I loved the 1795 storyline of how Barnabas became a Vampire also the events surrounding it both before and after. This soap opera went where none have gone before or since. It stands alone in it's achievement. Here in America Barnabas is second only to Dracula in Vampire lore. He has gone on to become a slice of Americana. A true American Icon!
Some of the best writing and acting bar none. We would run home at 3pm in the evening to keep up with this on going saga.. No Soap Opera ever touched it and never will. Thanks Dan Curtis.
yes yes the show was and still is very addictive. The many popular Dark Shadows Facebook grps have from 8 to 12,000 Thousands devoted fans who watch the reruns on several streaming video services.
The terrific chemistry between Jonathan Frid and Louis Edmonds was always one of the highlights of the series. And it was never better than it was during these episodes set in the 1790s.
I can never grow tired of barnabas collins of the dark shadows , as a youth i would hurry home , not mis any scene . The era dress is impressive . Forever Collins port , Maine and Barnabas.
I LOVE the fact that the first thing Joshua does when he finds out his son is a murderer is to scold him for not thinking of his mother. That is terrific.
@@evangriner411 Joshua may not have loved Naomi, but he knew Barnabas loved Naomi dearly and that he and Barnabas were not close. Joshua knew that Barnabas would care more about how this would affect Naomi. That's not to say Barnabas didn't care about how it would affect Joshua since he even says he never intended Joshua to find out and later questioned if Joshua and Naomi could go through with him going to trial. His attempts to protect his secret were so the image Joshua and Naomi had of Barnabas before he was turned would stay intact and hopefully Angelique's curse would not affect them more than it had.
I will always love the original! Jonathan Frid was a true actor! I suggest looking at some of his other works on RU-vid! Such a wonderful body of work. Great acting even when just reading Shakespeare.
I have looked at every Frid film, documentary, etc. His reading of "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "When I'm Dead" are especially mesmerizing. He also does a beautiful job with the DS song "Always". He had the most beautiful voice. It could send chills down your spine ("ABIGAIL!!! What are YOU doing h-h-here!!" 😱... or melt your heart ("Julia, NEVER without you..." 😍)
For me personally this is one of the most memorable moments in the whole Dark Shadows series. The 1795 Timeline episodes were magnificent and grandiose.
+Alfredo Garcia Jr or me as a kid the tear jerker was when Barnabas' mother Naomi died in her son's arms. Joan Bennett's acting seemed genuine and you believed that Frid was her son regardless of his older age That was a real heart stopped and then again in 1840 when Human Angelique, shot by Trask, dies in Barnabas' arms before she hears him tell her that he had always loved her.
@@thejupiter2574 Joan Bennett was actually 14 years older than Jonathan Frid. When the series first began in 1966 she was already nearly sixty years of age, but she was so youthful in appearance-well into her old age-that few guessed her REAL age unless they remembered her from her early film career.
Joshua's whole world collapsed on him, and he and his lost son would soon be helpless witnesses to the decimation of the family. These were the best episodes of the series, with Jonathan Frid and Louis Edmonds giving the audience their finest moments as Barnabas and Joshua.
Agreed. The concluding weeks of the 1795 story arc were almost Shakespearean. I'm also a big fan of the couple of weeks building up to the seance that started the 1795 story arc (when Barnabas and Julia call off their tense truce), and the last couple of weeks of Quentin's haunting of Collinwood. And Maggie's kidnapping was so chilling, lest I forget.
You are so right. My father hayed soap operas and sci fi, but the father/son interaction always pulled him into any show -- the Outer Limits, Star Wars. Jor-el puttig Kal-el in the rocket. I don't remember what part of this scene he started watching, but he was.deeply moved -- until Barnabas said, "I am a vampire." Then my father said -- just like,Joshua,would have -- What a lot of nonsense. How can y'all watch this?" And he left the room. Had rhe writing been this,good from the beginning, DS would not have required shifting to ghosts and witches to keep the show going.
Yes. And in my opinion the whole thing is carried by Johnathan Frid. His performance is the foundation of the house that Dark Shadows built and everything else is built upon and revolves around him.
