DARK SHADOWS FESTIVAL JULY 2008 : HIGHLIGHTS
The event welcomed Jonathan Frid to his first Dark Shadows Festival gathering on the west coast in over 15 years. Other guest celebrities included David Selby, Lara Parker, John Karlen, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Jerry Lacy, Roger Davis, Marie Wallace, Christopher Pennock, Robert Rodan, Sy Tomashoff and Robert Cobert.

On Friday evening, July 18, highlights included the screening of original episode #207 from 1967, just prior to the arrival of Barnabas, with the original ABC-TV commercials. The rest of the evening featured various actors (Marie, John, Kathryn and Lara) onstage offer commentary along with DS clips containing scenes of their work, followed by special video screenings.

On Saturday, scenic designer Sy Tomashoff and music composer Robert Cobert offered insights into the production of DS. David Selby enthusiastically bounded into the Marriott ballroom tossing confetti in the air, exclaiming that Quentin Collins should be running for president. He followed with a reminisces of his DS days and discussed his new novel, Lincoln's Better Angel.

In what was undeniably the biggest highlight of the weekend, John Karlen later walked onto the empty stage in character as Willie Loomis, carrying a lit candelabra. He declared he was looking for the Collins family jewels and then, from behind closed curtains, the voice of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins was heard calling out to Willie. Karlen promptly opened the curtains, revealing a chained coffin that he quickly opened, revealing Jonathan (alias Barnabas) inside! Jonathan (Barnabas) then raised his familiar wolf's head cane and commanded John (Willie) to get him out of the wooden box.

Jonathan then hosted a session of clips from DS entitled "The Growth Of Barnabas," followed by a question-and-answer session. After he departed, the rest of the DS cast in attendance came onto stage for a reunion and Q&A period, followed by autographs in the foyer. Saturday evening saw a special preview clip of a restored scene from the 1971 motion picture "Night Of Dark Shadows" and a group of fans participating in the costume gala, dressed as everyone from Nicholas Blair to Angelique.

On Sunday, Jonathan returned with a selection of dramatic and humorous readings and four cast members -- Lara, Roger, Marie and Robert -- performed in character as Angelique, Jeff Clark, Eve and Adam in an original DS script from 1968 that was never produced after executive producer Dan Curtis had it tossed out. The weekend was capped with a Sunday night banquet at which nearly 700 fans dined with Jonathan, Lara, Kathryn, John, Roger, Marie, Jerry and Christopher, enjoying door prizes and video treasures.