EDitor’s Note: Michael Culhane is the writer who contributed the bulk of the DARK SHADOWS content to our latest issue, 261, including the interview with Jonathan Frid. Michael is a longtime fan of the show and wanted to say a few words regarding the loss of an icon as well as reflections on the man he came to know.

I did the last interview with Jonathan Frid that he’ll ever do — and I did it last month for Famous Monsters. I promised Frid I would mention his website (jonathanfrid.com) so you could all keep up with him, and I didn’t know he had fallen and was declining, so like a lot of us I was taken by surprise. So now that we won’t be hearing directly from Jonathan on his website, I will connect to you to all things Dark Shadows and keep the community alive (or at least undead) which is the best thing we can do. So if you want to know what I, Creepybopper #1 MC and long time friend to Frid thinks, come back here from time-to-time and we’ll tell you.

The good news: there are fresh stories coming in the form of audio dramas from Big Finish, new stories from comics, from novels, and other productions from the original cast. And a great source of connection is through Stuart Manning’s site Collinwood.net. I’m recording a rock album inspired by Dark Shadows, and I will be sharing previews here of that too. All of it will keep it going.

Because ultimately it’s the fans that keep it alive, those who started the festivals and the fansites; so that’s the important thing: check out Shadowgram and the Dark Shadows festival and keep the Creepybopper connection fresh.

I will share something funny—the “news” will say what it says and the fans and contributors to the story of Dark Shadows will share their love and talent. Right now the best tribute I can give it to let you in on Frid’s human side:

I remembered contacting Frid through that website I mentioned and letting him know I was “checking in” as his musical director. This was a favorite joke we liked to toss around. He had dubbed me the musical director at a one-man show when I was helping him with the music, and I said to him after the performance at private party with the crew “thanks for making me your musical director. But why NOW? Aren’t you basically retired? So when’s our next gig?”

That was 2001, but every time I would see him the joke would surface. We had a great rapport in person, even if neither of us was good at writing or keeping it up in between. I would sidle up to him and say “this is your musical director: when are we hitting the road?” And he would at times forget my name and call me “G sharp” referring to the key of one of the songs in his show. I would just reply to him, “So what’ s up for our next gig? No music, no tour, as usual?”

At the end, he did it his way, there was no memorial and it was private. But when he was alive, he connected; he connected to everyone who watched—and that made the world a place where we could connect to each other and that was fun. And we will keep that connection alive.

FM's EDitor heeds Forry's lesson: Make sure you always properly dress-up for special occasions. Preparing for Mil Mascaras' induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

This past weekend you humble EDitor braved the masses in Miami to see a phenomenon which horror fans already know: That which is dead cannot die.

Yes, on April 1 The Undertaker defeated Triple H for the second straight year. The win moves ‘Taker’s undefeated streak at Wrestlemania to 20-0. While there was much debate amongst the crowd as to the potential outcome, it always felt that The Dead Man was the odds-on favorite to get the ‘W’. The match wasn’t just any match, but the always electric Hell in a Cell steel cage extravaganza. The match was easily one of the two most intense matches of the evening (right up next to Rock v Cena) with much of the crowd not even using their seats for the duration. Both pulled out all the stops as we saw each man’s entire arsenal unloaded on one another, from signature moves and multiple finishers to sledgehammers, chairs, and even some sweet chin-terfernece from guest referee The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels. But despite the onslaught of Pedigrees and foreign objects, ‘Taker would not be denied his streak, finally putting Vince’s heir apparent down for the final 3-count. And while they may say that “dead men tell no tales”, Undertaker’s story is one of the most compelling in all of sports entertainment history.

And that’s not all. Saturday night was a classy and heartfelt affair at WWE’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. While it was great to see the likes of the Four Horsemen (WHOO!) inducted by Dusty Rhodes (who lovingly referred to them as the ‘Hossmin’), Ron Simmons, Yokozuna (put in posthumously), Edge (inducted by Christian), and Mike Tyson (with intro speech by DX), it was the induction of luchador extraordinaire and monster slayer Mil Mascaras that was the highlight for me (see picture). From his days of fighting mummies with El Santo to his recent bouts with Aztec deities, Mascaras has always been one of horror’s cult heroes alongside Santo and Blue Demon. Dressed in a tux and sporting one of his most iconic masks, Mascaras delivered a soft-spoken speech (in English) espousing the values of hard work and staying in shape (at over 70, Mascaras could still come off the top rope), being a well-rounded individual with knowledge of other races and cultures, and the benefits of living the good life. For all intents and purposes, he came across as a real-life version of The Most Interesting Man in the World. Regal, dignified, and well-spoken, Mil Mascaras is a true legend who left his mark on the world.

And let’s not forget Kane, who’s love of horror provided WWE an opportunity to pay FM a little homage last year (see the shirt). He stomped out Randy Orton. Not much to say other than that. Pick up the shirt here.

See you next year in NYC!

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