B Ward,

I agree with you that Peyton Place has a very niche audience, but I wouldn't count all soaps out. Dark Shadows is proof of that! The problem with Peyton Place is that it's much older and hasn't been syndicated in many years. But shows like Falcon Crest or Knots Landing or Santa Barbara still have large fanbases, especially Knots.

Also the daytime soaps are a goldmine being wasted. Still being on the air, it would be easy to cross promote and get cast members (many still around) to do promo and extras for sets. Soaps have released various books that have been at the top of the bestsellers list. If fans will buy a book or pay hundreds of dollars to go to a fan club meeting (all sold out), surely they will buy a $30 dvd.

As for how to release them, for daytime ones, I'd say Best of's with complete episodes would be fine. In the UK they did this for popular soap Coronation Street. They did a Best of each decade with 10 episodes per year. Just one set with 20 episodes per decade would please US soap fans. Something to test the waters. You could list it in volumes in case a decade is successful.

Pending success, you could also consider sets centered around important episodes for popular characters. Example, last year was Luke and Laura's 25th anniversary. We didn't get a fabulous DVD chronically the meeting, then rape, then wedding, break ups, etc. We got a cheap and ugly wedding ring from Sears. Which do you think soap fans would rather buy? With all the press they got (and are still getting from Genie Francis' June Emmy win), it is shameful that no DVD was released to cash in. Thats an obvious hit!

I just happened to bump into this on a Gone With The Wind Blu-ray Thread.  I would love to see Peyton Place on DVD but with the state of the retail business in this Country I fear those of us who remember the show as kids who are 50s plus at best may have a long wait.  I know the show was popular abroad and when ended in June of 1969 I believe read in tv guide they filmed on ending for the cliff hanger for the European audience only.  The two year daytime soap on NBC I was told also resloved the prime time storyline.  I ran to a near by tv set during college back in 1976 to see the entire series repeat in the daytime tv.  Then USA Network back sometime 1980 or so aired the first two years all black and white episodes.  I also happened to see the Peyton Place Revisited retro on ABC late night.  The other two incarnations as you all know were movies.  I wish it would come out on dvd but dvd on demand which I am sure we will all see in the next few years may be the only route .Romance Channel shows were great and they were  unedited.  They aired the whole show thru starting Valentines Day 1997 and ended the second showing half way thru with the wrapping up of the Martin Peyton storyline I believe.  The show is on the top of my list so I would be happy to lobby for it.  I emailed Fox once and they thought I ment the two feature films. 

I have read on TVShowsonDVD.com that Shout! is releasing this in May.  I've been looking here on the site, but find no info thus far.  Anyone else excited about this one like me?  So glad Shout! is making this one a reality.

Jack

I am  Jack and  thankyou very very much Shout Factory.  I know you will have many people out there buying Peyton Place.  I believe this will be a large success for you such as Dark Shadows was for MPI.  I have herad from many of my Dark Shadows Pals who are anxiously waiting for the first release of Peyton Place.  Peyton Place and Dark Shadows for a lot of us were the beloved series we grew up with and long to see again.  What better way to help the economy then invest in Peyton Place thru all 514 fantastic episodes.  Thanyou very much again.

Mark Collins

You can go to www.123classictv.com.  They have the complete original Peyton Place series on DVD.  All 514 episodes.  It cost about $160 I think but if you like Peyton Place it's worth it.  They also have a ton of other tv series on DVD.  You can get all 12 seasons of My Three Sons as well as many other tv shows.  All tv shows include every episode for every season that show aired.  Hope this helps.

The only problem with "bootleg" versions on DVD is that you don't know what you're getting.  They could be 10th generation, or you could be getting blank discs.  One site was selling the series for $500.  I think that site has since disappeared.

I think the following could be bigger than what most people think.  I also understand that releasing 500+ episodes could be a problem as well.  A "best of" would be insufficient.  The bad thing would be to release a teaser of 30 episodes, which is what I understand they are releasing, and then not release anymore.

The studios don't seem to mind releasing a lot of the crap that is on TV now.  How well is that selling?

I want to thank Shout Factory for my Peyton Place Dvd!!! I bought my copy at Best Buy.  The qualityof the dvds is much better then I expected for a show that aired in 1964.  I am so happy to have one of my all time favorite shows out on dvd.  I have already ordered my next chapter and look forward to the next chapters to come.  Thankyou so much Shout for seeing the value of this wonderful show.  The show portrays vintage drama from the 1960s which no other show can portray.

Mark Collins