A recent Marie Wallace interview.

 

 

Is its relatively short run (for a soap opera) the reason why Dark Shadows gets rerun so frequently?

6 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Is its relatively short run (for a soap opera) the reason why Dark Shadows gets rerun so frequently?

 

That, plus it has always had a huge, die-hard cult following, and is popular with kids, teens and men as well as women. I think programming directors think its "new" audiences may be bigger and more diverse than if they reran Peyton Place (for example). DS' stories are often self-contained and come to an end before another one begins. It appeals to nostalgia. All its episodes were saved. I'm sure there are many reasons why DS is chosen for syndication  over other vintage serial-type programs.

Why Netflix hasn't swooped down to reboot it I haven't a clue. I assume it may be Dan Curtis' family's rights. It's incredibly doable.

Nearly all of the episode were cliff-hangers.   I don't think that too many were self contained.

The first time-travel (Victoria's trip to the past) will always be my favorite storyline.

20 minutes ago, Scrapple said:

The first time-travel (Victoria's trip to the past) will always be my favorite storyline.

 

Yes, I think that and the original story introducing Barnabas were the show's "greatest hits," so to speak.

 

Great stuff!

Call me weird, but I kind of liked the Pre-Barnabas episodes better... all the characters had development/focus.  Once Barnabas and Julia came into the picture.. all of the characters outside of them lost any development/dimension. 

 
Between the Phoenix and 1795, there was a good balance between supernatural and soap opera... but once 1795 ended, the show became about which horror story to adapt and less about the character.

On 10/25/2018 at 9:24 PM, danfling said:

Nearly all of the episode were cliff-hangers.   I don't think that too many were self contained.

 

I did not say that the episodes were self-contained, I was referring to the stories, which had a beginning, middle and end, and ran for months rather than years and years.

 

Other soaps of that period had storylines that went on forever (like the Mickey/Laura/Bill saga with the secret of Mike's paternity, on DAYS, which lasted ten long years). DS' stories are easier to watch because you know you are not going to age beyond 90 years old before you see how they end, LOL.

Edited October 28, 20187 yr by vetsoapfan

I never thought about it, but you are right, vetsoapfan. There was very little "overlap" of stories. Everything was about one storyline until it ended, then another one began...unusual for a soap.

Soaplovers, I am in agreement.   I think that the original story by Art Wallace was the best part of the show.

I had no idea this was happening: Master of Dark Shadows, a massive new doc about DS and Dan Curtis, narrated by Ian McShane.

Ian McShane? How random. Money talks, I guess.

Hey, it's a good choice!

I read an article about that today. It would be great if we got a surprise interview with Alexandra Isles, nee Moltke.