1997 Dark Shadows Halloween Party
November 1, 1997--Lockwood Matthews Mansion; Norwalk, CT
(this was written June 8, 1998)
November 1, 1997, 7:30:
Mom and I left the house to attend our third Dark Shadows Event! We got to the mansion, surprisingly at 9:30, and the event didn't even start until 11:00!
We found Rhonda and her husband, Mike, at 11:00. Kathryn Leigh Scott was in the foyer selling her books along with Craig Hamerick (not Craigy) who was also selling books on the other side.
At 11:30, the 150 fans gathered into the rotunda room so they could introduce the guests. They tried to get a smoky effect with dry ice, but the fan was too fast and the smoke just disappeared. Two people had to blow on it to get it sort of right. Diana Millay showed up in Lara Parker's place.
After that, Mom and I ran out to the car to get my Magda costume. It was pouring rain. When we got to the bathroom, we saw Chris Pennock's wife and daughter waiting. His daughter was younger than me, and his wife was holding a giga pet.
Mom and I talked with Diana for quite a very long time. I told her what happened in Washington D.C. and she seemed quite interested.
We had lunch, and afterwards I went up to Terrayne Crawford and told her we have the same birthday. She said, "Isn't February 13 a special day?"
We all squeezed into the library to watch "A Special Greeting from Marie Wallace at the Dark Shadows Festival". Of course, it was now that it dawned on us- we were standing right NEXT to Marie that whole time! This was what she did that for- and here we were watching the very same greeting she taped! I looked desperately for Mom and I, but we were two feet off camera.
Roger Davis took John Karlen's advice and had a new acting project he was working on. He sent a tape of him saying, "Hell, I make more money doing this than selling T-shirts or being there, right? You understand? Good." Everyone was laughing, but Rhonda, Mom and I recalled that early morning conversation back in August. We knew what he meant, and it WAS funny.
There was a question and answer session right after that, and someone asked about the out-takes from the two Dark Shadows movies. Kathryn replied, "Well, I heard that late in 1975, the outtakes were destroyed."
Then the lights went out.
Mom and I with Chris Pennock
At the auction, Rhonda and Mike got over half the stuff! Mom and I got "Seizure". Jonathan Frid had starred in it, and God was it corny!
We went to Friendly's for supper. I wasn't about to change because I was still going to the party later, and people in Friendly's were giving me funny looks.
The party was so much fun! Sharon Smyth did the Time Warp, the Macarena, and the YMCA. Sharon and I were the only people who knew the Macarena at the party, so everyone learned from us, even though I kept tripping over my floor-length skirt!
Me, dressed as Magda, doing the Macarena at the party.
It got too hot for me and my multi-layered costume, so I ran outside. As I was passing the elevators, I nearly ran into Chris Pennock and his family (giga pet, too).
"It's hot in there." I said.
"Sweaty hot or-- otherwise?" he asked.
"Thermal hot." I replied.
Chris left at 12:30AM, same as us.
The Lockwood Matthews Mansion and Grounds