Oct. 26, 2023
'Dark Shadows' was taped and broadcast in black-and-white for the first year of its run. The jump to color was made on Aug. 1, 1967
The interior of the Collinwood mansion was built in a studio in New York City. The exterior was a real house, but it wasn't in Maine. It was in Newport, Rhode Island.
'Dark Shadows' started its ABC run as a Gothic show -- no ghosts, no werewolves, no vampires. The focus was on Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke), who takes a job as governess to a young boy at a gloomy mansion in Collinsport, Maine.
Dan Curtis, then known for producing gold programming at the networks, said the idea for 'Dark Shadows' came to him in a dream. After the soap opera ended its run in 1971, Curtis produced 'The Night Stalker,' which set the ratings record for TV movies. Greater acclaim was ahead as the producer and director of the landmark miniseries 'The Winds of War' and its sequel, 'War and Remembrance.'
Ranked #19 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!" (May 30, 2004 issue).
The story outline for the show was titled "Shadows on the Wall". Other titles considered were "The House on Widows' Hill" and "Terror at Collinwood" before the producers finally decided upon "Dark Shadows".
The top-billed 'Dark Shadows' star was Joan Bennett, who was cast as matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard on the show, started in silent films in the 1920s as a young girl. She appeared in over seventy Hollywood films such as "Little Women" (1933) and "Father of the Bride" (1950) with the likes of Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby and Edward G. Robinson.. Her father Richard Bennett was a star, as was her sister, Constance. Joan played the matriarch (Judith Collins) of the Collins family.
Facing cancellation, Curtis rolled the dice and took his daughters' suggestion to make the show spooky. He added a ghost, then a phoenix. Then, in April 1967, Barnabas Collins came knocking at the front door of the family mansion, Collinwood. He claimed to be a descendant of the original Barnabas Collins, who supposedly went to England in the 1790s. He was, of course, the original . . . and a vampire.
Jonathan Frid didn't know how to play a vampire, and nobody could tell him. A trained Shakespearean actor, he decided to play the conflict and unease of a character adjusting to a new century. The original plan was to have Barnabas on the show for only thirteen weeks, and as a stock villain. The character was so popular that he was retained until the end of the series. Barnabas evolved into the star of the series and became a hero, the vampire with a heart of gold.
Cast members
Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard), and Lisa Blake Richards (Sabrina Stuart) originally auditioned to play Victoria Winters.
Actor Bert Convey was originally considered for the role of Barnabas Collins.
Jonathan Frid didn't pose for the famous portrait of Barnabas that hung in Collinwood because they had not yet cast the part. Line producer Robert Costello did. The face was left blank until the actor was hired. The portrait was the last image shown on the last episode.
According to Jonathan Frid, he had a habit of losing Barnabas's iconic 'silver' wolf's head cane. These were purchased in bulk from a vendor near the New York studio where the series was taped.
Kathryn Leigh Scott was one of the first people hired for the show. Upon her arrival for work one day she saw the costumer and make up people trying to create a dummy for the ghost of Josette Collins. She asked if she could wear the white flowing dress and portray the ghost herself and they agreed. They didn't let it die there. When Barnabas was introduced, it was further explained that Josette was his long-lost love, and Scott played that part when the storyline jumped back to the year 1795. They had her coming and going, so to speak.
The role of Dr. Julia Hoffman was originally supposed to be "Julian" Hoffman, and portrayed by a man. In the first episode in which this character is mentioned (before appearing on-screen), Dr. Woodard specifically referred to Dr. Hoffman as a "he", claiming him to be "one of the finest men I know." Before the role was cast however, writer Bob Costello mistakenly mentioned the name as Julia Hoffman and the show's creator, Dan Curtis, grabbed onto that and said, "Yes, let's make it a woman doctor". The character description was typed up, and the name "Julian" became "Julia".
Frid started playing Barnabas well after the series started (episode 211 in April 1967) appearing in about half of the episodes thereafter, with the last time being the final show (episode 1245 in April 1971).
For more than a year and a half, the characters of this show used almost every possible phrase to refer to Barnabas Collins ("He's not alive!", "He's one of the undead.", "He walks at night, but he ain't alive.") It wasn't until the 410th episode that the word "vampire" was used on the show.
