Inside the Old House/Issues 41-50

Issues 01-10 · Issues 11-20 · Issues 21-30 · Issues 31-40 · Issues 41-50 · Issues 51-65

Issue 41

cover of issue #41

Inside the Old House 40 was published in March/April 1993 and contains 50 pages. There are no LoCs in this issue as they were pushed back to issue #42.

• Slumber Party, fiction by Marcy Robin (3)
• A Drop of Warmth, poem by Winifred McBeth (20)
• The Lamb, fiction by Terry Cogliano (21)
• The Fan Page, article by Diane Oswald (44)
• Julia's Journal, fiction by S. Ramskill

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 41

Number 41 was a great fiction issue. SLUMBER PARTY by Marcy Robin was very good. Her stories are always my favorites. THE LAMB was an interesting look at what we never got to see. JULIA'S JOURNAL was particularly apropos to the episodes the Sci-Fi channel is showing now.

Man, that DS '91 really gets me confused. I was reading Marcy's story..."the incredible Hulk? Wait a minute!!" 1got it! '91 DS! Loved the story. Is Marcy by any chance a "Phantom of the Opera" fan or was the Mr. Crawford reference a coincidence? (1 loved "Phantom". Saw it twice in NYC. The first time, my friends and I actually got to go backstage and meet Mr. Crawford.) I also like the smaller type face. You can get more stuff in that way, too. JULIA'S JOURNAL was a good story, a good idea. However, I was confused again. Frankly, if it hadn't been for your photos and the reference to the death of Dave Woodard I would have pegged this as a '91 story. Both Willie and Barnabas have dialogue written in the manner of the newer series. Have you been keeping up with the new comics? I have a real hard time feeling sorry for the Ben Cross portrayal of Barnabas. I felt that way when the show was on and the comics are perpetuating the image of a man born too rich for his own good, who talks in a stilted manner, and is generally an arrogant SOB. And Willie is too much of a caricature rather than a character. I'll take the originals any day, thanks. Just finished watching DS tapes 161-164. 1995! OH BOY! You know, Julia's short skirts and Barnabas' double-breasted suits are right back in fashion. Scary, isn't it? Pretty soon this Flash-forward will be a Flashback. I feel old.

Issue 42

cover of issue #42

Inside the Old House 42 was published in July/August 1993 and contains 42 pages. It came out at the same time as #43.

• Redemption, fiction by Terry Cogliano (3)
• Chained, poem by Marcy Robin (19)
• The Fan Page by Curtis Hayes (23)
• Guardian of the Secrets, fiction by William J. Mann (28)
• Meal Ticket, fiction by LouAnn Wojtalik (42)

Issue 43

cover of issue #43

Inside the Old House 43 was published in September/October 1993 and contains 60 pages.

• The Last Sunrise, fiction by Jimmy Hutcheson (3)
• Shadowed Happenings, news (26)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (27)
• The Envoy, fiction by Terry Cogliano (32)
• Cause of Death, fiction by S. Ramskill (43)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 43

It took me awhile to read Jimmy Hutcheson's "THE LAST SUNRISE". Not because I didn't like it - I did, very much. It's just I had a story with the exact same title and I knew that when I read his mine would have to go in the trash. His story was far more thorough and very touching in places. I really liked it. A lot. I'm coming to the conclusion fmally that Barnabas and Julia are not exactly the best match but perhaps a very close second to him and Angelique. It's just that Julia is always there while AngeJique pops in and out - usually bringing trouble with her. Julia would probably win by default, just as she had in Jimmy's story -- because she is always there for him.

The magazine just gets better - I like the new feature "Pieces of the Past". I also liked seeing new candid photos of Louis & Grayson. The quality of the fiction remains excellent. My favorite was "MEAL TICKEr. Lou Ann Wojtalik captured the fantasy I'm sure I share with other female fans! The story also works on other levels: 1) as a non-DS story. Take away the reference to Angelique and the first DS episode and it's about any vampire. Has Lou Ann thought of submitting it to a horror/vampire fanzine? 2) As an original/revival story. For some reason, I visualized Ben Cross as I read it. The last sentence places it as an 'original' tale - but it could be either. I liked "REDEMPTION" by Terry Cogliano, too. Interesting idea, poignant ending. Having written DS fiction myself, I'm reluctant to criticize another's story, but I'd like to have seen more interaction between Barnabas and Julia and their TV 'contemporaries'. What would happen if Barnabas encountered a reporter wanting to interview Jonathan Frid? Or if Julia met Sam Hall...?

