Paul Raven

Fascinating find. Thanks for sharing.

John Michael Reed Dec 1979 NEW YORK - As we predicted several weeks ago, cast changes on "As the World Turns" are under way"as new headwriters Jerome and Bridget Dobson {formerly of "Guiding Light") take over the writing helm of the show. Judith McConnell has announced she will resign a contract as Valerie Conway Keith. Thus ends, at least temporarily, the soap career of one of the finest and most underrated actresses on the daytime tube. Judith arrived on the "ATWT" Oakdale scene almost three years ago as a fiery jet-setter. The character had a splendid spleen and a vulnerable heart. - Alas Valerie has been reduced in the last year to a shadow of her former passionate self. She became a piddling complaisant adjunct to the show's stories. That, incidentally, seems to be the standard route that "ATWT" characters take. They start off with a bang and end up with a whimper. Hopefully, the new writers will add more spicy, multidimensional characters to a show that is glutted with saintly bores. There is hope, since Barbara Rodell is "returning from the dead" in the role of Joyce Colman Hughes. But Joyce's arrival will -mean the exit of another fine and neglected performer, Keith Charles (Ralph Mitchell). Other departures are expected within the month, including Deborah Hobart as Dana McFarland, who'll presumably leave her conflict over ex husband Ian and new flame Bob in order to reactivate her ballet career.

Jon Michael Reed column Nov 11 1979 NEW YORK - There's something awfully fishy about the death of John Wyatt which occurred recently on "Search For Tomorrow'. It's no secret around the years that headwriters Bill and Joyce Corrington don't have much fondness for most of the longer running characters on the show. It's true that the Corringtons have done wonders by upgrading the show in the past year, but they've accomplished this by concentrating on new and younger characters They have said publicly that they would like nothing better than to move the show out of the fictional town of Henderson, where they'd line to leave all the old-time residents in mothballs. The Corringtons simply have not written dynamic stories for most of the veterans of the show and there have been backstage rumbles of malcontent from performers who have been with the show for many years. Val Dufour, who played lawyer John Wyait since 1972 won't confirm or deny rumors of his dissatisfaction with way his character was developing or rather not developing. 'I simply thought it was time to call it a day', says Emmy award winning Val of his decision not to renew his contract,' I'm very sad about leaving, but the show has gone in different directions recently and I felt there wasn't much reason for me to stick around. At this point and I feel grateful that shows sponsor Proctor and Gamble has been very good to me throughout the years , and I hope our relationship continues in another soap opera. But now I really want to vacation." Val has reason to feel grateful to P&G. The actor began his soap career in the 1950's in an early serial effort 'First Love'. In 1965 he portrayed the elegant villian Andre Lazer on Edge of Night, a P&G show. Then won acclaim for his portrayal of the charming but nefarious Walter Curtin on Another World, another P&G show. Interestingly, says Val, fans still recognize more readily as Walter than they do as John, which isn't surprising as John has been out of the Search story limelight for many of Val's years on the show. The fishy aspect of John's demise lies in the fact that the writers chose chose to get rid of the character midweek. Usually the death of a major character occurs on a cliff-hanging Friday after a long stretch of suspense. Although John Wyatt went out with "a bang" from a gun, he really went out with a whimper a long, long time ago. Val never worked on a soap again P&G or otherwise. he tested for the role of Lars Bogars on AMC. I don't really have an issue with SFT killing off John. The character had a 6 year run and went through a lot of story. He didn't really have any ties to other characters and signing the actor for another 3 years would have cost a lot. That talk of the Corringtons wanting to drop all the vets and move from Henderson seems a bit of hype to me.

Did they? I always thought he just vanished or at most mentioned he was off on a trip. I recall Eileen being disappointed that Chuckie was suddenly killed off. She was probably smart enough to realize that in a few years she would have been the mother of a SORASED character and could grab some airtime. Chuckie (Charlie?) could have come on in the early 80's. Marland ended up giving her Scott but later writers were not interested. Maybe Chuckie could have been brought back in a baby switch story. Remind me about Scott, Did Lisa believe he had died at birth?

