As some of you know, Dark Shadows was recently commisioned onto DVD. Here are the DVD release dates:

Already Released
DVD Collection 1 (#210-250)
DVD Collection 2 (#251-290)
DVD Collection 3 (#291-330)
DVD Collection 4 (#331 - 371)
DVD Collection 5 (#372 - 412)
DVD Collection 6 (#413 - 452)

Scheduled Releases
DVD Collection 7 (#453 - 492) (08.26.03)

Originally posted by Burke Snow Winters
As some of you know, <i>Dark Shadows</i> was recently commisioned onto DVD. Here are the DVD Release dates:

Already Released
DVD Collection One (05/28, #210-250)

Future Releases
DVD Collection Two (08/28, #251-290)
DVD Collection Three (09/28, #291-330)

I want a DVD Player *cries* Hopefully I'll get one soon LOL

What about episodes 1-209? Are they just putting the episodes that Barnabas is in on DVD?

Originally posted by Silver Daze


What about episodes 1-209? Are they just putting the episodes that Barnabas is in on DVD?

They're going to release #210-1245 first on DVD, then after those are released they're going to put #001-209 on DVD. On the first disc of collection one, there's a 15 minute 'wrap up' of the first 209 episodes.

Originally posted by Burke Snow Winters


They're going to release #210-1245 first on DVD, then after those are released they're going to put #001-209 on DVD. On the first disc of collection one, there's a 15 minute 'wrap up' of the first 209 episodes.


OK. I just wondered. Is this the first soap to make it to DVD?

Originally posted by Silver Daze



OK. I just wondered. Is this the first soap to make it to DVD?

Yep. It was the first soap to air in reruns, the first soap to be released on video tape, and now the first soap to be released on DVD.

Originally posted by Silver Daze




I bet the cast and crew are happy about this. Do you think other soaps will make it to DVD or reruns? I'm hoping Passions has a chance in reruns!! :D

Hmm I dunno. I'd doubt they'd be rerun on NBC/ABC/CBS locals and on PBS like DS was, but I can see them being rerun on SoapNet or another cable channel. Back in the early 90s USA showed reruns of another ABC soap opera, "The Edge of the Night". DVDs are possible too I guess, maybe a week or two's worth but I'd doubt that since some of the more popular soaps have been on for decades. "Passions" I would think would haev the most chance of going on DVD since currently it has the least amount of episodes among the current daytime soaps. If any soaps do run in syndication, I'd doubt that they would haev all the episodes. I've read that when Dark Shadows was put into syndication on ABC/NBC/CBS locals and PBS, that only #210-470 were included in it. So maybe one of todays' soaps have a chance of going into it, like say "Passions" if it went into reruns would maybe contain the first years worth of episodes.

Originally posted by Silver Daze



I heard about the local channels airing certain episodes of Dark Shadows but I didn't think it was true. Passions is sort of like Dark Shadows so I am going to hope that Passions will make it in reruns when it ends next year or the year after. I don't think Passions will last as long as most soaps. The writers like to drag stuff out for a long time. Plus Passions don't have very many fans. Dark Shadows was on PBS? I never knew that.

Yep, in the 80s it aired on many a PBS station. It's hard to tell if a soap opera will go in syndication since no recent soap has ever been in it. It all depends on if local stations want to air the show *shrug*

DVD Collection 3 (#291-330) has been pushed back until October 29th. DVD Collection 4 (#331-371) will be released some point in January. After that, every two months a new DVD collection should be released - hopefully!

Originally posted by Sean Snow
DVD Collection 3 (#291-330) has been pushed back until October 29th. DVD Collection 4 (#331-371) will be released some point in January. After that, every two months a new DVD collection should be released - hopefully!