I enjoyed ITOH #43 very much. "THE LAST SUNRISE" by Jimmy Hutcheson was, in my opinion, the greatest work. However, having said that, I like your idea of "Pieces of the Past". I enjoyed the advertisement portion of "Night of Dark Shadows" and the article of Grayson and Sam Hall relative to NODS. I especially enjoyed the picture of Quentin (Charles Collins) on page 30. I don't think there can be a bigger fan of David Selby than I am. I have talked with him twice and he is a very kind and humble person. He will always be my favorite.

I particularly enjoyed "REDEMPTION", which offered a substantial bit of character building in what at first seemed just another "the real people end up on the TV show set" - a hoary subgenre in fan fiction. The story was well-handled, however, offering an insight that redeemed (pardon the pun) an often overused device. "MEAL TICKET" was another well-done story, offering still another "alternate DS". Maggie's character comes across through her internal dialogue, although her name is never mentioned. Entertaining glimpse of Barnabas' career as a video-vampire (literally).

Issue 44

cover of issue #44

art by Kenneth Caroli and Sandy Adams

art by Kenneth Caroli

Inside the Old House 44 was published in November/December 1993 and contains 52 pages.

• A Memory, fiction by Andy Nunez (3)
• art by Kenneth Caroli (12)
• art by Sandy Adams (13)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (14)
• The Fan Page, commentary by Terry Cogliano (21)
• Center, art by Kenneth Caroli (centerfold)
• Jasmine, fiction by Joyce Fink (28)
• Submission, fiction by Larry Gray (30)
• Shadowed Happenings, news (36)
• An Encounter, fiction by Jimmy Hutcheson (37)
• inside back cover, comedy by Sandy Adams (37)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 44

Number 44 is my first issue of ITOH, and I love it! I sat right down and read it cover to cover. I enjoyed all the fiction. I was really intrigued by the possibility of stories inherent in Andy

Nunez' "A MEMORY". I hope he'll write more about that magic brush. (One could quibble on a few points. It seems unlikely Charles Tate would have been using the name Harrison Munroe in the forties -- also unlikely that Petofi would have given him a thing like that, ill that Tate would have given it away. But I'll gladly suspend my disbelief for the sake of speculating about the magic brush!) My favorite piece in the 'zine was Terry Cogliano's FAN PAGE article speculating that Elizabeth may have known the truth about Barnabas all along. Fascinating! I had never thought of the possibility that in the original 1897, Edith may have told Edward the "secret". Actually, I still have my doubts. As I remember it, Edith -- despite her terror of Barnabas _ does live until Edward gets back, then can't tell him the .secret" because she's delirious and raving. That may have happened

the same way in the original history, but there certainly is room for speculation. Can't wait for the next issue - and your next book!

THE FAN PAGE proposed an interesting theory and made a convincing case for Liz having known all along about Barnabas. This kind of article is one of the things that makes ITOH stand out, and makes it so much fun to read.

I also enjoyed SUBMISSION, a very strong piece, and AN ENCOUNTER, which has to be the best by Jimmy Hutcheson that I've read (although that is, admittedly, a small number). Andy Nunez's A

MEMORY was entertaining, showing an aspect of Sam's past that helped to flesh-out the character for me, at least. The historical detail really added to the mood and verisimilitude of the story.

I received ITOH #44 a couple of weeks ago. I realJy enjoyed Andy Nunez's "A MEMORY" (despite the fact Sydney was described as reminding Sam of Collinsport which made me boggle - - Sydney hasn't been like Collinsport since about, oh, 1820). It had a genuinely creepy atmosphere in the beach scenes and built up the suspense nicely. It stayed in the mind a long time as it was genuinely horrific. Good stuff. The other stories were also enjoyable, especially "AN ENCOUNTER", but I thought "A MEMORY" particularly good.

Terry Cogliano's piece on Elizabeth's knowing what Barnabas was and deliberately arranging for him to be released was fascinating. I must say, I rather like the idea. As for Dan Curtis' proposed new DS movie, my reaction would be "oh no, not again," as the bowl of petunias said as it hit the planet. That is, if he wants to do the tired old Willie and the Wrong Box story - one more time. I'd like to see him either develop a new story building on what has gone before or retain the basic premise (antique vampire released into the 20th century and interacting with his descendants and their spooky house) but use new and original characters. In the former case he could get the Barnabas out of the box bit out of the way in the first 15 minutes and then develop an original storyline, or he could, as someone suggested, do a story in which we don't know Barnabas is a vampire any more than the characters do, to create a bit of mystery. In the latter case, it would be like ST:NG - same premise but different characters and actors to make it fresh. I made a similar suggestion after viewing the remake. Since it was made in California (and probably the film would be, too), why not take advantage of the locale -- it never looked like Maine anyway.

