Dark Shadows poster

Dark Shadows

1966–1971 Drama • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Soap

Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

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Overview

Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began.

The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

Series Snapshot

Status
Released
Total Seasons
12
Total Episodes
1225
First Air Date
Jun 27, 1966
Most Recent Air Date
Apr 2, 1971
Network / Platform
Amazon Prime Video
Original Language
en-US

Themes

Tone & Style

  • World-building and concept-heavy arcs are central to the experience.
  • Serialized structure rewards long-form viewing over stand-alone episodes.
  • Completed run offers a finite, binge-friendly arc.

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Creators & Cast

Main cast:

Rating
29.2
Seasons
12
Episodes
1225

Subscriptions are only available for ongoing series.

Metadata

Seasons

Season 1

1966 • 124 episodes

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Season 2

1966 • 64 episodes

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Season 3

1967 • 83 episodes

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Season 4

1967 • 90 episodes

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Season 5

1967 • 93 episodes

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Season 6

1968 • 237 episodes

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Season 7

1969 • 182 episodes

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Season 8

1969 • 92 episodes

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Season 9

1970 • 80 episodes

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Season 10

1970 • 49 episodes

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Season 11

1970 • 85 episodes

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Season 12

1971 • 46 episodes

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