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Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood: Return to Collinwood - 50th Anniversary Anthology
Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood presents a look back at four decades of the successful spooky soap opera that made sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins a pop culture phenomenon and prompted the big-budget, big-screen Warner Bros. revival starring longtime fan Johnny Depp, directed by Tim Burton, that premieres May 11, 2012. With the ongoing fascination for all things vampiric, this audiobook about the making of the new film and the history of the original series will be an enticing volume for new and old fans alike.
The suspenseful Gothic tales of Dark Shadows center on the wealthy but tormented inhabitants of the mysterious Collinwood estate in the small fishing village of Collinsport, Maine, where the powerful Collins family has been haunted for generations by vengeful curses and other supernatural secrets that span the centuries.
The suspenseful Gothic tales of Dark Shadows center on the wealthy but tormented inhabitants of the mysterious Collinwood estate in the small fishing village of Collinsport, Maine, where the powerful Collins family has been haunted for generations by vengeful curses and other supernatural secrets that span the centuries.
- GenresNonfictionHorrorTv
Audio CD
First published April 3, 2012
25 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Leigh Scott
65 books154 followersKathryn Leigh Scott is an author/actress.
Her novels: September Girl (2019); Jinxed (2015); Down and Out in Beverly Heels (2013); Dark Passages (2012)
Recent nonfiction: Last Dance at the Savoy (2016); Now With You, Now Without (2017)
Kathryn has appeared in Blacklist with James Spader (2019); Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York (2019), soon-to-be-released The Eleventh Green (2019) with Campbell Scott, and Three Christs with Richard Gere and Juliana Margulies. She's also appeared in Hallmark Channel's Broadcasting Christmas (2016), Lifetime's A Wedding to Die For (2017), and has a recurring role as George Segal's girlfriend Miriam on The Goldbergs.
She wrote Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood (2012), and appeared in a cameo role in the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film Dark Shadows (2012). She is recording the audiobooks of all 32 Dark Shadows novels by Marilyn Ross, published 1966-1970.
Kathryn grew up on a farm in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Upon graduation from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kathryn landed the ingénue lead in the classic Gothic daytime drama Dark Shadows (ABC, 1966-1971), and starred in the 1971 MGM feature House of Dark Shadows. Kathryn played four roles in the series: Maggie Evans, Josette du Pres, Lady Kitty Hampshire, and Rachel Drummond. Kathryn wrote Dark Shadows Memories to coincide with its 20th anniversary, and Dark Shadows Companion as a 25th anniversary tribute.
Kathryn launched Pomegranate Press, Ltd., to publish books about the entertainment industry, including guide books, biographies, textbooks and coffee table art books. She wrote The Bunny Years (the 25-year history of Playboy Clubs told through the women who worked as Bunnies), which was sold to Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer. She also co-produced a two-hour special for the A&E Network and a one-hour documentary for BBC-1 and Canadian TV, based on the book. Pomegranate has published over 50 nonfiction titles, including Scott's books Lobby Cards: The Classic Films (Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Coffee Table Book) and Lobby Cards: The Classic Comedies, both of which were published in the UK by Bloomsbury. She published a trade paper edition of the hardcover biography Coya Come Home, with a foreword by Walter F. Mondale.
Kathryn's theatrical credits include a lengthy run with James Stewart in Harvey in London's West End. She has appeared in many television series and miniseries, including the "Who Watches the Watchers" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Barbara Taylor Bradford's Voice of the Heart, as Dan Travanti's wife in Murrow, as George C. Scott's mistress in The Last Days of Patton, as Philip Marlowe's girlfriend in Chandlertown, and as a series regular with Brian Dennehy in Big Shamus, Little Shamus. Feature films include Providence, The Great Gatsby, Brannigan, The Greek Tycoon, Assassination, 187, Parasomnia, and Dr. Mabuse.
Kathryn maintains homes in Los Angeles and New York.
Her novels: September Girl (2019); Jinxed (2015); Down and Out in Beverly Heels (2013); Dark Passages (2012)
Recent nonfiction: Last Dance at the Savoy (2016); Now With You, Now Without (2017)
Kathryn has appeared in Blacklist with James Spader (2019); Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York (2019), soon-to-be-released The Eleventh Green (2019) with Campbell Scott, and Three Christs with Richard Gere and Juliana Margulies. She's also appeared in Hallmark Channel's Broadcasting Christmas (2016), Lifetime's A Wedding to Die For (2017), and has a recurring role as George Segal's girlfriend Miriam on The Goldbergs.
