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Nantucket '73 
31 comments
Comments feed for this article
September 27, 2014 at 2:13 am
therealmccray
His beautiful and powerful words helped make me who I am. The same, I’m certain, is true for countless others. It was extremely kind of you to let us know. Thank you.
September 27, 2014 at 2:49 am
Shirl Sipperley DiGugno
Dear Matt,
I’m sorry to see this. I remember your dad as handsome , sweet & caring.
Blessings – he had such a long life which is amazing
Shirl
September 27, 2014 at 5:12 am
Guy
My sincerest sympathies to you, Matt. While I hesitate to compare my own feelings of loss to you and those who knew your father well, still his works contributed to much alacrity in my life. When I next watch Dark Shadows and enjoy your mother in her performances, I’ll also be thinking of your dad and his enduring contribution to that wonderful show. Peace.
September 27, 2014 at 5:38 am
Scott.
We will be thinking of you today.
Scott.
September 27, 2014 at 6:19 am
Ron Janick
Matt, I am so very sorry to read this. My prayers are withvyou during this difficult time. May your father’s memory be eternal!
September 27, 2014 at 7:04 am
Susan
Much affection, as always, and I am sorry for this news. If I can help, you know where I am.
September 27, 2014 at 8:59 am
Nina Ogle
My deepest sympathies to you on the loss of your father. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but to “DS” fans he was a legend, along with your mother.
September 27, 2014 at 9:11 am
Scott Larson
Sincere condolences from one of the many fans of your parents’ work.
September 27, 2014 at 11:03 am
Robert Finocchio
Matt, I am so sorry to hear this. Your Dad was a wonderful man and always treated me with kindness and respect. I will remember him fondly and will
always be thankful for the blessing of knowing him. I hope that you find comfort and peace by rembering the good times of love and laughter. The
world has lost an amazing writer but I hope that your Mom & Dad are now together in the next life. You’re in my thoughts and prayers, Matt.
September 27, 2014 at 11:05 am
Harold
I am so sorry to hear of this.. Condolences to you and your family.
September 27, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Gregory Drew
Hello Sam, I never met your father but I would like you to know that because of his writing on Dark Shadows I learned to enjoy reading. After Dark Shadows went off the air I searched for the stories that inspired the writers on the show. That helped me to become the person that I am today. I dare say the same it true about a lot of his fans. Both of your parents had a major impact on a generation. I hope they are together again. I pray peace for you during what must be a very difficult time.
September 27, 2014 at 4:11 pm
jola251
I am so sorry for your loss, Matt. My personal solace comes from the passage, ‘to live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die.’ Thinking of you and your family.
September 27, 2014 at 6:37 pm
SusanD
I am so sorry for your loss.
September 27, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Sandy Walsh
So sorry for your loss.
September 27, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Nina
Dear Matt,
My sincerest condolences on the loss of your father. As one who continues to immensely treasure watching Dark Shadows, I’m so thankful for his great writing and am genuinely saddened to hear of his passing.
Nina
September 27, 2014 at 10:52 pm
midnighter99
So very sorry, Matt, and I want to extend my heartfelt condolences.
I’ll forever be indebted and so terribly grateful to you and your dad for your gracious participation in my 1990 FANGORIA piece on the NBC “Dark Shadows” series revival. At the outset I’d planned a broad overview of the production, but it quickly became apparent to me and my editor that the angle could only be the more in-depth, intensive focus on you and your dad that emerged early on in my work. It was a work that seemed, at turns, never-ending, by the way! I’d submit my copy, and my phone would ring, on cue, with my editor asking for another 500 words. Then 500 more, and hey, maybe another thousand or two. The fascinating stories and insights that you and your dad imparted so generously quite simply infused the piece with such spirit and enthusiasm. I recall those conversations so fondly, and in my head I can still hear your dad’s masterful delivery of the funniest anecdotes…the quiet build up; the well-placed beats; the brilliantly booming finish; and the music of his laughter, accentuating and ever-heightening the punchline. Your own musings on the “Dark Shadows” universe rendered me similarly in stitches.
And I’m especially appreciative of wise advice on my own fledgling career that was imparted to an extremely young and green writer.
I lost my dad last year, and I know: there are no words. (“Yes! I’M a WRITER!” I can still hear you saying to me, when you found yourself at a momentary – and uncharacteristic – loss of words while endeavoring to explain the brilliance of Ben Cross’ performance). While away from my keyboard, the whole of my existence appears fated to fall into such confounding spaces.
Clichés be damned, the very best moments do live on in our hearts. They are always there for us. Thank you and your dad for sprinkling some of them into my life, My thoughts are with you, and I wish you continued success, long life, and much happiness in the future.
