by David Selby
Maggie: Yes ...
(On-air footage begins) Barnabas: You still haven’t answered my question.
The ABC-TV Special Announcement was made after a week of United Nations hearings on the Vietnam War which were carried on ABC stations instead of Dark Shadows in several time zones. To inform viewers of what they had missed, ABC gave storyline recap announcements over the opening credits of several episodes, as listed below. However, the announcement included at the start of episode 251 was too long and to accommodate it, ABC had to delete the first 45 seconds of Act I. That Special Announcement follows:“For those who have missed the last few episodes of Dark Shadows: Elizabeth Collins, at Jason McGuire’s insistance, has taken Vicki, Carolyn and Roger into the basement room and convinces them that it holds no mystery. They don’t realize that beneath the flagstones on the floor is concealed the room’s secret—the body of Elizabeth’s husband Paul. Elizabeth, now realizing that the secret can never be told, announces to the family that she and Jason will be married. Maggie Evans escaped from Barnabas and attempted to get to her father, but was recaptured and told by Barnabas that unless she assumes the identity of Josette Collins, she will die. Realizing that she can never escape, Maggie attempts to destroy Barnabas.”
Other special announcements from this part of the series include the following:Episode 247: “In the last few moments of yesterday’s episode Barnabas Collins discovered that Maggie has disappeared and sets out after her. In the meantime Maggie returns to the garden of her home and is seen by Sam through the window, but when he rushes out to find her she has vanished.”
Episode 249: “In the Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s episodes Maggie runs away from Barnabas and appears outside her father’s house. Sam sees her, but when he rushes out to her she has vanished. Barnabas finds Maggie and puts her in the family tomb. He warns her that she must believe she is Josette Collins or suffer the consequences. But Maggie cannot forget her identity and fears for her life.”
Episode 250: “In Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s episodes, Maggie escapes, is recaptured, and her life threatened. Elizabeth Collins Stoddard allows the family to enter the locked room in the basement. To their surprise they find nothing, for the secret lies safely buried beneath the flagstone floor upon which they are all standing.”
Note: It was later revealed that Paul Stoddard’s body was not buried under the basement room and that Paul was, in fact, still alive.
EMERGENCY LEVIATHAN EPISODE
Episode 915, in which actress Marsha Mason appears as Audrey, a Leviathan vampire, was a special episode created d under emergency circumstances. During this time in the series, Dark Shadows fans complained about Barnabas Collins’ return to evil ways. In an effort to appease viewers and to more clearly explain that the Leviathans were responsible for Barnabas’ behavior, this episode was hastily written, produced and aired. The episode stands alone without affecting the continuity of the previous storyline.
At the end of the previous episode, the Leviathan child Michael tells David Collins that the suspicions of Doctor Julia Hoffman must be dealt it In the opening scene of episode 915, Michael orders Barnabas to kill Julia. When Barnabas refuses, he is subjected to a dream in which the Leviathans , Adlar and Audrey threaten him with, a return to vampirism. Megan Todd appears, and Barnabas is just able to restrain himself from going for her neck. Then Adlar tells Barnabas that the Leviathans have Josette duPrés Collins in their power and will kill her unless he c) Reluctantly Barnabas promises to do their bidding.
Episode 916, which follows, takes up the ot,f from the end of episode, 913/914. Barnabas decides Julia must be made a Leviathan, but then learns she is immune to their power. As the story progresses, Michael turns against Maggie Evans, and Barnabas attempts to help Paul Stoddard. Barnabas learns that the Leviathans do not hold Josette under their power. After the special episode, Barnabas never again fully supports the Leviathan cause.
SHADOWS SERVANTS
Female servants were in short supply on Dark.Shadows, but they led exciting lives.
Victoria Winters, hired as governess at Collinwood in 1966, almost marries the wealthy Burke Devlin and eventually begins a new life in the eighteenth-century with her husband from the past, Peter Bradford,
In 1897, Beth Chavez takes care of Quentin Collins’ mad wife Jenny and provides a contact with the woman who looks after Quentin and Jenny’s twins. Beth believes Quentin plans to marry her but later becomes an ally of the evil Count Petofi.
