Dark Shadows episode 1-5

(Photo copyright ABC Productions and Dan Curtis Productions)

Most people know about Dark Shadows and the vampire Barnabas Collins, but did you know there were 210 episodes of this gothic soap opera before the introduction of Barnabas Collins? Anyone who knows me, knows I'm obsessed with Dark Shadows, so I've decided to share the show, via my blog, to introduce others to the world inside Collinsport. This is a summery of the first 5 episodes.

Dark Shadows: The Beginning 

Episode: 1  Original Air Date: 06-27-1966

Opening Voice over: Alexandra Moltke

Timeline: 1966

Victoria Winters travels to Collinsport by train from New York to be the governess of David Collins. She has been hired under mysterious circumstances, by Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, against the will of her brother, Roger Collins (father to David). Victoria, an orphan, believes that the job might lead her to find something about her past. Burke Devlin arrives on the same train after several years away from Collinsport. Burke has a private investigator checking up on the Collins family. Maggie Evans warns Victoria about the Collins family, but Victoria goes to Collinwood anyway.

Episode: 2  Original Air Date: 06-28-1966

Opening Voice over: Alexandra Moltke

Timeline: 1966

Having arrived at Collinwood, Victoria starts to settle in. At the Blue Whale, Joe Haskell becomes jealous when Carolyn dances with other guys. Victoria meets Roger who becomes agitated when he finds out that Burke Devlin has arrived in Collinsport.

Episode: 3   Original Air Date: 06-29-1966

Opening Voice over: Alexandra Moltke

Timeline: 1966

Victoria meets Carolyn. After learning of Burke's return to Collinsport, Roger searches for Sam Evans. Burke tries to extract information about the Collins family from Joe Haskell. Bill Malloy meets with Roger to discuss Burke's return; Roger appears to be unconcerned with the return of an "ex-convict". Later Bill meets with Burke, who admits he has a grudge against the Collins family.

Episode: 4   Original Air Date: 06-30-1966

Opening Voice over: Alexandra Moltke

Timeline: 1966

Roger and Elizabeth argue over the return of Burke and what Victoria may know about him. Roger and Elizabeth question Victoria about her contact with Burke Devlin. Roger's accusations anger Victoria. Later Victoria is awoken by the sounds of a sobbing woman, she then searches for the source of the sound. While searching she meets David who only says, "I hate you".

Episode: 5   Original Air Date: 07-01-1966

Opening Voice over: Alexandra Moltke

Timeline: 1966

After her first night at Collinwood, Victoria has decided to go back to New York. Victoria explains to Carolyn that she is an orphan and came to Collinsport because she believed that somehow she would find out about her past. Near Widow's Hill Victoria meets Sam Evans who tells Victoria about Josette Collins. Victoria finds out from Sam that Elizabeth has not left Collinwood in 18 years. Sam instructs Victoria to tell Roger that he wants to talk with him. Victoria returns to her room to find that David has helped her "pack" while she was out. Victoria changes her mind and decides to stay at Collinwood with renewed hopes that she will find out something about her past.

Cast featured in these episodes:

Victoria Winters - Alexandra Moltke

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard - Joan Bennett

Burke Devlin - Mitchell Ryan

Maggie Evans - Kathryn Leigh Scott

Roger Collins - Louis Edmonds

Carolyn Stoddard - Nancy Barrett

David Collins - David Henesy

Bill Malloy - Frank Schofield

Joe Haskell - Joel Crothers

Sam Evans - Mark Allen

Matthew Morgan - George Mitchell