She wrote Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood (2012), and appeared in a cameo role in the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film Dark Shadows (2012). She is recording the audiobooks of all 32 Dark Shadows novels by Marilyn Ross, published 1966-1970.
Kathryn grew up on a farm in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Upon graduation from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kathryn landed the ingénue lead in the classic Gothic daytime drama Dark Shadows (ABC, 1966-1971), and starred in the 1971 MGM feature House of Dark Shadows. Kathryn played four roles in the series: Maggie Evans, Josette du Pres, Lady Kitty Hampshire, and Rachel Drummond. Kathryn wrote Dark Shadows Memories to coincide with its 20th anniversary, and Dark Shadows Companion as a 25th anniversary tribute.
Kathryn launched Pomegranate Press, Ltd., to publish books about the entertainment industry, including guide books, biographies, textbooks and coffee table art books. She wrote The Bunny Years (the 25-year history of Playboy Clubs told through the women who worked as Bunnies), which was sold to Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer. She also co-produced a two-hour special for the A&E Network and a one-hour documentary for BBC-1 and Canadian TV, based on the book. Pomegranate has published over 50 nonfiction titles, including Scott's books Lobby Cards: The Classic Films (Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Coffee Table Book) and Lobby Cards: The Classic Comedies, both of which were published in the UK by Bloomsbury. She published a trade paper edition of the hardcover biography Coya Come Home, with a foreword by Walter F. Mondale.
Kathryn's theatrical credits include a lengthy run with James Stewart in Harvey in London's West End. She has appeared in many television series and miniseries, including the "Who Watches the Watchers" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Barbara Taylor Bradford's Voice of the Heart, as Dan Travanti's wife in Murrow, as George C. Scott's mistress in The Last Days of Patton, as Philip Marlowe's girlfriend in Chandlertown, and as a series regular with Brian Dennehy in Big Shamus, Little Shamus. Feature films include Providence, The Great Gatsby, Brannigan, The Greek Tycoon, Assassination, 187, Parasomnia, and Dr. Mabuse.
Kathryn maintains homes in Los Angeles and New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 23, 2012
My book! So I'm biased...
July 29, 2013
A *3.5* a fun read. I remember watching Dark Shadows sometimes when it was on during the late 1960s and early 1970s. I did not watch every episode. I was a kid at the time. Kathryn Leigh Scott wrote of her memories acting in Dark Shadows.She also gave memories of the Dark Shadow movies they filmed during that time. She had some very helpful memories of her time on the show. I can see she has fond memories. I really liked the pictures she included. a very generous amount of pictures of her and the cast. The book starts out with some of the original cast flying to England for cameos in the Dark Shadows movie with Johnny Depp this was Jonathan Frid's last appearance the original Barnabas.
Anyone who was a fan of Dark Shadows may love reading this fun memoir of Kathryn Leigh Scotts memories of when she was playing Maggie Evans.I wonder why she did not mention the younger characters more. she talked briefly about David, but not Amy played by Denise Nickerson{no picture of her either} I did life getting the chance to see all the pictures included. I read this on my E-Reader. a pretty fun read.
Anyone who was a fan of Dark Shadows may love reading this fun memoir of Kathryn Leigh Scotts memories of when she was playing Maggie Evans.I wonder why she did not mention the younger characters more. she talked briefly about David, but not Amy played by Denise Nickerson{no picture of her either} I did life getting the chance to see all the pictures included. I read this on my E-Reader. a pretty fun read.
March 28, 2012
An absolute necessity for the Dark Shadows geek fan like myself. While I've read about the series in other books penned by Ms. Scott, I was pleasantly surprised to read the 'behind the scenes'-type stories for the many off-springs of the original series. Plus, there is a section on the new upcoming Tim Burton movie.
So, many things I already knew, but a whole lot I didn't plus awesome pictures throughout. Time very well spent, as far as I'm concerned!
So, many things I already knew, but a whole lot I didn't plus awesome pictures throughout. Time very well spent, as far as I'm concerned!
