Brent

I'm so glad you got to see this. I knew you hadn't been here much this year so I wasn't sure you were still able to get e-mails. As soon as I saw this on Youtube I knew you'd want to watch.

You're right, the organ music is effective. The theme is also very soothing and draws you in.

I like how understated the wardrobe is and the emotions too - it seems so adult; people are actually having conversations.

Was Amy married to Nic Coster at this time?

I felt strongly about the guy who was hooked on heroin. I wonder what happened to him.

Carl:

Again my thanks. I came back to the library to watch this again which I plan to do presently and will share a few thoughts afterwards. This is a much needed lift after a difficult day with the sudden death of an uncle.

Whilst I don't remember this particular story line--this excellent Kinescope really takes me back--this is the SS "look" even though this episode is confined to modest apartments. You know to see Jada Rowland like this is kind of like meeting long lost family.

As to Nick Coaster, no I think she was still very much involved with "Kip Rysedale" played by the actor who followed Don Galloway into the part. Mr. Coaster came in I believe in 68.

All Best,

BC

Really good episode up from 1967 (thanks to saynotoursoap)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJArYXbzPXo&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Thanks so much!

I only checked my e-mail by chance today at the library and am grateful since I really haven't kept up with this site. I am so very grateful for this episode of "The Secret Storm" which I just got through playing with headphones.

While I don't recall this particular plot line I do think it demonstrates the intensity and emotional darkness of the show. Recall that this was done live! When you were 9 years old this kind of thing sucked you in far more than "The Beverly Hillbillies" or "Batman" (at least it did this kid!).

How pretty Donna Mills was! Note how elegant the women, (even the very young women) dressed for "at home" daytime scnes. Very understated--pumps and dresses and in Miss Mills' case a fur coat.

Isn't the organ music effective. Am I alone in thinking it brings an emotional color far more effective than the generic tracks used on daytime today?

Thanks so very very much!!!

Brent C.

I posted this in the Secret Storm thread, but it's a 10/71 TV Dawn to Dusk interview with Chuck Weiss, who produced SS and WTHI at this time. He talks a bit about the sequence where Vicki pushed Mary Hathaway down the stairs.

Just read the threads about the fall down the steps. Hadn't read these synopsis before now and don't recall these plotlines in detail. Can't recall one woman pushing another--but my recollection is clearly of the blonde going down the steps in the wheelchair...in any case a wheelchair was involved--even if it managed to stay on the upper landing.

Brent

If memory serves the other Northcote actor was none other than Alexander Scourby who was the real life husband of Lori March. Of course, it was Rigsby who did the evil Owen/Ian bit--a feat accomplished with split screen. Whichever one was evil, (Owen or Ian--can't recall now) murdered Troy Donahue in the shower--this was about May of 70.

Diane Ladd was Kitty Styles at least by Sept. of 70. Recall her specifically in the part during that month. She played, as I recall, a woman from the wrong side of the tracks--a waitress I think. Don't recall Diana Millay in the role, (though I love Millay on "DS"--was a "DS" addict at the time.) Would be great to see "Storm" articles from the 60's.

All Best,

Brent

Thank you for sharing more of your memories with us. Your posts are one of the reasons I started trying to find more on this show. The descriptions of the stunts sound great. I wish we could see them. It shows that you don't need a big budget to make an impact.

That's great you got to talk to Rigsby. Do you remember the other actor who played Northcate?

I have some other stuff and when I'm able to scan more I'll post.

Carl:

Brent finally got around to seeing this thread which is most interesting. Thanks for posting.

A few observations.

Once spoke to Gordon Rigsby by phone (February 1971) to ask about the sets on "Secret Storm" I was at that time considering going into art direction, (I didn't but still follow it). He was very nice and told me that the "brick wall" outside Valerie Ames' front door was only 5 feet.

Saw both of the action sequences Producer Weiss rightfully boasted of.

