Speaking of DS's early days (minus Barnabas, of course). It would have been really strange if they went on talking about ghosts but never actually showing one. They were doing that alot in the first 40 eps. Fact is they were originally undecided if they were ever going to show anything supernatural or not.

they did show josette's ghost a couple of times in the early days outside of the old house.

True Bry. But that Ghost wasn't seen until ep #70. Before her appearance we never saw a ghost, vampire, witch, ect.

The good old days of B&W Dark Shadows! LOL!

Dark Shadows didn't start out as a gothic soap opera it was a quest of a young woman Victoria Winters in search of her parents. The show it a snag because there was many of the same type story lines in different soaps so Dan Curtis a big gothic buff deceided to try ghost, they helped but it was still iffy at best and ABC was not happy. So Dan said let's go supernatural and Laura the Phoenix was introduced.

After her demise the story went on to Jason McQuire and the balck mailing of Elizabeth. And the introduction of Willie Loomis. The ratings dipped again and ABC wanted to cancel. The fan letters showed that the Phoenix story was a hit and someone suggested a vampire be introduced and Dark Shadows was from then on billed as a Gothic Soap Opera.

Just think if Dan Curtis kept to the plan Barnabas & Julia would have been dead within three weeks,
thank goodness for fan mail! LOL!

GOOD SUMMARY BATTY. BUT SINCE THE WILLIE-JASON STORYLINE MINUS BARNABAS WAS SO SHORT I REALLY THINK THEY INTENDED TO BRING BARN IN RIGHT WHEN THEY INTRODUCED JASON.

The Jason blackmail story line was suppose to bring up the question of who Vicki's parents were. Dan Curtis ditched the story line with Jason only hinting to Vicki that he was around 20 years before and knew something. Vicki hated Jason so she didn't listen to him. The sceen was in the Blue Whale after Jason was told to get out of town by Sheriff Patterson.

Next thing old Jason became landfill in the secret room. When Barnabas was introduced the ratings skyrocketed and then Julia Hoffman made a hit.

I think Barnabas getting rid of Jason was a major cause of his fan base. Now the 1796-97 story line would have been better if Vicki took on the role of Phyllis Wick but still remebered she was Victoria Winters.