Although I think you could make a film based on the 1897 flashback (as it is fairly self-contained - you could have B. being released by the handyman in the 19th century to cut any need for explanations for the time-trave!), I think putting new wine in old bottles is not a good idea. It doesn't really work, seeing different actors doing roles originally pretty well tailored for the original actors.

Issue 45/46

cover of issue #45/46

inside page sample from issue $45/46, poem by Sandy Adams, art by Terry Cogliano

Inside the Old House 45/46 is a 100-page double issue with a color cover, dated Jan/Feb/March/Apr 1994.

• Liaison, fiction by Jimmy Hutcheson (5)
• A Piece of the Past, clippings, contributed by Dan Silvio (27)
• The Whole True Story of Laura, fiction by Bill Mann (30)
• Shadowed Happenings/News by Marcy Robin (45)
• The Ravages of Time, fiction by Terry Cogliano (46)
• The Offering, fiction by Susan Ramskill (52)
• Ghost, fiction by Allison McNeil (73)
• Vampire Villanelle, poetry by Sandy Adams (76)
• Barnabas, artwork by Terry Cogliano (77)
• The Fan Page, article which focuses on the G-rated sex (or lack thereof) in the original television shows and whether "tasteful sex" has any place in the new movies and shows, by Emily Klaczak (78)
• From the Cellar, Letters of Comment (83)
• Murder at Collinwood (comedy/fiction) by Marjo Reid (90)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 45/46

Just a note to say what a treat ITOH #45/46 was! That color cover was a real attention-getter! Very nice touch. The content of the zine was good, too -- who says you can't judge a book by its cover? Jimmy Hutcheson scored again, with his "LIAISON". A confrontation between Stokes and Petofi is a natural. Loved it! Jimmy's writing style is arresting and his ideas provocative -- when are we going to see an anthology of his stories? William J. Mann's profile of Laura Collins was thought-provoking, but I can't buy into all of his suppositions. Though undoubtedly an intriguing character, Laura was never (to my mind) a very sympathetic one. Still, his theory on her peculiar habit of returning every other generation or so was nicely presented and can almost alleviate some of the credibility problem that evolved over Roger Collins "marrying" his own grandmother. (By the way, the photo you used on page 35 was a very nice addition to the essay.) I'd welcome similar features on other characters -- seems to me that Eve, Forbes, and Dr. Lang could all use some championing to explain away some of their inconsistencies. Marjo Reid's two minute murder mystery was amusing. I was puzzled, however, that Inspector Quentin neglected the most obvious suspect -- Barnabas himself. If not murderer (at least, in this particular case), certainly Barnabas is a lightening rod for premature mortality in young women.

Issue #45/46 was the best yet. From the full color cover to the comical "MURDER AT COLLINWOOD", this was the best yet. "LIAISON" was very interesting. I must admit, I always wondered about some connection between Petofi and Stokes. Petofi is probably the best male villain from the series and Stokes was so underused...this was so good that it made me want for a sequel in the hopes that the snide and pompous Petofi would be stopped in his glorying over the events he found in Stokes' mind. I liked the articles trying to figure out the mess of continuity the original series left us with Laura. I must admit, some of it confused me as I am not that well versed in the facts of DS as the author. I do know that in 1897 the dialogue between characters makes it seem as if Laura was as old then as she was in the 1700's -- not 12. And isn't 14 a bit young to be married -- even in the 1700's? While I like Laura and agree that the unknowns of the character add to her uniqueness and charm, the series never attempted to give her a logical background or explanation. I felt that the Lauras were all one and the same. Was Silas mentioned on the original show? I also felt that somehow each Laura was human at some point and wanted to remain so at times while at some later point became a servant of Ra somehow -- willing, yet not. But I felt that once she became the servant of Ra, she somehow became the SAME Laura that had died in the previous times but not before she became the servant. I cannot believe Jeremiah was gay though, as the author writes. He seemed attracted to Vicki, although they seemed more like friends. Also the fact that the writer tells us that he could not perform is ludicrous: many gay men have had children with women. It should probably read "he wouldn't want to perform." "THE RAVAGES OF TIME" was excellent, written from the caretaker's point of view. An interesting idea - I only wish it were longer giving us more of the time changes that occurred on the show: such as the whole 1795-96 storyline being different when discussed in the 1966-1967 episodes. "THE OFFERING" was also very good -- nice to Willie, Barnabas and Julia. "GHOST" was very odd but at least it gave us the fact that Traci was, at least, still alive after the morbid and depressing events of NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS.