The first, the wheelchair fall on "Where the Heart Is" took one's breath away--it was so stunningly effective. It occurred in December, 1970. I think it was close to Christmas since I was off from school (an 8th grader at the time)--normally couldn't see "WTHI" except in summer. The character involved was a girl with doll like features and very long, (almost waist length) platinum blonde hair. Man did she, (or stunt double actually) go down those stairs! This sequence was a well done as any in a feature film. It occurred in December, 1970.

The "Secret Storm" auto accident occurred in February 1971 and featured Amy and another character named "Mickey" and another man whose name escapes me. It took place on a deserted stretch of interstate highway due to icy roads. Mr. Weiss neglects to mention that the scene incorporated actual film footage shot of the Mustang (or another smallish sportscar) driving on the snowy highway and then careening off the road. This footage was interpolated into the car interior "mock up" on the sound stage (with the process screen "movement" going on behind the onstage car interior). Very slickly done and memorable! Boy did the organ have a field day "stinging" that sequence at the end of the show, (it was the climax of course).

All Best,

Brent

That would be great. You are doing us a huge favor, so take all the time you need. This sounds wonderful. These audio recordings are sort of a lost art. We take for granted today how difficult it must have been for fans like you back then.

Probably not much interest since these boards are largely from much more recent shows which since mid 70s have been preserved. BOE was a long time ago. I'm a dinosaur. I was a 13 year old kid armed with my portable tape recorder. Had I been able to see the future would have recorded entire episodes. Will try to post clips eventually. At least the "Where the Heart Is" crowd will be able to hear the show's rather melancholy theme. But don't expect stereophonic high fidelity.

All Best,

Brent

That's great! I would love to hear this. Can you put it on Youtube?

I had the tape transferred to a CD for preservation. Be forwarned--there's some deterioration--Miss Eaton's voice is speeded up and sounds a bit like a ten year old Brenda Lee (why does this warping happen to old tapes?) but the vocals there--as well as the announcer calling her name at it's conclusion amidst the applause. Would be interesting to compare against her studio recording which is out there for those who want it. I thought this tape was lost. Funny too because in closing credits there's an audio promo for "Fame is the Name of the Game--starring Yvette Mimieux new this fall on ABC." Also a few audio dialog snippets--and I do mean just snippets--about Johnny Lamont and the LSD--i.e., "Eddie Perrone had had the hospital psychiatrist examine him, because we first thought it was a mental breakdown with him screaming about fire and snakes..."

I am from the technologically challenged rotary phone generation, but my cousin's husband knows about such things and I will speak to him about it ASAP. He's a doctor so I thank you for your patience in the meantime.

All Best,

Brent

"Best of Everything" audio clips.

For all 5 people out there who might be interested I discovered an old audio tape on which I recorded the Connie Eaton vocal of the theme on 9/7/70 as well as opening and closing music. Also, theme to "Where the Heart Is" and a bit of "Search for Tomorrow" (theme and dialog snippets with a character named "Ida" and a younger woman befriending her. All from summer 1970.

Brent

Thanks so much for the cast list!

They must have changed something since Miss Eaton did appear and sing the title song on 9/7/70. I both watched the broadcast and tape recorded it.

The pop song trade weekly magazine, "Billboard" also mentioned the appearance in it's 9/19/70 issue p.31 (published ahead of actual date as trade weeklies used to be). Article mentions that Miss Eaton performed the number in a night club setting. You can view this in digitized form on the internet through a Google search, using "Connie Eaton" + "Best of Everything."

Interesting to speculate as to why she was interpolated into a script in which no such sequence appears.

Does the script indicate the kind of illness the Lamont boy has sustained? Why is Kim suspected? How does the attack against Kim in the deserted store occur?

Thanks,

Brent

Thanks again so much. This is interesting. Johnny Lamont was a little blonde boy about 13. He didn't take the LSD deliberately--there was a box of chocolates that were laced with it. The LSD must hit immediately since he dropped to the floor and started writhing.

