The show started off with a few fairly standard story lines and a lot of gothic atmosphere, but then the first ghosts appeared and things took off. Even then, the show was in danger of being cancelled until the introduction of Barnabas Collins, the vampire. Here are the original storylines:

Victoria Winters comes to Collinsport to work a governess to the Collins family. Raised in an orphanage, she is seeking information about her parentage. Episodes 1 to 92.

Burke Devlin, who wrongfully spent five years in prison for manslaughter, returns to town to get revenge on the Collins family. Episodes 1 to 201.

Roger Collins is nearly killed in a mysterious car crash that clearly wasn't an accident. Burke Devlin is suspected and accused, but the would-be murderer is much closer to home. Episodes 13 to 32.

Collins factory manager Bill Malloy becomes aware of the truth of Burke Devin's claims of innocense of the old manslaughter charge, but is himself murdered before he can bring the information to light. His ghost takes an active role in punishing the person who killed him. Episodes 46 to 126.

Roger's estranged wife, Laura Collins, returns for a divorce and to claim custody of their son, David. Laura is discovered to be a Phoenix, burning to death every hundred years only to be reborn as the same woman. Episodes 123 to 192.

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard hasn't left the grounds of her mansion in 18 years, since her husband left her. Jason McGuire, a man from her past, arrives to blackmail her, revealing that she murdered her husband and he helped her hide the body in the basement. Episodes 193 to 275.

Jason's sidekick, Willy, plans a bit of grave robbing in search of the Collins jewels. He unwittingly releases and is enslaved by vampire Barnabas Collins, kidnaps waitress Maggie Evans -the reincarnation of his lost love. Episodes 211 to 261.

From this point forward the show was a popular success. Grayson Hall joined the cast -along with many others, and the show moved from black and white to color. For me, it started to become interesting with the Bill Malloy murder, and the supernatural aspects were brought forward. The Laura Collins storylines were good, and reached a satisfying climax.