Radio Retropolis

Roger Davis is a leading man like no other. With his down home demeanor and devilish charm, he is an actor, producer and voice-over artist, who is most remembered for taking over the role of Hannibal Heyes on the troubled ABC series  Alias Smith and Jones.  He became one of the most successful and recognizable voice-over artists of the past several decades, doing hundreds of ads for products including Anacin pain reliever, Brut cologne and McDonald’s restaurants. On Dark Shadows he played Vicky Winters' soulmate Peter Bradford and his modern counterpart Jeff Clark.  He followed that up with Ned Stuart, then Dirk Wilkins and finally artist Charles Delaware Tate. 

Last time we talked with the original Burke Devlin himself Mitchell Ryan!  In that hour we discussed his early days of becoming an actor and working with some heavy weight actors such as Robert Mitchum, Clint Eastwood, and Jim Carrey.   We also touched a little upon his descent into alcoholism that ultimately cost him the role of Burke Devlin.  In this next hour, we expand upon that greatly as well as much more on Dark Shadows and his fellow actors.

So in this second and final hour we talked about:

• Going to work on Dark Shadows while dealing with heavy alcohol addiction.
• Working with David Ford (Sam Evans, Dark Shadows), Louis Edmonds, David Henesy, Dennis Patrick, John Karlen and Joel Crothers.
• His feelings on Alexandra Moltke ( Vicki) and why he loved working with Nancy Barrett (Carolyn)
• Memories of Jonathan Frid and dealing with fame.
• How the cast of Dark Shadows dealt with his alcoholism, especially Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans).
• On missing tapings of Dark Shadows and the day he was fired.
• Being in last stages of alcohol rejection of life.
• The moment he bottomed out and decided to make a lifesaving change.
• On working on other daytime soaps, the good and the bad.
• Playing the heavy Gen. McAllister on Lethal Weapon and working with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
• Working with Donald Pleasance on Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers and being a part of a legendary horror franchise.
• On why he loved being on Dharma and Greg and why the show abruptly ended.

Burke Devlin was anti-hero leading man bent on revenge on the family who wrongly sent him to prison for five years. When Dan Curtis was looking for the right actor to lead the show, he found him in Mitchell Ryan.  But Ryan's  time at Dark Shadows was tumultuous much to his own doing.  Even so, he was magnificent in the part leaving a huge hole when he was fired a year later.

​In part 1, we only touch the surface of Dark Shadows as Ryan's career was long, varied, and very successful.  Topics discussed:

• Why he said he felt he didn’t exist until he became an actor.

• On working with Robert Mitchum who became a lifelong friend.

• Working the early days of live TV , Broadway at night and George C. Scott.

• Learning from Lee Strasberg and the Actor’s Studio.

• Working with Clint Eastwood on High Plains Drifter and Magnum Force.

• Memories of Jim Carrey on set of Liar Liar.

• About the rumor where he was told he would never work again for turning down this role.

• On juggling his Broadway play Wait Until Dark and Dark Shadows.

• On working the early days of Dark Shadows and dealing with low ratings.

• On how he felt about Anthony George and what would have happened had he stayed.

​John Karlen is unpredictable. He is unapologetic.  He is unfiltered.  He is a great actor. He is best known to many of us as Willie Loomis on Dark Shadows as well as his Emmy Winning role as Harvey Lacey on Cagney and Lacey.

​For the next hour, he shares some of the most intimate memories and feelings of the past that you have never heard quite like this.  He is a man who is razor sharp, witty, funny and yet he lives with a great sense of self-disappointment in life.

Topics of discussion include:

*   His rough home life and dropping out of school

*   Being in Korea living an adventurous life

*   His views on other actors, acting schools, and inspirations

*   On playing Willie Loomis and replacing James Hall

*   On how Tyne Daly helped him win his Emmy as Harvey Lacey on Cagney and Lacey

*   On how his gambling addiction and fast lifestyle led him down a path of no return

A 12 part  50th celebration of the cult classic DARK SHADOWS!  Series commentary and exclusive  interviews highlight the revealing secrets behind this amazing television phenomenon!  In this podcast, Jerry Lacy, the Reverend Trask!

A 12 part 50th celebration of the cult classic DARK SHADOWS!  Series commentary and exclusive  interviews highlight the revealing secrets behind this amazing television phenomenon! In this podcast, David Selby, Quentin Collins, shares his fond memories of the show and career.

• The truth behind the rivalry with Jonathan Frid and why he wrote Jonathan a letter.
• Why he would have played Quentin forever.
• Why he had to keep his marriage under wraps as a teen idol!
• The comparisons of Elvis and Quentin.
• How crowd hysteria prevented him from attending his own event!
• His amazing connection to Abraham Lincoln!
• Why he turned down the role of Gary Ewing!
• The private prayer sessions with Jane Wyman on the set of Falcon Crest!
• His emotional memories of Dan Curtis’ final days.

Kathryn Leigh Scott discusses the behind the scenes drama on Dark Shadows as well as going from the ingenue to the leading lady!

The owner of an auction house has been robbed and assaulted. A partially burned book of matches provides the only clue.  Commentary on the Ground Civilian Corps , President Truman and the Hydrogen bomb.

In the last episode, Chickee revealed to Vincent’s men that there will be a raid on his campaign to expose their racketeering.  Chickee unknowingly put Planet reporter Sloan in danger.  Commentary on President Truman's public address on the railroad strike on this day.

A terribly unstable woman who was recently jilted by her boyfriend blames his mother for the break-up and believes she can will him back into her life.  Soon after, the mother is mysteriously murdered.  Commentary on author/scriptwriter Lucille Fletcher and how she writes women differently than her counterparts.  Plus, actress Nancy Kelly.