The deserted store looked abandoned and very derelict and scary--off the beaten track. Kathy Glass was injured in its environs.

Don't remember Randy Wilson though I might if I saw him.

Would you mind confirming the Connie Eaton appearance on Sept. 7th? It's odd that the list of sets doesn't include a night club since that is what she sang in. If the appearance is in the script which characters go to the club

. What is the club called?

It's odd that Jean Dadario office is listed as a set since Dadario was a staffer on the show. Would a scene have been taped in her actual office?

Would love to read these scripts some time.

I believe kinnies must exist for some of these--if not with the network then with the producers etc.

All Best,

Brent

Kim attacked in episode 114 in the store. yes. johnny lamont is in the hospital having gotten hold of some lsd , kim is under suspision . the chapel is the funeral service for randy wilson. i wish i could have seen this show or find some kinescope but i guess these scripts might be the only record we have of the show unless james lipton has kinneys and scripts saved.

Enjoyed your comments. I can assure you it was an absorbing program to watch, that in my perception, didn't talk down to the audience, and wasn't in any way juvenile. One writer said it was the Eugene O'Neill like serial of daytime TV. I don't know about that--but it was heavy and didn't make any bones about it! If you wanted Grandpa's old world coffee pot whimsy, you had better tune into another program.

All Best,

Brent.

There are four episodes from 1960 available for viewing online at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. One episode is from February and the other three are from August. I was actually surprised by the relationship between Myra and Susan as well as the characters themselves. Most soap books talk about how Susan, following the death of her mother, had taken on the role of family caregiver and wasn't pleased when Jane Edwards romanced her father. After this incident, the book would simply refer to Susan's marriage to Alan, the birth of her son Petey, and litle else. I didn't realize that Susan continued to be threatened by the presence of women in her father's life. Brent's recollections even set me back further when he said that Susan had issues with Valerie Ames, Peter's third and final wife. I didn't realize how threatened Susan was by these women. Everyone goes on about Lemay creating Iris with this Oedipus complex, but it seems Susan was in a bit of a similar situation, or am I reading into this too much?

The one episode in February is one of the ones available on youtube. Susan is whining about her husband's career while blaming Myra for all her problems. Peter says Amy deserves a good school to go to. A blonde Amy appears in the episode, someone other than Jada Rowland.

Anyway, I particularly like the August episodes. Pauline has fled Woodbridge after it has been revealed her husband/fiancee Bryan Fuller has been fleecing Tyrell's for thousands of dollars and placing the blame on Peter. Apparently, Susan had befriended Bryan and had thought he was this wonderful guy. When the truth came out, Peter laid into his daughter about her behavior towards Myra, who had suspicions about Bryan. Peter told Susan she always alligned herself with the wrong side. It was a wonderful moment. The family went to the Tyrell cabin, I believe at Spruce Lake. Amy had gone into town with Myra's father giving Myra and Grace a chance to chat about the family's latest situation. Myra talked about how Amy adored Ezra and that he found the girl amusing. It seemed like Ames/Lake family had blended quite well.

I thought June Graham was fine as Myra. She seemed rather quiet, but very much a person of character. Roy Windsor stated in an interview he felt the Myra Lake story didn't work. I wonder if he meant the entire storyline? I thought Myra seemed like a woman with strong morals and a was a caring stepmother towards Amy. In 1962, I think a very married Myra was pursued by a man other than Peter. I think this may have been the story Windsor had trouble with since it seemed like Myra was fighting temptation. This doesn't seem to fall in line with the women who would follow Myra after she departed.

I've appreciated Jon and Brent's reflections on "The Secret Storm." As another poster said, I can reread these posts all day.

Wonderful 1961 clip which conveys the brooding quality that was particular to SS at that time, and also confirms my supposition that there are 1960 kinescopes of SS "out there" waiting to be catalogued and made available for full viewing again. Wonderful stuff! Keep the "Secret Storm" coming.

