Posted to the Cohort by Chris Irber
We all have our unique proclivities in life, those things we enjoy that make little to no sense to others. Anyone reading this has likely experienced this phenomenon since you are at a website which celebrates and takes deep dives into all the facets of transportation which have improved the lives of many. Sadly, an unfortunate percentage of the population fails to see the importance of these monumental developments, often acting as if they are the opposite.
So, for a variation of this, let me merge this terrific (and important) black Comet with popular culture, something (I find to be) of lesser importance. For this essay I’ve got pop-culture from a half-century ago on my brain, which is perhaps an entirely different matter, but it seems to pair well with this Comet.
Recently I saw mention somewhere of the 1960s era television serial Dark Shadows. Curious about the show and its premise, I poked around some and found the bulk of the series streaming free on tubi.
For those unfamiliar, Dark Shadows was a daytime drama which ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It has been classified as being both gothic and horror. Set in the fictional seaside town of Collinsport, Maine, the show is about the Collins family and their various trials and tribulations…but with an undebatable and distinct twist.
Going to the first available episode, I figured I would invest twenty minutes to see what it was all about. Okay, I admit it; when the Willie Loomis character went to the cemetery to rob a grave for the jewels rumored to be inside, I was intrigued. Grave robbing isn’t typical soap opera fodder.
When Willie unchained and opened the coffin he found in the Collins’ family crypt, with the hand coming out and clamping onto his neck, I was bitten. As was Willie.
Dark Shadows is highly entertaining television. With having now viewed several dozen episodes, the show is everything a person could want – there is history, there is melodrama, the story lines are exceedingly atypical, and some of it is hilarious. And to think the show was almost on ABC’s chopping block the day Willie went to the cemetery.
Oddly, my wife finds the show annoying. Every episode I’ve seen so far begins with a female voice saying “My name is Victoria Winters…” along with a vague, high-level overview of that episode. The actress’s voice drives my wife crazy.
She hasn’t said if the eerie and infectious theme song grates on her nerves; my wife is typically a reasonably patient woman. There’s no point in dwelling on whatever conversations occur when I watch my new favorite show.
The point at which I began watching Dark Shadows was at a pivotal point in its story trajectory; think of it in automotive terms as being like 1959 and 1960, as those two years were highly pivotal in the automotive world due to the sudden proliferation of smaller cars. The storyline of the show at my initial viewing soon introduced a new character by the name of Barnabas Collins, a supposedly long lost cousin from England. It was in 1960 Ford introduced the Comet, a perhaps more internationally sized member of the Ford family.
Both Barnabas and Comet were quickly accepted into the family fold. Barnabas was given the “old house” for his dwelling while Comet sold approximately 116,000 examples in introductory 1960 along with an additional 183,000 during our featured year of 1961. The Comet was much more popular than any full-sized Mercury was in either of those years.
Yet both Barnabas and Comet kept significant secrets hidden from those around them. Careful and attentive observers in Collinsport could have put the pieces together about great numbers of livestock being physically complete yet drained of blood beginning soon after Barnabas’s arrival. All the clues kept their steady drip-drip-drip for all to see.
Some stealthy observations about the Comet would reflect three distinct and mildly contained secrets. The first is the Comet having neither a Ford nor Mercury nameplate in those early years. It was almost like the amnesiac person coming to town, not knowing where or to whom they belonged.
The other things to be discovered were Comets having an “E” embossed ever so inconspicuously on the tail lights, a scarlet letter of sorts, something meant to signify “Edsel”. The timing should have been suspect to the attentive – Comet entered the automotive atmosphere trailing the Edsel.
Is it me or do the Comet’s tail lights seem somewhat fang-like, providing yet another parallel as it sits in dark shadows?
One of the techniques about Dark Shadows, a tool used heavily on soap operas of both day and night varieties, is how conversations between characters are conducted. One person will suddenly turn away from whom they are talking, pointing themselves in the general direction of the camera or facing out a window while still continuing the conversation. The second person will inevitably stand offset from, yet behind, the first, with the second character generally looking at the back of the first character’s head.
It allows for a character’s face to portray what they are thinking without it being apparent to the others in the room. It works to great dramatic effect.
It works well for automobiles, also.
There is little doubt Ford’s decision to cancel the Edsel carried its own set of dramas around Dearborn. After the profound investment dedicated to Edsel, the decision to cancel it after only two model years must have prompted some very dramatic and adversarial conversations within the hallowed halls of Ford Motor Company.
It makes one wonder how often Robert McNamara looked out the window during these conversations or, at a minimum, what thoughts he was processing. Was he eager to watch Edsel die? Was he sacrificing Edsel for what he really wanted, the Falcon and related Comet? Was he going rogue against the Ford family? Or was McNamara simply Hank The Duece’s automotive henchman? Was the Edsel and Comet saga all part of some other clandestine effort McNamara was unable to achieve before going to Washington?
One thing is certain. Like the lady’s man in any soap opera, the Falcon / Comet did a great job of sprinkling its DNA around Ford, ensuring an abundance of long-lived successors.
