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Someone had asked earlier in the thread who had played Mr. Sebastian, but yes Stratton is featured in your promo on youtube. I'm not sure most of us put two and two together. I've wondered if the original plan was to reveal Penny was Althea's mysterious patient who was whispering her name in the hospital instead of the Robin / Mr. Sebastian storyline. I had dismissed this idea because I assumed Robin was younger, but seeing the actress in the promo, it seems probably that Robin may have been Penny.

The material with Fran / Johnny sounds interesting. I can almost picture the two of them sitting alone in a quiet house discussing those little things that some people would label mundane, but are so important. In the story, I believe the McGhee family purchased the Kirby home after Larry and Chris decided to divorce. Monica Courtlandt sounds a little like Mona Aldrich from what I've read. Copeland was well received as Andrea, wasn't she? Dave's death sounds heartbreaking. I believe the clip on youtube is from April 1974. FrenchFan posted Bryna Laub's newsletter for that month several years ago and it mentions Chris going on a date with a man named Harry Forrester, someone she met at Peter's office, which led to champagne. I don't think it was a serious romance, but probably Chris' first attempt to date anyone after the divorce. It's been nice hearing saynotoursoap's recollections about the show because the storyline provided in the article about the counterfeit bills and Johnny's arrest for the murder of some syndicate man seem so different from what the show was about. Max Cooper's 'is he married? is he single?' story doesn't sound very exciting either, but the show seems to have strong dynamics between the characters which can carry a show when the storyline is weak.

The Cranston episode is Marland / Nixon together. I believe they were credited as co-head-writers, if not onscreen, then in the press at the time of the episode. I think the cough syrup storyline is urban legend. 'Generations' did two separate storylines involving cough syrup in 1990. Football star Eric Royal ran down a vagrant with his car and stood trial where Chantal Marshall prosecuted the case. Chantal built the case around Eric being durnk at the time of the accident, while Eric claimed he had not been drinking at the time of the incident. It was Randy Brooks' entrance story. During the trial, Chantal learned Eric had actually drunk cough syrup, which explained his blood alcohol content. He still served prison time with Kyle Masters' brother, Sean, who was there on a separate charge. Earlier in the year, it was revealed Helen Mullens' daughter had died because Helen had given her an over the counter cough syrup that was defective. Somehow this all tied into Richard Roundtree' Dr. Daniel Reubens plot. I think his wife was killed trying to expose the truth about the dangerous cough syrup or something. It all seemed very convoluted to be honest.

Mike is incredibly flaky, but I give Shriner credit for trying to make the character work. I've thought Shriner acted the same as Scotty as he did as Keith on ATWT and Harrison on Y&R. It was nice to see Shriner play something that was a complete departure from that. Sampler's Lacey is made out to be the baddie, but I don't understand how she could stay with Mike. I'll give Sampler credit because I think she was trying to play Lacey as overwhelmed during the Koty / Mike stuff rather than as a complete bitch as the writing seemed to suggest. Sharon's Cherry does seem to add something considering this all plays out during the era of C.J. vs. Carter and their fight for everyone and everything in Wingfield. The Lanes and the Washingtons represent the 'havenots' better than the Gallaghers. Renee Jones' hair in that clip is so 80s! The head in the lap was a bit surprising in a good way, but I still think the set up for all that was just too much. 'I'm dying so let me give you a baby.' Really? I think doing both was just too much, but, then again, why would Koty really want to give them a baby. It just seems like one bad idea after another. I do wonder if there was more to the Lacey / Koty reveal. I would like to see how Sampler would have played the rest of that. It was nice to see some of the other players in these clips. Andrea Moar seems a bit green, but there is something about her that makes me see how she could be the show's young ingenue. Lindstrum didn't seem as bad as I thought he would be playing the heir to the fortune. Lorrine Vozoff was surprisingly strong given her brief appearance having little to do with the story at hand. She reminded me of Constance Towers and I could see how they would want to keep her at the center of the story even though her family was pretty much a flop. Mary Beth Evans was very good, and I've never thought very highly of her. I've known she's a competent performer, but she never really wowed me. She is very aware of the character as you said, Carl, but I never got this sense from the little I saw of her second stint on 'Days' or her work on 'ATWT.' Maybe I just missed some of her stronger performances.

