The servant problem on original DS - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ficlopri · 08-22-2003, 02:54 AM

In the 1795 Collinwood (and the Old House) there are supposed to be a lot of servants in the house. With ALMOST no exceptions do we ever see any. It's wrong! We are supposed to think they're at leaast 10 people or more working in that house and they are all totally unaffected by the all ghosts, witvches, zombies, ect existing in around the great house(s). They should never have supposedly had a small amy of unseen servants (save for maybe an unseen outside gardner) around Collinwood. Its too taxing to the imagination where these servants are all the time. They should have at least had a servant who regularly answered the door. The situation is often the same for other periods of DS, save for the 1960's (as it was established Liz fired all her hired help, with a single exception,in the 1940's).

Batty_ds · 08-22-2003, 08:00 AM

Hello,

In 1796-97 there was Ben Stokes and Briggs and Victoria Winters (in place of Phyllis Wick) and in one episode 3 other un-named servants who carried Jeremiah's coffin out of the Old House.

In the 1960'There was Matthew Morgan and Mrs. Johnson was hired because of her service to the late Bill Malloy who was close to Elizabeth and a Governess Victoria Winters. The reason for the limited help being Elizabeth closed off the East and West Wings. So until the other "Guest " arrived there was only 4 Collins' for Mrs.Johnson to care for. I would assume Vicki helped with some household duties.

ficlopri · 08-22-2003, 07:20 PM

Hello yourself Batty. Matthew Morgan was the one exception I already mentioned (without name) that Liz didn't fire in the late 40's. Even with only 4 people to usually care for C'Wood is huge and requires a lot of maintenance (and even if some of the house is closed off). And in the 1795 storyline Ben Stokes was one of around 10 servants the Old House had. Practically no mention of his relationship early on with the rest of those servants. It was close to being made to look as if Ben was the only servant in the Old House 99.99% of the time.We should have regularly saw at least one other regular Old House servant along side Ben (Angelique was Josette's maid from Martinique, she doesn't count). Ultra-beautiful Vicki Winters as Sarah's governess doesn't count as a servant.
In another 1795 ep taking place at C'Wood Millicent has a maid with her for a second. We never saw that maid before and we never see her again. I hate it:0)! The main (usually rich) characters at C'Wood and The OLd House do too much of the work themselves and its silly they're usually the only ones affected by the ghosts, vampires, witches, ect when all those servants are often just upposed to be a room over.

Sean Snow · 08-22-2003, 08:56 PM

Yeah, they never seem to show any servants other than the main characters. DS seemed to completely cease using extras after it went to color. It's too bad. But I never really pay any attention to that factor. There's no real purpose for them on the show other than to be there, so *shrugs*.

I think the servants aren't affected because most of the events seem to plague the Collins family and those closest to them.

hoosierelvisfan · 06-22-2005, 10:43 AM

OK, when I first started watching the dvd sets, I didn't give to much thought to exactly "who" the Collins were descended from. But now that I'm watching set five and set six and the storyline is based in 1795, I'm beginning to question where exactly the Collin's name was derived from??????

In other words, who was Elizabeth Collins-Stodard and Roger Collins descended from?????? If Joshua and Naomi Collins only children were Barnabas and Sarah and they both "died" and then also Jeremiah Collins (Joshua's brother) also died. Who were Elizabeth and Roger descended from????????

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

Sean Snow · 06-22-2005, 11:51 PM

The present-day Collins family is descended from Daniel Collins, who had two sons, Quentin and Gabriel.

hoosierelvisfan · 06-23-2005, 09:04 AM

OK, thanks for that answer. Getting back to the original topic of this thread (i.e., the servants, or lack thereof. . . .) I actually noticed the same thing myself while watching D.S. For a supposedly wealthy family, there are surprisingly few staff, workers there. LOL! This is true of both "modern" Collinwood and "old" Collinwood. But I guess it would have been a problem with the budget to have "extras" running in and out of the scenes that basically would be nothing more than "moving scenery." (i.e., they would be in the backround but that would basically be it). But on the other hand it does make you wonder as you are watching the episodes, where are all the servants at????? LOL!

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

AB · 03-05-2007, 08:52 PM

I imagine it was very hard to get & keep servants at Collinwood due to all the
supernatural occurences they had there. The townspeople were probably
wary of even going near the place.