"THE RAVAGES OF TIME" was terrific. I always thought somebody should have noticed what was happening, with all that mucking about in time. "GHOST" was a haunting piece, very effective. "THE OFFERING" offered (no pun intended) both excellent characterization and a look at the relationship between Willie and his "master". The werecats were intriguing villains, with a touch of Cat People about them. And "MURDER AT COLLINWOOD" was priceless! I loved it -- poor Mrs. Johnson, driven to murder in order to "make a name for herself" (pun intended). Finally, thanks for the inclusion of my poem. I thought the accompanying illustration was a nice touch. One small nit to pick -- the period after"...my own" in the second stanza should have been a coma . Ah, well, typos happen as I know only too well.

From the gorgeous cover to the hilarious "MURDER AT COLLINWOOD" - a most excellent issue of ITOH! It's difficult to single out any particular story or article for praise. think that I especially enjoyed this issue because all the fiction "starred n characters who seldom (if ever) feature prominently in DS fiction. Willie Loomis, for example, is seldom the central character, but in "THE OFFERING", he even gets a love life - such as it is, poor guy! And thanks, Susan Ramskill, for showing us Barnabas in all his fanged menacing glory (something fan fiction writers hardly ever deal with, seeming to prefer a kinder, gentler Barnabas). "GHOST" may be the first story I've ever read that takes place in the 'world' of NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS, that much-maligned parallel universe. A haunting, poignant tale. And who'd a-thunk to write a story about the caretaker of Eagle Hill Cemetery? "THE RAVAGES OF TIME" was reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe. Terry Cogliano's writing style in this particular tale had a great "teetering on the edge - I must take pen in hand 'ere I go mad" flavor. Perfect for the narrator and the subject! "Vampire Villanelle" was a graceful poem and the accompanying artwork matched the mood exactly. But -- I admit to feeling a bit frustrated after reading Bill Mann's biography of Laura Collins and Jimmy Hutcheson's "LIAISON". I'm about two years behind in watching the MPI tapes -- I've only just arrived in 1897 -- and my memories of the original broadcast are very dim. I remember being intrigued by Laura and Count Petofi but have only the vaguest idea of what they were up to. So when I get caught up I will re-read these pieces. I'd love to see Craig Clipper's DS movie! A big screen (and budget) could really show us the visual and spiritual bleakness of northern New England If the script deals with the events of 1795, this could be contrasted with the color and sensuality of the French Caribbean. One atmospheric detail that we haven't seen in either TV version - but used by Dan Ross in his DS novels, is the physical condition of Collinwood. Considering the age of the building and the size of the maintenance staff during the '50s and '60s, it's in unbelievably good condition. Even the long-abandoned West Wing needs only a good dusting to clear out the cobwebs. In the DS novels -- especially the pre-Barnabas ones -- Mr. Ross describes the grandeur of the house. But he also notices dank basements, rotting wood, mustiness and decay. In the third novel, Strangers at Colljns House (which I'm currently re-reading) Vicki wishes to hide a tre.asure behind some loose boards in her closet but is afraid that rats will destroy it! So Collinwood could become a visual metaphor for the Collins family....the awful secrets lurking behind the facade of elegance and apparent 'normality'. But please let Barnabas keep his fangs and get him a pair of red-tinted contacts, too! I realize that not all DS fans are as enthusiastic about the horrific elements as myself. But I've always been entranced by the 'Jekyll and Hyde' qualities of Barnabas and his fellow vampires. The contrast between the handsome gentleman with elegant manners and wardrobe to match, and the crazed blood-drooling maniac he becomes...and I don't want to see those wimpy pin-prick bite marks, either!

I do not want to agree that Jeremiah had no children because he was gay. I know of several homosexual men that tried desperately to remain "in the closet" and raise a family, or at least father a child. Jeremiah Collins seems to be a man comfortable in his own skin, at ease with both men and women. I can not imagine him wearing any kind of duality or deceit well. And can you imagine his big sister Abigail Collins snooping after him if his behavior aroused her suspicions in any way? No one in the community would have been accepting of such behavior in an intolerant, rigid era as Colonial New England. Barnabas does not remember the death of Laura Collins in 1785 when he sees her again in 1897. Perhaps Barnabas was away from Collinwood when it occurred, and try as he does, the details surrounding the death of Laura in 1785 were something of a mystery to him. On the other hand, Barnabas may have been so traumatized by the death of his favorite aunt that he blocked the memories after witnessing her horrible, flaming death.

