Archive Find: 1981 ABC "Darkroom" Suspense Series - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TeeVeeCloset · 05-16-2008, 12:48 PM

This one is really rare...I found 3 episodes of the extremely rare and seldom seen ABC Anthology mystery/suspense/sci-fi series called "DARKROOM" which was hosted by James Coburn....this was a weekly one hour series in the style of Night Gallery and featured 2 half hour suspense stories in each episode.....celebrities featured in the 3 episodes I have are:
Robert Webber, Mary Frann, Billy Crystal, Richard Anderson, Laurence Pressman, Joanna Miles, Robert F. Lyons, Eugene Roche, Brian Dennehy, Quinn Cummings, Gloria DeHaven, Helen Hunt, Claude Atkins & June Lockhart.
Quite a slew of celebrities both in the beginning or end of their careers! Another piece of TV Heaven never to be seen again! Does Anyone Remember watching this?

Jude The Obscure · 05-16-2008, 09:48 PM

I certainly remember Darkroom!! I watched every episode--too bad it didn't run longer.

You certainly have an very interesting and varied archive collection, TeeVee!

plaidman76 · 05-20-2008, 10:06 AM

Wow, where do you get these shows from? it's like you have your own personal goldmine. I may have to email you about a little project I'm working on cataloging rare and hard to find shows from 1970-present. It's in the beginning stages...its sort of going to be a guide or checklist for people who collect these forgotten shows (containing basic info, cast, # of Eps aired and unaired (if cancelled midseason), network, and # of known episodes available in the trading world. Actually, there are probably a lot of people here who could help me fill in the blanks on some of these shows....

bencasey · 11-05-2008, 08:10 PM

Doesn't anyone here watch TV? That reran a bunch of times on SciFi Channel. How is it rare? I have mine from ABC in 1981 uncut but it's not like it's never been rerun. Wow, the people here are very easily impressed, aren't they?

rezny717 · 09-21-2011, 05:11 PM

Yes,I DO remember this ABC/Universal TV series.It was a good series,and you're right,It IS extremely rare.Too bad it didn't last too long.

wiseguy182 · 09-22-2011, 05:45 AM

i have the full run

TeeVeeCloset · 09-22-2011, 09:36 AM

Thanks posters for keeping this thread alive.....lol...I guess that is why there are positive and negative reasons for keeping all the threads here, ready to be resurrected and discovered just like an old forgotten TV Series, I started this thread in 2008 and the next posting was 2011! Why I talked my copies up, as they are original air-check 3/4 inch tape masters, yet I had forgotten it ran on Sci-Fi in secondary airings.

retroTVfan4ever · 09-22-2011, 02:04 PM

I vaguely remember Darkroom, if I recall 7 episodes were aired during December of '81 and January of '82. It's interesting to discuss short lived shows, but I don't know if I'd want to see this one again.

bencasey · 09-23-2011, 01:48 AM

It also is out on DVD in Australia so so much for rarity.

TV_on_the_Porch · 10-12-2011, 02:14 PM

It had a short additional run in July of '82, two or three weeks although it was supposed to be longer. If you run across a TV Guide stash from the time note that Darkroom was suddenly replaced by Mork & Mindy/Bosom Buddies reruns in mid July. In a couple TV Guide issues where Darkroom was listed for Thursday 8PM what actually aired was the two comedies. As bad as M&M had done that season, Darkroom ratings must have been reallllyy low.

05-16-2008, 12:48 PM	#1
TeeVeeCloset Senior Member Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,424	Archive Find: 1981 ABC "Darkroom" Suspense Series This one is really rare...I found 3 episodes of the extremely rare and seldom seen ABC Anthology mystery/suspense/sci-fi series called "DARKROOM" which was hosted by James Coburn....this was a weekly one hour series in the style of Night Gallery and featured 2 half hour suspense stories in each episode.....celebrities featured in the 3 episodes I have are: Robert Webber, Mary Frann, Billy Crystal, Richard Anderson, Laurence Pressman, Joanna Miles, Robert F. Lyons, Eugene Roche, Brian Dennehy, Quinn Cummings, Gloria DeHaven, Helen Hunt, Claude Atkins & June Lockhart. Quite a slew of celebrities both in the beginning or end of their careers! Another piece of TV Heaven never to be seen again! Does Anyone Remember watching this?

09-22-2011, 09:36 AM	#7
TeeVeeCloset Senior Member Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,424	Thanks posters for keeping this thread alive.....lol...I guess that is why there are positive and negative reasons for keeping all the threads here, ready to be resurrected and discovered just like an old forgotten TV Series, I started this thread in 2008 and the next posting was 2011! Why I talked my copies up, as they are original air-check 3/4 inch tape masters, yet I had forgotten it ran on Sci-Fi in secondary airings. __________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

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05-16-2008, 09:48 PM	#2
Jude The Obscure Senior Member Retired Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,277	I certainly remember Darkroom!! I watched every episode--too bad it didn't run longer. You certainly have an very interesting and varied archive collection, TeeVee!

05-20-2008, 10:06 AM	#3
plaidman76 Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 07, 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 95	Wow, where do you get these shows from? it's like you have your own personal goldmine. I may have to email you about a little project I'm working on cataloging rare and hard to find shows from 1970-present. It's in the beginning stages...its sort of going to be a guide or checklist for people who collect these forgotten shows (containing basic info, cast, # of Eps aired and unaired (if cancelled midseason), network, and # of known episodes available in the trading world. Actually, there are probably a lot of people here who could help me fill in the blanks on some of these shows....

11-05-2008, 08:10 PM	#4
bencasey Senior Member Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,289	Doesn't anyone here watch TV? That reran a bunch of times on SciFi Channel. How is it rare? I have mine from ABC in 1981 uncut but it's not like it's never been rerun. Wow, the people here are very easily impressed, aren't they?

09-21-2011, 05:11 PM	#5
rezny717 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2011 Location: Lincoln,Nebraska Posts: 652	Yes,I DO remember this ABC/Universal TV series.It was a good series,and you're right,It IS extremely rare.Too bad it didn't last too long.

09-22-2011, 05:45 AM	#6
wiseguy182 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 2,891	i have the full run

09-22-2011, 02:04 PM	#8
retroTVfan4ever Forum Regular Member Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 874	I vaguely remember Darkroom, if I recall 7 episodes were aired during December of '81 and January of '82. It's interesting to discuss short lived shows, but I don't know if I'd want to see this one again.

09-23-2011, 01:48 AM	#9
bencasey Senior Member Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,289	It also is out on DVD in Australia so so much for rarity.

10-12-2011, 02:14 PM	#10
TV_on_the_Porch Forum Regular anything good on? Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 647	It had a short additional run in July of '82, two or three weeks although it was supposed to be longer. If you run across a TV Guide stash from the time note that Darkroom was suddenly replaced by Mork & Mindy/Bosom Buddies reruns in mid July. In a couple TV Guide issues where Darkroom was listed for Thursday 8PM what actually aired was the two comedies. As bad as M&M had done that season, Darkroom ratings must have been reallllyy low.