Haunted Halloween Party Reports and Photos

The Dark Shadows 40th Anniversary Haunted Halloween Party was held Thursday, October 26, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. Original series guests in attendance were Bob Cobert (composer), Betsy Durkin (Victoria Winters #2), Lara Parker (Angelique), Robert Rodan (Adam), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), and David Selby (Quentin Collins). Also attending were Karen Black (Trilogy of Terror) and Barbara Steele (Dr. Julia Hoffman from the 1991 Dark Shadows).

Black, Cobert, and Steele placed their handprints/footprints in the cement outside the theatre to kick off the evening's festivities. Selby appeared in costume to recite the lyrics to "Quentin's Theme." The evening concluded with an autograph line.

Below are links to various accounts of the event, some of which include photos.

• Dark Shadows Geek Out
• More on the Dark Shadows Festival (though it was not technically a Festival)
• Oh my God
• A Night of Dark Shadows

Selby's Unknown Premieres in November

Unknown, a new independent film starring an ensemble cast that includes Jim Caviezel and Greg Kinnear, will premiere in November. David Selby (Quentin Collins) also appears in the film.

Unknown is part of the IFC Films First Take series. It will be available on demand to cable subscribers and will also play in various theaters across the country. Visit the IFC Films site for more information.

Gay South Florida Mentions Craig Hamrick

Craig Hamrick's passing was noted in the Gay South Florida blog on October 4 by Miami Herald writer Steve Rothaus. Lara Parker (Angelique) is quoted in the article.

(Click here for a September article on Craig's passing from this blog.)

Dark Shadows Theme Featured on Mannheim Steamroller Album

The latest Halloween album by Mannheim Steamroller, Halloween 2: Creatures Collection, features a rendition of the Dark Shadows theme. The 3-disc set includes a music CD, a sound effects CD, and a DVD.

Click here to listen to clips from the album or to purchase a copy from Amazon.

Article Links

Here are links to a few Dark Shadows-related articles that were either sent to me or that I came across in the past few days:

• Comics in Context #149: Forty Years in Shadows by Peter Sanderson - This is a lengthy review of the recent Dark Shadows 40th Anniversary Celebration in Brooklyn. It also includes information about the newest DS offerings: Lara Parker's (Angelique) latest novel, Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch and the Dark Shadows audios from Big Finish Productions.

• Return to Dark Shadows by David Nahmod - A feature from the Bay Area Reporter on actress Lara Parker (Angelique) and her latest novel, Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch.

• A Life Well-Lived in the Theatre by David Nahmod - A feature from the Bay Area Reporter on actress Marie Wallace (Eve) and her memoir, On Stage and in Shadows.

• Gay Icon in Waiting by David Nahmod - A profile of actress Grayson Hall (Dr. Julia Hoffman) and the recent biography, Grayson Hall: A Hard Act to Follow by R. J. Jamison. Visit the book's official web site for more information.