When Dan Cashman was about 10 years old, his Dad brought home some videos from the rental store — eight episodes of the Maine-set, supernaturally themed “Dark Shadows” TV series that was on in the late 1960s and early ’70s. By the end of the tape, Cashman was a true “Dark Shadows” fan.
“I’m not sure exactly what hooked me into the show — it was probably a combination of the show taking place in Maine with many Maine references spread throughout the show; the unique premise, at the time, of a TV show that was well written with vampires, werewolves, and witches,” said Cashman, now 33 and known in the Bangor area as the host of “The Nite Show” on WABI-TV. “It was unlike anything else I had seen.”
On the eve of Tim Burton’s stylishly macabre big budget film adaptation of the show hitting theaters — starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, the famed vampire protagonist of the show, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, the family matriarch — “Dark Shadows” fans in Maine are revisiting the series and remembering how an odd, low-budget series from more than four decades ago became such a cult classic.
“I grew up in Columbia Falls, and I remember thinking that ‘Dark Shadows’ took place in my backyard,” said Ben Layman, a local actor and musician who is a self-proclaimed “Dark Shadows” nerd. “All the fog and rain, and the ocean and the trees made me think of the place I grew up. It seemed real to me. I would come home after school, and for almost two years, I’d watch it every single afternoon.”
Though “Dark Shadows” takes place in Maine, it’s not based on any specific place. The way certain locations are described, however, make it seem almost certain that Collinsport, the fictional town from the series, is a combination of several towns in Down East Maine — a little Bucksport, a little Milbridge, a little Bar Harbor, a little Winter Harbor.
“There are all kinds of places in the series that spring to mind as being based on real places,” said Layman. “Widow’s Peak, where Elizabeth tries to kill herself, always seems like Cadillac Mountain to me, or even something like Schoodic Point or Thunder Hole. The house they live in, Collinwood, is so much like all those big, gorgeous, kind of ramshackle Victorian houses in Washington County. And the Collins family comes from a sardine canning fortune, so that’s totally Winter Harbor.”
Cashman, who grew up in Bangor, recalls being excited about the frequent mentions of Bangor.
“On the show they would frequently mention going to Bangor for something,” said Cashman. “I could totally see Barnabas Collins taking Maggie to a show at the Bangor Opera House while trying to court her.”
Both Cashman and Layman intend to go see the movie as soon as their busy schedules allow. Naturally, however, they and the other “Dark Shadows” fans out there will approach it with a little trepidation — Burton is changing some of the things that made the show such a favorite.
“I am [excited] to see how they play with the story line,” said Cashman. “I liked the show for many reasons, but without a good storyline and good writing, the show never would have achieved the following and legacy it has today.”
“I’m glad they’re keeping it alive, so hopefully more people will watch the original,” said Layman. “I’m very curious to see how the comedic aspect that I’m seeing will work. The original took itself seriously but still achieved a kind of campiness, and that’s a really hard tone to strike. I love Tim Burton, but I was hoping this would take more of a ‘Sleepy Hollow’ vibe instead of a ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ vibe. But I’ll still see it. I’ll definitely still see it.”
There will be a midnight showing of “Dark Shadows” at Bangor Mall Cinemas on Friday. Regular showtimes are at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. Showings at Spotlight Cinemas in Orono are set for 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:25 p.m., 7:40 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. Weekend screenings at the Colonial Theatre in Belfast are set for 2:15 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. — in addition to a midnight showing on Friday.
For some reason I think the true Dark Shadows fans are in a for a let down. The movie will be nothing like the TV show. Remember the movie is a comedy, the show wasn’t BUT I am looking forward to seeing the movie. R.I.P. Jonathan Frid, the original Barnabas Collins
Let down to say the least. They could of done so much with such a story line.
“the fictional town from the series, is a combination of several towns in Down East Maine — a little Bucksport, a little Milbridge, a little Bar Harbor, a little Winter Harbor.”
