If you’re old enough, you remember the television soap opera, Dark Shadows.

It first aired in 1966. I remember watching this with my mother during the 70s-it was appointment television. When I was older, I watched re-runs and really appreciated gothic sets & campy horror. As an adult, I became a little obsessed trying to find the VHS and later DVDs, of the entire series.

Now it’s being remade by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp for release next year.

For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, it was television show, set in the sixties/seventies about a wealthy family from Maine and the main character is a VAMPIRE! Yes, a vampire. The stories were great, sets wonderful and very low effects. But this was the sixties and it was more than enough for the time. All about suspense and the characters.

Joan Bennett, a famous actress from the 30s & 40s is the matriarch and just beautiful. Perfectly coiffed and always under control. Jonathan Frid is Barnabus, the vampire who is angst ridden about his state. The show went on for 5 years but was abruptly canceled without a real wrap up. Later, movies came out; House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows which were ok, but not the same.

Over the years, Dark Shadows took on a cult status. Festivals, books, movies. Festivals are still going on; I just read the entire gang was in Brooklyn for a Dark Shadows reunion.

It was the original True Blood, Twilight, Vampire Diaries but better and inventive for its time.

Check it out if you dare…..