It's nice to see this. All those early 1970s characters who I've heard about, but never really seen (Kate Swanson, Dr. Dan Phillips, Jamie's wife Sally). It was nice to see them. Joanna Roos looks so matronly I thought she was the actress who played Vivian Carlson. I think I'm confusing Roos with Jane Rose It does seem a bit much given the show's storyline, but I miss this sort of pageantry that soaps have given up on. I wish soaps would financially manage themselves better so they could occassionaly do a story climax justice.

Yes, Arthur seems a bit weak, but I think that works in terms of the story. Arthur's weakness allows him to provide the drama in the relationship, while Jo stands by her man as the noble wife and mother. Her later pairing with Sam Reynolds seems to be more on an even playing field with his ex-wife Andrea acting as the major catalyst for drama. It's a shame Andrea never came back into the story as Len was married to Patti. I guess Andrea was replaced by Stephanie in terms of female antagonist who acts as Jo's foil.

Shriner was leaving 'Rituals.' He decided not to renew his one-year contract before the show was cancelled. I got the insinuation that the Koty / Mike story was an attempt to sway Shriner to stay on the serial. The Koty story sounds awful, though. Brain tumor + surrogacy as a segue to adultery doesn't seem like the most appealing plotline. Anyway, everything was too up in the air for Mike to suddenly disappear.Diandra's baby had just been born and Koty was still pregnant with his child. Even if he suddenly drove off, Mike would eventually have to be dealt with. In the long run, Mike should have been written out. The show should have slowly written out Diandra / Lacey / Mike / Tom. Tom was dying of radiation poisoning, which would have caused problems between C.J. / Sara. This would have opened up Christina / C.J. and given Christina a taste of what is was like to be with C.J. before it was ultimately revealed Carter. not C.J., was behind the leak that would lead to Tom's demise. Diandra could have left to raise her daughter after Tom's death and Lacey could have been offered a university position elsewhere. I don't understand saddling Koty with a child. Granted, Cherry was around to watch the kid so Koty could engaging in more exciting stories, but the whole drama seems a bit inane. I don't think anyone really thought Koty was going to die. Maybe Tom wouldn't have either, but you never know.

If this is July 1979, it is Ann Marcus' run. She would have only been around for two months at this point. The scene between Ben / Betsy seems a bit odd, but maybe I just don't fully understand the nature of the characters. I thought that was Veleka Gray in the clip, but its not. That's Maryanne Johnson (?) the actress who played Lianne. Andrew refers to her as Lianne in the clip and Lianne was a doctor, which made sense considering how the scene played out. Marcus played a Lianne / Andrew as friendly professionals with Andrew having a bit of an attraction to Lianne. If the show had continued, Lianne / Andrew would have probably have found their way towards one another during Meg's marriage to Tom Crawford. Complicating the situation between Andrew / Lianne would have been complicated by the Wes / Kelly / Cheryl triangle as Andrew / Wes had a fairly good relationship and Wes' attraction seemed to be with Cheryl moreso than Kelly. There was potential when the show ended, but it would have all amounted to the execution. I know Tim was involved in a lot of the legal matters so I assume Sarah got some play during Marcus' time.

I didn't realize the Averys had been subwriters under Irna Phillips. In the 1960s, the Averys were mentioned in the Palm Beach social column whenever they were visiting Jane's mother, Helen. Before writing soaps, they had written some books about travel and eating around the world. Later, they transitioned into television and wrote 'The Secret Storm' for several years. Jane had been a model at one point in her life, and I got the sense the Averys lived a very affluent lifestyle and would have been at home with the residents of Woodbridge. While Jane's mother lived in Florida, the Averys lived in Fairfield County with their two daughters. Both girls got married in the late 1960s / early 1970s, and I've found little reference to the Averys after that.

I also wanted to mention the whole Nathan / Jo kiss plot seems cliche, but I suspect the writers actually milked the drama out of it for several weeks / months instead of simply reuniting them quickly and playing another 'mistaken attraction' several monhts later or revealing Nathan killed his first wife who bore a stunning resemblance to Jo. I didn't recognize the name of O'Sullivan's character on 'Valiant Lady.' I assume he was one of Helen's suitors, but maybe not. I just cannot imagine stealing one of the big name stars from another soap and not playing him opposite the lead. Was VL a CBS in-house soap? Wasn't P&G notoriously cheap in comparison to the in-house productions when it came to actors salaries.

