zanereed

As far as why Hulswit was not hired after Marland had moved to ATWT, I really don't know. As others have correctly noted here, he didn't give up acting at all. He was still active for years after the show let him go. I have heard from a few people in the past that Hulswit became critical of Marland's writing once Marland took over as headwriter in 1980. I'm not certain *what* the issues were, but Marland apparently became so fed up with it, he pressured the Executive Producer at that time, Allen M. Potter, to fire Hulswit and recast Ed. Potter was reluctant to do so, but finally gave in and terminated Hultwit in the summer of 1981. As @vetsoapfan stated above, Marland was not kind at all to Hulswit in the press. Which, to me, was surprising, as I always understood it that Marland had good relationships with the actors. Apparently, this wasn't the case. I wish I could find the book, but there was a section in some book I was reading a few years ago about soap operas and soap opera production where Potter actually talked about his firing of Hulswit, stating something along the lines that he regretted doing it, and felt pressure to do it from the writing staff. I am blanking on the book though. Potter also discussed the character of Alan Spaulding in that same book. Does anyone remember this book at all...? Here's where I laugh about wanting to recast with a "younger" Ed: Mart Hulswit DOB: May 24, 1940. Peter Simon DOB: September 27, 1943. So, I guess they were successful in getting a younger Ed, all of 3 years younger...

Because Mart Hulswit apparently didn't look like the leading man part to TPTB. However, Mart would have had much better chemistry with both Michael Zaslow and Maureen Garrett, due to their history together throughout the mid to late 1970's. It's a shame, as Hulswit *could* actually emote more than just a pursed lip - he was warm but had a temper when pushed.

Any interesting tidbits from it? I would love to know things that were in their story bible.

Mart Hulswit had noticeably slimmed down by the time the Santa Domingo storyline rolled around. I wonder if that was dictated by the studio? Don Stewart was already buffed up and ready to go. Notice how they had Ed in a button up and Mike in a tight-fitting polo shirt 😄. They were also using the pool more during the summer of 1980, so Mart was still slim during that time period, as well.

Once of the best conclusions to a storyline, ever. It took about 2 years from start to finish from when Zaslow returned to the role of Roger in 1978 to his fall from the cliff in Santa Domingo on April 1, 1980. Stellar performances by everyone involved. Zaslow and Garrett should have each won an Emmy for their work during 1979.

Good point. I mean, the truth *could* be stretched a bit concerning Bill Bauer, if one chose to adhere to original TGL continuity. Even if we go by the fact that Bill lived in Selby Flats during the time period the fishing trip took place (and Selby Flats was pretty much retconned out altogether once Springfield was the new location for TGL), Bill Bauer did travel occasionally for business, so it isn't out of the question that Bill may have paid to take his clients on a fishing trip in the rural area of Springfield (even if he's technically living in Selby Flats). But, you're right - I think at that point the plot was written that the Bauers, Chamberlains, and Spauldings were all long-standing residents of Springfield.

I think they were confused when Brandon "reappeared" in 1983 via flashbacks for the Eli Simms storyline (which actually ended up killing Bill Bauer in 1983, not Brandon). Brandon had originally died on camera in 1979.

Are those on quad tapes or on kinescope/33 mm film? I remember that UCLA also has episodes of "The Guiding Light" and "Edge of Night" also in their archives, but I believe those are listed as 33 mm film. Which, (unfortunately) unless those tapes have been transferred, has likely degraded.

From what I've learned, Hulswit was apparently critical of Marland's writing, or at least commented on the writing in some way that made Marland less than happy with Hulswit. Allegedly Marland had Potter replace Hulswit in 1981.

I do - thank you for posting this, @DRW50 - there's no Mike, but it still has a majority of my favorites in it. @Mitch - good question. I can't remember either why Brandon initially left his stock to Amanda. @vetsoapfan - do you remember at all? And I will wholeheartedly agree with all of you - in my opinion, the best Ed Bauer was Hulswit. He had warmth that Peter Simon never had, yet still had the temper that Robert Gentry had before him. Plus, Hulswit looked like Michael O'Leary's father 😁.