May 1, 2012
Since Dark Shadows alumnus Kathryn Leigh Scott formed Pomegranate Press in 1986, it has been known for producing superior quality volumes devoted to Dark Shadows, including My Scrapbook Memories of Dark Shadows, The Dark Shadows Almanac, The Dark Shadows Movie Book, Dark Shadows Resurrected, and more. Their latest release, Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood, by Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jim Pierson, rates among the best of these, featuring a wealth of historical background, personal narratives, and photographs, ranging from the series' origin in 1966 to the Tim Burton theatrical film, due for release next month. Some of the contents are reprints from earlier Pomegranate Press titles, such as My Scrapbook Memories of Dark Shadows, but that doesn't lessen the value of having the older material presented with the new, all under one roof, so to speak.
The book opens with a brief foreword by Jonathan Frid, who passed away only a short couple of weeks ago. Immediately following is a timeline titled "Five Decades of Dark Shadows," which touches on the highlights of the franchise from its beginning to the present. In "Dark Shadows Reincarnated," Jim Pierson provides a brief overview of the upcoming Tim Burton Dark Shadows, including the characters, cast, and several photographs. Kathryn and Lara Parker follow up with intriguing personal chronicles of their journeys to England to appear in the film in cameo roles, along with fellow Dark Shadows series actors Jonathan Frid and David Selby. From these accounts, one can clearly see that, for Jonathan, this venture is a serious personal struggle, both physically and mentally. It's very sad that he will not have the chance to see the result of his final journey into the shadows, as it were. As for David, Kathryn, and Lara, one definitely gets a sense of their excitement on their journey, and I think they would agree it's a somewhat amusing irony for them to be the "outsiders" on the Dark Shadows set.
"Backstage Memories" offers a veritable catalog of Kathryn's personal reminiscences of her life as a Dark Shadows actress, illustrated with loads of photographs, some well-known stock pics, some from her personal collection. I enjoy the fact that, even though much of the actors' day-to-day experiences on the set are prosaic, her writing retains much of the youthful excitement in which she must have been caught up at the time. Lara provides an appropriate companion piece, "Angelique Looks Back," in which she reveals how deeply she delved into Angelique's character during the show's run and how, over time, through her own novels, she has developed a whole new understanding as well as literary portrayal of the character.
One of my favorite sections of the book, though brief, is "The Mansion on the Hill," which provides a more than tantalizing glimpse of Seaview Terrace, the mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, that stood in for Collinwood — at least for exterior scenes. While I've visited Lyndhurst, the gothic mansion in Tarrytown, New York, which was used as Collinwood in House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, many times and become quite familiar with its layout, grounds, and history, I've never had the opportunity to visit Seaview. To my chagrin, for several years during the 80s, I regularly attended Necon, in Bristol, RI, which is just a stone's throw from Newport. Had I known at the time I was so near the old "mansion on the hill," I would have buzzed down there in a heartbeat. Alas for me. I'm particularly fond of the photos of the house's interior in this section of the book, since very few interior shots ever found their way into the TV series.
Jim Pierson provides overviews of the 1991 NBC-TV Dark Shadows revival series (which is covered in far more detail in Pomegranate Press's Dark Shadows Resurrected) as well as WB's aborted 2004 attempt at bringing back the series. Despite it's myriad shortfalls, I've always had a great fondness for the 1991 series — it wasn't the original, of course, but it wasn't intended to be — but I've never seen the pilot for the 2004 version, which starred Alec Newman as Barnabas (who has now played Barnabas on Big Finish's audio drama series), Marley Shelton as Victoria Winters, and Ivana Milicevic as Angelique. By all accounts, I really didn't miss much, and the description of the pilot here certainly doesn't peak my interest much. For curiosity's sake, I wouldn't mind watching it, but it's hardly one of those burning desires I absolutely must fulfill before shuffling off this mortal coil.
Rounding out the volume is a wonderfully in-depth account of the making of House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, both of which I quite adore to this day. To me personally, so much of what makes these movies so memorable, apart from the characters themselves, is the excellent use of Lyndhurst as Collinwood — though, I must admit, as a kid, it was disconcerting to see a "different" place playing home to the Collins family on the big screen. In more recent years, having spent a fair amount of time at the Lyndhurst estate, I've marveled at how expertly Dan Curtis and crew used it (as well as the other locations) to heighten the visual appeal of both films. It's a real treat to have the background story, along with plenty of on-site photographs, included in this book.