TODD DAVIS ONE LIFE TO LIVE Dr. Joshua "Josh" West Hall 1977 3 episodes

Jon Michael Reed Sept 24 1978 Another development in serialdom is the axing of producer Jean Arley and associate producer Tom deVilliers from "Love of 'Life." The show has usually been a ratings alsoran in recent years. But Arley and deVilliers were responsible for the serial's visual spruceing up and improved production values. They turned an aging war horse into a modern, classy-looking soap opera. If they failed in any production department it was only in casting several inexperienced and awkward young performers. But "LOL" has a history of developing untrained actors into splendid performers, as witness the list of "LOL" veterans, among them Jessica Walter, Cicely Tyson, and practically every night- time TV performer currently in front of the cameras. Jean Arley later turned up at OLTL but what happened to deVilliers?

Jon Michael Reed Sept 24 1978 It's all over except for the ending for NBC's "For Richer, For Poorer." The youngest network serial will be canceled at month. The show premiered in January of 1977 under the title "Lovers and Friends." After six months it took a leave of absence from the airwaves for a period of story and actor realignment. The show reappeared last December under its new title, new writers and a few actor replacements. Still, "FR, FP" never managed to grind up much audience enthusiasm and support, despite visually stunning sets, costumes and production values. The story, too, although increasingly intriguing in recent months, failed to garner a sufficient audience to make it a going proposition. In the wake of "FR, FP's" demise are the aborted serial careers of several promising performers. In addition to such serial veterans as Patricia Barry (Viola) and Stephen Joyce (George), who were shamefully wasted in terms of story material, "FR, FP" boasted a fine cast of attractive serial neophytes, especially Christine Jones (Amy), Richard Backus (Ja- son), Rod Arrants (Austin), Cynthia Bostick (Connie), Julia MacKenzie (Lauriel), and Darlene Parks (Megan). The show also spotlighted a young actor from a racial minority group, Chu Chu Malave who matured in acting skill as Paco. Hopefully, some smart serial producer will pick up the talents of "FR, FP's" cast.

If you are referring to my comment about music, I did not mean to infer Hidden Faces was a P&G soap, rather that the P&G soaps were still using organ music at that time which seemed old fashioned compared to a new show like Hidden Faces.

How To Survive a Marriage was Metromedia production and I have the feeling they had a studio in NY. I'll see what I can find out. I would assume Ben Jerrod was taped at the NBC Burbank studio where Days of Our Lives was later taped.

Martina Navratilova had a 'walk on' appearance on AMC Monday April 2 1979. She appeared at The Chateau nightclub.

April 1979 Jon Michael Reed NEW YORK -Sad news. Ethel Remey portrayed Alma Miller, troublesome Lisa's mother, on "As the World Turns" from 1961 untll last fall when she was temporarily replaced after suffering a stroke. The replacement actress was soon sent on a world cruise. But the show will pay tribute to Ethel, who died in late February, by having a memorial service for "Alma," who apparently died while away. Did that ever happen?

Sept 81 Jon Michael Reed A more notable exit is that of Kin Shriner in the role of Jeb Hampton on Texas. Kin, son of the late Hoosier humorist, Herb Shriner, began his soap career as a delivery boy on 'The Young and The Restless" five years ago. He then attained super soap stardom as Scotty Baldwin on "'General Hospital." Last year, "Texas" lured Shriner from "GH" with one of the most lucrative salaries in soap history. The ploy, unfortunately, didn't lure viewers away from "GH" to 'Texas." "It's ridiculous of me to complain," says Shriner, "when I was pulling down such big bucks. I went for the money, and why not? But I also went from the number one soap to the newest, and 'Texas' never knew what to do with me. 1 was frustrated because I really didn't have a character. Jeb didn't have a motivating story. His romances never worked out, and just about the only interesting period for me was during the New York location sequences where Jeb had an active cause, a motivation for action to rescue Elena. In recent months I've worked maybe twice a week and even those times I may have had four pages of dialogue, tops. I guess I wasn't the easiest person to get along with on the set. I didn't hide my frustration that I wasn't doing anything challenging. Now that my year's contract with "Texas' is completed, I'm going back to California to face the unknown. I don't have any regrets since I'm a believer in taking chances and I made a lot of new friends in New York." Would he consider returning to "GH" should that show offer him an encore? "Not on a permanent basis," says Shriner, 'but I wouldn't mind going back to wrap up Scotty and Laura's divorce." Meanwhile, on "Texas," simply fade away when he joins a former story girlfriend, Courtney, in Dallas. It's the epitome of going out with a whimper instead of a bang.