Go, Don, GO!😁 I miss Don Stewart... And yes, those Fulton columns are absolutely hilarious. THANK YOU for the Harding Lemay article. I really don't know how he was able to write two soaps simultaneously. It seemed from what he described in his book (and hinted in the article), he was likely suffering from major burnout.

Thank you very much for sharing all of these @vetsoapfan. The Theo Goetz article was wonderful. Please continue!!! 🙂

I really want to say it was Agnes Nixon, but she left at some point during 1966, the same year Werner was originally introduced (in fact, I think Joe Werner's debut TGL episodes are still up on YT). However, it could also have been any of the numerous writers who came after her. If I recall, wasn't there a lot of turnover for the next year or two until Irna, herself, wrote it again briefly?

I completely agree. It was perfectly executed as best it could be, considering that there were only three characters at that point who were on TGL that would actually *know* who Roger and Holly were: Ed, Alan, and Ross, and only Ross was still portrayed by the same actor! It could have gone so wrong, but the writing team did a stellar job in taking their time and implementing Holly back into Springfield via a SORAS'd Chrissy/Blake. And yes, Holly's haunting scream when Ed pulled back the mask to reveal it was Roger...that still gets me every time I see it. The only thing I really wanted was for Mart Hulswit to be portraying Ed again at that point (I wonder if @vetsoapfan agrees with me on that one?). Peter Simon's Ed wasn't the same as Hulswit's. Hulswit was generally warm and caring, but still had a massive temper when pushed to the breaking point. It also didn't help that the writers from then on really didn't keep Ed and Roger in much the same orbit after that. With that said, I really loved Roger and Maureen's friendship. Parker and Zaslow were brilliant together, and I'm very glad they were kept as friends.

@WhiteDressGhost: Bernau was incredible as Alan. He gave what could have been a one dimensional character so much range. Unfortunately, that's what ended up happening with Raines in the role. I never figured out who could ever take over adequately in the role. Zaslow was definitely correct - it would have been way too awkward for him to portray Alan. Someone mentioned to me almost two years ago that they wondered how George Reinholt would have fared as Alan Spaulding. At first I dismissed it, but then I thought about how Steve Frame definitely had some similar characteristics to Alan. Maybe it could have worked. I wonder if TPTB would have even considered Reinholt... If you are referring to the Alan/Roger scenes when Roger comes back to Springfield in December of 1979 and stays at the Spaulding mansion while spying on the Bauer house, Zaslow and Bernau knock it right out of the park. My favorite moment is when Roger first sneaks into Alan's house, grabs some spare cash from a desk drawer, then casually offers that SAME money to Alan when Alan comes in and finds Roger in his home ("Alan, do you need some money?") As for the Bauers, I honestly think Gail Kobe had some sort of directive from P&G to do away with the Bauer family. Apparently Marland had been given the same directive when he assumed writing in 1980, but he managed to keep that directive at bay. Roussel (Hope) either quit or was fired, depending on who you ask, Stewart was out and out fired by Kobe, and Marsha Clark was killed off to bulk up the Susan Piper/Brandon Spaulding storyline. I think Kobe felt as long as she had Charita around, things would be fine. That didn't work out too well... I wonder if that would have worked. Elizabeth (at least how Dalton portrayed her), was meek. I suppose in the almost-20 years since she was away from Springfield, she could have gotten a backbone. With Collins in the role, that would have been a SERIOUS backbone!

