Comments on: Jonathan Frid 1924 – 2012

By: Bob McGowan

Bob McGowan — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:35:12 +0000

(Follow-up to 4/22) I recently DID see the Tim Burton feature film ‘Dark Shadows’ and have to really (in all fairness) just look at the movie as something unto itself. It’s BASED on Dark Shadows; based on it. It was an enjoyable, fun, off-beat take on the classic ’60s TV show; not un-like a MAD magazine TV or movie spoof.

It also wasn’t overly “Tim Burton” which was another plus. So when it comes out on DVD, check it out. Those NOT familiar with the real Dark Shadows though need to be aware this ISN’T Dark Shadows. It’s simply a creative, one-off adventurous excursion–but that’s all.

By: adam

adam — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:38:57 +0000

Interesting he died on the 13th of Friday. 5 days short of his first appearance on DS 45 years ago. He was a remarkable actor. He will be missed. RIP

By: Thomas Kugler

Thomas Kugler — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:19:05 +0000

It hit me hard about Jonathan Frid, the day we all heard (4/19/12). He was one of a kind, an extraordinary actor and man. It’s almost like losing a close friend or relative, we’ve spent so many “virtual” hours with him. No one could ever fill his shoes, nor those of Dan Curtis. It was a magical moment in time—at its best, Dark Shadows was a truly sublime creation, a show like none ever before or after, that seemingly can never be done entirely right again. For those of us fortunate enough to have known and loved it since childhood, it will always hold an unspoiled place in our hearts, and in so many ways, it was Jonathan who held us there, captivated.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:56:24 +0000

So sorry about JF. Even sorrier that Tim Burton decided to desecrate another of my memories from my youth. I don’t know why he even calls it Dark Shadows, since it no longer resembles the soap with poor production but rather an over kitchy campy version of a horror show. Poor Mr. Frid— he and his co stars did wonderful work and now it’s been trashed.

By: Bob McGowan

Bob McGowan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0000

I remember this article quite well. It was from one of the very final issues of the POST before it went on a reformulation 2 year hiatus, but not before that wonderful issue on television came out featuring Mr. Frid and Dark Shadows.

I was exactly 11 1/2 and was very excited about that whole issue, but especially this feature. I really got into the show in April ’67 in the 4th grade at the time he came onto the show. Jonathan Frid literally saved the show as this article will attest, but not alone of course. Dan Curtis was a genius hiring only the best of the best to play drastically different characters as the show moved into various time periods (like 1795 and 1897) during its five year run.

As a life-long Dark Shadows fan it is with great anticipation (and dread) that I await seeing Tim Burton’s version of Dark Shadows. To be polite, I uh, “don’t care” for his movies, but I have to keep an open mind. I almost always know instantly if I’ll like/dislike a film just from a quick trailer. This one is a real riddle that does have me stumped. I guess I have to hand it to Burton for that. Turning this into a comedy though, could backfire, like ‘The Stepford Wives’ in 2004 vs. the 1975 serious original. It’s a real risk. We’ll know in a few weeks as this still has yet to unfold and play out.

In any event, Dark Shadows fans can look forward to seeing Mr. Frid in a cameo role along with Kathryn Leigh Scott,Lara Parker and David Selby also from the original show. So let’s have a collective toast to Jonathan Frid and The Saturday Evening Post.