Mona Kane Croft

Unfortunately, the definition of soap opera matriarch has been expanded over the past 40 years to include nearly any older female character who is a member of a family. But pre-1980, the term soap opera matriarch referred to the mother (or occasionally grandmother) of a show's core family, which also made her the matriarch of the entire show. And not all soaps at that time even had a core family or a matriarch. For example -- ask any soap fan in 1975, who are the matriarchs of the various soap operas on American TV? You'd get responses such as, ATWT: Nancy Hughes; GL: Bert Bauer; AW: Mary Matthews; DOOL: Alice Horton; Y&R: Jennifer Brooks; AMC: Ruth Martin (or maybe Kate Martin); RH: Maeve Ryan. That's about it. Most of the other soaps at that time didn't have core families, because they had a different focus -- crime drama (EON & Somerset), hospital drama (GH & TD), heroine drama (SFT, LOL, & OLTL), etc. But post-1980, ask who are the matriarchs of the various soap operas on American TV, and you'll hear names such as Nikki Newman, Kathryn Chancellor, Reva Shane, Monica Quartermaine, Marlena Evans, Liz Matthews, Phoebe Tyler, Erica Kane, etc, etc, etc. It's simply an evolution in the perception of the role and a change in definition. The perception of the soap opera matriarch has morphed into something much broader -- many times just the older woman in any soap family (as opposed to the older woman in the core family). Soap operas have abandoned their historic archetypal characters (including the matriarch and patriarch, and nearly all the others) in the past 40 years. By the way, what's happened with the ratings????

In my opinion, none of them.

I believe Ada's late in life daughter, Nancy, was born while Nancy Wickwire was working in California and ill with cancer. The story goes that Connie Ford requested Ada's baby be named Nancy, in honor of Wickwire. I don't know if the two were still a couple at that time, or at the time of Wickwire's death.

I loved the Corringtons' work on SFT, as I felt they breathed new life into the old show. Unfortunately, later writers were not able to continue the style the Corringtons had created, and SFT quickly regressed when they left to create Texas. I wish the Corringtons had been able to create and write Texas without all the network and sponsor interference they encountered. I'm confident it would have been a compelling show. Unfortunately it's been said, Texas was the first soap opera created by committee. And the results seem to substantiate that.

interesting. I wonder when Nancy Wickwire came into the picuture.

Although Larry Haines was a great actor, the character was badly conceived. With his silly name -- Sidney "Sharky" Sugarman, and his overly comedic presence, the character just didn't fit as a long-term love interest for Ada. Plus, their romantic back-story was historically inaccurate, since Ada didn't move to Bay City until middle-age, when Rachel was already a young adult. As I've said in previous posts, Donna Swajeski (head writer at the time) was not good at creating new characters. Although her writing for existing characters was usually acceptable, most of the characters she created were gimmicky and unbelievable. Derrick Dane, Frankie Frame, and Sharky Sugarman are just three good examples of that. Frankie Frame did eventually out-grow her gimmicky beginnings and became a beloved member of the cast, when later writers wrote for the character. Sharky was just too silly to be believable, even with Larry Haines playing the character. I can certainly see Connie Ford and Larry Haines playing opposite one another and having great chemistry. But not as Sharkey.

That's all very interesting. And seems a unique way for P&G to involve itself in a show -- rather than just owning it out right. Plus, most soap historians report Texas as P&G's final new soap opera. But if your information is correct, The Catlins would actually be the final new soap produced by P&G.

Did P&G take over production of The Catlins late in the show's run, or was The Catlins a P&G show from the beginning? I remember in the early era of the show, most of the major roles were cast with actors who were actually from Atlanta. But later, many of those roles were either written off or recast with former P&G actors from New York. Does anyone know what precipitated the casting changes?

I believe Port Charles, NY was first identified as the location of General Hospital by the head-writrer who preceded Douglas Marland. So that would have been mid to late-1970s. Coincidentally, I believe the same thing happened on The Doctors -- another soap opera with an undisclosed location until the mid-1970s, and again the head-writer who preceded Douglas Marland (on The Doctors) identified that city -- in this case Madison, in an undisclosed state.

Yes, that's what is so ironic about Goutman's decision making. He made a big deal about no retrospective stuff and making the finale for the new fans, instead of the old, etc., etc.. And then he agreed to bring back that ludicrous gorilla from the mid-1980s. He could have invited Pat, Alice, Liz, Clarice, Jamie, etc, etc, etc -- but no. We get the gorilla. And Russ Matthews playing a minister. Poor Sam Groom must have wondered what kind of mess he had returned to. Nuts.

It was Beverlee McKinsey who said no, not P&G. P&G had agreed to it. Also it was Goutman (not P&G) who refused to do a retrospective show, use flashbacks, or bring former characters back for the final send off (other than Iris and Russ, who he had agreed to tentatively). Goutman was quoted in more than one publication saying something along these lines -- "We're making the end of the show for the current fans, not the old fans. (not an exact quote)." That was his flimsy and stubborn rationale for not looking back at the show's history during the final episodes. There were plans for Russ Matthews to return for a reunion with Josie, and share some memories with Rachel (and perhaps Iris). David Bailey was unavailable, so the show hired Sam Groom and flew him all the way from California to appear as Russ. But at the last minute, Goutman even refused to allow that tiny nod to the show's history, so they treated Groom like a glorified extra, and had him play the minister at Cass and Lila's wedding. Insulting to the long-term viewers.