Bert Bauer's passing was handled POORLY, considering TPTB took over a year to figure out what to do after Charita had passed away. As you correctly stated @vetsoapfan, no appearance whatsoever from her son, Mike, who she was incredibly close to? Yes, Mike got mentioned in passing, but to not at least try to get Don Stewart to return was ridiculous. I think that Stewart would have returned out of respect for Charita, but I'm guessing no one even tried to reach out to him. For Nancy...I've given Chris Goutman probably too much sympathy on this, since I'm thinking there was not enough time (or a proper budget) to get a proper service put together that would have included the extended Hughes family. Maureen...that was all JFP, as I assume @DRW50 was alluding to - it was to prop up Ed, but then nothing came of it for Ed at all. One of the best funerals TGL ever did was the funeral for HB Lewis. That was how you did it - invite former cast members to come back and honor the actor (yes, that even included Rebecca Hollen returning as Trish!!!). Another good one was for Alice on DOOL, although there could have been/should have been even more Hortons that came back for her service (again, I'm guessing budget was an issue?).

@vetsoapfan - I can think of at least three that are supposed to exist: 1. 1940/07/17: Reverend Ruthledge chats with Ellis Smith ("Mr. Nobody from Nowhere") who has been blinded. 2. 1940 (unknown exact date): Ellen, the Ruthledge's housekeeper, is upset and wants to leave the parsonage. She speaks with Reverend Ruthledge and then leaves. Mrs. Martin later comes in and she and Reverend Ruthledge talk about Ellen and also about Ellis Smith who was, at that time, going through surgery to correct his blindness. 3. 1944/06/07: D-Day episode (Reverend Ruthledge sermon). There are probably more, but these are the only ones I have notes on that are supposed to feature Reverend Ruthledge.

Agreed. I too, gave the writers a pass on the Meta/Bauers/Rev. Ruthledge connection exactly for the reasons you stated, @vetsoapfan. Side question - did Irna decide to kill off Reverend Ruthledge when Arthur Peterson Jr. decided to leave the show so that the character of Reverend Ruthledge had no chance to ever return (because Irna wasn't happy that Arthur wanted to leave the show)? I remember reading that somewhere, perhaps in either "A 50th Anniversary Celebration" or "The Complete Family Album"?

In my opinion, the damage had already begun the prior year, 1984. Oddly enough, the show seemed to spiral out of control the moment it hit #1. Gail Kobe, for whatever reason, had already let go of long-time favorites Tom O'Rourke (Justin) and Elvira Roussell (Hope), then continued the purge with Don Stewart (Mike) and Marsha Clark (Hillary) in 1984 before the biggest purge in 1985. As stated above, some of the actors left by choice, others did not (O'Rourke, Roussell, Stewart, Clark). I agree with @Khan - I think most of this was due to Gail versus Pam Long. Long's writing was strongest when characters simply interacted, versus trying to do things like "The Dreaming Death", "Susan Piper/Barbados" and the Largo organization. Denise Pence was fantastic on TGL (I'm biased because I had a crush on her as a kid). I have a feeling that if the Dobsons (who created Katie and Floyd) had stayed with the show past 1979, they would have eventually introduced Katie's parents, further solidifying her in Springfield.

Agreed. I just have a copy of the script from the first episode of GL on radio in 1937 (which was available for a time, I think, on the GL website?).

I believe that is the earliest *known* surviving episode.

Was Judith accepted in the role of Liz as well as Jane was?

Thank you! Was the Tracy/Charlotte reveal around 1968 or 1969? I'm trying to piece together if the reveal came when Victoria Wyndham was leaving the role of Charlotte. Any idea on that one?

He was gone in 1973 and 1975, I believe. I don't remember him being gone for any extended time at all in 1974, but I could be wrong. I definitely remember him leaving in mid-1977 shortly after his affair with Rita was revealed, and him not returning to the show until a year later.

Very true, @Soaplovers. Marland was a better fit on ATWT versus TGL. Holly *should* have become a stronger person post-Roger, not weaker. I really wanted to see a storyline after Roger's death where a proactive Holly aids Mike in trying to uncover what evidence Roger had on Alan. This would bring Mike and Holly closer together, which in turn would make Ed jealous (at the same time he's trying to reconcile with Rita).