Re April Stevens I have always seen Janet wood as originating the role and playing it for a short time before Cynthia Eilbacher took over. Now it appears the original April was Patricia Allbrecht. Jon Michael reed reports the casting in a December 79 column. Maybe Allbrecht was only on for a day or two.

Y&R Enemies to friends Lauren/Traci (although I wish there was still an underlying edge) Victor/Jack- inconsistent-for some reason there have been scenes where they have been cordial and supportive of one another.

Guiding Light Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris Bauer Lynne Adams 1966-71; 1973-76 Kathryn Hays 1971 Barbara Rodell May 1971-73

Sets currently in use Meeting places Society Crimson Lights Grand Pheonix Glum Club Chancellor Park Offices Newman-Victoria's office Newman Media Chancellor/winters Jabot Homes Abbott house Newman living room Chelsea's apartment Grand Pheonix suites -used for multiple characters Devon's penthouse Nate's penthouse No longer seen but featured past few years Chancellor estate GCAC Newman Ranch w entrance Sharon's cottage Billy/Lilly apartment Dive Bar rooftop Nick's house Lauren's apartment Tack house GCPD Have I missed anywhere?

The GCAC got dropped in favor of Grandiose Pheonix. suddenly everybody dropped one for the other. I think the set was too big and it was acost cutting thing. Last time I remember seeing TOTT was Victor's anniversary in 2020. As for Colonnade Room - did that make it past the 90's? We also had the rooftop Dive bar that was big during Mal's reign .Was it used post 2018?

All credit to Joan knows make up,styling, lighting and how to pose in the most flattering way. She's amazing but I'm sure face to face things might be a little different. That shot with Jaclyn must be heavily shopped. Jaclyn looks 35!

Yes it seems like Society and Crimson Lights, Abbott house, Not so grand Pheonix 'suite' which is used for multiple charactersand some offices are permanent sets and then others are put up and used for a certain amount of time. That's why for weeks pretty much everything happens on the same sets. For example the Newman living room was not seen for a while and then turns up again.

Seriously. All this over having a boy or a girl. Like there is some huge surprise.It's going to be one or the other. Something about Shemar's persona rubs me the wrong way. The whole street dude thing seems fake.

So true, Danny shows up then Christine makes one of her rare appearances to sit on a sofa and have some flashbacks and that's it. Heather appears to tell Daniel she's moved on and that's it. At least one of these returns should have some sort of purpose or impact beyond getting a chance to see what the actor looks like these days. I thought about using the 50th to reveal that Brock had died -maybe a bit morbid but a chance to celebrate Beau Kayzer who was there on and off for many years. He was connected to a lot of the cast. Friend and confidante to Lorie/Leslie/Nikki/Jill/Casey/Gina/Julia/Ashley etc so plenty of opportunities for returns and flashbacks. Father of Mac-wouldn't it be great to get Ashley B to return? Leslie and Lorie return and John McCook and Tom Hallick appear as Brad and Lance and it's revealed that those couples reconciled.

Lin Bolen

Oops, got my strikes mixed up. Thanks for the correction.

Ok but what actors from OLTL were on any of those other shows with him? That's what the thread is about.

Yes. After the sitcoms Archie/One Day/Alice/Jeffersons