I too watched this as a teen. Got off the bus and right inside, grab a snack and then in front of the tv to watch Dark Shadows. Barnabas was the catalase of this series. Watched all the to the end. Shame it ended... these were actors, stage sets were excellent. Jonathon Fritz’s character was my favorite actor as was his character. It’s sad to watch these episodes and know most of these actors have passed on. I had 2 other shows that I watched after watching Dark Shadows was Malibu U and Shin Dig...
From two veteran stage actors. Frid was too old in real life to be playing Barnabas Collins, who at the very least would have been more than ten years, younger than Frid, and not so sunken-looking. . And Edmonds was too old to play Roger, bu maybe not Joshua.But their acting skills were so good, they made the characters their own .
@@georgewilliams6251 Jonathan Frid certainly WASN'T too old to portray the vampire. Frid was only in his early forties when his character was introduced, and being that he was a VAMPIRE, his taut, world-weary face was perfect for the role. Like Frid, Louis Edmonds was in his early forties and was also-IMHO-not too old to portray either Joshua or Roger Collins. I agree with you that both were superb actors who made the roles their own. An interesting tidbit: Louis Edmonds wasn't-as many assumed- English, but was actually born and raised in SOUTHERN United States.
I wish they would remake this series. Look at the difference in the acting compared to the filth we have today. This series was considered a gothic soap opera, what a novel idea. Long live Barnabas LOL 😄😄😄
I think Louis Edmonds played all his many characters flawlessly. He was excellent as the butler, brother , father and whatever they threw at him. That is so crazy to use the same actor to play several major parts in the same film.
Marilyn Willett, l was so happy to read your comments, you're a breath of fresh air!!!! I think Jonathan would have loved your comments. I thought the producers should've listened to him. I was so alone in my comments, but l stood by them, then you!!!! We may be in the minority, but Jonathan was outspoken, and l think we should be also :-)
I also like your comments. Thanks so much. I'd be thrilled to know he enjoyed my frankness. Whenever Josette opens her loud mouth I turn my volume down. As Frid told Lara Parker; there are a thousand ingenues but YOU have the plum role.
According to Louis Edmonds during an interview, they treated it as theatre and the actors as a repertory company of players. Most were stage and Shakesperian trained to begin with.
what I used to like about louis is that he was able to cover his mistakes so quickly you would never know he made a mistake it was like it was in the script brilliant actor may he rest in peace.
Jonathan Frid's pale skin, jet black hair, facial structure, handsome features, and background in Shakespearean theater made him the perfect actor for the role of Barnabas. He actually looked like a vampire and had the experience for the role.
I was a toddler in the 60s but in 80s my mother put me down with it on Wbff TV. 45 in 1983 and iam proud to say iam a dark shadow fan. Fanatic. I understand y'all. That seen it fresh in the 60s I love it
This is the greatest one for me. I liked others later, like General Hospital in the very early 80's and The Edge of Night (saw the episodes with Gunther in the mid 80's). Dark Shadows is still my favourite, just something highly magical with this one.
@@robsemail ... Though that show was a comical take off of soap operas, I don't know, was it actually a soap opera? I think soap operas are serious dramas, and SOAP was a comedy.
Finally watched House of Dark Shadows 1970.... Barnabas was so mean in this-killed off just about everyone. Only 2 Collins left were Elizebeth and David and then theres Jeff and Maggie..... Like the series better.......
I agree Barnabas in House of dark shadows was unredeemable and not sympathetic at all, here in the soap opera he's conflicted, sympathetic, and your heart goes out to him because you realize that he doesn't want to be the way that he is... he never wanted it.
I wasn't allowed to watch this because of bad dreams But if I was quiet and sneaky I found away. I actually wanted to be a vampire but that didn't happen.
This eas one of the best soap operas of its time. In 1966 i was 7 when it first came on tv. I was a dark shadows fan back then.watched it till 1971. Some actors went on to movies and tv. Kate jackson and david selby.
oh how remember running home from school every day to watch this show as a kid and how I later went to dark shadow festivals as an adult so much fun and even still as a 60 year old man I still watch the show on dvd greatest show ever put on tv.
My younger sisters would hide behind a half wall separating the kitchen from the living room. Scared out of their minds when Barnabas was on... Great times growing up !! Roseville, Michigan...1967.
There is a site called Tubi, which is free. There you will find every Dark Shadows episode, including the bits before Barnabas "arrived" at Collinwood.
I actually met Johnathan Frid .I look at him like he was a god . He look at me like I was a nut . but he didn't call the police . so it was best moments of my life . I also got his autograph .