Thanks, saynotoursoaps. I had forgotten, not considered, AMC went without competition.

That 1979 clip is neat. I've never seen the whole final opening package. I really think it looks good with the still photos of the cast and I love how they seemed to be grouped based on story / family connections. I think this is the order, can anyone confirm or edit? Vanessa Sterling (Audrey Peters) Bruce Sterling (Ron Tomme) Meg Hart (Tudi Wiggins) Ben Harper (Charles Hill Harben) Betsy Lang (Margo McKenna) Eliot Lang (Ted LePlat) Betsy Lang (Margo McKenna) ????? (is this Richard Weber's Tom Crawford) ???? (I assume this is Peg Murray as Carrie Johnson) Arlene Slater (Birigitta tolksdorf) Ray Slater (Lloyd Battista) Mia Marriott (Veleka Gray) Dr. Andrew Marriott (Ron Harper) Sarah Dale (Valerie Cossart) Professor Tim McCauley (Sheperd Strudwick) ???? (Gary Giem as Paul Graham?) Bambi Brewster (Ann McCarthy) Tony Alfonso () The scenes were so long! 'I'm a man. I have needs.' lol. I cannot see a man say that on today's soaps without being cruxified. I did like how the show kept Ben in menial positions (working at the pro shop when he returned and later the club) because of his prison record. The stuff regarding Clay Walker does play out; Ben gets the job. Clay appears on several more occassions and I think is friends with Mia as well. Veleka Gray's short hair in the opening credit sequence is shocking. I'm so use to her pics from 'Somerset' with the long locks. Ray mentions its the 4th of July. The rape would have already happened prior to this so that is what Ben is referring to with Ray Slater. I think Mia / Ben might have happened around the same time. Carl, I might be wrong, but I don't think Mia was a 'good woman' as you put. Her story seems to be very ambiguous moving towards a much more vindicated Mia by the time she convinces Betsy she and Ben slept together setting in motion the show's final plot involving the boating accident. Even when Gillian Houghton created her she had the baggage of setting in motion the motorcycle accident which killed her stepson. I think the audience was suppose to feel for Mia, but soon it was clear she was the other woman. Ben wrote a novel that featured a love affair with characters similar to Ben / Betsy / Mia. Mia wasn't pleased when Ben paired the Ben / Betsy characters in the end. Of course, later Mia took pills and was alligning herself with evil Elliott. I get what you mean Carl about Hill seeming hard. He reminds me of Michael Levin in his looks and characterization. Actually, I can see a lot of 'RH' in 'LOL' even though Labine & Mayer have been long gone. It was nice to finally see Maryanne Johnson as Dr. Liane Wilson; I never remember how to spell her first name. The length of the scenes was shocking in a wonderful way.

I had read about the Richard Thomas' story, but i've never seen anyone listed as playing the character's brother. I believe the 'later writers' Genovese refers to includes John M. Young, who wrote 'Right to Happiness.' I can see how this story sounds like a story that would play out on 'Right to Happiness' with the criminal element fighting the good natured, noble townspeople.

The incident regarding Marge's accident sounds horrific. It sounds like both are strong individuals to talk about the incident. Meg Mundy as 'The Respectful Prostitute'? I don't think Mona Aldrich would approve.

I find the Lacey / Mike / Diandra / tom very bizarre. I can see where having a close nephew / uncle fight over a woman might be interesting especially given Lacey's nearly neurotic need to have a child. Yet, Lacey and Diandra both seem to be the heroines of the piece. I wonder if Palumbo planned on Mike / Lacey fighting for custody of the baby. By the time the final writers took over, it seemed like Mike and Lacey were over. It looks like Sara / Patrick affair was set up by Palumbo. I didn't realize that story thread had been set up that early in the story. The Chapin family was so complicated for a show that aired only a year. This seems to be Bob Hamilton's big 'college revamp' story with Mike / Nancy.

There is some interesting details here I didn't know like Red Wilson being the foil to the Ann / Thomas pairing and the triangle between Howard / Ann / Sylvia. This must not have had much play since I've read Mark Miller, Howard, was involved in a movie production in the summer of 1971, which involved location shooting in Africa. I wonder if Anthony Eisley's character was brought in to fill the void while he was gone. I didn't know Howard was Sandra's father. I guess Lesley Woods was the girl's grandmother then. Thanks, Carl. I really enjoyed this.

