The Dark Shadows Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection
Page 7
She participated in theater all the way through school, believing herself headed for the “future profession” of all practical theater students: the fearful high school drama teacher.
However, she went onto the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Upon graduation she was signed by agent Richard Bauman, which led to an informal “come over and chat” meeting with Dan Curtis, who had just begun casting Dark Shadows.
After several readings and a couple of camera tests, Kathryn was cast in the plum role of Maggie Evans, sardonic waitress at the local Collinsport Inn Diner. It would be nearly a year before this caustic Maggie would evolve into the soft-eyed ingenue series’ fans remember with special affection.
Kathryn found herself embarking on a treacherous journey into live-on-tape television. Her sole previous camera experience had been a hair spray commercial. In fact, on that first day on Dark Shadows, surrounded by the likes of Joan Bennett, Mitch Ryan, and Louis Edmonds, Kathryn remembers striking a bargain with the Almighty just to get her through the first day of taping. “I promised God that if He’d just let me get through that show, I’d give it all up and go back to Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Of course, He did—and I didn’t.”
Having similar feelings that day was a young actress named Nancy Barrett, cast in the pivotal role of Carolyn Stoddard, Elizabeth’s daughter. Nancy was originally from Oklahoma, having attended Baylor University in Texas. Leaving Waco, she says she found work “quickly and with great difficulty” in professional theater, appearing in regional productions and then going on to New York and the Broadway stage.
“I’ve always found stage-fright a nourishing emotion,” Nancy Barrett recalls. “I always worked with it, used it to my advantage. Though I admit I spent the last weeks prior to our first shoot on Shadows just dying from it. I mean, there were going to be millions of people out there staring at me, even if we bombed. And some of those millions were my family and other people I liked. People I didn’t want to look bad in front of.”
Roger Collins, reluctant family patriarch and avid dipsomaniac, would be played by Louis Edmonds. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Louis attended the prestigious Carnegie Tech School of Drama. His southern accent had been cultured into a faintly British patois or what Louis termed “affected actor talk.” His talents honed on Chekhov and Shaw, Edmonds found his theatrical background a help on Dark Shadows. “So much had to be conveyed by a look or a gesture,”Edmonds says, “I found myself approaching Shadows like Shakespeare.”
The role of Roger Collins’ chief nemesis, Burke Devlin, would be portrayed by Mitchell Ryan (until mid-1967 when he was replaced by Anthony George). Ryan had grown up in Louisville, Kentucky and where he got his first break with the Louisville Carriage House Players and later at the Barter Theater in Abingdon, Virginia. Regional theater led to professional stagework in New York. And that led to Dark Shadows.
Curtis began the search for what remains one of the most popular “stars” of Dark Shadows. This piece of casting was essential, and would lend the series the image which would follow it into its years as one of the most popular television shows of the mid-60s. And Curtis made the discovery of this most crucial star.
It is an old house in Newport, Rhode Island, popularly known as Seaview Terrace (now the Carey Mansion). This would be Collinwood, the ivy-covered 40-room mansion, home to the Collins clan - at least as far as the exterior image was concerned. It would become a media symbol that would still draw visitors recognizing its connection twenty years after its heyday.
Most faithful viewers of Dark Shadows - remembering as they do its glory days-may find this almost impossible to believe: on that first episode of Dark Shadows, there was no vampire in Collinwood. Nor were there any werewolves, witches, or any variation of the walking dead. As Alexandra Moltke made her television debut, speaking the memorable words, “My name is Victoria Winters...,” the Great House of Collinwood wasn’t even officially haunted.
PICTURE GALLERY
The Journey Begins...
Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) at Collinwood, June, 1966.
Location filming, Newport, Rhode Island: June, 1966, film coordinator Anthony Ciccolini, producer Robert Costello, Alexandra Moltke, Dan Curtis.
Facing page: The first week in the studio: Director Lela Swift and production assistant Harriet Rohr giving notes: Lela, Joan Bennett, Mitchell Ryan, Louis Edmonds, Kathryn Leigh Scott.
Collinwood Foyer: Roger Collins (Louis) and David Collins (David).
Dan Curtis and Joan.