Did you ever get a DVD player? They are 60 bucks at Wal-Mart if you want one. After watching HODS I am interested in buying collection 1 to see Barnabas. I love his character he is my all time favorite from the show. Thanks for letting me know. :wave:

Originally posted by Silver Daze

Did you ever get a DVD player? They are 60 bucks at Wal-Mart if you want one. After watching HODS I am interested in buying collection 1 to see Barnabas. I love his character he is my all time favorite from the show. Thanks for letting me know. :wave:

I'm getting a DVD player in December. First DVDs I'm buying are the 3 DVD collections. I'm looking forward to the third one because they come right before the episdoes that were the first I saw. Hopefully MP will release them bimonthly instead of quarterly cause then we'd get six DVD sets a year instead of four.

Originally posted by Silver Daze
May I ask, why did they decide to release DS episodes on DVD?

The videos they released from 1989-1995 of the show were the best selling videos for MPI Home Video, so I guess since the videos don't sell as well anymore they decided that fans would want to buy the show on DVD even if they have them on video.

Will The Leviathan storyline be put on DVD?

If they stick to a bimonthly schedule (which I doubt they will since they've changed the dates for Collection 2 & 3 a lot), the first episodes should be out in March 2005 and the rest coming out bimonthly after that. But that's just a guess, they might slow it down, as they've done with Collection 2 & 3.

Originally posted by Silver Daze



Well thats no fair. I have to wait 3 years or more to see them!!!! :( Also I read they are un-cut episodes on DVD, does SciFi cut out scenes? Oh well I guess I could record The Leviathan Storyline when scifi gets around to it. I think you said in spring or summer of next year right?

Yep, spring or summer. Sci Fi airs them uncut because soap operas have way more commercials then primetime shows. An average episode of DS is 20 to 22 minutes, and in reruns of shows they usually cut 'em down to 22 minutes. If the show didn't run long enough, they had extra long credits. If the show ran 22+ minutes, they would only have the Dan Curtis Productions logo at the end.

Originally posted by Silver Daze



So that explains why the Dan Curtis logo is at the end of most episodes. I always wondered why Scifi didn't air the closing credits at the end of most episodes. Thanks for telling me. You know one hour soap operas now adays are only 37 to 36 minutes and thats without the opening/closing credits. I know I recorded a couple of soaps, like Passions & All My Children.

Yeah I have the first episode of DS with the commercials, and they're soo annoying! They come up every few minutes. And most of them were so boring:sleep2: well except the Sunshine Rinso ad they played during it ;)

DVD Collection 3 was completed ahead of time and is now shipping to stores and to people who preordered it!

Originally posted by Sean Snow
DVD Collection 3 was completed ahead of time and is now shipping to stores and to people who preordered it!

What storylines are on the collections? Is the 1795 storyline on DVD yet?

Originally posted by Silver Daze


What storylines are on the collections? Is the 1795 storyline on DVD yet?

Well there's the first Barnabas one, the Blackmailing of Elizabeth, Burke and Barnabas fight for Vicki's affection, The ghost of Sarah Collins haunts Collinwood, Dr. Woodard starts catching on to Barnabas and Julia. The first five episodes of 1795 will be released in January on Collection 4.

Originally posted by Sean Snow


Well there's the first Barnabas one, the Blackmailing of Elizabeth, Burke and Barnabas fight for Vicki's affection, The ghost of Sarah Collins haunts Collinwood, Dr. Woodard starts catching on to Barnabas and Julia. The first five episodes of 1795 will be released in January on Collection 4.

Just to make sure there are 40 episodes in each collection? Also why is collection 3 cheaper than collection 1 & 2?

Originally posted by Silver Daze


Just to make sure there are 40 episodes in each collection? Also why is collection 3 cheaper than collection 1 & 2?

Yep, there are 40 episodes per collection, 4 discs with 10 episodes on each with a bonus interview on each disc (except on DVD 1, Collection 1. A overview of #1-209 is included instead). They are not cheaper. I'm assuming you mean Amazon.com prices LOL. For some reason, everytime a new collection coems out they raise the price of the first two. The retail value is $69 or $59 I think, but most stores sell em a few dollars cheaper.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
I'm assuming you mean Amazon.com


:lol: Yep I mean Amazon.com, thats where I order my videos. I saw collection 3 is $45 dollars and collections 1 & 2 are $50 dollars I think.