Issue 45/46 was full of delightful fiction and discussion. A few comments: William J. Mann's article on Laura was extraordinary! I too have always found the Laura/Phoenix character the most fascinating and intriguing supernatural creature on DS. I think Diana Millay was absolutely fantastic in tbe role. She seemed to bury herself utterly in the character-to me, she WAS Laura the Phoenix. And Mann is dead-on target when he says that the scenes between she and Angelique were perhaps the most powerful in all of DS. I loved Mann's entire article and his attempt to offer a history to explain her existence was almost like reading a piece of great fanfiction! I have always found the entire Laura/Edward/Quentin story (and the lovers' subsequent flight to Egypt, and their experiences there) a wonderful subject for a really meaty story. Anyone who attempts this, including myself, should take Mann's speculations in consideration.

Emily Klaczak's comments in THE FAN PAGE were very useful but I do have one disagreement. She says "This is the 18th century ... 'nice' women found sex distasteful, so it was socially acceptable for a gentleman to keep a'mistress to spare the wife unwanted attention." I think she's giving too much credence to the mainstream myths of the period The 18th century was known for being far more liberal and sexually freer than the 19th. The comment that "nice" women supposedly found sex distasteful is an incredible generalization and is simply not borne out by the countless diaries, correspondence and other accounts found in the historical record. Even the supposedly repressed Victorian period was full of secret and not-so-secret sexual liaisons. In the 18th century, women in regions were certainly encouraged to control their sexual appetites, or deny that they had any. However, it was also quite common for women of all classes to have lovers, leave their husbands, and be quite open about their sexual desires. I'm not dismissing the truth of Klaczak's comments entirely, but our popular notions of wha t1ife was like in the past (especially regarding sex) is often quite distorted and oversimplified. One could argue that coming from a repressed New England elite family, Barnabas was not one to enter into sexual liaisons. On the other hand, it happened often enough even in the most conservative of families to make Barnabas' actions in Martinique unsurprising. One could also argue that being from a liberal French Caribbean family, Josette was not the little innocent and demure ingenue the series portrayed her to be. One could also argue the opposite. We in the late 20th century often think that we invented sexual freedom but our ancestors in every century did it all before us, and often quite openly.

As to sex in the original DS vs. sex in 1991 DS, I for one appreicated the more explicit sexual tone of the new series. The original has always seemed to me to be unnaturally toned down because of TV censorhip at the time. I've never found the original series to be too passionate when it comes to sexuality or sensuality.

Stunning cover, Dale. I loved that scene -- one of the few times we actually get to see Barnabas smile. Loved "liaison" - it is very refreshing to read a story in which the writer takes the time to flesh-out the setting and give details to make the piece seem more realistic -- just as if you can 'see" it happening before you as you read. And, of course, the characters were very well-written. Jimmy Hutcheson has a great grasp of both Petofi and Stokes. Poor Professor -- he's no match for the diabolical Petofi. I wonder, is anyone? I think even Quentin and Barnabas outwitted him by sheer luck rather than occult powers or mental acumen. Truly and entertaining piece. sure you've heard raves about "Murder at Collinwood". I enjoyed it so much I forced my husband to read it too. He likes the videos but isn't much on reading fan-fiction of any sort (won't even read Star Trek books) but he laughed and said the comedy was great. And very '90's -- instead of "the butler did it" it was Mrs. Johnson.

"The Offering" was not only creepy, I kept getting the strangest stares from my four cats as I read it. ... "Ghost" was so sad. I'm glad I didn't read it a couple of years ago when I was pregnant. It reminds me of something - I'm not sure of what, but the melancholy is very real and poignant. Great Story.

I got so lost reading the treatise on Laura Collins that I'm sure I'll have to go back and watch those videos again. She was a totally original and very intriguing character who wasn't used enough in the plot twists and turns. Too bad the '90's show never got around to her character either. I mean, Angelique was great, but she needed some competition and Laura was the one to fill the bill.

Issue 47

cover of issue #47

Inside the Old House 47 was published in May/June 1994 and contains 52 pages.

• Passage, fiction by Terry Cogliano (3)
• The Path Not Taken by Lucidscreamer (14)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (19)
• Character biography: Spotlight on Jenny Collins by Dale Clark (28)
• The Fan Page - Who Killed Stella Young? - by Kay Kelly (33)
• Wolf Dreams, fiction by Elaine Garner (38)
• Piece of the Past, ads for old models and toys, contributed by Dan Silvio (43)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 47

I enjoyed ITOH #47 alot. The cover (with bloody ole' Carolyn) was certainly eye catching! And the contents! fiction/commentary were as intriguing as always. I especially like Kay Kelly's theory about the 1841 PT Quentin. I didn't think about it before but, yes, Quentin should've been the one to kill Gabriel and Stella. And yes, his role did end rather abruptly, too abruptly even for the appendicitis excuse. And yes, I too was never satisfied with the non- resolution of the Stella murder. I agree with Kay's theory except for Quentin's deliberately murdering Stella. I'd sort of see it more as the "other" Quentin's half-deliberate/half-accidental strangling of Jenny. More a crime of passion. The Quentins, after all, were rather hot-tempered.