08-22-2003, 02:54 AM	#1
ficlopri Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2001 Location: Methuen, Ma.USA Posts: 659	The servant problem on original DS In the 1795 Collinwood (and the Old House) there are supposed to be a lot of servants in the house. With ALMOST no exceptions do we ever see any. It's wrong! We are supposed to think they're at leaast 10 people or more working in that house and they are all totally unaffected by the all ghosts, witvches, zombies, ect existing in around the great house(s). They should never have supposedly had a small amy of unseen servants (save for maybe an unseen outside gardner) around Collinwood. Its too taxing to the imagination where these servants are all the time. They should have at least had a servant who regularly answered the door. The situation is often the same for other periods of DS, save for the 1960's (as it was established Liz fired all her hired help, with a single exception,in the 1940's).

06-22-2005, 10:43 AM	#5
hoosierelvisfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Location: I do not like TV Land any longer!!!!! Posts: 467	Who are the "modern" Collins descended from?????? OK, when I first started watching the dvd sets, I didn't give to much thought to exactly "who" the Collins were descended from. But now that I'm watching set five and set six and the storyline is based in 1795, I'm beginning to question where exactly the Collin's name was derived from?????? In other words, who was Elizabeth Collins-Stodard and Roger Collins descended from?????? If Joshua and Naomi Collins only children were Barnabas and Sarah and they both "died" and then also Jeremiah Collins (Joshua's brother) also died. Who were Elizabeth and Roger descended from???????? Signed, Respectfully, Dutch
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08-22-2003, 08:00 AM	#2
Batty_ds Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 6	Hello, In 1796-97 there was Ben Stokes and Briggs and Victoria Winters (in place of Phyllis Wick) and in one episode 3 other un-named servants who carried Jeremiah's coffin out of the Old House. In the 1960'There was Matthew Morgan and Mrs. Johnson was hired because of her service to the late Bill Malloy who was close to Elizabeth and a Governess Victoria Winters. The reason for the limited help being Elizabeth closed off the East and West Wings. So until the other "Guest " arrived there was only 4 Collins' for Mrs.Johnson to care for. I would assume Vicki helped with some household duties.

08-22-2003, 07:20 PM	#3
ficlopri Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2001 Location: Methuen, Ma.USA Posts: 659	Hello yourself Batty. Matthew Morgan was the one exception I already mentioned (without name) that Liz didn't fire in the late 40's. Even with only 4 people to usually care for C'Wood is huge and requires a lot of maintenance (and even if some of the house is closed off). And in the 1795 storyline Ben Stokes was one of around 10 servants the Old House had. Practically no mention of his relationship early on with the rest of those servants. It was close to being made to look as if Ben was the only servant in the Old House 99.99% of the time.We should have regularly saw at least one other regular Old House servant along side Ben (Angelique was Josette's maid from Martinique, she doesn't count). Ultra-beautiful Vicki Winters as Sarah's governess doesn't count as a servant. In another 1795 ep taking place at C'Wood Millicent has a maid with her for a second. We never saw that maid before and we never see her again. I hate it:0)! The main (usually rich) characters at C'Wood and The OLd House do too much of the work themselves and its silly they're usually the only ones affected by the ghosts, vampires, witches, ect when all those servants are often just upposed to be a room over.

08-22-2003, 08:56 PM	#4
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	Yeah, they never seem to show any servants other than the main characters. DS seemed to completely cease using extras after it went to color. It's too bad. But I never really pay any attention to that factor. There's no real purpose for them on the show other than to be there, so shrugs. I think the servants aren't affected because most of the events seem to plague the Collins family and those closest to them.

06-22-2005, 11:51 PM	#6
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	The present-day Collins family is descended from Daniel Collins, who had two sons, Quentin and Gabriel.

06-23-2005, 09:04 AM	#7
hoosierelvisfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Location: I do not like TV Land any longer!!!!! Posts: 467	OK, thanks for that answer. Getting back to the original topic of this thread (i.e., the servants, or lack thereof. . . .) I actually noticed the same thing myself while watching D.S. For a supposedly wealthy family, there are surprisingly few staff, workers there. LOL! This is true of both "modern" Collinwood and "old" Collinwood. But I guess it would have been a problem with the budget to have "extras" running in and out of the scenes that basically would be nothing more than "moving scenery." (i.e., they would be in the backround but that would basically be it). But on the other hand it does make you wonder as you are watching the episodes, where are all the servants at????? LOL! Signed, Respectfully, Dutch

03-05-2007, 08:52 PM	#8
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	I imagine it was very hard to get & keep servants at Collinwood due to all the supernatural occurences they had there. The townspeople were probably wary of even going near the place.