As a long-time Dark Shadows fan and occasional contributor to the series as a writer, I love finding gems like Return to Collinwood, which — despite my more-than-passing familiarity with the series, its creators, and its cast members — manages to shine new light on what many might consider well-trodden ground. I also appreciate the excellent production of the book itself: a sturdy softcover with perfectly sized typesetting and excellent photo reproduction. Easily one of my many favorites from Pomegranate.
The book opens with a brief foreword by Jonathan Frid, who passed away only a short couple of weeks ago. Immediately following is a timeline titled "Five Decades of Dark Shadows," which touches on the highlights of the franchise from its beginning to the present. In "Dark Shadows Reincarnated," Jim Pierson provides a brief overview of the upcoming Tim Burton Dark Shadows, including the characters, cast, and several photographs. Kathryn and Lara Parker follow up with intriguing personal chronicles of their journeys to England to appear in the film in cameo roles, along with fellow Dark Shadows series actors Jonathan Frid and David Selby. From these accounts, one can clearly see that, for Jonathan, this venture is a serious personal struggle, both physically and mentally. It's very sad that he will not have the chance to see the result of his final journey into the shadows, as it were. As for David, Kathryn, and Lara, one definitely gets a sense of their excitement on their journey, and I think they would agree it's a somewhat amusing irony for them to be the "outsiders" on the Dark Shadows set.
"Backstage Memories" offers a veritable catalog of Kathryn's personal reminiscences of her life as a Dark Shadows actress, illustrated with loads of photographs, some well-known stock pics, some from her personal collection. I enjoy the fact that, even though much of the actors' day-to-day experiences on the set are prosaic, her writing retains much of the youthful excitement in which she must have been caught up at the time. Lara provides an appropriate companion piece, "Angelique Looks Back," in which she reveals how deeply she delved into Angelique's character during the show's run and how, over time, through her own novels, she has developed a whole new understanding as well as literary portrayal of the character.
One of my favorite sections of the book, though brief, is "The Mansion on the Hill," which provides a more than tantalizing glimpse of Seaview Terrace, the mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, that stood in for Collinwood — at least for exterior scenes. While I've visited Lyndhurst, the gothic mansion in Tarrytown, New York, which was used as Collinwood in House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, many times and become quite familiar with its layout, grounds, and history, I've never had the opportunity to visit Seaview. To my chagrin, for several years during the 80s, I regularly attended Necon, in Bristol, RI, which is just a stone's throw from Newport. Had I known at the time I was so near the old "mansion on the hill," I would have buzzed down there in a heartbeat. Alas for me. I'm particularly fond of the photos of the house's interior in this section of the book, since very few interior shots ever found their way into the TV series.
Jim Pierson provides overviews of the 1991 NBC-TV Dark Shadows revival series (which is covered in far more detail in Pomegranate Press's Dark Shadows Resurrected) as well as WB's aborted 2004 attempt at bringing back the series. Despite it's myriad shortfalls, I've always had a great fondness for the 1991 series — it wasn't the original, of course, but it wasn't intended to be — but I've never seen the pilot for the 2004 version, which starred Alec Newman as Barnabas (who has now played Barnabas on Big Finish's audio drama series), Marley Shelton as Victoria Winters, and Ivana Milicevic as Angelique. By all accounts, I really didn't miss much, and the description of the pilot here certainly doesn't peak my interest much. For curiosity's sake, I wouldn't mind watching it, but it's hardly one of those burning desires I absolutely must fulfill before shuffling off this mortal coil.
Rounding out the volume is a wonderfully in-depth account of the making of House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, both of which I quite adore to this day. To me personally, so much of what makes these movies so memorable, apart from the characters themselves, is the excellent use of Lyndhurst as Collinwood — though, I must admit, as a kid, it was disconcerting to see a "different" place playing home to the Collins family on the big screen. In more recent years, having spent a fair amount of time at the Lyndhurst estate, I've marveled at how expertly Dan Curtis and crew used it (as well as the other locations) to heighten the visual appeal of both films. It's a real treat to have the background story, along with plenty of on-site photographs, included in this book.