The history and trajectory of the Falcon and Comet platform truly has all the elements of a good soap opera.
One of the atypical story-telling tools used in Dark Shadows was time travel and parallel universes. While I have not ventured to that point in the series, it certainly appears to be a creative way to tell a story.
This Comet hails from Minnesota as the license plates betray any secretiveness. Minnesota is many things but a haven for keeping cars free from corrosion it is not. While this Comet has likely been elevated to the grand level of being fair-weather driver, seeing a 1961 Comet parked on the street has got to be a novel sighting.
Among the comments of any given article here, there is sporadic mention of a longing to travel back in time to purchase some car for safekeeping and future enjoyment. It’s a good thought.
From the mood of these pictures, appearing as if we’ve time traveled back to the Summer of 1967, this Comet is yearning to break free of the darkness. Or, perhaps, this Comet has just arrived from a parallel universe. At any rate, it has avoided being placed in any type of grave.
Sometimes life can imitate art.
Could this be the first time Dark Shadows has been mentioned in automotive journalism? I think it’s quite likely.
As proof that the CC Effect is more powerful than we realize, It was just a few days ago that I was having a conversation with someone where Dark Shadows came up. It was on in the afternoons after school and I became a dedicated fan – as did most of the kids at school. In fact I still harbor ill will towards my sister for getting sick on the day my mother had promised to take me to the local mall where the guy who played Barnabas Collins was to be there for some kind of promotional event.
As for the Comet, this one is very much like the 1960 Comet I thought about buying around 1978, until my car-mentor Howard talked me out of it (saying something like “What’s the matter with you?). It was surely a kind of vampire ready to suck all the cash out of my wallet, as it was rusty and not all that nice. The combination of the wheezy 144 cid 6 and the vacuum wipers would probably have guaranteed an inability to see in the rain at anything above idle.
I had no idea the show was available anywhere. I am afraid to try it because I would probably get hooked again. But in my case Mrs. JPC was also a fan, so it would at least be a bonding experience.
When I saw these pictures on the Cohort, Dark Shadows was the only way to go. The lighting and color of the Comet are simply perfect. Perhaps this is what Willie Loomis drove when doing Barnabas’s bidding?
I have discovered an inconsistency with Tubi. Their online accessed site has only Season 1, beginning with the chokehold scene episode. Accessed via Roku, Tubi has nearly every episode available.
The online Tubi site also has a documentary about Dan Curtis, who created and produced the show. This documentary mentioned how the show was profoundly popular with kids coming home from school. Curtis was a fascinating guy and was later the director for the two Herman Wouk based miniseries “Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” in the late 1980s.
Wow. I honestly (I confess) did not get the whole Comet/DS connection and+r comparison…! But you had my attention at the mere mention of “Dark Shadows!! What a unique, unforgettable TV show. Or should I say “experience” ? Despite it being a low-budget show (erego all the more-often-than-not hysterically funny bloopers that made it to air), I as yet have not seen a better written show on TV. The storylines were romantic and for the most part incredibly unique (the Quentin/Angelique story in the parallel universe plot line was supposedly based off of the mo vie “Rebecca”!), the actors/actresses were incredibly beautiful and handsome, the music haunting, the exquisite staging as well as costumes were painstakingly true to their individual time period. Ah! Alas! How I miss the show. Though I have seen the entire 5-year series 5 times throughout my life! Lol. Anyway, thanks for the memories.
I say go for the Dark Shadows revisit! Available in its entirety on Prime. However, don’t plan on binge watching……there are 1,245 episodes! I recently finished resurrecting my childhood favorite. BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed the article. I was unfamiliar with the comet, great looking car.
I loved Dark shadows ! Wached it every evening on tv after i got home. And just recently I watched all the episodes and I was so glad. Compared to the shows now it’s not scary , but I enjoyed watching all the reruns!!!!!!
I’ve had no exposure to Dark Shadows other than recognizing the name, but in my own episode of the CC Effect, I saw a Comet if this generation parked Curbside, just yesterday. Pride of place in the home’s driveway was a ‘65 Econoline. Both cars were clean and looked loved.
My brother had a 1960 Comet that could have been the twin to this car, black on red and with a big white steering wheel which was an upgrade over the standard black. Sadly he is in the advanced stages of Alzheimers Disease now which is more horrific than anything on Dark Shadows. Seeing this car brings back memories of better times.
While “Dark Shadows” was indeed an after school must for a lot of students, I never really got into it.
I did, however, own a white ’61 Comet.
It was a turd. More of a constipated turd, as it couldn’t pass anything.
Supposedly, at an Edsel launch event in 1957, McNamara said something to someone along the lines of “We have plans for phasing it out.” Whatever the truth is, it seems evident he was never a great fan of the project to begin with. He guessed right that customers would prefer the simple and conventional Falcon over the innovative Corvair and the fussily styled Valiant. And he guessed right that buyers would go for a slightly longer and fancier “compact” that paved the way for the creation of a whole new market segment — intermediates.
