Dracula & Dark Shadows

We have been watching a lot of Dark Shadows at our house over the past few months. The 1960's & 70's daytime soap is awash with vampires, ghosts, the supernatural, and more than a few passing references to classic horror films. I have not heard that Edward Gorey was ever an avid watcher of the show, but it seems to be the kind of daytime entertainment that he would have enjoyed for its high camp tone and occasional, questionable production values.

While looking up information about actor Humbert Allen Astredo, the actor who played warlock Nicholas Blair, I came across the fact that Mr. Astredo played Van Helsing in the 1985 national tour of Edward Gorey's Dracula. The tour starred Martin Landau as Dracula, and came to the newly completed Ordway Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 4 & 5, 1985. Bill and I attended both performances of the play.