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed ITOH #47. As always, the zine was a true work of art. Yes, I do write and tell Kathy Resch the same thing, but I for one am grateful for all the hard work and effort you guys do for DS. I enjoy all the stories, information and interviews. Thanks for putting it all together. How do I feel about the cost of ITOH going up? Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do! If it costs more you have no choice but to pass that cost on. It isn't fair to you to be paying out of your pocket. Actually, your zine is a lot cheaper than buying coffee!! Sure, some will probably gripe, but if they don't want it they don't have to buy it.

I loved "The Path Not Taken" -- my friend Cathy is a huge "Leap" fan and I know she'll get a kick out of it. I love pieces that cross-over.

The spotlight on Jenny was intriguing. She was a tragic figure, but the writers had her spend so much time gnawing the furniture that the deep sadness of her plight was secondary to her madness and escape attempts. I think in the old show they confused action with reaction and had too many chase scenes going on. Jenny's broken heart and shattered dreams topped with the loss of her children were enough of a story all by themselves without all the mock-menace of "the madwoman of Collinwood" roaming the grounds with a pointed object lesson. Silliness.

When Kay Kelly in THE FAN PAGE discussed the fate of Stella Young, I'm afraid I was mystified. I'm still stuck in the Leviathan storyline and know I am light-years away from the end of the series, much less the tale of Bramwell and Catherine. I hope to reach that video by the time my daughter (1 1/2 years old) is graduated from college. The facts of life are that things just get more and more expensive everyday. That doesn't mean one should forget about priorities - mine is my fandom. We spend at least 1/4 of our income annually on fan- related things, like publications, tapes, movies, and the occasional trip to a Con. These things not only keep us sane, they define who we are and what we believe in. And let's face it, reality is for mundanes who can't handle fandom. So I say: whatever the cost is for my DS reading materials it's worth it. Fandom is its own reward. I think we're getting top dollar value with ITOH and the other things you publish.

The latest issue had a very interesting mixture of story ideas. A Quantum Leap story, a wolfman story, even one that wasn't particularly a DS story. I'm referring to Terry Cogliano's excellent "Passages". And I don't mean that comment as a criticism! It was the tale of a young boy on the verge of entering adulthood - who just happens to be named Barnabas Collins -- caught up in the flow of history, the terror of war. No occult evil or supernatural horror, just mundane fears and anxieties. (Having Joshua Collins as your father is scary enough.) An engrossing story, well written and researched, and - - something rarely encountered in the pages of ITOH and other DS fanzines -- a DS story that can be enjoyed by those who have never seen the show. My thanks to Sandra Necchi for her critique of my FAN PAGE article. She is absolutely correct. I admit/confess to being an avid reader of historical romances (a.k.a. "bodice rippers" or "slut books"). Sexual hypocriscy is a common plot device in these books and I"ve allowed this to color my perceptions of the times in which Barnabas and Josette first lived.

"WolfDreams" had some very effective imagery in its descriptions of the werewolfs thoughts and actions. Also liked "Passage" - Terry Cogliano has a way of finding subtle insights into character motivation that makes for very good storytelling. If you have to increase the Subscription price, I for one understand. It's getting so that you have to take out a mortgage to mail a letter! But I've gotta have my DS "fix", so I'll scrape up the extra from somewhere!

Issue 48

cover of issue #48

Inside the Old House 48 was published in July/Aug 1994 and contains 51 pages.

• Future Tense, fiction by Terry Cogliano (3)
• Age of Ascension, fiction by Elaine Garner (11)
• fan art by Ken Caroli (17)
• Artistic License, fiction by Andy Nuez (18) (sequel to "A Memory" in a previous issue)
• a long con report with photos for [[Dark Shadows Festival 1994, by Dale Clark (25)
• Midnight Dreary, fiction by M.J. Reid (39)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (41)
• Pieces of the Past, nostalgia/clippings, submitted by Dan Silvio (22)
• cartoon on the inside back cover by Terry Cogliano

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 48

I was delighted to get ITOH #48, especiaIly because of the flyer on DESTINY and the latest DS Book of Q&A. I was also terribly upset that David Selby made a surprise appearance at the LA Festival and I could not be there. I am a Quentin/Selby fan. I died when I read the con report in the 'zine and saw his pictures!

Enjoyed issue #48 of ITOH. AGE OF ASCENSION was very nice; another excellent werewolf story from Elaine Garner. ARTISTIC LICENSE (great title) was very readable-- liked the surprise o f Josette and AngeJique working together. MIDNIGHT DREARY, however, had to be the best piece in the issue. The twist ending was fantastic.