The Comet was ready to go as an Edsel when the brand was killed. Basically, all Ford did to de-Edselize it was to eliminate the split grille, pull off any Edsel badges and change “E” emblems to “C” in the same font.
If the original Edsel had more resembled that Comet prototype, the marque may have survived and Pontiac may have needed a different styling keynote.
McNamara’s Falcon did outsell Ed Cole’s Corvair, but the Falcon stole a fair number of sales from the low-end, full-size Fords.
The Corvair garnered “plus” business for Chevrolet. It didn’t cannibalize sales from the full-size Chevrolet.
Another car I associate with a certain town resident from my formative years. Ruth Warren was easily the homeliest woman in town. drove a 1960 or 1961 Comet two door sedan, that medium pea-green metallic, black-wall tires, dog-dish hubcaps. The Comet fit her to a ‘T”
The ‘Dark Shadows’-Comet analogy is apt, Ruth could have been a character on the show, the creepy housekeeper.
This image fits the aura those Comets had…
I used to race home from school at the age of 11 to watch DS, I recently found that Amazon was starting it from the very beginning and I could hardly contain my excitement! I watched it continually through the day, only stopping to fix my husband lunch and dinner. After a few weeks, he started humming the eerie yet mesmerizing introduction music. Watching it again now at almost 66 years young, brought back fond memories of days gone by, Thank You Amazon Prime, you never disappoint.
I’m really glad everyone likes the photos! I almost chose not to share them because I knew the lighting was “off”, but apparently that was a bonus. And thank you Jason for giving this car a perfect justice of the mood. My friend was driving, and says “Hey, what’s up ahead”? My mouth said “Comet”. Turn around”. He did without question knowing who I am. I had maybe 10 minutes of daylight left, and that particular street is at a severe angle, so I don’t suggest trying to recreate the look, LOL.
These pictures are perfect! Everything fell into place no nicely and the Comet being black was icing on the cake.
At one time I never would have guessed it possible to tie a 50 year old soap opera into an essay about a Comet but life is full of surprises.
Neighbor had one just like this one only the black paint was dull black
They had white Venetian blinds in the back window
Anyone else remember these blinds?
Great photos and story, although I never did see Dark Shadows. Yet every time I see an early ’60s Comet, I’m reminded of the young family who lived next door to my grandparents who had a new ’60 Comet. The plainest car I’d ever seen, white over blue, yet it did have an automatic. I remember every time we sat down to holiday dinner, right on queue the Comet would leave, serenading us with it’s prominent nasal exhaust note which was enhanced by the driver’s very unsteady application of throttle. All the way down the street. It certainly lightened things up around our dinner table.
Best show ever. Whatched it as a kid and whatchin it again. No matter how the bad production and acting. The story was great and I’m gonna finish all
Even though it’s kind of ugly, that is one cool looking car! Kind of an anti-hero. Love the color and the four doors.
Dark Shadows was never a show I watched after school, but sometimes when my sister and I got home, my Mom was watching it.
In a weird sort of CC Effect, just last night, my wife was watching some sort of fantasy/time-traveling show on one of the streaming services, and I popped my head in because the music was so good. While I didn’t recognize the song, I knew it was from the early sixties. The timing of the scene would soon be confirmed…
There, parked at the Curbside, was a ‘61 Comet, dating the period to which the show’s protagonists had time traveled.
Cue the eerie music.
I was too young to have experienced the Dark Shadows phenomenon. I do remember people talking about it.
These Comets were seen regularly in my hometown into the early 1970s. A neighbor had a red 1962 four-door sedan that he kept in very good shape. It was traded on a brand-new 1974 AMC Gremlin – which was also red. I doubt that the Gremlin was an improvement.
I’ve always liked the 1963 convertible and Sportster hardtop. I wouldn’t mind having either one of those.
Willie Loomis breaking into the crypt of Barnabas was. About a year into the series. The show. tried to make it with drama and a ghost here and there but the show did not take off until the appearance of Barnabas Dr Hoffman and Lara Parker.
I watched Dark Shadows as a teen. I also found it on Tubi and am on episode 777 !!!! Hooked again – you betcha You should watch Dark Shadows The Beginning …. you will learn who is who. It won’t take long to get through this and you can go right back to where you left off. Enjoy !!!!
Awesome Article!
Kids didn’t just walk home to watch D.S., they ran!
Monday – Friday at 4pm
I started watching some of the episodes on Amazon Prime. Found myself hooked no remembering the episodes.. Lara Parker was sooo beautiful. Several of the cast from the series did a cameo for the Johnny Depp Movie version.
What great memories…thx!
Nice article. If you are currently watching Dark Shadows on Tubi, you will enjoy it even more if you read the Dark Shadows Everyday blog along with each episode you watch. Danny’s blog is smart, funny and fascinating TV history. Highly recommend. DS affords us all something to look forward to if we watch it an episode or two a night.