Today is Q in the A-to-Z Blog Challenge, and who or what could I choose but Quentin Collins? Any Dark Shadows fans out there? Raise your hands. Don’t be shy. Yeah, a 
bunch!
I got hooked on Dark Shadows in high school and didn’t grow out of it when I went to college. In fact, the summer I worked on campus, I cut a deal to get off half an hour early and work half a day on Saturday so I could watch the show.
Dark Shadows, in case you don’t know, was a soap opera–or, as the pundits enjoyed calling it, a spook opera–featuring mystery and the paranormal. Barnabas was a vampire, Angelique (say it with me, DS fans: AngeLIQUE!!!!) was a witch, and Quentin was a werewolf. Also a drunkard and a womanizer, but never mind that. Wikipedia has a comprehensive article about the dear boy, and is also where I ganked the picture. If that isn’t enough for you, there’s a Collinwood.net with much more about the show. And if that’s not enough, here’s a video for you, featuring David Selby as the Q-man.
Be warned: it gotses dead people in it.
Loved that show. No question.
WRITING PROMPT: Pick a theme song for your main character. If possible, let it communicate something unexpected about him/her, as Quentin’s Theme is all about nostalgia and romance and loneliness while he’s being all scary and stuff.
MA
Wolf
April 21, 2011 at 3:40amI blame David Selby as Quentin for my life-long fascination (lust!) for men with muttonchops! What a joy that the fandom has kept the show living and breathing for nigh on 40 years! Selby has expressed an interest in a cameo role in the new Dark Shadows movie that’s in the works, with Johnny Depp and Tim Burton!
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:38am~jaw drops~ Johnny Depp? I am so there! Tim Burton–not so much. Do NOT like what he did with Willy Wonka. But anything will be better than the original Dark Shadows MOVIES. They … er … sucked. I saw a picture of Selby on a DS-Where Are They Now page. He looks his age, of course, but still cute. 🙂
Mary Montague Sikes
April 20, 2011 at 11:32amMy children loved that show but I never really watched it. Must be good if it hooked you, Marian!
Monti
http://www.marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:36amMonti, I’m not sure if “good” is the operative word. lol! It was a soap opera with paranormal in place of sex. If a guy turned up in a woman’s bedroom in Dark Shadows, sex was the least of her worries. And the 1897 sequence, which was my favorite, had all these great late Victorian costumes and hairstyles. It was shot in a hurry, too, so a lot of production mistakes were just left in, which was fun. I know a guy who calls the show “Mike Shadows” instead of “Dark Shadows” because the shadow of the boom mike–or the boom mike itself–shows up now and then.
Sara Deurell
April 20, 2011 at 10:35amAwwww, Quentin! How I enjoy not being one of the girls you’re always involving yourself with! But you’re my favorite character!! LOL.
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:31amDid you know David Selby named his son Jamison? True.
Jane
April 20, 2011 at 10:33amWow! Thank you, Thank you!
Ah, September 10, 1897.
The original Dracula, by Bram Stoker, was first published in 1897. I always have pictured Quentin lounging around Collinwood reading this novel and wondering what came next.
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:31amYes, September 10, a date that shall live in infamy. Or not. lol!
교인애 Inae Kyo
April 20, 2011 at 10:21amThey used to run reruns of Dark Shadows on the Sci-fi channel (now the Syfy channel— what’s a siffy?). I loved Angelique and just wanted Barnabas to realize that that they were the perfect couple (yeah, he shot her, and yeah, she put a curse on him to make him a vampire, but still….)
I remember a tune from Dark Shadows but think it may have been Josette’s theme, not the Quentin one…..
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:29amInae, I believe there were two Josette’s themes. I’m almost certain I remember a different one from early in the series and another one for most of the series.
Did you watch the show through to the end? I think Barnabas and Angelique did finally get together. Happy ending!
Sarah G
April 20, 2011 at 9:11amLife and writing should both have soundtracks, as far as I am concerned!
Theme music for my novel (coming out in MAY!!!!): “Go West” by The Village People and/or “Show Me Your Teeth” by Lady Gaga.
I had a short story that didn’t come together until I heard “The Nearness of You” one evening while wrangling over plot ideas. Suddenly, I knew what the story should feel like and what sort of man the deceased was. One day, that story will see print…
Marian Allen
April 21, 2011 at 9:27am“Life and writing should both have soundtracks, as far as I am concerned!”
LOL!
I like your comment about getting at the heart of a story through a song. 🙂