A Chinese startup claims that a revolutionary formula that will lead to a pill to lengthen one's longevity to 150 years.
The Mirror US reported:
A Chinese startup claims to have developed a laboratory-created formula for a revolutionary pill that could stretch human lifespan to an incredible 150 years.
Lonvi Biosciences says its breakthrough formula goes after 'zombie cells' within the body. These aging cells stubbornly refuse to perish and instead linger around, sparking inflammation and age-related illnesses.
This reminds me of an exchange in Dark Shadows between Barnabas Collins and Willie Loomis about eternal life. The pertinent part comes at the end.
A DVD was waiting for me at the post office today.
It was Dark Shadows and Beyond: The Jonathan Frid Story. It comprised of Frid's life and career before, during and after Dark Shadows.
The DVD was interesting. One tidbit of information it contained was that Frid was a heavy smoker and around 1980, he had to have an angioplasty procedure done (been there, done that myself). Following that, he quit smoking cold turkey.
Another was that actor Anthony Zerbe knew Frid well in the stage theatre circuit.
When Dark Shadows was dubbed in Spanish and released in South America years after the show was cancelled in the U.S., Frid went down to help promote it. It became so popular that when Frid appeared during his first trip, he wasn't made up as Barnabas Collins, causing disappointment to the fans there. In a subsequent trip, he came with the cane and ring.
Above, Jonathan Frid, circa 1983. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It has several extras. Unfortunately, about 3 of them wouldn't work. One extra that worked was "The Best of Barnabas", which was released on VHS about 30 years ago.
Other than the problems with some of the extras, the DVD was worth getting.
"Two weeks before "Dark Shadows" made its June 27, 1966 premiere, ABC ran a heavy promotional campaign for the new soap. These are recreations of the promos, except for the fourth promo, which is authentic. The first three had different narration, but I had to use what I have." - Robert Sharp.*
Anniversaries come and go, and some are noticed and some go along unnoticed. This one is getting noticed here and elsewhere.
Here's one that came to light 55 years ago today on June 27, 1966. It was the day that the daytime gothic soap opera Dark Shadows made its debut on ABC-TV.
Until that time, soap operas were targeted to stay-at-home housewives to give them a break from their daily druggery of housework.
The ABC television network was in last place in programming and ratings for daytime television and they needed a show to fill the last slot in their schedule, around 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon. So they decided to take a chance on Dan Curtis's gothic soap opera idea.
At first, the ratings were dismal. The show was about to get the ax after 13 weeks. But Curtis was a good salesman and convinced the network to give it 13 more weeks so he can pull out the stops and inject some supernatural elements.
The first was the introduction of ghosts. That helped the sagging ratings. Then, he introduced the character of Laura Collins (Diana Millay), who was a mythical "Phoenix" who goes into the fires every 100 years to be reborn.
The ratings climbed up even further.
Then, it was decided to add a vampire to the show. Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid). He was originally going to hover in the show for 13 weeks, but became its star until the show's end in 1971. Luckily, the Dark Shadows time slot had it on at the time kids were coming home from school. Kids, who would never otherwise watch a soap opera, were strongly attracted to this one.
The ratings skyrocketed.
I didn't start watching the show until two years after its debut (thanks to my mom).
So, 55 years ago this very day, television history was made.
*The actual promos have since been made available in the DVD/Blu-Ray Master of Dark Shadows that was released two years ago.
Above, John Karlen (far left) at a 1989 Dark Shadows convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Sad news.
Actor John Karlen, best known as Willie Loomis on Dark Shadows and as Harvey on Cagney and Lacey (for which he won an Emmy as Best Supporting Actor), passed away yesterday from congestive heart failure at a Burbank hospice. He was 86.
Karlen was a fan favorite with a great sense of humor when he appeared at Dark Shadows conventions.
Karlen's Willie Loomis freed vampire Barnabas Collins from his chained coffin. A clip from that scene is below.
He had suffered a stroke some months ago, it was reported.
Since we're about a month away from winter, I figured I'll need something to keep myself occupied when it snows outside and I'm holed up inside the house.
It's been months since I ordered the Dark Shadows Collection 8 on DVD, so I ordered Collection 9 this evening.
It features the Adam, Nicholas Blair and Angelique (as a vampire) story lines from 1968. Humbert Allan Astedo played a delightfully evil warlock that, to me, was the best villain during Dark Shadows entire run.
The story synopsis:
Fearing Victoria Winters' safety, Barnabas Collins forces her to reveal her nightmare resulting from Angelique's frightening dream curse, which threatens to make Barnabas once again a creature of the night. The man made monster Adam kidnaps Victoria in an attempt to force Barnabas and Julia Hoffman to create a mate for him. Warlock Nicholas Blair causes Angelique to age and warns that he'll destroy her unless she returns the vampire curse to Barnabas. Nicholas becomes infatuated with Maggie Evans and causes her boyfriend to be the victim of a vampiric attack. After ailing handyman Tom Jennings tries to warn Maggie of the danger surrounding them, Barnabas discovers fang marks on Julia's neck.
Above, Denise Nickerson and Jonathan Frid in Dark Shadows.
Sad news.
Actress Denise Nickerson has been taken off life support a year after suffering a stroke.
Nickerson starred in ABC-TV's Dark Shadows as Amy Jennings.
According to Fox News:
"Willy Wonka" actress Denise Nickerson has been taken off life support one year after suffering a stroke.
Her son Josh, and his wife, Jasmine, announced the news via Facebook on Wednesday. "They just took off all the equipment. None of it was helping, but making her only more uncomfortable. We're telling her it's okay to let go."
Nickerson's family also told TMZ that the 62-year-old has been taken off a respirator and she is no longer receiving medication.
