Efulton

Now those years are something I would binge!

1981 is pretty good. 1983 - 85 very good. 1984 is my favourite year and I watched from 1976 until the final episode.

Rhonda Lewin played Vicky after Ellen Wheeler. I really liked her (I think I am the only one) and thought she should have been given more time in the role. However, if that happened we may never have had Anne Heche! At around the same time Rhonda Lewin was hired Nicole was recast with Lauri Landry. I really liked her in the role then both Nicole and Vicky disappeared without any mention. Both roles were recast months later. It was rather strange.

Another World did a great job recasting female characters. Some roles were recast with actresses who were as good as or better than the popular original actress. Victoria Wyndham / Robin Strasser (Rachel), Anne Heche / Ellen Wheeler (Marley/Victoria), Anna Holbrook / Laurie Heineman (Sharlene), Irene Dailey / Audra Lindley (Liz), Beverly Penberthy / Susan Trustman (Pat), Carmen Duncan / Beverlee McKinsey (Iris), Nancy Frangione / Susan Keith (Cecile), Amy Carlson / Alexandra Wilson (Josie), Mary Page Keller / Jennifer Runyon (Sally) and Susan Sullivan / Judith Barcroft (Lenore).

I just watched the December 24, 1985 episode of Another World. While overall 1985 was horribly written this episode was very good. All of my favourite families were represented - Matthews (Liz, Sally, Kevin), Corys (Mac, Rachel, Ada, Nancy), Ewings (Larry, Clarice, Catlin), Loves (Peter, Donna, Bridget, Marley), McKinnons (Kathleen, MJ, Jake), Hardings (Thomasina, Carter) and the friends (Cass, Felicia, Wally, Dee). Sadly within a year most of these characters would be written out or recast. In 1986 there was an interview with Margaret DePriest, Donna Swajeski (an executive at NBC at a the time) and John Whitesell where they bragged about refocusing the show and pretty much changing the majority of the cast. They had no idea what an embarrassment of riches they had with the cast and characters that were there. Ironically it was Swajeski 2 years later who brought the show its last period of stability and respect.

If I recall correctly Kathleen Widdoes was in a play during the final weeks of ATWT. However, there could be more to the story. I was also sad that we did not get a few last scenes with Emma.

I agree completely!

Beverlee Mckinsey was one of the reasons I got hooked on Another World in the mid seventies, I never thought I would ever accept anyone else as Iris but Carmen Duncan won me over. RIP.

It definitely looks like her.

Jason Frame told Nicole that he and her mother Elizabeth were friends when he worked for the Love's as a horse trainer. The Love children thought their mother had committed suicide. However, in 1988 they found out that Reginald killed her as Jason was blackmailing Reginald about it. I just watched these episodes on YouTube. Peter was the first to show up as an employee at Cory Publishing. In the beginning he and Cass had a bit of rivalry over Sally Frame. Then Donna, Perry, Nicole, Marley, Victoria and finally Reginald arrived in this order. Here is Anna Stuart's first episode. She shows up at 32 mins. So many of my favourite characters are in this episode. It also the first episode where Peg Murray (Olga AMC) was filling in for Connie Ford as Ada. 1983 and d1984 were such good years for the show. I rewatched what is available of these years on YouTube last year and they hold up very well. It is so frustrating that it all went to Hell in 1985.

Yea I think the story would have gone on if Joe Breen had remained in the role and Doug Marland has not died.

It sounds like a lot of you did not enjoy the Scott Eldridge story. I thought Marland told a great story for Lisa by using a gap in time where she was off screen. He really mined As the World Turns' history.

I agree @pdm1974. Sally should have left town and then returned after Catlin and Brittany left with a new actress playing her. Having Jennifer Runyon return would have been ideal. She was my favourite Sally.

That is it in a nutshell!!

I am with you Khan. I have always thought a Jamie / Alice romance would have blown up Bay City. It would have given Victoria Wyndham and Jacqueline Courtney years of story.

Thank you @vetsoapfan.

If I recall from his book didn't he say when he met her at her favourite restaraunt to discuss the issues he internationally sat in the seat Virginia Dwyer usually sat in? I may remember this wrong but it seems like as jerky thing to do. I do agree she appeared to be a diva but what cast doesn't have a few? Harding Lemay did keep the Matthews as a core family. I will give him credit for that. Even bringing back Liz, Susan and Dan during his tenure. However, he had 2 original members of the family fired (Dwyer and Courtney). I am not sure why he killed off John Randolph who was played by the longest member of the cast at the time. I often wondered if Michael Ryan who played John was the friend.

In my opinion the firing of Virginia Dwyer (Mary Matthews) was one of the biggest (and there were many) mistakes ever made by the powers that be at Another World. It would be the equivalent of killing of Alice Horton (DOOL), Bert Bauer (GL) or Nancy Hughes (ATWT). I believe the issue was Harding Lemay's ego not hers. Although she did seem to have her issues. Mr. Lemay was extremely talented but his arrogance was so obvious in every interview of his i have ever read. If he respected the history of the show and wanted to work things out with Virginia Dwyer he could have. He was showing her and the other actors that he was the boss.

I think his character's name was Father Pete and he offered counsel to Brett Gardner (Colleen Dion).

I believe that Joseph Gallison (Bill Matthews) and Carol Roux (Melissa Matthews) left Another World in 1969 on their own accord. I read that Agnes Nixon brought Joesph Gallison to One Life to Live. When Somerset was created TPTB wanted Bill and Melissa & and Sam Lahoma to anchor it. Apparently Joseph wanted to join Somerset but he could not get out of his OLTL contract so they killed Bill off. Then Carol Roux was unhappy and left after 6 months. I wish someone would do an interview with Joseph Gallison about his great soap opera career. I am sure he has amazing stories.

Robert Cenedella killed off Bill Matthews and Lee Randolph. You don't kill off the next generation of the core families. Sigh

I remember reading an interview with Donna Swajeski where she said the Vicky/Jamie/Lisa triangle would have turned out differently if Joanna Going would have renewed her contract.

One of many mistakes...

👍👍