In 1966 ABC was trying desperately to compete with CBS and their huge array of hit soap operas that aired during the daylight hours. In June, 1966 "Dark Shadows' debut replacing the youth-oriented serial "Never Too Young". What was about to happen even shocked most network executives.
"Dark Shadows" is the most unusual of all daytime dramas in that its plots dealt with supernatural elements and storylines, plots that were never seen on daytime TV before. The serial shot up in the Nielsens, especially after the arrival of Barnabas in April, 1967, however in 1966 that was still 10 months away.
The soap opera started off pretty quietly introducing the audience to a mysterious family called the Collins who lives at Collingwood, a large estate somewhere on the coast of Maine. Filmed in black and white with its stories moving at a snails pace (the custom for 1960's soaps) very few watch the show.
In this set fans can relive the very first 35 episodes that aired between the end of June 1966 and August 1966. What is really thrilling is the chance to watch the pilot episode along with its original ABC network commercials.
