'Dark Shadows' Star Reflects on Show's Impact

Dark Shadows has often been referred to as an anthology series, drawing on great literature for its metaphorical plotlines. The children who raced home from school to catch the show were probably unaware they were watching adaptations of such classics as Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula or Frankenstein, but these timeless stories likely contributed to its enduring popularity.

We functioned much like a repertory company, with each actor portraying multiple roles in different time periods, wearing wigs, capes, satin waistcoats and brocade gowns. We were also innovative, weaving ghosts, a glamorous phoenix, a dazzling witch, a mutton-chopped werewolf and a handsome warlock into our stories, complete with eerie special effects — and theme music that topped the Hit Parade. These days, I use “Josette’s Theme” as the ringtone on my cellphone.

The series ran for four glorious years, replaced by a cheap-to-produce game show. It was rumored that Brandon Stoddard, the ABC television executive who pulled the plug on Dark Shadows after 1,225 episodes, fled his office by a back entrance to avoid irate fans.

However, Dark Shadows has never been “off the air” — although that “air” today encompasses digital platforms and streaming services that weren’t dreamed of when the series originated in black and white on one of only three broadcast networks in 1966.

Continuous replay also means that Dark Shadows actors receive residuals, a rarity for casts of soaps. Our show has the distinction of launching a cable network, spawning three motion pictures and multiple series reboots, inspiring dozens of novels and nonfiction titles, as well as a syndicated comic strip, bubble gum cards, phonograph records and board games, podcasts and a network of fans so devoted that thousands show up to attend cast reunion festivals.

To celebrate the show’s anniversary, I’ll be joining my castmates at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel July 31-August 2 for the Dark Shadows 60th Anniversary event, open to the public. It will also be our last Dark Shadows festival — a nostalgic send-off for fans and actors who have gathered annually since 1983.

To honor the show’s enduring pop culture history, I’ve co-written Dark Shadows Legacy with screenwriter John Logan, a longtime fan of the show. The coffee table book includes insightful recollections by actors and vintage behind-the-scenes photographs from the original 1966 series, the three feature films — House of Dark Shadows (1970), Night of Dark Shadows (1972), Dark Shadows (2012) — and the 1991 revival series starring Ben Cross and Jean Simmons.

Perhaps our greatest legacy is in service to all the youngsters for whom a scary, spooky afternoon TV show became a safe haven. We provided a half-hour escape from the fears and anxiety that are part of growing up. All kids want to feel that they belong, that they fit in and that they are accepted for who they are.

Dark Shadows, with its cast of eccentrics, loners, rebels and otherworldly characters, celebrated the other, the outsider, the outlier and the “not us.” The show provided a place to explore and ponder those yearnings to belong. That, and the scary, spooky plots and characters, is the magical lure of the show that keeps fans and Dark Shadows stars coming back for more.

Here is how to attend the Dark Shadows anniversary weekend.