Above, Barnabas Collins about to put the bite on Tricia Nixon.
Back in 1969, a little over 48 years ago, a UNICEF Halloween party was held at the White House during the Nixon Administration. The party's hostess was Tricia Nixon, the eldest daughter of President and Mrs. Richard Nixon.
The party was held for Washington's underprivileged children and there was one big guest of honor: Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) of ABC-TV's soap, Dark Shadows.
This event is not all that surprising as President Nixon had said that Halloween was one of his favorite, if not the favorite, holidays.
Here's a few more rare photographs of that event (most likely White House photos by Ollie Atkins):
A few years ago, I began buying the MPI Dark Shadows original series DVDs.
I managed to get the first five DVDs before stopping. Yes, I know the complete series is available in a box set (around $300), but I did not want to get the whole series.
The last DVD I have has the 1795 storyline in which Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) is back in the past so that how Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) became a vampire is revealed. I was watching some of the episodes in Collection 5 the other day and decided to get Dark Shadows Collection 6.
Above, Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins at a White House Halloween party in 1969.
Last Friday, I checked Amazon.com to see if it was available and it was. So I ordered it. Since I have a special account, I was able to get it with a two-day delivery (due today) with no charge.
As it turned out, I received a telephone call from Amazon and the lady said the driver was looking for my apartment and wondered if he needed to be buzzed in. I gave her the directions to my apartment and within minutes the package was at my door.
The DVD case features Kathryn Leigh Scott as Josette as a vampire with her glued-on fingernail fangs.
Since I had nothing else going on yesterday, I started watching it. I finished the first disc last night. The original air dates for these episodes was in January 1968. I began watching the show a few months later (thanks to my mom).
Talk about great service! I wasn't expecting it until today, but it was delivered one day after ordering.
Above, House of Dark Shadows VHS signed by Jonathan Frid and Kathryn Leigh Scott. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Much of today was spent down in Hollywood with my cousin Ralph.
Before heading to Hollywood, we stopped at Vip's cafe in Tarzana for breakfast.
Following breakfast, we then headed to Amoeba Music on Sunset Blvd. Amoeba Music is a huge store that sells new and used CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and other items of entertainment.
I managed to pick up the last two Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry movies: Sudden Impact (1983) and The Dead Pool (1988). I already have both movies on VHS, but with a price tag of $2.99 each, I figured I'd get them.
But, for me, the buy of the day was a VHS copy of House of Dark Shadows (1970). I already have it on Blu-ray, but the VHS tape Amoeba Music had for sale was autographed by Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans). The price of the tape was lower than what one would expect to pay just for an autograph at a convention. Plus, it can now be considered a "rare" collectible since Jonathan Frid passed away a few years ago.
The selection committee for the 2016 inductees for Canada's Walk of Fame have made their decision.
They are:
Jeanne Beker, Fashion Entrepreneur, Television Personality, Journalist Darryl Sittler, Hockey Player, NHL Corey Hart, Musician Deepa Mehta, Filmmaker Jason Priestley, Actor, Director Al Waxman, Actor, Director (Cineplex Legends Inductee)
Above, Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins.
Unfortunately, actor Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows) was passed over again, despite there being an organized effort to get him as an inductee. Maybe next year.
My CD of "The Original Music From Dark Shadows" arrived in the mailbox today. I am playing it now as I write this.
So far, the sound quality is excellent. I already have this album in cassette, bought when it first came out in 1969. It it well worn (still playable, though).
This edition has some bonuses (the radio interviews) that were not in the original album.
The tracks are:
1. Opening Themes: Dark Shadows/Collinwood
2. I'll Be With You, Always
3. Josette's Theme
4. A Darkness At Collinwood
5. Meditations
6. Night Of The Pentagram
7. When I Am Dead
8. No.1 At The Blue Whale
9. Shadows Of The Night (Quentin's Theme)
10. The Secret Room
11. Epitaph
12. Seance
13. I, Barnabas
14. Back At The Blue Whale
15. The Old House
16. Epilogue/Dark Shadows
17. Radio Interviews (1968)-Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Roger Davis, Humbert Allen Astredo...
18. Radio Interview (1969)-David Selby
One of Hollywood's great make-up artists, Dick Smith, passed away tonight at age 92.
Born Richard Emerson Smith, but best known to friends and fans as Dick Smith, passed away at 11:00 PM July 30, 2014. He was 92.
Above, Jonathan Frid aged by Dick Smith for Dark Shadows.
His work included such films as House of Dark Shadows (1970), Little Big Man (1970), The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974) and Taxi Driver (1975). He also was called upon to age Jonathan Frid (as Barnabas Collins) for several episodes of ABC-TV's Dark Shadows.
Above, Jonathan Frid aged again for House of Dark Shadows by Smith.
The life of Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) is celebrated in a new book from Evil Twin Publishing. Remembering Jonathan Frid is a 200-page paperback that gathers memories and insights from Jonathan's friends, colleagues and fans, illustrated throughout with rare and unseen photographs.
Frid passed away on April 14, 2012, only weeks before the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp Dark Shadows movie was released. Frid, along with former Dark Shadows co-stars Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott and David Selby, appeared in a cameo scene in the movie.
Above, Jonathan Frid, circa 1984. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The paperback book can be ordered through Amazon.com.
Since Halloween is two weeks away, I thought I'd post this "vintage" Halloween photo:
Back in 1969, the White House held a Halloween party and one of the special guests was actor Jonathan Frid, who was in his heyday as Barnabas Collins on the daytime soap, Dark Shadows at the time. In the photo above, Frid is about to "put the bite" on First Daughter Tricia Nixon.
Some trivia: Halloween was President Richard Nixon's favorite holiday, according to Monica Crowley, who served as a special assistant to the former president during the last several years of his life.
