Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show depicted the lives, loves, trials, and tribulations of the wealthy and psychotic Collins family of Collinsport, Maine, where a number of supernatural occurrences take place.
This series became popular when vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) appeared ten months into its run. It would also feature ghosts, werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor.
This soap opera was distinguished by its vividly melodramatic performances, atmospheric interiors, memorable storylines, numerous dramatic plot twists, adventurous music score, broad cosmos of characters, and heroic adventures. The original network run of the show lasted for nearly five years to amass 1,225 episodes.
Since 2006, the series has continued as a range of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions, featuring many of the original cast, including David Selby, Lara Parker, and Kathryn Leigh Scott.
COLLINSWOOD MANSION
DATE(S) VISITED): AUG 1, 2020
LOCATION: NEWPORT, RI
Seaview Terrace, also known as the Carey Mansion, was used as the fictional Collins family home in the television show Dark Shadows and all the outside shots were used here.
This privately owned mansion located in Newport, RI. It was designed in the French Renaissance Revival Châteauesque style and completed in 1925. It was the last of the great Summer Cottages constructed and is the fifth-largest of Newport's mansions, after The Breakers, Ochre Court, Belcourt Castle, and Rough Point.
Whiskey millionaire Edson Bradley originally constructed the building in 1907 on the south side of Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. Known as Aladdin's Palace at the time, it covered more than a city block, and included a Gothic chapel with seating for 150, a large ballroom, an art gallery, and a 500 seat theatre. It was completed in 1911.
In 1923, Bradley began disassembling his mansion and relocating it to a Newport property at Ruggles and Wetmore avenues named Sea View, a 1885 Elizabethan-Revival mansion already on the site. Work continued for two years on the exterior and required the use of many railroad cars and trucks. Rooms that were originally imported intact from France had to be taken out yet again and reassembled in Newport, and the new building was constructed around them. In 1925 the interiors were finally completed and consisted of 17 rooms on the first floor, 25 on the second, and 12 on the third. It is believed to have been one of the largest buildings to be moved in this manner.
Over all, Seaview Terrace cost over $2,000,000 to build. The main house featured turrets, stained-glass windows, high arching doorways and, in keeping with its seaside location, shell motifs. The American League of Architects awarded Bradley's architect, Howard Greenley, a 1928 medal for the chateau.
Bradley's wife, Julia Williams Bradley, died in August 1929, and her funeral was held in the house's chapel. Edson Bradley spent five more summers at the mansion before his death in 1935.
The Bradleys' daughter, Julie Bradley Shipman, took over the estate and lived there until 1941. Her husband, the Right Reverend Herbert Shipman, Episcopal Bishop of New York, died in 1930. She vacated the house after a dispute with the City over non-payment of three years' back taxes. During World War II, the house was used by the U.S. Army as officers' quarters. In 1949 the property was sold for only $8,000.
Due to the grounds being privately owned, and hounds of hell patrolling it to keep trespassers off, it was rather difficult to get a decent picture of the house due to the trees being in full bloom around the perimeter fence. Finally after a good walk we found a few spots to get a picture through the chain links. That was not before we saw a couple walking in front of us at a distance, the guy went down on one knee and I said to Elizabeth, "Is he proposing?... yup, he's proposing"... he then pulled out a ring and they started hugging each other... of course we both erupted into a cheer and started clapping. It was so wonderful to witness.
THE BLACK PEARL
DATE(S) VISITED: AUG 1, 2020
LOCATION: NEWPORT, RI
After enduring the searing heat and realizing that Barnabas Collins would be resting in his coffin about now, we decided to hit the Black Pearl for some food. But, our choice to eat here was also because this restaurant was not only used by the Dark Shadows crew when filming, it was also used in the show, but renamed The Blue Whale. They used the tavern and also made a studio model of it verbatim.
We have plenty more Dark Shadows locations to visit in CT at some point in the future, so watch out for more updates. But, for more photo's of our Dark Shadows adventures, go check out our gallery on the Team H Facebook page.