DVD Collection 4 comes out on Febuary 25th, afterwards the releases will be bi-monthly now! DVD Collection 3 hasn't showed up in many stores yet, only people who pre-ordered it from MPI seemed to have gotten it.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
DVD Collection 4 comes out on Febuary 25th, afterwards the releases will be bi-monthly now! DVD Collection 3 hasn't showed up in many stores yet, only people who pre-ordered it from MPI seemed to have gotten it.


So collection 5 will come next year in March after collection 4? After that every month they will release a collection? I hope they follow through with this so I can buy my favorite storylines of DS on DVD, the 1795 storyline and The Levithan storyline. Thank you for the news! :wave: Just to make sure collection 4 is the 1795 storyline right?

Originally posted by Silver Daze



So collection 5 will come next year in March after collection 4? After that every month they will release a collection? I hope they follow through with this so I can buy my favorite storylines of DS on DVD, the 1795 storyline and The Levithan storyline. Thank you for the news! :wave: Just to make sure collection 4 is the 1795 storyline right?

If it stays on track, Collection 5 will come out in April, Collection 6 will come out in June. Though it is subject to change. Collection 4 has the first five episodes of 1795.

DVD Collection 4 will be the first DVD set to include new interviews. The ones on the first three were on the Collectors Series videos and were from the late '80s. The new ones on Collection 4 are of Dick Smith (make up), Robert Costello (producer), Sam Hall (writer), and Lara Parker (Angelique). These, to my knowledge, are brand new, although they may have appeared on the Dark Shadows Behind the Scenes video. Other new interviews that I know of that will be included in future releases will be one with Alexandra Moltke (a more recent one, not the one from the '80s on DVD Collection 2)

Interviews on the Other DVDS:

DVD Collection 1
Disc One: None (Introduction in Place)
Disc Two: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins)
Disc Three: Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans)
Disc Four: John Karlen (Willie Loomis)

DVD Collection 2
Disc One: Dan Curtis (Creator)
Disc Two: Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard)
Disc Three: Dennis Patrick (Jason McGuire)
Disc Four: Alexandra Moltke (Victoria Winters)

DVD Collection 3
Disc One: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins)
Disc Two: Sharon Smyth (Sarah Collins)
Disc Three: Louis Edmonds (Roger Collins)
Disc Four: Lela Swift (Director/Producer)

Also, Shadowgram reports that DVD Collection 5 is expected to come out in April, Collection 6 in June, and possibly after that there may be monthly releases!

Yay! I'm going to be getting all three DVD Collections this month :) One I'm getting on my own (Collection Three) and the first two are for my birthday and Christmas. I'm looking forward to getting them.

In other news, DVDs 4-6 are still set to be released on their original release dates. Which is pretty much a miracle with MPI. ;)

I got DVD Collections 2 and 3 today. They are so amazing! The image is very clear, and I love how many episodes they were able to fill into one collection alone. A lot better in quality then the Sci Fi broadcasts, and better then the VHS releases. And I love the opening, which has you going through the woods by Collinwood.

Here are some screencaptures:
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images/menu.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//barnabasfamilyhistory.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//barnabassips.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//burkedevlin.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//davidwoods.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//drwoodard.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//ghostsarah.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//juliaholdscap.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//vickibluewhale.jpg
http://members.aol.com/seands1966/images//willieloomis.jpg

Which DVD collection is better 2 or 3?

Originally posted by Silver Daze
Which DVD collection is better 2 or 3?

I've only viewed #250-265 on DVD Collection 2 and I haven't viewed any full episodes on DVD Collection 3, so I can't really tell yet.

Originally posted by Silver Daze
Sean you have to let me know when the 1897 storyline is released on DVD. I love this storyline a lot! Todays ending was so cool when Barnabas sneeked up behind Laura & Dirk at the grave yard. The lightening flashed making him look scary. I LOVE IT!! I can't wait until tomarrow.

The last one MPI has announced, DVD Collection 6, will have episodes #412-451 (or around that) so it'll be awhile. Probably the earliest it will be released would be in 2004. I agree, I'm looking forward to 1795, 1897, and 1840 being on DVD.