I believe Mitchell Dru arrived on Another World during Pat Randolph's murder trial to assist with the case, so he was in Bay City in 1964 or 65. And he was a regular on-screen member of the cast until he left the show around 1971. Mitchell Dru is not a blood member of the Matthews family, but the Matthews kids (Russ, Pat, and Alice) called him Uncle Dru because he was an old family friend. I believe Lee Randolph may have also called him Uncle Dru. Most adults on AW called him Dru, even though his first name was Mitchell. I don't recall anyone ever calling him Mitchel on AW. Lee Randolph is John Randolph's daughter. Marianne Randolph was not born until 1970-71, so in this episode (from 1966) any reference to John's daughter refers to Lee, not Marianne. I do not believe the intent of the dialogue in this episode was to imply that Don Hughes was (or had been) in Bay City. I believe the intent was to suggest Mike Bauer had worked with Don Hughes in Oakdale -- even though Mike Bauer had never appeared on screen nor had even been mentioned on As the World Turns. It is a mystery why Agnes Nixon (head-writer for both AW and GL in 1966) put that statement in the script. It would have only confused viewers who watched all three soaps (AW, GL, and ATWT), because the viewers would have known Mike Bauer had never appeared on ATWT. Strange, huh??

After the most popular soaps switched to the 60-minute format in the mid-1970s, the remaining 30-minute soaps were treated as the red-headed step-children of the networks. They were a lower priority than the hour long shows in every way. Often given the worst time slots, or moved around the schedule willy-nilly. They typically had the worst or most inexperienced writers, and when a head-writer on the 30-minute soap was successful, he/she was often grabbed-up by a 60-minute show, leaving the 30-minute show in a lurch. They did not receive as much promotion as the 60-minute soaps on the networks themselves, nor in the soap press. And I believe even the audience held most of the 30-minute soaps in distain -- assuming they were unappealing, uninteresting, or old-fashioned. It always seemed to me, the networks were just waiting on all the 30-minute soaps to be cancelled. The one exception to all this was The Bold and The Beautiful, which had the power of Bill Bell behind it, and the enthusiasm of CBS.

I agree. I always thought that tiny staircase looked ridiculous. But sometime in the 1970s, Chris and Nancy's living-room got a full sized staircase that showed all the steps -- all the way up. I believe the staircase was also moved closer to the front door. You can see it in some of the episodes on Youtube. I don't know if the living-room remodel was mentioned in any scripts, or it just happened without mention. Anyone else remember??

In this episode, Dixie Carter's voice sounds so much like Beverlee McKenzie. I had never noticed that before. I could actually close my eyes, and imagine it was Beverlee speaking -- not every single line, but many of them. Anyone else notice this?

There was a piano in Liz Matthews' original house (before she left town around 1971), and later in Steve and Alice's house (until Alice left town in 1979). Then around 1987, a piano showed-up in Mac and Rachel's remodeled living-room and remained until the final episode. Nobody ever played any of them, that I recall. Considering the timing, I've often wondered if they were all the same piano. Who knows?

Thank you. That's interesting. I know Rachel had lots of interaction with Liz in the late-60s and early-70s. But never heard anything about Rachel's relationship with Susan.

Does anyone remember if Robin Strasser's Rachel had much contact (or any scenes) with Susan Matthews, before Susan left the show in 1971?

I agree. It's time for Phillip to return permanently as a father to Chance. And it's also time for a recast. Bierdz botched Phillip's last return and he's proven he is no longer capable of playing a role on network television. Recast Phillip with a capable actor who is excited to play the role.

Wasn't this Steve and Audrey's final storyline? I realize they both remained on the show for years after.

A scene on Another World in 1978 was one of the most graphic things I have seen on a soap opera. Jamie, Dennis, and Regina unexpectedly found the rotting body of the missing Cory servant, Rocky Olson. The body had been wrapped in plastic and hidden in the water under a dock in the Cory boathouse. When Jamie, Dennis, and Regina tried to untie a boat, they accidentally pulled the body from under the dock -- and the scene was gruesome. The acting, directing, background music, along with the sight of the floating body in plastic -- made the scene unforgettable.

I would have wanted Bert to remain middle-class. So marrying her to a millionaire (no matter who) would be a bad idea in my opinion.

I was also thinking it was Cartagena. So I believe you are probably correct. But isn't Cartagena the capitol of a real country? Maybe not.

Does anyone remember the capitol of Montega on ATWT? I remember Lucinda, Sierra, and others used to mention the country's capitol occasionally, but I've forgotten the city's name. And yes, I know Montega is a fictional country. But it also had a fictional capitol. LOL.

Just a quick comparison -- George Reinholt was 36 years old, when he was fired from Another World. Brian Gaskill (AMC's Bobby Warner) is now 52 years old, yet he looks young enough to be George Reinholt's son. Can someone explain that? LOL.