Maggie Evans becomes governess at Collinwood in 1969 when Victoria leaves. After various harrowing adventures and narrow escapes, she departs with Sebastian Shaw for a rest cure at Windcliff Sanitarium,
Rachel Drummond is brought to Collinwood in 1897 by Edward Collins to e look after his children, Jamison and Nora. She is later shot and killed by Judith Collins while under the influence of vampire Dirk Wilkins.
Angelique Bouchard arrives at the Old House in 1795 as maidservant to Josette duPres. By using her powers as a witch, she ensures that her tenure as a servant is short. After she marries Bamabas Collins, Angélique never again appears as a servant except in a dream, when in 1897 Kitty Hampshire dreams of Angélique as a servant bearing gifts. Angélique is later revealed to have begun life as Miranda duVal, a servant in the l7th century who came under the influence of warlock Judah Zachery. In 1840 Judah takes away Angélique’s powers, and she is shot and killed by Lamar Trask, who believes she is a witch.
‘Mrs. Sarah Johnson is hired at Collinwood in 1966 ostensibly to help Elizabeth Collins Stoddard with the housework, but she is actually a spy for Burke Devlin. Burke has convinced her the Collinses were responsible for the death of Bill Malloy, for whom Mrs. Johnson was a loyal and faithful servant for many years.
In 1795, Nathan Forbes schemes to win Millicent Collins and her wealth. Nathan’s ally, Noah Gifford, delivers a note for Millicent hidden in a fan. Since Nathan plans to disguise Noah as Barnabas, Millicent receives the fan and note from a maid. The maid also appears later in the same episode, when she lets in Peter Bradford who has come to deliver a note to Natalie. Charlotte Fairchild plays the maid.
Magda Rakosi lives with her husband Sandor in the Old House when Barnabas arrives in 1897 By promising to reward her with jewels, Barnabas persuades Magda to help him, although she strongly ohjects to his housekeeping standards. Magda sets the curse of the werewolf on Quentin but later attempts to lift the curse by using the mysterious powers of the hand of Count Petofi.
Nathan Forbe’s room at the inn.
During 1970, the ghost of Daphne Harridge, who has been governess to Carrie Stokes and Tad Collins in 1840, haunts Collinwood. She attempts to counteract the evil influence of the ghost of Gerard Stiles. In 1840, Daphne arrives at Collinwood, having been hired by Quentin to look after the children. She has actually come to Collinwood for revenge against Quentin, blaming him for the death of her sister Joanna Mills. Later she falls in love with Quentin and discovets that the ghost of Joanna approves of their romance.
The first male servant seen on the series is Collinwood’s surly, long-time caretaker, Matthew Morgan. Although Elizabeth Collins Stoddard tells Victoria Winters in 1966 that there are forty rooms in Collinwood, she admits there is only Matthew to do all the heavy work. Matthew is played by George Mitchell for three episodes; Thayer David assumes the role beginning in episode 38. Matthew tells Victoria he was retained by Elizabeth when all the other servants were dismissed eighteen years ago. He adds that before working at Collinwood, he had swept the floors in the cannery, and he has always been grateful to Elizabeth for rescuing him and giving him a good job and his own cottage home. Matthew admits he would do anything to help Elizabeth. When he learns that Bill Malloy intends to make trouble for Elizabeth in the name of justice, he causes Malloy’s death. Matthew’s paranoia grows after he kidnaps Victoria and threatens to kill her. The ghosts of Bill Malloy and Josette Collins join other ghosts in scaring Matthew to death.
Willie Loomis, Jason McGuire’s dr
ifter friend, causes trouble when he joins Jason as an unwelcome guest at Collinwood in 1967. In pursuit of the legendary Collins jewels, he accidentally releases vampire Barnabas Collins, who immediately makes Willie his slave. Willie moves with Bamabas into the Old House and restores it under Barnabas’ direction. Although at first he endures physical and mental abuse from Bamabas, Willie gradually becomes his loyal servant. Fearfully and reluctantly, Willie helps Barnabas and Julia Hoffman with Adam. Willie’s unrequited love for Maggie Evans leads to much trouble for them both. In 1970, Willie is last seen in episode 1106, being dismissed from the room by Bamabas after having chained the coffin of the vampire Roxanne.
