Ten years ago, we embarked on a 50th anniversary rewatch of Dark Shadows. What began as a celebration of the series quickly became something more — a conversation among fans who shared memories, observations, discoveries, and a continuing appreciation for the strange and wonderful world of Collinsport.
Now, as Dark Shadows approaches its 60th anniversary, we've been thinking about what another revisit might look like.
Rather than attempting to recreate the original rewatch, we found ourselves drawn to a different question:
What have we been looking at all these years without truly seeing?
Throughout the series, the walls of Collinwood, the Old House, and countless other sets are filled with portraits, paintings, books, sculptures, manuscripts, decorative objects, occult artifacts, and curious details that help create the atmosphere of Dark Shadows. Some of these items became the subject of galleries and collections on this blog. Many others have remained hidden in plain sight.
With that in mind, we are launching a new project:
Shadows on the Wall: Rediscovering the Visual World of Dark Shadows
The rewatch will be the mechanism, but the visual archive will be the purpose.
As we revisit the episodes, we'll be paying special attention to the visual world of the series — the objects, artwork, documents, and details that helped bring its stories to life. Along the way, we hope to expand the Collinwood Collection, revisit some of the our existing galleries, and perhaps uncover a few things we missed the first time around.
Each post will include a brief "Then & Now" reflection, a visual observation from the episode, and an invitation for readers to share their own discoveries.
Because one of the great pleasures of revisiting Dark Shadows is realizing that there is always something new to notice.
Whether you've been with us since the 50th anniversary project or are discovering the blog for the first time, we hope you'll join us.
So take another look at the paintings on the walls, the books on the shelves, the artifacts on the tables, and the shadows in the corners.
You never know what you might discover.
John's thoughts: 10 years ago, I recall wondering if I'd make it through six months — let alone five years — of Dark Shadows. I was optimistic, but I really wasn't sure I'd have the stamina. Thankfully, Christine jumped on board early, and the back and forth made it all possible (as had my collaborations with Peter Enfantino on our Thriller, The Outer Limits, Kolchak, and Batman a Day blogs. I almost convinced Peter to join up on Dark Shadows when Barnabas arrived, but he wasn't crazy enough to sign up for a five year mission). This pass should be a lot easier, as there won't be quite as much homework due each week, but I would be lying if I weren't already dreading some of the alternate-universe antics in our future. Thankfully those are still quite a ways away.
Christine's thoughts: When we began our 50th anniversary journey through Dark Shadows, I don't think either of us fully appreciated what a commitment a five-year project would become. Watching more than 1,200 episodes was certainly daunting, but what made it enjoyable was the collaboration. It was the conversations, discoveries, and different perspectives that made each episode feel like a shared exploration.
For me, one of the biggest surprises of the project was how much the visual world of the series captured my imagination. What began with the portrait galleries grew into an appreciation for the artwork, objects, and details that helped bring Collinwood and the world of Dark Shadows to life. I found that the more closely I looked, the more there was to discover.
There is also something uniquely comforting about returning to Dark Shadows. The series creates a world with its own atmosphere and rhythms, one that exists apart from the concerns of the moment. Perhaps that was part of its appeal when it first aired in 1966, and it remains part of what makes revisiting it so enjoyable today. Each time we return to Collinwood, there is another shadow on the wall, another detail to notice, and another discovery waiting to be made.
A few days ago I posted on episode 40 that I was mostly taking this time around to observe details that I possibly lost over in the past. I got curious, and wanted to start at the beginning of your 60th celebration. Lo and behold, i’m finding out that you guys are doing exactly the same thing. How wonderful! Even with all the recycling of props, and reconfiguration of existing sets to create new spaces, it seems there is always something new to see. Good for you guys, for doing the same thing! I’m quite a bit ahead of your current rewatch - well into Adam territory, but still like to circle back to these, the early, meandering, dreamlike episodes where everyone is still earnestly trying to figure out what works. One interesting group of set pieces that will pop up down the road in new & different configurations are the plant shelves and angled “marble” walls of the cozy Collinwood breakfast nook. Again, thanks for being keepers of the flame.
ReplyDeleteThere’s also a nice, witty guy on YouTube who’s doing his own first time DS reaction watch, one episode at a time, learning from viewers about the show as he goes along. Definitely puts me in mind of your own fun, dedicated efforts.
Hello and welcome, Anon! We’re happy to have you join us, and I hope you’ll be inclined to share your observations along the way. My brother John likes to tease me about my attention to detail, and I’m gullible enough to take him seriously whenever he suggests we start tracking some mundane item of little significance. I just wish he would at least learn to recognize the difference between the portraits of Jeremiah Collins and Isaac Collins.
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to have another person around who notices these things and may also appreciate when a coat rack finally appears at Collinwood or when the striped blanket on the Evans couch is eventually replaced by the familiar colorful afghan. You’re absolutely right that even with all the recycling of props and reconfiguration of existing sets, there always seems to be something new to notice.