I dropped onto your subscription list, then back off for a few issues, and now I'm back - to stay! Are you going up on your subscription rates? I don't blame you! I'm intimately familiar with the price of production, and it isn't cheap. The only reason I am able to do a 'zine is by the generosity of a neighbor who owns a print shop. I can't imagine the cost of producing a high quality fanzine like ITOH. (This isn't counting the time and effor you personally devote.) If you must go up on the price, this fan supports you completely. I am very impressed by the quality of your photos in ITOH; they're sharp, clear, and easy to see. Fan fiction in #48 was excellent! I liked the sequel story ARTISTIC LICENSE, and MIDNIGHT DREARY especially. I love a twist ending, and MIDNIGHT DREARY was thrilling. I reaIly enjoyed the picture of Chris Jennings. I'll never see as much fiction or photos with him as I'd like. But, of course, we all have our favorites.

You certainly are getting ITOH out on a regular basis! It seems that I just finish mulling over one issue and here comes another. Believe me, I'm not complaining! I can never get enough Dark Shadows.

This issue was especially good -- particularly the fiction. MIDNIGHT DREARY by M.J. Reid was probably my favorite. My only complaint was that it was too short. I would have liked to have seen a more indepth and lengthy exchange between Edward and Quentin but I suppose this would have been extremely difficult to pull-off and still keep that shocker ending. And what a delightful ending it was. AGE OF ASCENSION was also another excellent werewolf story. I really enjoy reading these stories and then watching episodes on tape -- you gain a whole new insight into the characters. ARTISTIC LICENSE was as equally entertaining as its predecessor; strange and haunting.

Your review of the DSFESTNAL in Los Angeles only makes me want to attend one even more. And those wonderful pictures! Wish I had chosen to go to this one because, if I was/orced to pick a favorite DS star, he would probably be it. Ah, perhaps next year in New York.

Issue 49

cover of issue #49

Inside this Old House 49 was published in Oct/Nov 1994 and contains 52 pages.

• Secrets, fiction by S. Ramskill (3)
• Character biography - Spotlight on: Adam (Part 1) by Dale Clark (9)
• A Test of Wills, fiction by Terry Cogliano (16)
• Second Chances, fiction by Lucidscreamer (23)
• Shadowed Happenings/News by Marcy Robin (25)
• Desert Rats, fiction by Andy Nunez (28)
• Pieces of the Past, clippings contributed by Dan Silvio (37)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (44)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 49

Another superb issue of ITOH. TEST OF WILLS was great, and so was DESERT RATS. Thanks for using my cartoon -- and my story. I only have one tiny quibble. Whoever retyped my story changed the color of Julia's hair from black (in my manuscript) to red (as published). Since this is meant to be a: 1991 DS story, the hair color was correct in the original form. Sorry if I didn't make it clear that this wasn't an ·original DS· tale in my letter. But that one little change really changes the entire slant of the story, since it was meant to show a different path the relationships in the "new" DS might have taken. ((I'm afraid Ye Editor has to take the blame for the retyping boo-boo. It was late at night, I'd been slaving over a hot keyboard all day, and it never even occurred to me that this was Barbara Steele and not Grayson Hall. Which certainly shows you who I think of when I think of Julia. At any rate, my sincere apologies.))

No way would I let this SUbscription lapse! I'm sorry I haven't been finding time to write LOCs. But I agree with other fans that the real standout stories in recent issues have been M.L. Reid's MURDER AT COLLINWOOD and MIDNIGHT DREARY. Reid is a terrific talent. In the current issue (#49), my favorites are SECRETS and DESERT RATS -- great ideas, both a little "different". I'm also really glad to see your character biography on Adam because I've never had an opportunity to see that part of the show. I've read the Concordance, but it's great to have the story of Adam pulled together" in one place.

Enjoyed the character profile of Adam. Although he was the most blatant example of ·swiping· from old Universal horror films, Adam was interesting counterpoint to Barnabas. I'm looking forward to learning more about Nicholas Blair in your next installment. Andy Nunez's story DESERT RATS was a hoot! He wrote it so convincingly that the Tom Clancy school of terrorist intrigue owes him an honorary diploma! Bright, witty, literate revenge on the rascals on whom we blame the demise of DS '9l!

Issue 50

front cover of issue #50

Inside the Old House 50 was published in January/February 1995 and contains 72 pages. It is an anniversary issue, with a reprint of the cover of issue #1 on the inside front cover.