All Best,

Brent.

Quick clip of Wayne Tippit as Jerry Ames, circa 1961. Don't think this is anywhere else online.

This is indeed fascinating. The work schedule is interesting but raises a question for me. Inasmuch as final dress rehearsal was from 2:-2:30 p.m. I wonder when make-up/hair/ and costuming occurred? It would take some time to get the ladies hair out of rollers, made-up with falsh lashes etc, and dressed before the final dress rehearsal. Do you suppose the performers did this during the lunch break? In looking at the studio address in Google Maps there is a large smoked plate glass window building--which looks very post 1970. If it is the same place it would appear to have been renovated in the ensuing years.

As to the interesting listing of sets, I have a few speculations, which your perusal of the script will either confirm or not. Given that I recall Ktherine Glass being savagely attacked in a slum alley during this period, I would venture that the deserted store interior/exterior is a locale proximate to her attack, that the hospital waiting room is where her relatives await word on her survival chances, and that the chapel is where her freinds have gone to pray for her recovery. Of course, after all these years, I may be all wet.

Please keep these enticing bits coming!

Many thanks,

Brent.

CREDITS ON THE COVER SHEETS FOR THE SCRIPTS WERE:

CREATED WRITTEN AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JAMES LIPTON

PRODUCER JACQUELINE BABBIN

DIRECTOR ALAN PULTZ,DENNIS KANE

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER SID SIRULNICK

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR JERRY FRITZ

PRODUCTION ASST NANCY HORWICH

UNIT MANAGER CLEM EGOLF

ASST TO PRODUCER JEAN DADARIO

SETS USED ON THESE DAYS WERE:

SQUIRREL'S PAD

BLACK VELOR AREA

JORDAN'S LR

KEY LR

DEDARIO OFFICE

APRIL'S APT

DEDARIO TAPE RECORDER LIMBO AREA

CHAPEL

WAITING ROOM HOSPITAL

DESTERTED STORE EXT/INT

I knew I had these but just rediscovered them I have 3 scripts from The Best of Everything they are episodes 112, 113,114 airring Monday Sept 7, 8, 9th 1970. just 3 weeks before it ended.

Typical work day for them was:

9-10 DRY REHEARSAL

10-11:45 CAMERA BLOCKING

11:45-12:45 BREAK

12:45-1:30 RUN THRU

1:30-2 NOTES

2-2:30 DRESS

2:30-3 NOTES

3-3:30 VTR

WHAT A GREAT GIGS WERE FOR ACTORS BACK THEN LOTS OF SOAPS TO WORK ON AND STILL TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO OTHER PROJECTS IF YOU WANTED.AND WORK A 6.5 HR DAY

THEY SHOT THE SHOW AT STUDIO 17 205 EAST 67TH ST NEW YORK AND SHOW WAS FILMED AUG 19,26,27 THEY MUST HAVE SHUT DOWN PRODUCTION A FEW DAYS TO GIVE PEOPLE BREAKS.

This is very exciting news for me. I watched this show and recall the Labor Day show, (9-7-70) because of the Connie Eaton night club sequence which I described earlier this summer. Would love to be able to see a copy of those scripts to see how they jog my memory. Is there anyway you might make them available? Thanks also for the info on where the show was taped. As I said before, the show had great sets. Wonder if anyone out there knows who designed them? None of the bibliographic materials on the show list the art director or production designer. Guess we'd have to see the final credit roll. But anyway, "Dayplayer" Bully for you! You have really made my day, (excuse the dreadful pun!)

Brent

Where the Heart Is Recollections.

Can't offer very much that is substantive here though I did occasionally watch the show. Three concrete recollections. On the preem, (September 8th, 1969) the very first scene was of Diana Van der Vlis answering her kitchen door to admit Diana Walker.

In the winter of 1971 a young female character with long blonde hair, confined to a wheelchair, went down a flight of stairs in the chair, (don't know whether she was pushed or not). Scene was very well staged and very realistic.

