Award-winning playwright and screenwriter John Logan created the Showtime series Penny Dreadful, and has written numerous plays, including Red, Never the Sinner, and Peter and Alice. In addition, the prolific Mr. Logan has written screenplays for major motion pictures such as The Aviator, Hugo, Gladiator, Sweeney Todd, and many others. John also happens to be a passionate Dark Shadows fan! He visits the podcast to talk Dark Shadows, Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, Universal Monsters, classic horror, DS collectibles, and much more! In the process, John discusses the impact DS has made on the terror and speculative fiction genre and how it inspires his own work as a creator. This is one episode you will not want to miss! Bonus question for you at the end: So, you want to live in Collinwood?

'Collinsport After Dark' is a new Youtube-based podcast hosted by theater technician, actor, educator, and longtime 'Dark Shadows' fan, Alan Gallant. Originally from Bangor, Maine, Alan talks about his childhood memories of DS, theatrical inspirations, and discusses the research that has gone into the subjects featured on Collinsport After Dark. Topics discussed in this episode include: how Alan researched gum card photos and music cues, a chat about various props used in the series, teen magazines, Alan’s favorite characters and storylines, and more. This episode starts with some words in honor of Marcy Robin, editor/publisher of ‘Shadowgram’, who passed away on December 22, 2023. The show concludes with information about many Dark Shadows and classic horror podcasts.

With their magic spells, curses, and arcane incantations, the witches, warlocks, and mages of Dark Shadows certainly left a strong and lasting impression upon fans of the show. One of those fans is Laramie Dean, a talented novelist (Black Forest) and playwright (Frankenstein Among the Dead, Dracula, The Gorgon Sisters). The delightful Laramie pays a visit to the podcast for a spirited discussion about Angelique, Nicholas, Judah, Bathia, Petofi, and other wielders of magic in the DS universe. The episode also includes: a geeky side lecture on the depiction of witches in horror films, and a substantial DS opening news segment that includes info about new books, appearances, podcasts, and more! The show ends with shoutouts to several Dark Shadows and DS-adjacent podcasts! ALSO: get thee to the Blue Whale jukebox and dig the terrifyingly tubular new surf rock version of the DS theme song, ‘Surfing the Shadows’, performed by Johnny D & The Moonlighters! It also happens to be the new opening theme for Terror at Collinwood!

Help support the podcast by donating at Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/terroratcollinwood

The 1970 Parallel Time storyline introduced Dark Shadows viewers to a strange and fascinating parallel universe inhabited by alternate versions of familiar characters who, in this mirror timeband, made different choices in their lives. Visiting to discuss this unique story arc are fellow DS podcasters Cara Tillitz and Christen Pierce of the Between the Shadows podcast and Jule Saynes of the Resident of Collinwood YouTube podcast channel. In addition to discussing the plotlines and characters of 1970 Parallel Time, and their inspirations, Cara, Christen, and Jule also talk about their introductions to Dark Shadows and why they launched their own DS-focused podcasts.

This episode of the podcast features the return of listener email! The show kicks off with a special thanks to every forum and group where Terror at Collinwood is shared, plus plugs for other podcasts. After that, Penny Dreadful dips her claws into the Collinsport mailbag to read and address messages and comments from fellow Dark Shadows fans! Topics include: Dark Shadows memories, time travel conundrums, thoughts on Roxanne Drew, quitting the podcast over criticism of the Burton film, listening to the show while exercising, stigma of not being a first generation fan, DS and Doctor Who, what if Mitchell Ryan had played Jeremiah, and much, much more!

The deeply fascinating but oft-maligned Leviathans arc is the focus of this episode. Acclaimed authors Stephen Mark Rainey and Rick Lai visit the podcast to discuss and analyze this Dark Shadows storyline, while also looking at its inspirations. Other topics include Mark’s official work on the Dark Shadows Big Finish audio plays and the DS novel ‘Dreams of the Dark’, and Rick’s intriguing essay on the Leviathans as well as some of his fictional tales that incorporate nods to DS.

Note: Apologies for the audio issues near the end of this episode.

This episode features an interview with three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Nick Besink, who served as a video engineer on the original Dark Shadows. Nick offers a fascinating look at what it was like to work on DS, and talks about his extensive career in broadcasting and video production.

Author, pop culture specialist, 'Dark Shadows' historian, and retired English professor, Dr. Jeff Thompson, joins Penny for an examination of the storyline that introduced iconic vampire Barnabas Collins to DS, turning the series into a hit and forever cementing its place in pop culture history. Other topics include Jeff's books on Dan Curtis, his magazine articles, Hermes Press book introductions, the Collinsport Players, Barnabas' influence on subsequent vampire depictions, and more! You won't want to miss this episode of Terror at Collinwood – A Dark Shadows Podcast!