As a long-time Dark Shadows fan and occasional contributor to the series as a writer, I love finding gems like Return to Collinwood, which — despite my more-than-passing familiarity with the series, its creators, and its cast members — manages to shine new light on what many might consider well-trodden ground. I also appreciate the excellent production of the book itself: a sturdy softcover with perfectly sized typesetting and excellent photo reproduction. Easily one of my many favorites from Pomegranate.
July 26, 2024
Enjoyable in the way that an article perused while waiting for the dentist might be enjoyable, but doesn't' really hang together as a book. Different chapters are written by different people, sometimes covering exactly the same ground and making exactly the same points. It needed a strong editorial hand and a single author, who could research, gather recollections, and make a coherent narrative out of it.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
November 14, 2024
I did not know what to expect from this book. I know I have been contemplating watching the original Dark Shadows soap opera. My mom and I wanted to watch it together when she got sick, but sadly there would have been no way for us to watch all 1,000+ episodes before she passed.
If you are looking for a book that is more of a chronological history of the tv series, exploring each new storyline and character introduced, etc., this is not that book. This book is more anecdotal in nature, and that is why I loved it. The original tv series is discussed, as well as the making of the 70's Dark Shadows movies: House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. There is a discussion of the Dark Shadows revival tv series from the 90's, and some failed Dark Shadows projects that almost took place before Tim Burton's awful Dark Shadows movie happened.
We get a lot of insight from Kathryn Leigh Scott, a little bit of Lara Parker discussing her cameo in the Burton's Dark Shadows film, as well as a brief discussion about her Dark Shadows novels. We also get a poem by David Selby.
I am not sure how insightful diehard Dark Shadows fans will find this book, but I could have listened to two or more hours of anecdotes from Kathryn, Lara, and David. I highly recommend consuming this book through audiobook, as it is read by some of the original cast members.
If you are looking for a book that is more of a chronological history of the tv series, exploring each new storyline and character introduced, etc., this is not that book. This book is more anecdotal in nature, and that is why I loved it. The original tv series is discussed, as well as the making of the 70's Dark Shadows movies: House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. There is a discussion of the Dark Shadows revival tv series from the 90's, and some failed Dark Shadows projects that almost took place before Tim Burton's awful Dark Shadows movie happened.
We get a lot of insight from Kathryn Leigh Scott, a little bit of Lara Parker discussing her cameo in the Burton's Dark Shadows film, as well as a brief discussion about her Dark Shadows novels. We also get a poem by David Selby.
I am not sure how insightful diehard Dark Shadows fans will find this book, but I could have listened to two or more hours of anecdotes from Kathryn, Lara, and David. I highly recommend consuming this book through audiobook, as it is read by some of the original cast members.
June 5, 2012
Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played the pivotal roles of Maggie Evans and Josette (among others) on the cult favorite Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows in the 60s and 70s has become the foremost historian of this series. I have read and enjoyed several of her earlier books, so I was excited to find that she had a new one out, that includes an account of the cameo she did for the new Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie based on the series. This was a treasure trove of features! Katherine writes about her work on the original series, as well as her cameo in the movie. a short piece on the Newport mansion that was used as the exterior for Collinwood, and excerpts from a diary she kept while shooting the 1970 movie House of Dark Shadows. Co-writer Jim Pierson writes about the new movie, the 1991 primetime remake series, and a 'lost' 2004 pilot. Also include are a foreward by the late Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), a piece by Lara Parker (Angelique) in which she also talks about her cameo in the new movie, her own feelings about the character of Angelique and several novels she has written on the subject, and a delightful and haunting closing poem by David Selby (Quentin). Other features include a timeline of the entire 50 years of Dark Shadows productions, an essay by Darren Gross about the two contemporaneous movies (1970's House of Dark Shadows and 1971's Night of Dark Shadows), and an account of more recent audio dramas performed by many of the original actors, as well as actors from the remake and failed pilot, by Stuart Manning who is involved in this project. I had never heard of the 2004 pilot or the audio dramas before, so it was very interesting to read about them. As I said, this is a treasure trove for any Dark Shadows fan, and an impressive addition to Ms. Scott's oevre! And of course it is chock-full of great photos!