In 1795, Victoria meets Ben Stokes, a servant indentured to Joshua Collins. Bamabas has befriended Ben and taught him to read and write. Ben is enslaved by Angelique, who uses him to help with her schemes. Joshua frees Ben at the request of Bamabas just before Ben chains Barnabas in his coffin. Ben Stokes is still alive when Julia Hoffman arrives in 1840. She enlists his help in passing herself off as the sister of Barnabas Collins.
In 1795, Collins servant Riggs, played by Dan Morgan, guards Josette Collins in the hallway outside her room. He is unable to prevent her leaving through the secret panel inside. Earlier, Riggs and another servant carry out the body of Barnabas; the two servants are played by Tim Gordon and Tom Gorman.
Mrs. Johnson’s son Harry Johnson, played by Craig Slocum, is enlisted by Carolyn Stoddard in 1968 to look after Adam, secretly hidden in Collinwood. Carolyn intervenes just in time when Adam is about to kill Harry. Harry is later enslaved by Nicholas Blair.
Dirk Wilkins, Collinwood caretaker in 1897, played by Roger Davis, is enslaved by the phoenix Laura Collins. After being attacked by Bamabas, Dirk dies and rises as a vampire who attacks Tim Shaw, Judith Collins and Rachel Drummond. Edward Collins stakes Dirk in his coffin.
Under a spell caused by Count Petofi in 1897, Edward Collins believes he is a servant, formerly employed by the Earl of Hampshire, who has come to Collm wood looking for work.
In 1970 Parallel Time, Mr. Trask is the butler for the Collinwood family headed by Quentin Collins. Trask is terrified that his part in the seance in which Angélique died will be discovered.
It is also revealed in 1970 Parallel Time that Buffie Harrington is a former servant at Collinwood.
In Dark Shadows’ last episode, set in 1841 Parallel Time, writer Gordon Russell plays Harris, the second coachman, who carries in Melanie Collins Young and places her on the sofa in the Collinwood drawing room. All fear she has been attacked by a vampire, but it is revealed that an animal attacked her.
DARK SHADOWS WEDDINGS
The first wedding planned on Dark Shadows never takes place. In 1967, Jason McGuire is about to marry Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, but at the last moment Elizabeth reveals her belief that she murdered her husband Paul with Jason as her accomplice,
Barnabas Collins kidnaps Maggie Evans in 1967 and attempts to turn her into his lost bride Josette, but with the aid of the ghost of Sarah Collins, Maggie escapes and is confined at Windcliff Sanitarium.
The wedding of Josette and Barnabas in 1795 is called off at the last minute when the bride disappears. Josette and Jeremiah are under a spell caused by Angélique; they are next seen on their wedding night when they realize they have betrayed their families.
Barnabas and Angelique are married in 1795 by Reverend Bland, played by Paul Giles. He also plays Reverend Brook who appeared only a short time before to marry Josette and Barnabas. In the script for episode 397, which includes the wedding, the full name of the bride is given as Angélique Fresne.
It is stated that the wedding of Suki and Nathan Forbes took place on April 8, 1792. In 1795, Nathan and Millicent are married off-screen, as are Roger Collins and Cassandra in 1968, shortly after the end of the 1795 time period.
In 1968, Victoria Winters and Jeff Clark (Peter Bradford) have a rocky road to” : the altar. Roger Collins dreams of their wedding being performed by a minister, played by Timothy Gordon, and wakes determined to stop it. Their real wedding is stopped when Eve gives Peter a note, after which he rushes off to find an empty grave. Victoria and Jeff are finally married, but shortly afterward . Peter fades away, back to his own time. Victoria soon follows him.
In late 1968, Maggie Evans is dressed in her wedding gown, ready to marry Nicholas Blair; but instead he drugs her and attempts to perform the Black Mass so that they may be together forever.