I find Palumbo's material for 'Rituals' rather frivolous at times. The Bernhardt / Patty / Taylor stuff seems awful, and then the couple stayed on the show. Taylor squashing the Logan / Julia pair during the Cannon Ball convinces me that Palumbo planned to reveal Julia was Logan's daughter. I'm still confused about Christina / Sara sister connection. Noel and Jeff are cousins who are dating. Without the uproar, I cannot imagine them as the pre-cursor to Jammy. There must be something we don't know liek Sara or Christina was adopted. I am curious about the fall of Christina / Carter's marriage. It sounds rather sordid, in a good way, unlike the Eddie / Suzie backstory. I'm not sure where Palumbo intended to go with Rebecca / Dakota connection, but it seemed to be something since they talked about Rebecca on several occassions. I wonder if the plan was reveal Cherry / Dakota were Haddons / Chapins before they decided to go the Carter route. Carl, SOD said Mike and Lacey would be married on October 20 and 21, but the marriage never happened. The January 15th synopsis you posted discusses Mike / Lacey's wedding, which happened around Thanksgiving. This Diandra / Mike ONS thread played out until the end with Diandra having Mike's baby in the final episode. I can see how this would cause conflict in the Gallagher family, but Mike / Lacey's story is so convoluted. The show never really focused on the college again. I think Bob Hamilton's big contribution was Mike's stalker story with Nancy or whoever the young student was, but his work may have been trunucated. In an article about a 'Rituals' Christmas party, it was mentioned everyone was celebrating that 'Rituals' had been renewed an additional six months. The original order was for six months worth of episodes. Palumbo was ousted in the renewal. I think his successor was Ann Marcus' brother who started the whole C.J. / Carter angle which dominated the show until its final days.

Interesting article. It sounds like most of the show was pretty well thought out when Marland came aboard, and that Nixon contacted him immediately when she learned about leaving 'Guiding Light.' I guess there was some more overlap between 'Loving' and 'New Day in Eden' than I had previously thought. It's also interesting to see Meg Mundy listed as Isabelle. I know she appeared in the pilot, but I thought she was a stand in because Augusta Dabney wasn't available. I wonder why Mundy was bounced. There are definitely moments under Marland where Isabelle seemed colder than the character I've encounter in the clips online.

I know about P&G's decision to 'block' their soaps together and the detrimental effect it had on CBS Daytime, but I have a question about its effect on ABC. Would ABC have exploded in the way it did had it not been for the P&G move. Granted, there are only scattered weekly ratings in this thread, but it doesn't seem like AMC / OLTL made major strides until after the CBS reshuffeling in September 1972. Were the ABC soaps make a slow climb to the top or does it appear CBS viewers switched the channel when their story was changed to another timeslot?

I got a much different vibe from Len Green in this article then the one you posted in the 'Golden Windows ' thread about the couple. It's clear they both have matured over time and have moved past that young love phase into a more comfortable place. I actually thought his comments about Leila's role in 'Guys n Dolls' during her pregnancy was cute. Diane sounds like an interesting role. For some reason, some of these serials ('Brighter Day' and 'Valiant Lady') seem so engaging despite their lack of longevity.

Murial Williams sounds like a fascinating woman. I don't see that kind of woman being involved in the soaps anymore or even five years ago when there was still a strong soap presence in New York. 'The Brighter Day' seems like it had an interesting talent base.

Am I the only one imagine these actors lives playing out as stories in my head? lol. Thanks, Carl. I'm becoming a bit too interested in the lives of these actors.

Peter and Marion sound like such a sweet couple. The story of their romance was rather engaging.

I assume these are Haila's children. Wasn't Whit's daughter Erin on 'A World Apart'? I wonder if she is mentioned in the other part of the article.

I wondered if the writers always intended Jason to be the father of baby Jessica. I seem to recall Colin had lost a son / daughter while he was living in Austrailia. I believe the child died in surgery, which caused problems for Colin. I thought all of this would have driven Colin to claim Jessica when he learned he was the father, but did Colin even learn he might be the father? Also the conflict over the paternity would have spilled over to Steve / Carolee as Steve was Jason's brother and Carolee's cousin M.J. was involved with Colin. Given Steve and Carolee history with Billy and Jason's with Stacey, I could see how this all could become very messy if Colin indeed was the father of Nola's child.