September 6, 2012
Everyone has their guilty pleasures - those things that are fun, yet some might look askew upon. At the same time in certain circles guilty pleasures become mainstream. To me, the TV show Dark Shadows is one of those things I can not resist. I watched the original show, the re-make the reruns on various TV channels and now slowly, but surely buying and watching all the episodes on DVD.
I first found Pomegranate Press about ten years ago in a London bookstore - The Dark Shadows Almanac, signed by Kathryn Leigh Scott. It was a double treat I couldn't pass up. If nothing else, "Return to Collinwood" is the natural extension of stories and background on the Dark Shadows franchise. Full of color and sepia-tones photos it examines the different iterations of Dark Shadows on TV and in the movie - not as much on the original TV show as the two original cast movies, the participation of the Johnny Depp production and the attempts at the new TV revivals.
Kathryn Leigh Scoot has a light an easy style to her writing and it shows her passion in the chapters that she penned. Lara Parker (the woman who scared me as a kid) and Jim Pierson add their experiences as well with insight and humor. There is always something new you learn as a fan and this book adds to the joy of being a fan.
If you don't know much about Dark Shadows (and shame on you) this is not what you would start with. Try the Almanac as a primer. But to an experienced viewer this makes a nice addition to your collection.
I first found Pomegranate Press about ten years ago in a London bookstore - The Dark Shadows Almanac, signed by Kathryn Leigh Scott. It was a double treat I couldn't pass up. If nothing else, "Return to Collinwood" is the natural extension of stories and background on the Dark Shadows franchise. Full of color and sepia-tones photos it examines the different iterations of Dark Shadows on TV and in the movie - not as much on the original TV show as the two original cast movies, the participation of the Johnny Depp production and the attempts at the new TV revivals.
Kathryn Leigh Scoot has a light an easy style to her writing and it shows her passion in the chapters that she penned. Lara Parker (the woman who scared me as a kid) and Jim Pierson add their experiences as well with insight and humor. There is always something new you learn as a fan and this book adds to the joy of being a fan.
If you don't know much about Dark Shadows (and shame on you) this is not what you would start with. Try the Almanac as a primer. But to an experienced viewer this makes a nice addition to your collection.
April 8, 2023
This is not very well-written and repeats itself a lot, but this was still a really fun behind-the-scenes look of "Dark Shadows"!
February 19, 2019
The 1960s television soap opera Dark Shadows was quite a hit during its time and spawned numerous other movies, tv remakes, and eventually an audio series featuring the voices of several members of the original cast. In this book, the actress who portrayed Maggie in the original series discusses what it was like to be involved in many of these productions. Jonathan Frid, Jim Pierson, Lara Parker, Darren Gross, Stuart Manning, and David Selby also contributed to the book. In addition to the information concerning Dark Shadows, there are numerous photos of many of the actors and sets involved in bringing these productions to the public. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Dark Shadows!
February 22, 2020
Loved it! Found it very interesting and nostalgic. I've always been a big fan of Dark Shadows and I like how the book delved into the modern day movie as well as the 90's mini-series. Wouldn't have even known that the 4 originals were in the Johnny Depp version if I hadn't read the book. You really have to look for them.
June 7, 2022
Very few can tell about Dark Shadows as well as Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played more than 3 characters during the shows 5 year duration. A great remembrace of this wonderful show that I watched around 55 years ago.
May 19, 2025
Kathryn Leigh Scott writes more of her "Dark Shadows" memories, following the Johnny Depp attempted revival. Lots of stills and some fun stories. Lots of fun for fans of the show and even for non-fans like myself.
November 25, 2018
Wow! I loved Dark Shadows, and I love this book! Some good inside information here, especially about the first Dark Shadows movie, House of Dark Shadows. Highly recommended
May 29, 2021
Not as comprehensive as I had hoped about the making of the original Dark Shadows, and far too much about the 2012 Johnny Depp movie.
April 29, 2024
3.5 stars
October 4, 2012
First off – I loved this book!
I have fond memories of rushing home from school in the afternoon to watch Dark Shadows on television. I remember telling the other guys I knew that we HAD to watch this show. It may have been (part) soap opera, but I had many of the neighborhood boys gathered in my home each weekday watching it faithfully before going outside to play ball, cops and robbers, or whatever.