Also, there is another DS DVD from 1999 called the Dark Shadows: Special Edition DVD. It's not as good as the new DVDs though, IMO. I got it on Friday. This is what was on it:

- "Dark Shadows: Behind the Scenes"
1 hour documentary with interviews with Dan Curtis, Alexandra Moltke, Louis Edmonds, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Jonathan Frid, David Selby, Lara Parker, Diana Millay, Michael Stroka, Donna Wandrey, Marie Wallace, Jerry Lacy, and archive footage of Kate Jackson and Joan Bennett. I enjoyed this feature a lot. It was nice seeing the actors and actresses reminisce about the series. From 1991

- "Dark Shadows: Nightmares & Dreams"
1 hour clip show with dreams and nightmares from the show. The earliest is from the Barnabas storyline, the latest is from 1841PT. I enjoyed seeing clips of some of the dreams that I have not seen before - like a dream where David takes Liz to a house of mirrors at a carnival and he appears to be fat and he shows her the mirrors. They both end up laughing. I dunno why though, which is my major gripe with this. There is no announcer, or anything like that to tell why the person is having the dream and when they were having it. From 1991

- "Inside the Shadows"
23 minute minute documentary with Dan Curtis talking about the show. Pretty good insight into what he thinks.

- "On Location"
20 minute documentary hosted by Nancy Barrett. She goes to some of the places where they taped location footage. This has the worst quality of anything on the disc. The voice does not match Nancy Barrett's lips because apparently they had to re-do the audio. The clips they show from the series are also messed up, with the video flickering and very shaky.

- "Spanish Episode: #289
Just a dubbed version of episode 289. It's interesting, lol. They added some errie organ music during the opening voiceover. Also, Josette's Theme (the first one, not the second one used on the show from 1795 and beyond) was replaced with some other music box music. During the opening, the Spanish announcer announces the title - "Sombres Tenebrosas!" The actors in this episode (and the dubs) are Alexandra Moltke, Nancy Barrett, Grayson Hall, Jonathan Frid, and John Karlen. It was interesting to watch.

Extras in this set:

- Commercials
Six commercials are included on this part. The first two are for House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. I didn't really like the NODS one, however another one is shown during the Behind the Scenes feature which is much better. The third commercial is for the Barnabas Collins game from Milton Bradley, featuring Jonathan Frid and Terry Crawford. The fourth commercial is with Jerry Lacy and Marie Wallace in an anti-persprint commercial. The fifth is of Humbert Allen Astredo as a soft hand loving jewler in a Jergens commercial. The final one is of Roger Davis on an aftershave commercial.

- Promotional Commercials
The first one is for DS before it's run started, or right after it started. It shows David Henesy looking out a Collinwood window with an announcer telling audiences to watch what goes on at Collin's House. The second is a 1795 commercial inviting you to go along with Victoria Winters to discover the 'secret of the chained coffin'. There are four or five more from 1984 for the New Jersey Network, a group of PBS stations. Jonathan Frid is asking for donations in them.

- Photo Montage
Around 7 minutes of pictures while music plays. The images move around instead of staying in one spot.

- Program History
A program history of the show, of course, lol.

- Outside the History
Filmography of the acting work the cast of DS has done in the horror genre.

Dark Shadows DVD's 5 & 6 have been announced, here are the planned release dates:

April 29th - Dark Shadows (Set 5)
June 24th - Dark Shadows (Set 6)

Originally posted by Impressions
Dark Shadows DVD's 5 & 6 have been announced, here are the planned release dates:

April 29th - Dark Shadows (Set 5)
June 24th - Dark Shadows (Set 6)


Cool thanks for the info :)

Here is the cover of DVD Collection 5, which has episodes #372 - 413. I think it's 413 at least.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
Here is the cover of DVD Collection 5, which has episodes #372 - 413. I think it's 413 at least.