From the editorial:

"Hi! Welcome to the first issue (ofwhat I hope will be many) of INSIDE THE OLD HOUSE." With those first naive, yet prophetic words, INSIDE THE OLD HOUSE was born back in July, 1978. That first issue, the cover of which is reproduced on the opposite page, was crude and clumsy by today's standards. Back then computers and word processors were still years in the future and all of ITOH was done on a typewriter - or by hand, as you can see by the stenciled lettering on the first cover with the handwritten "#1". I get a little nostalgic every time I see those first issues, but even though I occasionally get exasperated with my computer, I wouldn't want to go back to the Dark Ages for anything.

• Metamorphosis, part one, fiction by J.L. Miser (3)
• Howlers, comedy artwork by Bill Branch (28)
• The Book, fiction by S. Ramskill (30)
• centerfold, "Barnabas at Collinwood" by Bill Branch
• Who Haunts Here?, fiction by M.J. Reid (39)
• Prey, fiction by Lucidscreamer (52)
• art: Angelique and Maggie, by Janet Meehan (54)
• From the Cellar, LoCs (56)
• Part 2 of a character spotlight on Adam by Dale Clark (57)
• Pieces of the Past, nostalgia contributed by Terry Cogliano (62)

• 

  inside issue #50, Bill Branch

• 

  centerfold from issue #50, Bill Branch

• 

  inside issue #50, Janet Meehan ("It was also nice to see those pieces of artwork by Janet Meehan. Now there's a name from DS-Fandom's past. Were these new pieces and if so, let's see more. ((Actually, no. Those were pieces of artwork that Janet sent me some 15 years ago. I've discovered a couple more and will be running them in future issues - - DC.))" -- from an exchange in the next issue

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 50

ITOH #50 was terrific, as usual! I love M.J. Reid's "WHO HAUNTS HERE?" - wonderfully written, and the salt-sugar idea is very clever. A person could quibble on a couple points of fidelity to the show. At that point in time, Julia was locking Chris in a cell at Windcliff during the full moon. (But of course, if the story had been set after JuJia followed Barnabas into Parallel Time, she wouldn't have been available for use as a character). Also, Quentin's portrait would have protected him from physical harm - and more important, Aristede, even as a ghost, should have known that. But the story is so good I think we can accept some dramatic license.

Sandy Adams' "PREY" is also excellent. Sandy has great ideas, but sometimes I don't think she tells readers quite enough to make her point clear. I looked back at "SECOND CHANCES" and I don't think I would have picked up on its being a 1991 DS story, even if you hadn't changed that all-important word. I think I would have skimmed over that word and either not registered it at all, or thought it was an inexplicable typo on someone's part. But "PREY" is perfect! I kept wondering if the male protagonist was "anyone we knew," ifhe was a vampire or some other kind of predator... The fmt mention of the woman's eye color as "probably blue" just seemed like detail to make the scene more believable. But by the end, it was alI too clear whose blue eyes they were!! A fine piece of writing.

I'm also caught up in "METAMORPHOSIS" -- eager for the next installment. The whole issue is excellent.

Enjoyed #50 - the John Karlen issue very much. I'm looking forward to the continuation of "METAMORPHOSIS". It's not often that writers deal with Barnabas' evil side and I wonder where J.L. Miser is taking this tale. "WHO HAUNTS HERE" was fun - I don't think I've ever read a story about Carl Collins. "PREY" was a neat little story! I wonder if Sandy had AngeJique in mind. Thank you, Terry Cogliano for sharing the Newsweek article.

"METAMORPHOSIS" is intriguing and so far has been enjoyable. I don't usually like continued stories because it usually takes too long between issues -- by the time the second and third or fourth parts see print I've forgotten what happened in the earlier chapters. Of course, ITOH has been seeing print fairly regularly lately, so maybe this won't be a problem. As I said, the story itself is intriguing so far -- which says a lot since Willie is a bit of a snooze in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the artwork by Bill Branch. The center was beautiful! Not only is this guy talented, but he's funny, too. I could just hear Magda telling Sandor to hush on page 29. More of these, pleasel

"THE BOOK" was a nice light-hearted shorty. You seem to be running more comedy in recent issues. "WHO HAUNTS HERE?" had just the perfect blend of seriousness and humor to appear true to the characters, although we rarely saw too much humor on DS. Of course, watching episodes you can't help but throw in a few funny lines of your own. They were so serious all the time. "PREY" had a neat little twist to it that made it a perfect short-read. Nice to see Angelique dole out a little justice in her own way. It was also nice to see those pieces of artwork by Janet Meehan. Now there's a name from DS-Fandom's past. Were these new pieces and if so, let's see more. ((Actually, no. Those were pieces of artwork that Janet sent me some 15 years ago. I've discovered a couple more and will be running them in future issues - - DC.))