I’d been away from Dark Shadows for many years, but after seeing the recent Tim Burton / Johnny Depp Dark Shadows movie I’ve been steadily re-immersing myself in the world of Barnabas and Collingwood. Some of the books, videos, audios, etc., I’ve discovered have been fun, but with very little real content. While others have been confused, confusing, or downright boring. Dark Shadows, Return to Collinwood by Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jim Pierson has been my favorite of all the Dark Shadows support / celebration items I’ve found.
Thanks in part to Scott’s being a member of the original Dark Shadow’s television cast, this book is informed and interesting. She not only shares a love the program, but also shares many little known or behind the scenes stories that make a book all the more enjoyable. The format is full and glossy, filled with facts, stories, memories, and beautiful personal and promotional photographs. Although definitely not an academic study of a cultural phenomenon, this book is rare in its ability to address the depth of Dark Shadows lore. It features series development, movies (old and new), backstage, locations, and television reboots (both seen and unseen).
Dark Shadows was something special, sometimes hard to explain or define. Like the series, this book is special. It is clearly written and presented with love by someone who knows the show well for those of us who share that love. I highly recommend this book to life long fans and those newer fans wanting to learn more.
I have fond memories of rushing home from school in the afternoon to watch Dark Shadows on television. I remember telling the other guys I knew that we HAD to watch this show. It may have been (part) soap opera, but I had many of the neighborhood boys gathered in my home each weekday watching it faithfully before going outside to play ball, cops and robbers, or whatever.
I’d been away from Dark Shadows for many years, but after seeing the recent Tim Burton / Johnny Depp Dark Shadows movie I’ve been steadily re-immersing myself in the world of Barnabas and Collingwood. Some of the books, videos, audios, etc., I’ve discovered have been fun, but with very little real content. While others have been confused, confusing, or downright boring. Dark Shadows, Return to Collinwood by Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jim Pierson has been my favorite of all the Dark Shadows support / celebration items I’ve found.
Thanks in part to Scott’s being a member of the original Dark Shadow’s television cast, this book is informed and interesting. She not only shares a love the program, but also shares many little known or behind the scenes stories that make a book all the more enjoyable. The format is full and glossy, filled with facts, stories, memories, and beautiful personal and promotional photographs. Although definitely not an academic study of a cultural phenomenon, this book is rare in its ability to address the depth of Dark Shadows lore. It features series development, movies (old and new), backstage, locations, and television reboots (both seen and unseen).
Dark Shadows was something special, sometimes hard to explain or define. Like the series, this book is special. It is clearly written and presented with love by someone who knows the show well for those of us who share that love. I highly recommend this book to life long fans and those newer fans wanting to learn more.
August 31, 2012
Kathryn Leigh Scott does such a great job with the “Dark Shadows” books (I think it’s because she’s from Minnesota!) I thoroughly enjoyed this one, in addition to both the “Dark Shadows Almanac” and the “Dark Shadows Companion,” all by Pomegranate Press. “Return to Collinwood” has some great essays by former cast members as they interact with the 2012 movie cast. I think my favorite was Leigh’s “The Mansion on the Hill” where she describes her visits to the Seaview Terrace Mansion in Newport, RI where the television series exterior shots were filmed. I made my own pilgrimage there about 5 years ago – honestly the thrill of a lifetime to the 6 year-old boy in me. Other interesting essays about the attempts to get “Dark Shadow” back on the air, as well as why the 1990’s series, which I thought was on par with the original, failed – due to the Gulf War (another reason why I’m glad I protested that one.) A great read for the “Dark Shadows” fan!
March 18, 2012
I highly recommend this book to any lover of Dark Shadows. There are so,e great insights into the coming movies and the recollections of Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans/Josette du Pres) and Lara Parker (Angelique) are brilliant and add some interesting info to how this 1,225 episode fantasy/sci-fi/gothic soap opera was flamed as well as the two movies (and I eagerly awaiting the reedited cut of Night of Dark Shadows with the cut scenes put back). good chapters on the revival series as well and he current audio dramas through Big finish, Having the book signed by Kathryn Leigh Scott herself makes it one of my treasured Dark Shadow possessions which will never leave me for all eternity!!!!