Joan and scenic designer Sy Tomashoff.
Victoria (Alexandra) and Maggie Evans (Kathryn) at the diner.
Vicki in her room at Collinwood.
and Burke Devlin with the per, Mr Wells (Conrad Bain), and Wilbur Strake (Joseph Julian) Blue Whale.
Joe Haskell (Joel Crothers).
Roger (Louis) and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Joan).
Carolyn Stoddard (Nancy Barrett) and Elizabeth (Joan).
Vicki (Alexandra).
Facing Page: Dan gives rehearsal notes: Kathryn, Dan, David, Harriet, Ken McEwen (assistant director), Joan, Nancy, David Selby. Nancy (Charity Trask) and Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins). Louis(Roger), Lara Parker(Cassandra), Jonathan (Barnabas). David Henesy (David), Diana Millay (Laura Collins), David Selby (Quentin Collins). Dan gives notes to Don Briscoe. Carolyn (Nancy) and Chris Jennings (Don Briscoe). Jonathan. Amanda Harris (Donna McKechnie) and Aristede (Michael Stroka).
Above: Maggie (Kathryn) and Elizabeth (Joan).
Left: Rehearsal notes with director Henry Kaplan: Kay Frye (Pansy Faye), Joan (Judith Collins), George DiCenzo (producer’s assistant), Jonathan, John Karlen (Carl Collins) and technicians.
Middle: 1897 Rehearsal: David Selby (Quentin), Terry Crawford (Beth Chavez ), Nancy (Charity).
Right: Lela gives notes to Denise Nickerson (Amy Jennings), Joan, Jonathan, Betsy Durkin (Vicki), Grayson Hall (Julia Hoffman) and technicians.
“Trans-ish!” Hank Kaplan
Jonathan, Sharon Smyth (Sarah Collins), David, Louis in morning rehearsal.
Jonathan in blocking rehearsal.
The werewolf (Alex Stevens), Grayson, Jonathan.
Vincent Loscalzo turns Alex Stevens into the werewolf.
Old-age makeup: Angélique (Lara Parker), Barnabas (Jonathan), Ghost of Jeremiah Collins (Timothy Gordon), Charles Delaware Tate (Roger Davis).
1897: (above) Barnabas (Jonathan), Jamison (David Henesy), Quentin (David Selby); (below) Judith Collins (Joan), Magda (Grayson), Quentin (David).
1897: Rachel Drummond (Kathryn); Barnabas (Jonathan) and Dirk Wilkins (Roger); Gregory Trask (Jerry Lacy) and Judith (Joan); Angélique (Lara).
Dark Shadows 1968
Clockwise: Jonathan Frid, Humbert Allen Astredo, Lara Parker, Louis Edmonds, Grayson Hall, John Karlen, Nancy Barrett, Robert Rodan, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Thayer David.
1795: Peter Bradford (Roger Davis) and Danielle Rogét (Marie Wallace). 1968: Jeff Clark (Roger) and Eve (Marie).
Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) and Joe (Joel Crothers) at the Blue Whale.
Night of Dark Shadows: Angélique (Lara Parker) and Charles Collins (David Selby).
Nicholas Blair (Humbert Allen Astredo).
Collinwood and the Old House.
1841 Parallel Time: Catherine Harridge (Lara Parker), Melanie Collins (Nancy Barrett) and Kendrick Young (John Karlen). 1795: Josette du Prés (Kathryn Leigh Scott) and Natalie du Prés (Grayson Hall), Joshua Collins (Louis Edmonds).
1841 Parallel Time: Daphne Harridge (Kate Jackson), Bramwell Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Flora Collins (Joan Bennett), Ben Stokes (Thayer David) and Carrie Stokes (Kathy Cody). 1840: Samantha Collins (Virginia Vestoff).
1841 Parallel Time: Melanie (Nancy), Catherine (Lara), Daphne (Kate); Julia Collins (Grayson) and Quentin (David).
Opposite: House of Dark Shadows: Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott), Jeff (Roger Davis), Barnabas (Jonathan Frid), Willie Loomis (John Karlen).
Old House Drawing
Room, Collins Mausoleum, 1840 Collinwood Playroom.