Fan interest in Barnabas inspired questions about how he became a vampire. The answer was Angelique, played by Lara Parker as a witch, then a vampire, then a witch again. She became one of the show's most popular characters.
Of the portraits of prominent characters that were featured on the show, the portrait of Josette duPres Collins is the only one that does not bear the likeness of the actress who portrayed her,
Kathryn Leigh Scott. This is due to the fact that in her early appearances as a ghost, Josette was covered in a veil. Since Ms. Scott volunteered to portray the character uncredited as she was already playing Maggie Evans, it was not a big deal since the veil covered her face and she was shown from a far enough distance, thus the television audience would not be able to tell it was her. When Barnabas Collins was introduced and, ultimately, the 1795 storyline was established, the character and background of Josette duPres Collins were more fleshed out, it was decided that Maggie Evans beared a striking resemblance to Josette, ultimately leading Ms. Scott continue to play the role. Hence the discrepancy of likeness between the actress and the portrait.
The popularity of 'Dark Shadows' ignited a merchandising boom, with all kinds of products licensed through Dan Curtis Productions. They included two series of trading cards (five to a pack with a stick of gum), the first known as the pink series featuring Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins,
Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie Evans, Lara Parker as Angelique and Humbert Allen Astredo as the warlock Nicholas Blair.
The succcess of the pink cards led to a second series, the green cards, which focused on the 1890s storyline featuring Barnabas (Joanthan Frid) and Quentin (David Selby).
The show's music was issued as an LP with recitations by Jonathan Frid and David Selby. The 'Dark Shadows' music was composed by Robert Cobert, who would work on many of Dan Curtis' subsequent productions, including 'Winds of War' and 'War and Remembrance.'
"Charlie's Angel" star Kate Jackson got her start on “Dark Shadows” playing a mute ghost named Daphne who always left the scent of lilacs when she had made a visitation. Another "Angel", Jaclyn Smith, was married to "Dark Shadows" star Roger Davis. She was tested for the replacement of the original Victoria Winters, but although Dan Curtis thought she was very beautiful, he didn't like her screen test. She didn't get the role.
The series was ABC's first soap opera to appear in color, beginning with the August 14, 1967 telecast. Many shows which transitioned to color endured radical set overhauls, but following some screentesting, the crew discovered they didn't have to change a thing.
There are a total of 28 episodes of "Dark Shadows" (1966) that exist only as black and white kinescopes, as the master tapes of those episodes are presumed lost.
The first victim of a vampire was Maggie Evans (
Kathryn Leigh Scott), by Barnabas Collins during the spring of 1967. The last victim of a vampire was Lamar Trask (Jerry Lacy), by Roxanne Drew (Donna Wandrey) during the 1840 storyline.
The role of Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) was only supposed to last a few weeks, but her interaction with Barnabas was a hit with the writers and the fans. When another writer was needed, it was Hall who suggested her writer husband, Sam Hall, to the show's creator, Dan Curtis.
The character of Quentin Collins was created at the request of Jonathan Frid, who asked that a second villain be brought in to lighten his workload. Selby wore fake muttonchop sideburns for his earliest appearances as Quentin, then grew his own.
Kathryn Leigh Scott, who had played Maggie Evans in the series and first 'Dark Shadows' film, left the show in September 1970. Already in decline, the supernatural soap opera only had a few more months to run.
The series ended its run on April 2, 1971, after 1,225 episodes. Jonathan Frid did not appear in the second film, 'Night of Dark Shadows,' which was released in August 1971.
Shortly before the show was cancelled, David Selby was written out because he developed appendicitis and had to undergo surgery. After he recovered, he starred in the final theatrical spin-off, "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971), which was filmed immediately after the series ended.
The first daytime soap opera to appear in syndicated reruns. A selected batch of episodes was syndicated in the U.S. from 1975 to 1990 (a years' worth - beginning with Barnabas' release and ending abruptly during the Dr. Lang episodes). Then, in 1992, the Syfy Channel obtained exclusive rights to rerun all 1,225 episodes.
The show was the first daytime soap opera to have three motion pictures based on it, and a revival series: "House of Dark Shadows" (1970), "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971), "Dark Shadows" (2012), and "Dark Shadows" (1991).
Most trivia items from IMDB
Listen to my fascinating conversation with actress Kathryn Leigh Scott by clicking on the links below. Enjoy!
Episode 37 - HERE
Episode 38 - HERE