The opening credits featured close ups of a butterfly in slow motion alighting on various flowers in a sunlit garden.

Brent.

OK I posted about the two other, now completely gone it seems (not even a few scenes seem to have been saved) soaps that I always wish I could see--Lemay's Lovers and Friends and Marland's New Day in Eden--the other "missing" soap that I always read about and sounds fascinating to me is Where the Heart Is.

It ran longer than the other two--nearly 5 years, and was created by Margaret DePriest who is a writer I think has always had talent (even if she briefly did two late 80/early 90s eras on my two fave soaps, AMC and OLTL that aren't known as their best) and a style I like in soap operas. Did anyone see/remember this intriguing sounding show? ANything from it exist? Reading the outrageous plot descriptions and that Chris Schemering said the show was great farce makes me think it may have had a touch of what Sunset Beach (and dare I say it my hated Passions) were trying for, but done so maybe better.

(in fact how old is Margaret DePriest? I know she wrote for Sunset Beach and I felt she was the best writer for that campy show--is she still alive? She musta been relatively young when she created Heart Is, I wonder how she got the job as I don't think she had had any major runs on other soaps before)

Here's the 1987 Soap Opera Encyclopedia entry by Chris Schemering:

Where the HEart Is

Sep 8 1969 - March 23 1973

Created by Margaret DePriest and Lou Scofield (who died during the run), former writers of The Edge of Night, this was a wonderfully bizarre, and perhaps ahead of its time, daytime serial centering on sexual intrigues in the Hathaway and Prescott families. Everybody in the suburban town of Northcross, Connecticut, seemed to be silmutaneously in love with two or three other individuals; pregnant or working on it; living with each other out of wedlock (risque for soaps of the day especially on conservative CBS); or cheating on their lovers with their spouses! Even the stalwart Kate Hathaway, who was always to be counted in a crisis, took to hearing Joan of Arc voices, falling into schizophrenic fantasies, wearing Frederick's of Hollywood scanties, and dancing lewdly in front of children [sounds liek a marvelous soap creation to me!]!

Fans remember the sexual roundelay of the show with hilarious affection chiefly because of the top-notch acting by a strong cast headed by James Mitchell (Palmer on AMC later on, and an ex well known Broadway and Hollywood dancer), the lush direction of Richard Dunlap and Bill Glenn (who later took their formidable talents and much of Heart's look to The Young and the Restless), and the sharp writing firstr of Margaret DePriest and later of such soon to become formidable names as Pat Falken Smith, and Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer. Although the ratings were quite good -- a 6.8 when the cast was informed of the show's cancelation on Feb 12, 1973 -- CBS felt the masses were not cottoning to the revelry, and that the cult audience the show was attracting was scaring away conservative advertisers. Canceled the same day as Love is a Many SPlendored Thing, it was replaced by the similar but often even more avant garde The Young and the Restless.

The story was a triumph of well played farce: Julian Hathaway, a widowed English professor, married Mary, who was really in love with Julian's son Michael. Villainess Vicky Lucas exploited the situation by getting pregnant by the unhappy Michael and forcing him into marriage. After Vicky lost her baby, she vindictively pushed Mary, also pregnant, down a flight of stairs. Vicky was then commited to a mental institution, only to make a major surprise comeback some while later. After divorcing the bitch goddess Vicky, Michael married the even more bitchy Liz Rainey. Liz had an affair with Michael's father, Julian and became pregnant. next Liz made Mary think that Julian was carrying on with Loretta Jardin, a recovering alcoholic and student of Robert Browning's.