May 27, 2012
So much fun, easy to read, comprehensive guide through all Dark Shadows productions from the 1960's soap to the audio dramas, the two films in the 1970's and the new film of 2012. Great photos, and terrific anecdotes. Looking forward to more by this author. (Inner flaps made it easy to bookmark.) It's written as a collection of many smaller articles discussing key points and experiences. One photo that really stands out in my mind as I write this, is many cast members standing on the stairs for a serious photo, but for some reason John Karlen (who plays Willie Loomis in the original program) looks to be sleeping while standing up and having a very pleasant dream. Would love more details on how that happened. ^_^
August 9, 2012
Told from the perspective of the woman who played Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) and other original cast members, this is some of the back scene stories of the fun, foibles, and friendships that have outlasted the Gothic horror soap opera, Dark Shadows. Like its namesake, Dark Shadows lives on in its fans, and through the many resurrections of movies including the latest by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp as everyone's famous vampire, Barnabas Collins. Many of the original cast members (the author, Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, and more)had cameo roles in the film. It was my favorite soap growing up, and it makes a fun read, reliving the memories.
e-book from the library
e-book from the library
June 16, 2012
Deceptively slim with lots of photos, Return to Collinwood is crammed full of interesting stories and an overview of every incarnation of Dark Shadows. It's easy to view what we see on the screen as a fait accompli and part of an overall plan, but this book easily dispels that illusion. Even if you have no interest in the fantasy/horror genres you will find the extensive descriptions of the "behind the scenes" detailing many of the challenges faced in bringing Dark Shadows to life to be genuinely illuminating.
May 25, 2012
This is a must have book for any Dark Shadows fan! Kathyrn Leigh Scott covers 50 years of Dark Shadows and talks about the new movie in which she along with her fellow cast members Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker and David Selby had cameo appearances! She has also included lots of pictures and details of her years with the show as well as the two other Dark Shadows movies! This is truly an a fantastic book!
May 26, 2012
The best book I've read so far on Dark Shadows. It's very well written and engaging, with accompanying photographs that bring a satisfying dimension to the stories. This book covers all incarnations of Dark Shadows, with an emphasis on the original series (in which the authors were involved). If you haven't seen the original Dark Shadows (poor you), and wish an introduction, this will definitely inform and intrigue you.
May 27, 2012
Return to Collinwood took a very nervous original Dark Shadows fan and lead her gently through the original series, both reboots, both movies and then the NEW movie. It is filled with behind-the-scenes stories, never-before-published photos, and very entertaining information. I was more than ready to go see the new movie after reading this book. Kathryn helps bridge the gap between fans of the original and the new...wonderful!!!
May 25, 2012
Best of all Ms. Scott's Dark Shadows books, since it covers all the various incarnations of Dark Shadows, though it was a little lacking on Night of Dark Shadows, and had the account of the last hurrah of their cameos for the 2012 movie. The one drawback is that it is not hardcover...such a beautiful book was worthy of that treatment.
November 19, 2020
Loved this audio version with Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, David Selby and Jim Pierson all making contributions to the finished product. So good to hear all of them making it all come back to life again and I really enjoyed the updated material that was included here that wasn't in the original book.
July 17, 2013
The author played Maggie Evans and Josette Dupres on the original Dark Shadows. This book is a collection of articles written by her and other DS alumni about their experiences both on the series and original films, and the Tim Burton remake. Fans will enjoy; others, probably not. The big surprise to me: Ms. Scott didn't care for actor Roger Davis back in the day, and she apparently wasn't alone.
June 29, 2014
The best part of this book were the reminiscences by Ms Kringstad...along with the article about the two early movies. Oh yes, and all the pictures were a lot of fun. I mainly just skipped the stuff about the 1991 show and the Tim Burton movie (I wasn't able to last more than 10-15 minutes trying to watch either of those ventures).
February 18, 2015
My sweetheart gave me a Dark Shadows and Addams Family Christmas, with DVDs, books, bobble heads, jewelry, and more! This book was just one of the many things I received from him, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. AND it just occurred to me that this can count as my 2015 www.popsugar.com reading challenge as "A memoir."
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