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| Above Left: The cover of The Collinwood Collection Book
III. During the run of the show, several kids would gather at the studio located at 433 West 53rd St. on a daily basis to get a glimpse of, and photograph, their favorite actors. The studio also served as a place where these same kids could gather with each other and share thoughts about their favorite t.v. show. The ideas for some of the fan clubs were probably born during these conversations, and that is why I wanted to use the studio locale as the focal point for the cover of Book III. Stuart Manning did a wonderful job sketching what I had envisioned. (Be sure to visit Stuart's Dark Shadows Journal Online.) A colorized version of the cover art is also available as a t-shirt. Above Middle & Right: Books I & II of the Collinwood Collection featured letters Jonathan Frid wrote home to his mother during the original run of the show, as well as including rare movie paper items, scripts, teen mag articles, laser color photos, and other goodies. |
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Book III of the Collinwood Collection explores the nostalgic and fascinating area of Dark Shadows actors fan clubs. All the major actors on the show had fan clubs during, and in many cases, after, the run of the show. In my research I was amazed to discover just how receptive the actors were to providing information and photos of themselves to the fan club presidents for the various clubs, and just how creative the kids were back then writing fan fic, poetry, and personal accounts of meeting their favorite stars. This compilation book is a robust 230 pages and includes copies of very rare original newsletters of fan clubs for Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, David Selby, Diana Millay, Jerry Lacy, and Lara Parker. Several of the various fan club letters were originally produced in various bright colors (remember, it was the 60's & 70's. HA HA). I decided to follow this trend, and have reproduced each individual fan club's letters in a different color, such as: blue, pink, salmon, gold,tan, etc.
Also featured throughout this special edition of Book III are 10 wallet size photographs of the actors.( color and b&w )They include a 1995 photo of Diana Millay with her fan club president Robert Finocchio, as well as studio days photos
featuring Frid w/his fan club president Carol Gould, Grayson Hall and fan club president Mark Messina, and Jerry Lacy pictured with his fan club president Gloria Lillbridge.
A second printing of The Collinwood Collection Book III is complete. It does
NOT feature the four 8X10 photos that the special edition did, but it does come with laser photos of the 10 wallet size pictures that the
special edition contained. Price of the book is $26.00 + $4.35 priority mail postage w/ delivery confirmation.
For those of you looking for a more economical means of purchasing the books, I am making all three of my
Collinwood Collection books available without the laser color photos for only $18.00 ea. + postage. Postage for books I & II is $3.90 & book III is $4.35. A combined postal rate will be given if you purchase more then one book at the time of ordering.
Below is some feedback I received from posters on these, and other DS related boards, who have already obtained their copy of Book III.......
From Guy:
Hi Bob,
I got the book today and it is impressive, most impressive. The photos are beautiful. I am looking forward to reading it.
From RobinV:
The COLLINWOOD COLLECTION BOOK III is absolutely amazing! I had no idea
you would be including these incredible 8 X 10 color photos, or that it would be so thick and chock-full of such great stuff.
From Steve:
Hi Bob, Just a line to let you know that the new book arrived safe and
sound and looking FABULOUS yesterday. I haven't had the chance to do more than flip through it,
ooh-ing and ahh-ing over all the gorgeous photos. I did read a bit of one of the Diana
Millay magazines. What a lady!
From Tim:
Hi Bob!!
I received DSC 3 yesterday and it is Very Randie!! I still can't believe how good the pics are!!!! AWESOME.
I flipped thru it quickly just to see what was there and I'M DROOLING!! I can't wait to read it!!
From EllisChar:
Bob, you've really outdone yourself! This is PERFECT for any diehard DS fan- especially those who weren't around for "The ABC Years"! It's a time capsule of the original DS fandom, before syndication, PBS, the Internet, and VCRs. I love the idea of the bonus color 8x10s- a real stroke of genius- I have NEVER seen that done in a fan publication of any kind! I will definitely spread the word about Book III
From WidowsHill:
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to drop a note that wow, I like CC III - the photos are wonderful sprinkled throughout - I'm tickled I was able to respond in time to get the special edition. What a glimpse into the past!
From Robert F:
Hi Bob,
I must admit that I couldn't put it down for most of the weekend! I just kept reading and re-reading it. It was interesting, informative
and a major trip down memory lane for me!
From Patrick M:
Hey Bob, just wanted to give you a little preliminary feedback - it's great.
Since I'm a club president, it's very interesting to see what these young people
went thru.
From BetteMCD:
Bob,
I just wanted to know that I received "Collinwood Collection III" and I love it. Even though I am primarily a Grayson Hall fan I have been reading all these fanclub newsletters from cover to cover. It is fascinating to see what the fans (mostly kids then) were writing at the time the show was on the air. When I originally saw the show in it's original run I had no one to talk about it with, and I had absolutely no idea that any fan clubs existed. I am really enjoying reading things from these kids perspectives.
From M. Pate:
Dear Bob,
You've done such an impressively detailed and thoughtful job...even to the perforations of the color photos. It's ironic the stairway through time
storyline began today because your book, itself, is a time warp giving great
nostalgic enjoyment to all original fans and a glimpse into "what it was really like" for new ones.
For more information on The Collinwood Collection: Book III, contact Bob at bobubas@aol.com.
E-mail questions or comments to Bobubas@aol.com. Site content by Bobubas. Site designed and maintained by Criseyde. Visit Criseyde's David Selby Site and her Dark Shadows Alumni Movies site. | ||||||