As the cancelation date grew closer, the storylines started to wind up with breathtaking dexterity--a stunning example of the craft of the writers. Liz admitted she got pregnant on purpose and Julian, unimpressed by her audacity, suggested she pack her bags. Michael divorced Liz and remarried his ex wife VIcky, who had been released from the institution. Meanwhile Steve had married Julian's sister Kate. While suffering from amnesia, Steve became involved with Ellie Jardin, who was later murdered. Steve and Kate adoped Ellie's mute son Peter who later died in a fire. Other characters involved in the major stroylines included Alison Jessup, Julian and Kate's sister; Dr Hugh Jessup, Allison's husband; and Christine Cameron who had an illegitimate child by Hugh. In 1972, Despo, the infamous Andy Warhol star had a 2 month running role.

Here are the last few months of "The Secret Storm" as they were chronicled by Bryna Laub in her newsletter. Surprisingly, she did not mention Stace and Mark's mother's death.

When racing car drivers Robert Landers arrived in Woodbridge, nobody suspected he was there on a personal mission of vengeance against Dan Kincaid, former political titan whose empire and political future collapsed when underworld connections were established and he was sent to jail. Robert was Dan’s illegitimate son, a fact only Robert knew, and he decided to take his vengeance upon Dan by having an affair with Dan’s beautitul but heartless wife Bell. It mattered not at all to Robert that Dan had no idea of his existence and was therefore not responsible for his growing up without a father. Robert’s mother was Naomi, the nurse Dan hired for his young son Kevin when his wife died. Naomi became pregnant but left town and raised her child alone. Dan was indeed crushed to discover Belle had been unfaithful.

Complicating the situation was the fact that Robert was now living with Joanna Morrison, a young girl, who had heroworshipped Dan and was devastated to discover her idol had feet of clay. Joanna fully understood Robert’s assessment of their relationship meant no strings and when she found herself pregnant, she feared she’d lose him.

Robert had been taking money from Bell for the race car he was building and took satisfaction from the knowledge that she thought their association was as important to him as it was to her. She was later shattered when Robert made it clear to her that he loved Joanna and wasn’t at all interested in a long term commitment to Belle. Dan tried to but Robert out of town in order to get him away from Joanna and was favorably impressed when this young man, whom he felt was totally without human feelings, refused the money which he badly needed having cut Belle off, claiming Joanna came first.

When Belle and Dan finally brought her relationship with Robert out in the open, Belle managed to convince Dan that her infidelity wasn’t a result of her not loving him but rather her desperate need to have excitement and fun in her life. Dan then admitted to himself that despite everything he still loved her and they reconcilied. Robert aided in this by facing his responsibility and admitting to Dan that the affair was his fault. Robert couldn’t, however, to his own surprise, tell Dan as he’d intended about his being his son. In fact, Robert came away from the meeting realizing he may have been wrong about Dan’s guilt in the whole matter.

Robert was upset to learn of Joanna’s pregnancy and immediately suggested abortion. When Joanna refused, Robert found himself emotionally torn between the upcoming Grand Prix race and Joanna. Realizing that Robert would stay if she wanted him to proved to Joanna that she should trust in his love and she insisted that he go as planned. Dan, however, furious that Robert wasn’t marrying Joanna first, accused him of being unfit to be a father, tempting Robert to fling the truth back at Dan.

Belle with her shaky marriage secure once more, was delighted to discover that her stepson Kevin’s marriage to Amy was in bad trouble. Amy and Belle were in the past both married to Paul Britton and there was still no love lost between them. Having learned that their new daughter, Danielle, was in fact not his own child, Kevin had separated from Amy and made it clear reconciliation was impossible. Actually, Kevin understood the compassionate reason behind Danielle’s conception and was only using this as an excuse to free Amy for a marriage with a whole man (Kevin had been badly injured in a fight and was paralyzed from the waist down). The only thing that gave him the will to live during the precarious weeks after the accident was the belief that Amy was pregnant. She discovered soon after the accident that it had been a false alarm and, in her need to sustain Kevin, persuade Dr. Brian Neeves to artificially inseminate her so Kevin could have the child he so desperately wanted and needed.

