More of

David

"Quentin"

Selby

New Selby Book

"DAVID SELBY BOOK AND PHOTO ALBUM"

"To raise funds for the University of West Virginia, David Selby is issuing a beautiful, limited-edition 144-page book with personal stories of his career on TV, stage, and film.  The book is loaded with incredible never-before-seen photos from his childhood through the present, including many rare DS pictures.
 The book has a beautiful color cover of David as Quentin.  For ordering details, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Selby Book, c/o Pomegranate Press, P. O. Box 17217, Beverly Hills, CA 90209."

Kathryn Leigh Scott e-mailed me regarding the Selby book.  No price has been set as yet.  She will have more information on or about January 6.  Neither has a publication/release date been firmed up.  When information becomes available, she will post it on the Pomegranate Press Web Page

She's waiting for David Selby and Jim Pierson to provide her with more information, which is expected by January 6.
 
 

Thanks to PostCool1 for this!
 
 
 

David Selby on Jonathan Frid

The very first time I saw Jonathan, I was so nervous that I stood in a corner
with my head half lowered. You see, I had just been signed as a regular on Dark
Shadows. I had seen the show several times, but I hadn't taped it at that
timeÑand I had never met any of the Dark Shadows people! Dan Curtis gave a
Christmas party for all of the members of the DS gang and I was invited. I met
everyone on DS at the party, of course, but I was most interested in meeting
Jonathan.

In a funny way, I felt that I already knew Jonathan "Barnabas" Frid. I had
already been captivated by his performances on Dark ShadowsÑhis magnetism. I
was amazed at the way he made the whole thing workÑhis portrayal of Barnabas,
his way of walking, his voice, hair, the cane, the ringÑeverything! He made it
all so completely distinctive. He had command in all of his scenes. I knew that
he was good, and as an actor I greatly admired the talent I saw.

When the real Jonathan approached me at the party, I was stunned at how
different he was. Yes, the magnetism and command were there, but in real life
he was so differentÑmild, kind, polite and completely unassuming. I compared
all this to the strength he showed in playing the part of Barnabas, and right
away I knew that that strength was real, it was in Jonathan FridÑdeep in his
basic character.

The first day on the set of Dark Shadows, I learned how correct my hunches had
been. I arrived at about eight A.M. for make-up and it was a relatively easy
day for me because I had no lines. (RememberÑQuentin, for a long time, was a
speechless ghost.) So I had time to observe Jonathan at work.

Jonathan is totally devoted to acting and to Dark Shadows. He arrives at the
studio with his New York Times neatly tucked under his arm. During the day,
everybody gets to read his Times but Jonathan himselfÑfor Jonathan is always
working on his part. He keeps his script with him until the final tape, and he
insists on following the story. This is a result of his very fine and
disciplined training for stage work. If there is something "off" about that
day's segment, something that somehow doesn't ring true or sound clear,
Jonathan consults the writers and the other actors and a change is made. It
might be a very tiny thing, but I noticed with interest later that changing
these little things made a great contribution to the show as a whole.

And the show as a whole is exactly what Jonathan is interested in! Most actors'
first concern, quite naturally, is themselvesÑtheir work and their performance.
Not so with Jonathan. The entity is what he cares about. When other actors
speak or have action, he gives them his full attention. He is totally
cooperative with them in every way. And, as I came to learn, that attention
seems to bring out the best in all of the performers around him.

The first time I did a scene with Jonathan, I didn't have any idea how it was
going to go. While we did it, I began to sense his presence. It was as though
he really was Barnabas and I felt as though I really was becoming Quentin! In
forgetting Jonathan Frid entirely, Jonathan helped me to forget David Selby.