How cool Angelique gets to be on the cover. Thanks for posting that Sean :)

ShadowGram has announced the interviews that will be included on DVD Collections 5 & 6. Here they are:

DVD Collection 5
- Jonathan Frid
- Jerry Lacy
- Kathryn Leigh Scott
- Robert Cobert (composer)

DVD Collection 6
- Roger Davis
- Lara Parker
- Louis Edmonds
- Sy Tomashoff (set designer)

DVD Collection 7 (#453 - #492) is slated for release on August 26th, 2003.

Around September 30th, 2003, a special DVD will be released, entitled Dark Shadows Reunion. It's main feature is footage from the Museum of Television & Radio tribute to the show from 2001. Guests at the tribute included Robert Cobert, Ken McEwen, Sy Tomashoff, Mitchell Ryan, Roger Davis, Nancy Barrett, Alexandra Moltke Isles, John Karlen, Jerry Lacy, Kathryn Leigh Scott, James Storm, Lela Swift, Lara Parker, Dan Curtis, Kate Jackson, Christopher Pennock, and David Selby.

Bonuses for the DVD include the complete 1969 apperance of Jonathan Frid on The Merv Griffin Show, a pair of commercials for DS from 1969 in which Kathryn Leigh Scott appeared, and a behind-the-scenes music montage from the tribute.

There is also a Dark Shadows Bloopers DVD in the works.

Some information from Shadowgram (http://mrjuggins.topcities.com/gram/gram.htm)

Here's some upcoming release information:

DVD COLLECTION 8
Release: October 28, 2003
Episodes: #495 - 535
Interviews: Dan Curtis, John Karlen, Leonard Goldberg, and Jim Pierson.

DVD COLLECTION 9
Release: November 25, 2003
Episodes: #535 - 574
Interviews: Alexandra Moltke, Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, and Robert Rodan

DVD COLLECTION 10
Release: January 27, 2003
Episodes: #575 - 614
Interviews: N/A

Is Quinten in set 9? Where are then in the story? Which dvd in the set has the Frid interview?

The into on Collection One is very good. It gets you familliar with the show :D

I got a newsletter from MPI today about all their DS DVDs and merchandise. First off, the episode numbers were off a tad from what I posted: DVD 8 has episodes #493-533, DVD 9 has episodes #534-573, and DVD 10 has episodes #573-613.

DVD Collection 10 [#573-613] will feature interviews with Alexandra Moltke (Victoria Winters), John Karlen (Willie Loomis), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), and Matthew Hall (son of Grayson and Sam Hall; he also wrote for the '91 series).

Originally posted by vhshunter
Is Quinten in set 9?

No, he is not. His first appearance is in DVD Collection 11.

Dark Shadows: DVD Collection 11
Date: March 30, 2004
Episodes: #614 - #655
Summary: Julia Hoffman discovers wound marks on Barnabas' neck and realizes he is under the control of a vampire. Roger Collins attempts to prevent Victoria Winters from marrying Jeff Clark after he dreams the wedding will bring doom to her. After Chris Jennings arrives in Collinsport to investigate the death of his brother, a werewolf attacks a barmaid at the Blue Whale tavern. Victoria warns Nicholas Blair to keep away from Maggie after learning he has proposed marriage. David Collins and Amy Jennings explore the closed-off section of Collinwood, where they discover a disconnected old telephone and the mysterious spirit of Quentin Collins. Convinced that the mansion is being possessed by evil forces, Professor Stokes calls in a medium to investigate.
Bonus Interviews: Dan Curtis (executive producer/creator), Marie Wallace (Eve), Nancy Barrett (Carolyn), and Alexandra Moltke (Victoria).
Starring Jonathan Frid, Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, Grayson Hall, Lara Parker, Roger Davis, Joel Crothers, David Henesy, Humbert Allen Astredo, Donald Briscoe, Denise Nickerson, Marie Wallace, Robert Rodan, Clarice Blackburn, Betsy Durkin, Cavada Humphrey, Conrad Bain, David Selby, Terry Crawford, and Alexandra Moltke.

Thanks for the reminder & did you know that SCI-FI Channel is airing or was airing the shows in the morning hours of ten??