Realizing her welfare might be Kevin’s real reason for the separation, Amy tried to break through his defenses even though she and Danielle were now living at he stepmother, Valerie Ames Northcote’s home. To prevent his, Kevin hired Stace Reddin as a companion, providing another barrier to Amy’s attempts to reach him.

Dr. Neeves, now a family friend, tried to hide his pleasure at the split between Amy and Kevin. No one knew he was the artificial insemination donor but the result had been an inevitable growing love for Amy who was unknowingly carrying his child.

Realizing Brian was in love with Amy, Kevin told him he approved and started divorce proceedings. Amy was furious at this but Kevin continuer to push her at Brian and they gradually began seeing each other frequently. Amy had originally agreed to these dates to make Kevin jealous but soon had to admit to herself that she found Brian very attractive. Kevin meanwhile, having succeeded at his plan, found his jealousy unbearable and decided to take a very risky chance. A doctor in England had developed an experimental surgical procedure for cases similar to Kevin’s and he made secret arrangements to fly there and undergo the surgery that would either cure him or kill him. He now knew he’d rather be dead that see Amy with another man. Brian meanwhile had declared his love for Amy and had given her a ring.

Ironically, Kevin and Stace’s flight to England was the same flight Robert booked in his way to the Grand Prix. Stumbling upon Kevin’s ex-rays Robert figured out the real reason for Kevin’s trip and decided to help Kevin, his half-brother, through this ordeal. To give him support for the ordeal ahead Robert told Kevin the story of his parentage. In order to be there for Kevin, Robert forfeits his first heat in the Grand Prix race.

Having guessed what Kevin’s up to, Brian stepped up his campaign to rush Amy into a quickie divorce and remarriage. But Neile Neeves, Brian’s sister, who was as jealous of Amy as she was of Brian’s first wife, foiled his plans by suggesting to Amy the possibility of Kevin’s being in Europe for corrective surgery. Amy immediately tried to reach Kevin but he had covered his tracks too well. To regain ground, Brian then played his trump card – he told Amy he was the artificial insemination donor – the natural father of her daughter. Now torn by the news and Brian’s threat to leave town if she turned him down, Amy agreed to marry him.

Belle, meanwhile, had pressured Dan into investing in a film company which is shooting a movie in Woodbridge. They discovered that Naomi Russell is on the film company board of directors – the same Naomi who worked for Dan 25 years ago.

Mark Reddin had been drinking excessively since his decision to leave the priesthood and marry Lori. He avoided learning whether his leicization (return to status as a lay person) had been approved from Rome and found it impossible to follow the advice of another ex-priest to cut himself off completely from the church to avoid being torn apart by divided loyalties. Then, when the leicization finally came through, Mark informed Msgr. Quinn he had decided against remarrying Lori within the church.

Mrs. Post, the secretary at the church, was very upset to discover Lori and Mark were planning to but the Old Orchard Road house which had been on the market for the past five years. She seemed obviously afraid of the house and refused to come there to babysit for Lori’s son Clay. In fact, she asked Msgr. Quinn to exhorcise the house but refused to explain why.

Young Doreen Post, having learned Mark was a priest, confided to him her unhappiness at being deposited by her father into Mrs. Post’s care. She felt Mrs. Post pried too much and was even reading her mail. Doreen didn’t realize that Mrs. Post was using any method she could to find out about Doreen’s father, Malcolm, who was her missing husband. Stace, Mark’s younger brother, had been dating Doreen and was angry at the preoccupation Doreen had developed over Mark. Possibly she was seeing him as a father replacement but Stace resented it very much. When Doreen offered to move in with the Reddins as a live-in babysitter, Stace became openly jealouse. And seeing that Stace’s jealousy was so apparent, Doreen used it to her best advantage – she would push Stace with her attention to Mark, then appeal to Mark for advice and help with her problem with Stace.

Mrs. Post grew increasingly afraid that somehow Lori was in danger of being possessed by the spirit of Georgina, the previous occupant of the house. Mark, now a parole officer and still drinking heavily, made an attempt to find out about Georgina but no one could or would fill him in.

