Dark Shadows
Series

Dark Shadows (1966)

2 critics 21 lists ★ 7.3 TMDb 22 min 12 seasons DramaSci-Fi & FantasySoap

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 was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

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The Generation GapWhat our critics say

Before anyone else thought of it, "Dark Shadows" brought gothic horror to daytime TV. Barnabas Collins, the reluctant vampire, became an icon. This was a sprawling, low-budget, serialized saga of ghosts, curses, and melodrama that invented its own rules. The flubbed lines, the visible boom mics, the campy charm—it all added to its hypnotic, unique appeal. A truly foundational piece of genre television, dripping with atmosphere.

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