The Gardiner mansion in Gardiner, Oakland is kind of like a small version of the Collinwood mansion.
The original series was shot in Rockland/rockport areas. Some of the homes were used as outside shots, I believe.
I remember running home at breakneck speed to watch Dark Shadows. Perhaps that passion is why I always wanted to move to Maine in the first place. I hadn’t really thought about that; hmmmm?
I don’t have any fears about how Burton might tweak the story line. He is a genious and he has yet to butcher one of his re-imaginings. From what I see this movie will have all of the things we loved about the TV show: fog, ocean, crumbling Victorian mansion, witches, vampires, and above all, camp.
I’ve always liked Tim Burton, but his re-imagining of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and also Alice in Wonderland really really disappointed me.. I have a feeling Dark Shadows will be a hit, but not as much for fans of the original.
From what I have seen of the shorts,it looks more like a comedy. Even though the old one was at times comical I find it somewhat disapppointing
tweak? I think he masacared the story line.
Willy Wonka, Alice in wonderland. Planet of the apes. Batman forever, cabin Boy. the man has had plenty of stinkers. According to your comment you feel none of these films was “Butchered” guess your standards are lower then mine.
You want to talk about cool directors let’s talk about John waters, Woody Allen, Scorsese. Burton is so deep he’s SHALLOW. he’s the type that thinks everyone needs to “get” him.
Big Budgets don’t mean good movies. Neither do special effects
I though the brief prime time 1990s seriers was very true to the original and pretty well done. Of course it only lasted 12 episodes but I don’t think its quality had anything to do with its cancellation. I hope the new movie does not dissappoint true fans of the original series. From what I have seen so far I am not hopeful.
no worries there, from what I see it is a total destruction.
I love sci-fi fantasy.
The original Dark Shadows was as boring as any other soap opera.
Other then a few details this has nothing to do with the Original. Depp is a great actor but he takes some foolish chances. Willy Wonka was horrible and i’m thinking this will be about the same. Tim Burton is SOOO over-rated.
it may have been boring to you, but this is more comedy than thriller
Pay attention plzz.. I was referring to the original when I stated Boring. And really, ya thought I needed to be informed that it was a comedy when I went through a laundry list of Depp and Burton. ? It will be as lame as most of the movies Depp and Burton make. Then again fart jokes are enough for some people aren’t they.
I was paying attention, though the original had more moments than this :)
I LOVED Dark Shadows! I remember how I’d get off the school bus just in time to run into the house and turn on the TV for my daily dose of Barnabas . I thought that David Selby was quite hot in that show too.
This movie has next to nothing to do with the original. People are still commenting as though they aren’t sure. It’s nothing more then sophomoric humor that pleases the masses. To bad real talent doesn’t get the same opportunities as Burton.
When I first heard bout this, I thought this would be a disappointment, saw the previews, still am, the previews tell me it got put through the butcher shop and not “tweaked”
This looks great, I will be checking it out. Maybe we could get an actor or two from the film on “The Nite Show”. (hint hint)
The original Dark Shadows scared the crap out of me when I was a little kid.
In 1994, I put together a panel discussion on horror in tv and film. Kindly, Sam Hall, one of the original writers of the 1970s series, “Dark Shadows,” was kind enough to join in and most gracious.
I have some quotes from an article written about the panel presentation.
Sam Hall: “I wasn’t interested in making the series obsessive. We always made sure the vampire was terribly sympathetic. He couldn’t resist biting.”
“We were filming a series in the Caribbean and the director wanted a real voodoo doctor. He hired one, but decided he wanted another who was more authentic and fired the first one. The next day, everyone got very sick, and everyone was scared that it might have been voodoo.”
Here’s a link to an epilogue written by Sam Hall that unravels some of the unexplained and unresolved story lines http://www.collinwood.net/features/misc/epilogue.htm He is married to the late Shirley Grossman/Grayson Hall, the actress who played Dr. Julia Hoffman in the original tv series.