Dark Shadows 1990: Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Jean Simmons), Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross), Victoria Winters (Joanna Going), David Collins (Joe Gordon Levitt), Carolyn Stoddard (Barbara Blackburn), Roger Collins (Roy Thinnes) at Collinwood.
Dark Shadows Festival, New York City 1988: (top) Terry Crawford, Louis Edmonds, Donna Wandrey, Diana Millay, Lisa Richards, Jonathan Frid, Marie Wallace, Sharon Smyth; (seated) Clarice Blackburn, Joan Bennett, Lara Parker.
Los Angeles 1989: Barbara Cason, Marie Wallace, Dennis Patrick, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Jonathan Frid, John Karlen, Michael Stroka, Lara Parker, Roger Davis, Chris Pennock, Diana Millay.
ABC-TV Studio 16, 433 West 53rd Street, New York: Jerry; Don; Kathryn and George; Louis and John; Humbert and Lara.
Above: Chris Bernau and Marie; Kate; Geoffrey Scott; David and Denise Nickerson.
Opposite: Jonathan; Terry and David; Joan; Chris; Grayson and Lara; Kathryn and Joel.
Jonathan on Dark Shadows promotional tour, 1968.
1841 Parallel Time: Daphne (Kate) and Bramwell (Jonathan).
1968: Adam (Robert Rodan), Barnabas (Jonathan), Julia (Grayson). 1897: Magda (Grayson), Barnabas (Jonathan) and the Hand of Count Petofi. 1795: Peter (Roger) and hangman.
1970 Parallel Time: Roxanne Drew (Donna Wandrey) and Barnabas (Jonathan). 1897: Laura Collins (Diana Millay); Count Petofi (Thayer David). 1795: Abigail Collins (Clarice Blackburn).
Nancy Barrett and David Selby.
Quentin (David Selby) and David Collins (David Henesy).
Control Room; Joan; Jonathan and Kathryn.
Louis, Lela, Kathryn, Jonathan.
1897: Barnabas (Jonathan), Judith (Joan), Carl (John); Pansy (Kay Frye) and Carl.
1841 Parallel Time: Flora (Joan) and Catherine (Lara); Carrie (Kathy) and Melanie (Nancy); Melanie and Kendrick (John).
1840: Head of Judah Zachery (Michael McGuire), Julia Hoffman (Grayson), Leticia Faye (Nancy).
1970: Ghost of Gerard Stiles (James Storm). 1841 Parallel Time: Morgan Collins (Keith Prentice) and Julia Collins (Grayson).
House of Dark Shadows
Night of Dark Shadows: David, John, Dan; Sam Hall and Dan.
House of Dark Shadows: Lela, Dan, Bill Gerrity (assistant director); Dan and Thayer; John and Dan.
House of Dark Shadows: makeup artists Dick Smith and Robert Layden age Barnabas; Kathryn, Roger, Grayson.
Above: Barnabas and Willie. Opposite: Willie, (John), Jeff (Roger) and Daphne (Lisa Richards); David, Jeff, Sheriff Patterson (Dennis Patrick); Pallbearer (Michael Stroka) and Mrs Johnson (Barbara Cason); Jerry Lacy flanked by writers Sam Hall and Gordon Russell; Jeff; Willie and Carolyn (Nancy).
Night of Dark Shadows: Angélique’s funeral; Laura Collins (Diana Millay), Gabriel Collins (Chris Pennock), Pallbearer, Mrs Castle (Clarice Blackburn), Sarah Castle (Monica Rich) and mourners.
Angélique (Lara Parker) and Charles Collins (David Selby).
Gabriel (Chris) and Reverend Strack (Thayer David); Tracy (Kate) and Quentin (David); Quentin; Carlotta Drake (Grayson Hall).
Quentin (David), Alex Jenkins (John Karlen), Claire Jenkins (Nancy Barrett), Tracy Collins (Kate Jackson). Angélique (Lara) and Charles (David).
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Collinsport was modeled after Essex, Connecticut, and it was there that several cast members, including nine-year-old David Henesy (David Collins), went to film the exterior footage which would be woven into the series over the first year.
