I'll never forget her kneeling by the fire and casting a spell and her eyes were so intense and her breast would go up and down as she would breathe and she was just striking
I was deeply touched when Mr. Selby started to get choked up, a bit teary eyed over the memories. I have heard him and Frid and Lara Parker and John Karlen all say that the Dark Shadows group of actors were very much like one big extended family, especially because of their having been reunited at the many Dark Shadows conventions that kept them all connected.
David Selby and Jonathan shared a deep bond of affection and respect. I was deeply moved when David got weepy thinking of his dear friend. He knows, like all Jonathan fans know, that he was one of a kind and that we won't see someone with tons of talent, humility, grace and kindness perhaps ever again.
So ironic that Frid's insecurities playing a vampire along with the butchering of more than occasional lines are the exact qualities that the devoted Dark Shadows fan treasures today.
Hi Dark Shadows fans ! I loved Dark Shadows, couldn't wait till get home from school to watch it. I still do today I can't count the the times I've watched on Tubi Dark Shadows The Beginning and then The Dark Shadows series. I always thought of Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) as most polite and gentlemanly vampire I have ever seen ! Loved him with Ben Stokes and Willie Loomis .My favorite story line was 1795 !
When I first saw the host, Mark, with his full head of white hair and flowing moustache, I thought he was either Hal Holbrook (as Mark Twain) or Will Geer (as Grandpa Walton).
I'm watching the entire series now, and am stricken by how subliminally Jonathan Frid communicates. There's an inscrutable yet dramatic difference between "Evil Barnabas" and "Good Barnabas" when he walks into a room, before he even speaks and no matter the dialogue. I was two years old when Dark Shadows premiered, and used to run and hide under my bed during scary scenes while watching with my family. Even as an adult, I was sure that if I ever saw Jonathan Frid anywhere, I would sense a scariness about him, even though I knew he was an actor merely "playing Barnabas" on the show. He was so believable, and he made such an impression on me, I thought that memory of how scary he was could not be erased from the impression I would get. It's a testament to his acting ability that when I finally saw him for the first time in an interview a few years ago, I felt none of the scary sensations I expected to feel. Just being himself, he came across as a gentle and considerate human being, not the vampire I expected to sense from my ingrained memories of his role as Barnabas Collins.
Mark Dawidziak was the perfect person to host this. Author of many books on things in the media ("The Columbo Phile" and "Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The Twilight Zone" to name two of his many books) in addition to his years at The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper as an outstanding TV & media commentator/critic). He is a die hard *Dark Shadows* fan from way back and has an extensive knowledge of the show and it's history. Well done Mark! 👉👍👍 •
As a young boy in the 60s and 70s Dark Shadows had it all Vampires Witches and Warewolfes all the things a boy loves in a TV show. But I had the biggest crush on Lara Parker ! Angelique bewitched me to this very day But Jonathan Frid saved Dark Shadows and I dearly loved his one man show thankyou to all the cast and crew for the thrills and memories bless you all.
I went to 2 of the conventions, met them all, bought whole series, bought some of their books that they wrote, also have many pics of them with me, was fun.
I use to watch this show when I was an early teen. I still find it fascinating to this day. I bought the complete series off ebay and continously watches it. Love Love Love
One of my Best Birthday gift ever was getting a email from Jonathan Frid I credit him for my Love for old Victorian Homes because the way he loved Collinwood as a child he set it in my mind how beautiful a old home could be by restoring it Thank you Mary for giving us Fans The Jonathan Frid Story
Our local station in Syracuse was so hyper conservative in those days that they moved Dark shadows to the mornings on school days so that we couldn't see it. We had a housekeeper who gave us a blow by blow written description what happened each day. Of course we could always watch it on holidays. But in those days there were no VCRs and no streaming. And they got into time travel and parallel universe stories. Wow
I wasn't born when Dark Shadows hit the airwaves and Barnabas mesmerized the country. Thanks to so many different streaming apps, I am now watching Dark Shadows, and I am thoroughly enchanted by Jonathan Frid's performance of Barnabas Collins. I think he hypnotized a lot of ladies.
I've been a DS fan since the 1960's. Looking forward to the documentary. Mark--I have your Columbo Phile book (first edition). Subscribed to Sheldon P. Catz's Columbo fanzine. Have family near Cleveland who subscribe to the Plain Dealer.
Extraordinary show beloved ❤ watches since I was 8 years old, now I am 59 and watching the reruns intently. What a work of art, Johnathan, David, Laura and all the rest of the actors did such a wonderful job, would love to meet the cast if someday possible. David Selby is still a handsome delightful man, truly enjoyed "Dark Shadows", thank you.
Man O Man I was fanatical about this show from ‘68 to its last episode. I recently streamed some episodes and found that Jonathan was just as charismatic and interesting now as he was back then. Thank you for this cool presentation.
July 27, 2023: LOVE this show. I was terrified of it when I was a teenager, but real life has frightened me more! Dark Shadows has put it all into perspective, especially after learning I come from a family of witches. *New Mexico Witchcraft has been part of the landscape for several generations. Kate
Mark.............such a lovely, thoughtful interview, from wonderful people and actors. And you................remind me of Gepetto fgrom Pinocchio! Thank you much, sir, And thank you cast of Dark Shadows!
This is a video interview to promote the releases of the Jonathan Frid Documentary which will only be shown on itunes and vimeo through an apple device. If you cant see it there then you would have to order it through Amazon , Barnes & Noble or other places.
