TV Cult Classic 'Dark Shadows' Celebrates 40 Years

TV Cult Classic 'Dark Shadows' Celebrates 40 Years

CHICAGO, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, the legendary Gothic mystery- romance series DARK SHADOWS, from Emmy Award winning creator/producer Dan Curtis (who passed away at age 78 on March 27), celebrates four decades as a cult television favorite. An anomaly among traditional daytime dramas in the '60s, the soap's lasting influence has crossed over to modern film and television vehicles such as Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Interview With The Vampire and the soap operas Passions and The Bold and The Beautiful, whose themes have dealt with the supernatural and occult.

The Story Behind The Shadows

DARK SHADOWS debuted June 27, 1966 and ran until April 2, 1971 on ABC-TV as an afternoon serial patterned in the style of the traditional Gothic novel. Set in the fishing village of Collinsport, Maine, the series revolved around the ghostly goings-on at Collinwood, the eerie estate of the wealthy and mysterious Collins family. Within a year, the popular character of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), a sympathetic 175-year-old vampire, was introduced and DARK SHADOWS became a phenomenon among teens, college students and parents alike. Frid and other male leads became teen heartthrobs and graced the covers of numerous fan magazines. The show attracted 20 million viewers at its peak in 1969 and also spawned a Billboard Top 20 soundtrack album and hit single that year with Quentin's Theme.

The Shadows Lives On

Since the series ended, two feature films were released by MGM: House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1971). NBC-TV also broadcast a primetime revival miniseries and the original show enjoyed a recent ten-year re-airing on the Sci-Fi Channel. In July, actress/writer Lara Parker (Angelique the witch) published the novel Dark Shadows - The Salem Branch (Tor Books). Audio dramas starring the original cast are currently being produced for CD and a new feature film is planned. The series' place in pop culture history has long-been secured with videos, countless fan clubs, conventions, websites and a vast array of collectible merchandise.

Get DARK SHADOWS on DVD! MPI Home Video will release the final episodes of the series with Dark Shadows DVD Collection 26 on September 26, 2006 ( http://www.darkshadowsdvd.com/ ). With over 1,000 episodes available, DARK SHADOWS holds the record for the series with the most number of episodes issued on VHS and DVD.

Celebrate 40 Years of Dark Shadows

The DARK SHADOWS 40th Anniversary Festival will be held from August 25-27 at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (333 Adams Street, Brooklyn). More than a dozen members of the original cast will be in attendance, including: David Selby (Quentin Collins), Lara Parker (Angelique), John Karlen (Willie Loomis), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask), Donna McKechnie (Amanda Harris). Festivities include autograph signings, Q&A sessions, a costume contest and dramatic performances. For more information, visit: http://www.darkshadowsfestival.com/

MPI Home Video is a subsidiary of the MPI Media Group. Formed in 1976, MPI Media Group is a leading independent producer and distributor which creates original programming for distribution in broadcast/cable venues; the home video and educational markets; and, the WPA Film Library, one of the largest commercial film archives in the United States.

EDITORS' NOTE: Interviews are now available with cast members. Artwork
and clip footage is also available for promotional use. Contact Chris Hester,
information below

Source: MPI Home Video

CONTACT: Chris Hester for MPI Home Video, +1-708-873-3191, Fax:
+1-708-873-3177, chris.hester@mpimedia.com

Web site: http://www.mpimedia.com/
http://www.darkshadowsfestival.com/
http://www.darkshadowsdvd.com/

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