Now obsessed with being close to Mark, Doreen brought matters to a head by deliberately provoking fights with Mrs. Post, thus virtually forcing the Reddins to let her come and live with them. Lori, lonely as Mark’s time was spent drinking, allowed herself to be convinced that Doreen’s presence would be a diversion. Mark realized that Doreen knew how bad his drinking problem had become but allowed Doreen to move in as he, as well as Val Northcote and her husband Ian, were increasingly concerned about the way Lori’s life lately seemed increasingly dominated by hallucinations and fantasies about Georgina. As this preocuppation with Georgina continued to become Lori’s escape from her problems, she tried harder to find out about Georgina but still no one would volunteer information. When she found the phone number of Eric, Georgina’s handyman, in a cabinet, Lori called him. He was visibly shaken to arrive and find the house was Georgina’s but reconvered and returned out of curiosity. He tend pretended he didn’t even know who Georgina was when Lori began to question him.

However, Mrs. Post, upon learning that Eric was at Lori’s, frantically tired to warn them of great danger. Georgina was her sister and she and ther children were murdered by Eric. But Eric intercepted her on her way to the Reddin house and frightened her into silence.

Mark, meanwhile, finally had to face the truth about his drinking when his latest bender ended in a barroom brawl. Realizing he was unable to help himself he made an appointment with psychiatrist Ian Northcote. Ian explained both Mark and Lori were escaping to avoid facing their problems – Mark was drinking and Lori was retreating into a fantasy world about Georgina.

Facing his conflict head on Mark finally visited Msgr. Quinn to admit he didn’t know which way to turn. When Msgr. Quinn visited Lori to discuss Mark, Lori had to admit to him and to herself that deep inside she already knew that he husband hadn’t given up the church and his vocation deep in his heart.

Suddenly, however, Lori’s fantasy world erupted into terrifying and brutal reality when Eric, revealing his insanity, accused Lori of being like Georgina, an unfaithful wife, and he attempted to kill her too. Mark arrived in time to save her and it was Eric, who died, falling through a glass mirror. Jolted back into reality, Mark and Lori faced their situation, squarely and both agreed that Mark had to go back to the priesthood. They parted with love and respect for each other.

Kevin, meanwhile, having undergone successful restorative surgery, was now starting to walk. He called his father with good news and Dan advised him to return immediately unless he wanted to find Amy married to Brian.

Robert, despite his late start, managed to make a good showing in the Grand Prix unaware that Joanna, back in Woodbridge, had found a lump on her leg and was nervously awaiting biopsy results knowing that if the lump turned out to be malignant, the cobalt treatments she would have to undergo would destroy her unborn child.

But her prayers were answered and by the time Robert returned ready to build a future with her, the tests proved the lump benign. Robert then explained the facts of his birth to Dan who replied he and his son ave a great deal to talk about.

Despite Amy’s promise to marry him, Brian also decided to face facts and admitted to himself that Amy really didn’t love him the way she should love the man she was going to marry. He therefore realeased her from her promise and when Kevin returned and greeted her on his feet with open arms, they joyfully and tearfully reunited.

Wow! Would that we could get a synopsis this detailed for all the preceding years of "SS".

All Best,

Brent.

Brent, you might have already seen this, but there were some soap magazines from the late 60s/early 70s put up in the main soap thread. Here's one from early 1971, which has some brief mentions of Storm, Best of Everything, and Marjorie Gateson.

Interesting to see "B of E" and "SS" referenced on the same page. Informative clipping! Many thanks.

Brent

Thanks for all the interesting posts and links. So good to know that there are people out there for whom "The Secret Storm" still means something. Hopefully, others will "chime in" as "SS" memories continue to be revived.

All Best,

Brent.

Jon:

P.S.--I meant SS worked best in black and white. So much for my rushed typing!!!

BU