@@lindalcoomes are not our lives composed of moments ? And our memories the most treasured of these ? Thank you Barnabas , Julia , Willy et al for introducing color and exciting possibility into my imagination and enabling to escape ,if just for a moment , the deal horror of long division and insane demonically possessed teachers , parents and nuns . You taught me that there was hope that evil can be confronted and overcome .
Always loved Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins and thought he was dreamy as a vampire ! Had a big crush on him the part he played and wished I had been one of the ladies hed bite ! He was Aa much nicer kinder vampire than Christropher as Dracula as Dracula was just ruthless and Cruel but Barnabas had a kind heart !
My father hated soap operas. But he would fall for any Father-Son relationship scene. So he sat down and watched this, rapt. He bought the whole scene and enjoyed it deeply up until the moment that Barnabas said, "I'm a vampire." That disgusted him. I think he felt he had been taken.
My list of some of the most memorable moments in Dark Shadows : 1. Josette jumping off Widow’s Hill and then being resurrected by Barnabas 2. Lt. Forbes shooting Barnabas with a crossbow but missing his target. 3. Barnabas introducing himself to the Collins family (esp in the film, House of Dark Shadows). 4. Willie “finding the Collin’s Hidden Jewels treasure inside a coffin”(or so he thought). 5. Dr. Eric Lang curing Barnabas of his illness. 6. Quentin Collins… 7. Barnabas meticulously describing the history of the construction of the Old House to Vicki 8. Barnabas heartbroken, mourning the loss of his Josette while standing in front of her portrait at the Old House. 9. Joshua finding his son Barnabas was still alive. Can you all think of others?
Dark Shadows was BAD ASS !!! I used to go STRAIGHT to the TV and watch this after school at 4 pm !!! ;D WILD time for a Vampire show !! ;D - And my sister had a schoolgirl crush On Barnabas Collins !! ;D
There Is And Never Will Be Any Other Production In TV Entertainment That Will Top This Gothic Romance Thriller SOAP It Is A Unique Masterpiece That Is The Ultimate In Capturing Its Audience With Suspence, Terror, Thrills, Passion, Secrets, Villans, Time Warps, Ghosts, A Phoenix, Vampires And Especially "Barnabas Collins" Tne Vampire You Will Fall In Love With, And The Werewolves And Especially "Quentin Collins" The Werewolf You will Fall In Love With, Its Own Frankenstein, Zombies, Witches Especially "Angelique" So Beautiful But Yet So Evil, Warlocks, The Stories Will Encapture Your Attention You Won't Be Able To Miss An Episode. There Is Just So Much Still I Haven't Mentioned. Believe Me When I Tell You "DARK SHADOWS" Is A Treasure Of Memories To All Of It's Fans. It Is Truly Unforgetable. Thanks To All The Beloved Cast & Crew And Especially To The Man Who Created The Series Thank You ❤ 🕊 Dan Curtis❗
Yes, maybe in True Blood sleeping under floorboards which is not a coffin. Luckily, we can now order the Walk In Coffin, made in America from the finest cypress from Lebanon 🐳👽👽🎬5️⃣2️⃣🎥💰🇳🇴💤
you can't beat this show with a vampire theme. it's being revived (2019) with someone who grew up on the original run, and promises to stay true to it with an updated look.
NO ONE today can possibly stay true to it, and nobody needs an updated look. Today's actors do not have what it takes to be 60's men, and today girls cannot simply wear a flip hair style and pretend to be Carolyn. No.
@@marilynwillett804 but then we don't get to revisit it brought up to date. The show is frozen in time and a new audience won't ever appreciate it because of the dated technology used to bring it to the screen in the first place.
Dark Shadows is back on Decades TV. Check out Decades.com for the cable or over the air channel listing in your area Unfortunately Decades TV doesn't stream over the internet. Decades TV is a great channel.
That is why most Dark Shadows Fans prefer to watch the reruns on streaming video sites like Tubi TV .com and on the IMDB site and on Plex TV and on Amazon Prime starting with the listings entitled "Dark Shadows The Beginning" those sites have all five years of the show
Read in Wilipedia that Dark Shadows was the first soap opera in color. Color televisions were new in those days and gaining in popularity, prompting most prime time programs to be shot in color by 1966.
