiction. "I used to read Poe and the classics when I had more time" he says, "but now I stick to the newspapers. I’m probably going to disappoint those fans who believe I do or should stock up on Lovecraft or Blackwood or Machen, but these are just names to me nothing more.

"Maybe I'm too realistic, but if you want to show me a ghost make it a 12 noon on Times Square."

Jonathan's acting idols include Katherine Hepburn with whom he appeared in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" and "The Merchant of Venice."

"She's bright, dynamic and conscientious," he points out Charles Laughton, according to Frid, was the greatest interpreter of George Bernard Shaw.

Lara Parker "ages" slowly for her role in TV'S DARK SHADOWS.

"Laughton was a giant in such epics as 'Major Barbara' and "Caesar and Cleopatra," Frid explains. "He was unbeatable when he came to grips with Shaw's climactic dialogue, playing cute in the beginning then thundering with his lines at the end. Superb. Oh, yes, he gave a great performance in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.'"

Sir Laurence Olivier is another of Frid's favorites. A great actor in "Richard Il," "Henry V" and "The Entertainer."

Unlike his cinematic confreres in celluloid scariness, Frid is most accessible to his millions of fans. In recent months, he has visited major cities around the country drawing greater crowds than campaigning politicians and playing host to thousands of youngsters and young adults at airports, department stores and local TV interview shows.

Also unlike his acting colleagues in monster movies, there have been Barnabas trading cards, game boards, comic books, paperbacks, caption books, records and more.

Left, Frid in his familiar role as Barnabas. Right, Frid as a 172-year-old man.

One of the facets of playing a monster is the make-up and Frid is proud to tell of the four hours he put in at the hands of super make-up artist Dick Smith, responsible for the Mr. Hyde make-up for Jack Palance and Julie Harris as Queen Victoria on TV.

“Dr. Hoffman gave me a massive transfusion," he says, "which made me a normal human—of 172 years old.

"I came in at 4 a.m. for that call to be made up. Dick was great. Now I know how I'll look when I'm 172. It was only an hour to take off, but we did it up brown for the cameras."

In two short years, Jonathan Frid has gone from one Of show business' comparatively unsung performers to probably the most popular TV actor whose fans comprise both the young
and the young at heart.

"It's a case of a vampire finding fame as he bites his way to the blood bank," quips Frid.

Left, the cover for FAMOUS MONSTERS #59. Right, artist Basil Gogos' original art.

Collinsport News Bulletins

* ROSEMONT BAY is a tabletop RPG of "supernatural relationship drama" aimed at fans of shows like DARK SHADOWS, AMERICAN GOTHIC and TWIN PEAKS. At least, it will be if it's funded. The game's creators have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help finance the project, and is a little more than half-way toward meeting its $6,000 goal. Check it out!

* The latest installment of DAVID-ELIJAH NAHMOD's new BARNABAS' COLUMN is now up at the FANGORIA website. David takes a look at the career of Jerry Lacy, his lengthy tenure with DARK SHADOWS and his dramatic readings.

* Now is the time to stock up on several DARK SHADOWS books. Amazon currently has LARA PARKER'S first novel, ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT, for a mere $6, while her follow-up, THE SALEM BRANCH, is a stunning $5.20. Meanwhile, KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT and JIM PIERSON'S DARK SHADOWS: RETURN TO COLLINWOOD, is $1.99 on Kindle.

* ANSEL FARAJ, LARA PARKER and KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT participated in the FAMOUS MONSTERS "Stake of the Union" panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif. Footage from Faraj's next feature, DOCTOR MABUSE: ETIOPOMAR, was screened at the event, and the director shared a new photo from the film online (below.)

Lara Parker as Madame Carrozza, Jerry Lacy as Dr. Mabuse, Bahia Garrigan as Christina Novello, Kate Avery as Maria, and Nathan Wilson as Lohemann.

The Graveyard Examiner looks at Dark Shadows

The Graveyard Examiner, a free online magazine published by Famous Monsters of Filmland, has two features about Dark Shadows in its latest edition. The first is about Danny Elfman's score for the 2012 feature film, which gets a favorable nod (and is compared to his classic score for 1989's BATMAN.) The second is a look at the specs for the new DVD release of the complete Dark Shadows television show ... which is mostly just an excuse to try to sell you the product via an Amazon website. Don't you hate it when people do that?

You can read The Graveyard Examiner for free HERE.

Dark Shadows 2012 and Famous Monsters ...redux

The good folks over at The Dark Shadows Forums have uncovered a revised version of the upcoming issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland to feature the upcoming Dark Shadows movie on the cover. I don't have much to say about the change, 'though Depp looks a little ... chunky.

Head on over to the Dark Shadows Forums to see what the fans have to say about both covers. And feel free to leave a comment in the section below!

Dark Shadows 2012 and Famous Monsters

Dark Shadows returns to the cover of Famous Monsters in its April issue. Jonathan Frid is once again gracing the magazine's cover, with Johnny Depp accompanying him. It doesn't appear that the publishers had any further access to the new film's production than anyone else, though, because the art doesn't depict the Depp/Barnabas we've see in recent publicity stills. Still, it's a welcome site.

The summary:

This April Famous Monsters will take a journey through two of TV's most classic series. Return to Collinsport and celebrate the arrival of Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of Dark Shadows. Featuring interviews with cast and crew from the current film and the classic series, we'll leave no shadow unturned as we feature the pair of Barnabi on our cover by Famous Monsters regular, Jason Edmiston. We'll also look back at The Outer Limits, exploring the monsters that made this series a perennial fan favorite, featuring a cover by Bob Lizarraga!

Dark Shadows and Famous Monsters, round 2

Here are scans from the second of several Dark Shadows appearances in Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. I have trouble believing that Forrest J. Ackerman wasn't delighted by Dark Shadows and can imagine him watching the show daily over a bowl of Count Chocula cereal. (If you like the Ackermonster you really need to follow that link.)

The cover is by the great Basil Gogos, who painted a number of covers in the Warren Magazines line, as well as the cover of Hellbilly Deluxe by Rob Zombie. Prints of his Barnabas Collins art are difficult to come by but surface from time to time at conventions and Ebay.

While the coverage is still Barnabas-centric the photos of this issue show a healthy collection of Dark Shadows characters. Also part of the spread are photos showing the transformation of Angelique (a surprisingly iconic moment in the show given that it spanned only 2 or 3 episodes in Dark Shadows 1,100+ episode run.

Dark Shadows and Famous Monsters

Dark Shadows was on the cover of Famous Monsters of Filmland four times during its run, twice for the television show and two more times for the feature films House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. These pages are pretty typical of Forry Ackerman's publication, full of bad puns and unabashed love.