Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

As Bart Simpson would say, Ay Carumba!

MPI is releasing a 131-disc DVD set of the complete original Dark Shadows TV series. That's 1,225 episodes.

If that's not a record, I don't know what is.

Here's the original press release:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dar...l-Series/16643

Originally scheduled for release on May 8, TV Shows on DVD reports today that the release date has been pushed back to July 10. No reason is given, though I bet it probably has to do with the logistics of doing quality control on 1,225 episodes!

As one who actually considered buying the complete Law & Order set, and who might invest one day in a complete Simpsons set, and who would jump at buying a complete Doctor Who if that were ever possible, I can't fault Dark Shadows fans wanting all 1,225 episodes. But man ... that's a lot of TV!

Alex

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Averages out to almost ten episodes per disc if there's no special features. They are going to compress the shit out of the episodes.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Hopefully this will get it to Netflix. I'd be really interested in watching the show.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

FYI: The new issue of Horrorhound magazine (with Barnabas on the cover) has a nice retrospective on the original series, complete with fun photos of most of the original merchandise: games, puzzles, plastic models, Gold Key comics, novels, digests, even the Viewmaster set! (Most of which I remember from my childhood.)

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

I don't think they have 1200 episodes but they do have Dark Shadows on demand. I've been watching them here and there, and being only a half hour (did it get longer later?) they go by pretty quick.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Nope, it was always a half-hour soap opera.

Every weekday at 4 pm, as I recall.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Probably, but weren't the shot on video in the first place? If so, it won't be that bad (especially since their 30-minutes minus commercials each).

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Yep.

And I don't think there'll be much compression. 10 half-hour episodes, less commercials, equals < 5 hours of material per disc. The L&O discs all have four or five (1 hour each, less ads) eps per disc, working out to about the same amount of time, and they look fine.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

i doubt compression will be a problem. the old dvd sets had forty episodes spread over four of five discs. each episode is anywhere from 18-23 minutes long and yes, it was shot on video. the quality isn't all that great to begin with.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Fascinating. I've never heard of this show before - probably because it was never shown in the UK. I'll probably try to catch the Burton/Depp film. I don't think I'd relish the idea of watching 1,225 episodes even if I did have nostalgic memories of it, which I don't.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

^ AFAIK, the original series has at least a whole season go by before Barnabas even shows up.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Netflix starts with the arrival of Barnabas and I think it's in the 200s.

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Isn't this that horror drama that use to air on Scifi?

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

Vampire/Supernatural Soap Opera aired in the late 60s-1970s, I believe, and yes, they did air it on SciFi Channel for awhile

Re: Dark Shadows, the 131-disc DVD set
 

I am so excited by this news I am so getting it. Dark shadows has everything vampires, witches,ghosts and if corouse time travel. Also looking forward to the movie even though they turned it into a period comedy. I just can't pass on tim burton & Johnny Depp.