Nicholas Blair (Humbert Allen Astredo) performs the Black Mass with Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott).
In 1897, Judith Collins and Gregory Trask are married in town, as are Samantha Collins and Gerard Stiles in 1840. Both marriages lead to disaster for the bride and to the eventual death of the groom.
In 1970, Carolyn Stoddard first marries Leviathan leader Jeb Hawkes at the Leviathan altar with Nicholas presiding. During the ceremony, Jeb smashes the Leviathan box and altar. Later he and Carolyn are married in the Collinwood drawing room by Reverend Brand with Elizabeth as a witness.
Nicholas Blair (Humbert Allen Astredo) performs the Black Mass with Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott).
During 1840, at the close of episode 1194, Quentin appears a moment too late to prevent the wedding of Daphne Harridge and Gerard Stiles. Daphne has been placed under a spell caused by Gerard. The ceremony is performed by Reverend Johnson.
In 1841 Parallel Time, Bramwell Collins interrupts the wedding of Catherine Harridge and Morgan Collins. Later Catherine and Morgan are married off-screen in the village. Bramwell and Daphne Harridge are subsequently married, also off-screen in the village, just before Catherine tells Bramwell she is pregnant with his child. Melanie Collins and Kendrick Young are later married off-screen in the village. At the end of Dark Shadows’ last episode, the voice-over by Thayer David reveals that Catherine marries Bramwell, who becomes master of Collinwood.
SHADOWS MISCONCEPTIONS
Over the years, several soap opera and televison publications, reference books and fan publications have featured incomplete and inaccurate Dark Shadows articles and cast lists. The following are some commonly printed mistakes.
Jerry Locy.
Humbert Allen Astredo never played a character named Balberith or Diabolos. Balberith was the original name for the 1968 character of Diabolos (who was ; supposed to be the Devil), played by Duane Morris in Episodes 628 and 629. But the name of Balberith only appeared on the scripts and was changed to Diabolos when the episodes were produced and aired. The Dark Shadows Viewmaster reels issued in 1969 added to the confusion by erroneously calling the character Balberith. The mistaken identity with Humbert Allen Astredo likely resulted from the fact that he portrayed a warlock, Nicholas Blair, who was very much the devil’s desciple.
Clarice Blackburn did not play the good witch Bathia Mapes in the 1795 storyline. That role was played by Anita Bolster.
Betsy Durkin, who took over the iole of Victoria Winters when Alexandra Moltke left the series, did not play Victoria in the 1700s. She only appeared in late 1968 present day episodes. Carolyn Groves replaced her for the final two late 1968 present day episodes. Carolyn Groves replaced her for the final two Victoria episodes in the 1796 storyline.
Nancy Barrett did not play a character referred to as “The Woman In White.” That character, mentioned in the 1841 Parallel Time storyline, was never actually seen on screen.
Grayson Hall did not appear as the Ghost of Harriet Collins in 1840. That single appearance was by Gaye Edmonds, who later played Stella Young in the 1841 Parallel Time story.
Jonathan Frid played two roles on the series: Barnabas Collins and Bramwell Collins. He did not portray Abraham Howell in the 1897 story. Philip Cusack appeared as Abraham.
FANG MAIL
Jonathan Frid commanded an intense army of devoted fans, particularly female ones, during the run of Dark Shadows. These women were passionately attracted to the romantic aspects of Barnabas.
Besides writing him thousands of letters each week, some
of the most enthusi- astic followers would gather at Jonathan’s personal appearances.
When Jonathan appeared on the Merv Griffin Show in 1969, Merv refers to “The Frid Girls” waiting for Jonathan outside of the studio. There was also a fan group entitled “The Fanatic Followers of Frid” (aka The 3-F Society.)
Jonathan heard from devoted fans of all ages. During Dark Shadows, Jonathan often averaged 15,000 letters a week with 4,000 during peak periods. Eventually, Jonathan recruited local fans to help him sort his mountains of mail and send replies.
THE ENGL·SH CONNECTION