“We all rallied up here near ABC in New York about 66th St. and West End Avenue,” recalls series producer Robert Costello. “And everyone turns up with their suitcases, and it was a beautiful day, and here comes David, about ‘yay tall,’ with his mother and sisters. Pretty soon David kisses his mother and sisters good-bye—and I go, ‘Who’s taking the kid, for God’s sake, if he’s kissing them good-bye?’ I’m taking the kid, as it turns out. His mother thought that because I was the producer of the show that David was to be in my charge!
“Well, I put my foot down...and David sat next to me all the way up to Essex, and through the whole trip he was my roommate. The first night in Essex, we shared a room. And so I put the kid to bed - I have four kids of my own—and I go down to the bar to chat with the guys about the upcoming shoot, and a kind of quiet settles on the bar and you look up, and the focus seems to be going to the door, and standing framed in the door is the kid in his jammies looking around for Uncle Bob.
“Back up we go. And this could go on all night! I scrounged a radio from the manager and got a bunch of magazines, turned on all the lights and asked him to please stay there. Some time later I came up and the lights were on and the magazines had slid to the floor and David had slipped off to sleep. He was a wonderful kid.”
On June 13, 1966, the first episode of Dark Shadows was taped - the literal reenactment of Curtis’ dream of the dark young girl. The quarters were close, the temperatures hot and humid inside Studio 2 which ABC allocated for them at 24 W. 64th Street in Manhattan. But they would stay there only a few weeks.
On West 53rd Street in Manhattan stood a two-story beige-brick building with a discreet sign bearing the ABC logo. It was this unpretentious building which would become the gathering place for hundreds of daily “door fans,” who would clutter the sidewalk outside the studio to watch for their favorite stars.
The West 53rd studio, throughout the remainder of the series’ five-year run, would be the interior of Collinwood with all her surrounding acreage and cottages, as well as the nearby village of Collinsport. Soon, that fact would become a matter of immense importance to those schoolchildren making their way past the nondescript building. The sidewalk would no longer be a clear and easy pathway. The street would no longer have free passage. Everything would be very different.
Just two years later, Dark Shadows itself would be very different. It would be deemed worthy of major articles in diverse periodicals such as Saturday Evening Post, The Wall Street Journal, and 16 magazine. The President’s daughter Tricia Nixon would be watching, as would Jacqueline Kennedy-and everyone from football players to prime ministers to movie stars. Actress Jean Simmons (who in 1990 would be cast in the role of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in the NBC-TV primetime Dark Shadows series) watched the show withher daughter.
Joan Bennett, herself a legend to the more mature film audience, would garner a new generation of fans. Eventually she would offer the highly-unlikely comment, “I feel positively like a Beatle.”
At 3:00 PM E.S.T. on June 27, 1966, Dark Shadows debuted. It offered the dramatic retelling of Dan Curtis’ dream. It was described as a Gothic romance, peopled by characters with mysterious pasts. The TV Guide listing for the premiere episode states simply: “Dark Shadows—Serial. This daily drama deals with the life of a young girl, governess to a 10-year-old boy whose family dominates a small fishing village in Maine.”
The storyline began with the arrival of Victoria Winters at Collinwood, the impressive ancestral home of the Collins family of Collinsport, Maine. Victoria has been raised in an orphanage; the only clue to her parentage being mysterious monthly donations from an address in Bangor. Deepening the mystery is the offer of employment as governess to the son of this wealthy Maine family. Determined to find out the truth of her parentage, and certain that the Collins family is somehow connected to her background, Victoria accepts the offer.
Upon her arrival in Collinsport, the locals warn her in true Gothic tradition against any involvement with the Collins family. Maggie Evans, a waitress in the town’s diner, calls her a “jerk” to even consider taking the position. But like any self-respecting Gothic heroine, Victoria completely disregards all advice.
At Collinwood, she quickly becomes aware of the eccentricities of the family. Chief among her household irritations is her charge David Collins, Roger’s son. During the series’ first year, David is angered by plans to send him away to school and settles the matter by sabotaging his father’s car. He w
ill later develop a disturbing affinity with the occult, often keeping company with ghosts.