-John Larsen
New York City
September 28, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Matt Hall
Wow– very nice long letter. Thank you!
September 28, 2014 at 6:32 am
BillB/SeanO
We are so sorry for your loss.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
September 28, 2014 at 11:08 am
Sam Weisberg
I’m so sorry Matt. He and you were so helpful with those interviews, I’m extremely grateful for that! Hope you and your family are doing ok.
September 28, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Sam Hall: In appreciation | Dark Shadows Every Day
[…] Sam Hall died on Friday, September 26th, at the age of 93. The news was announced, in a quiet way, on his son Matthew’s blog, Nantucket ’73. […]
September 28, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Bart Manzella
Dear Matt,
I’m Sorry to read that your dad passed away. He was a good writer. If you believe in an afterlife like I do, you know he’s with your mom.
Take care,
Bart
September 29, 2014 at 1:46 am
Amy Smart
Dear Matt, I’m so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. When he was writing on DS I always knew when an episode was written by him even before the end credits; Sam’s dialogue was pure poetry and in the space of 22 minutes he could seamlessly blend scenes of high drama with the most tender, introspective moments. Both your parents were uniquely gifted but together they were magical. To me, their talents made DS one of the truly joyful experiences of my childhood that I cherish to this day. I’m praying for you and your family during this difficult time and hope the sentiments of generations of DS fans bring you some comfort. Peace.
Amy
September 29, 2014 at 5:58 am
Roy Isbell
My sincerest condolences. Recently I recalled a video interview of your father and thought how wonderfully entertaining he was. You are so blessed to have had him in your life.
September 29, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Former OLTL and Dark Shadows Writer Sam Hall Has Died: Co-Wrote Karen’s Courtroom Confession Classic On One Life! | Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps | Daytime Soap Interviews, News, Updates and Previews, Video and Audio Interviews
[…] scribe Sam Hall had passed away at the age of 93 began to circulate in a very quiet way via his son Matthew’s personal blog! Hall was responsible at coming in to ABC’s Dark Shadows at a critical juncture in 1967 and […]
September 29, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Mike Barnes
Matt, I’d like to write your father’s obituary for The Hollywood Reporter. Can you tell me where he died and what was the cause of death? And do you have a high-res photo you could send me at mike.barnes@thr.com? Thank you.
September 30, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Susan Bartelt
Matthew, my sincere condolences on the death of your father. He was an amazingly talented writer who passed on that talent to his son. You were blessed to have had such loving and talented parents. Their legacy will live on through you.
October 4, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Jeannie
My deepest sympathies on your loss. Like many who’ve posted, I know of your father and his work through Dark Shadows, though I never had the pleasure of meeting him. Thank you for letting us see glimpses of him as a person through your writings here. Most especially I’d like to thank you for the beautiful eulogy you wrote. All the best to you and your family during these tough times.
October 5, 2014 at 7:44 am
melodyclarkbooks
I hope the last few days have gone as well as can be expected. I know how much Sam loved you, from the moment you were born (and how your parents had to fight to bring you into the world in the first place). I know how immensely proud he was of you. You’re truly one of the good guys, and a testament to your parents as people. Thank you, as always, for your words.
October 15, 2014 at 2:04 pm
ocean kayak Yak board
I drop a leave a response when I especially enjoy
a post on a site or I have something to contribute to the discussion. It is caused by
the passion displayed in the article I looked at.
And after this post Sam Hall | Nantucket ’73. I was moved enough to drop a thought 🙂 I actually do have 2 questions for you
if it’s allright. Could it be simply me or do some
of these remarks come across as if they are written by brain dead folks?
😛 And, if you are posting on additional social sites, I’d like to keep up
with anything new you have to post. Would you list every one
of your community sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or
linkedin profile?
October 15, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Matt Hall
Liked your comment– nicely written, and kind.
But to the question “is it me, or do some of the remarks come across as if they were written by brain-dead folks?” the answer is: it’s you.
And as longtime readers of the blog know. this IS my social media presence. Facebook is for people I know in real life. Twitter I don’t use, and LinkedIn is strictly for business. So…there. I’ve listed them.
Now: you sell kayaks. Did you know Matt Gaynes?
November 13, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Rick Antonoff
Matt — I check in on this site only occasionally and before now not since the summer so I am just learning of and absorbing Sam’s passing as I’m writing this. I certainly did not know him as well as Tracy and your close friends did but even from my limited — although for a few consecutive years, consistent — interaction with him, I grew to see him as someone who was for a very long time extraordinary. Since we began spending weekends and holidays in Dutchess County 4 years ago, we are in Rhinebeck frequently and never have I been there without thinking of you and wondering how Sam is. How lucky you are to have had him as your dad for this long. We send condolences and best wishes to you, Cecilia, the boys and the dogs.