Paul Raven

I'd always assumed Seven Brides was a period show, so watching that intro and seeing the Jeep come into view was a surprise. Drake landing Days was the best move for him, as the rest of that cast must have been abducted by aliens (apart from RDA and River).

Watching those 66 clips got me looking back at synopses of that era. It occurred to me in developing those storylines Bill Bell created triangles w/o villians. Even if people did bad things, their actions were explained, if not justified. Take Marie marrying Craig but still yearning for Tony. Nowadays, Craig would probably be scheming against his son,eg paying some hooker to romance Tony and have Marie find out, or Tony would go psycho and try to bump off his dad. People weren't schemers in those days, just flawed people who made selfish or misguided actions. It's a world away from the Days of today. Such a pity...

They are at the forefront in the ever changing media landscape. Headed by Billy Abbott's compelling personal podcast which is creating conversations around entitled rich boy screwups. Then there is something to do with fashion and selective in depth reportage on goings on in a small mid western town that somehow other parts of the country (and the world?) are enthralled by. All run from apartments ,restaurants and one office with no staff.

The 75-76 season was an interesting one on many levels. ABC went into the season in perennial 3rd place, coming off a poor 74-75. The big news early in the season was CBS struggling,with NBC in first pace. But ABC was slowly gaining momentum. Going into the season they had Six Million Dollar Man on Sunday night that was winning it's timeslot once Cher on CBS started to falter. Their one new hit was Starsky and Hutch Wed @10 up against faltering Petrocelli on NBC and new season flop Kate McShane on CBS. As the season wore on Happy Days began to blossom inching closer to Good Times on CBS. That helped Welcome Back Kotter at 8.30 as did CBS moving MASH to Friday that season and replacing it with Joe & Sons which struggled. CBS regained their lead and it was NBC that slipped, leaving second place to ABC on many weeks. ABC then made some mid season moves which propelled it into 1st place for the first time ever. Laverne & Shirley had the highest rating new series debut in 10 years 35.1/49. Before that Happy Days hit it's highest rating ever 32.0/46 On Wed Bionic Woman hit the top 10 every week. On Jan 28 26.0/41 which pushed follow up Baretta to its season high 26.8/39 Donny and Marie was sheduled Fri @ 8 and was the first show to challenge Sanford and Son. It benefitted from NBC moving Chico &The Man and replacing it with The Practice which wasn't as strong a follow up to Sanford. Rich Man,Poor Man debuted in 2 2hour episodes Sun and Mon 22.1/35 and 26.2/39. ABC was on it's way with Charlie's Angels, Love Boat, Three's Company etc coming up.

One thing that puzzled me was the staircase. Was the Hughes house meant to be more of a split level type of thing as that staircase was only a few steps.

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure about Carol Roux but assumed the Richard Thomas role was correct.

Kim looks like hell in that Venice clip...sorry, but it's the truth. The goatee Robert is sporting on Y&R works for him-covers the thinning upper lip.

Thanks @victoria foxton Came across a 1974 film Black Eye a blaxploitation movie starring Fred Williamson. For old school Days fans the cast includes Maree Cheatham (Marie Horton #1) Floy Dean and Rosemary Forsyth(Laura Spencer Horton #1 and #4)

Edge of Night I have just come across the character 'Mollie' 1964 on a cast list as played by Carol Roux. All the other characters/actors on that list that I have checked match up so maybe this is another role for Ms Roux?

Edge of Night ??? Robert Cromwell 1965 ??? Benay Venuta 1963 Ben Schultz Jr Richard Thomas 1961

Y&R Nick Newman- he hasn't really been driving story since the Mal Young years when he started Dark Horse. Since then he lost that company, has no house, no workplace or defined job and no love interest. He now functions as concerned brother, father and ex husband.

The Abby/Devon baby story screeches to a halt...

I've always been puzzled about David Birney and Best of Everything. Did he actually appear or is it one of those misprints that became accepted? Was it the case that Birney was in contract talks with CBS and not happy with what he was offered and ABC swooped in and offered him more money w/o really having a role for him,similar to what happened with Denise Alexander a few years later? Perhaps he was placed into Best of Everything but when that show was cancelled he was switched to a World Apart to see out a year contract? Have we ever seen anything in print from the magazines of those days that talk about this?

As Victor is propped in a chair Diane: I’m surprised it took you this long to show up. Maybe you’re slowing down a bit. Victor: I’m as fast as I’ve always been. Diane: Threatening helpless women? That’s really not your style. Or is that you’ve become these days — a common thug? Victor: Hmm. I would never threaten a helpless creature of any kind, you know? But when someone as venomous and potentially evil as you comes across my path, all bets are off. Diane are you forgetting Victor through you out of a moving vehicle?

Yes. Has she explained why she chose this particular moment to reveal herself when she has had years to do so? It might have been better had she been in cahoots/linked with someone. Maybe Matt Miller let's the Newmans know he's tied the knot. Dee is a wonderful lady etc. 'Bring her to town' proclaims Victor. All the family assemble and in walks Diane...

This far into the topic and no mention of Victor Newman?? Particularly post 2000 and throughout the MAB years. He is still far too prominent today.

Lauren,Michael, Kevin,Chloe, Faith,Moses, Nate,Elena etc They get scenes and plot points but not stories. eg Michael goes to Peru, He disappears.Lauren worrie.,Lauren blasts Victor.Michael reappears.All is well.

Dena Higley complained that when she pitched stories like 'Nightime Hope'those pesky execs would ask the same question... Obviously nobody asks Josh cos he has no idea.

Edge Of Night Maxwell Glanville??? pre 58. Possibly the first Black actor on the show? Married to Clarice Taylor(Cosby Show) for a time.

Another World 1979 Olive Randolph set fire to Alice's cabin -John Randolph died.

Julie goes with the no fuss hair cut, ugly print flowing tops, chunky necklaces,slacks and granny shoes.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll see what else I can find on MM. Please let me know if there are other radio soaps you are interested in. I didn't know much apart from the names of a few until I started researching for the Soap Hoppers thread. Now I find that era fascinating.

Always seems odd to me that throughout the 70's neither Barbara nor Alan reappeared. Seems a no brainer to have those characters on the canvas. Barbara had been married twice right? Tony Vento and Rick Latimer. Alan once? Can't remember the character off hand, but Alan's stories are never mentioned in summaries of the story in the 60's.

I don't think Gina's was around since the debut. The original Pierre's restaurant became The Allegro.Did the design change at that point under the guise of Leslie doing a revamp? When amnesiac Les got involved with Jonas, they created a set for his club,(Oh the days of those kind of budgets!) When Les returned to GC,Jonas followed so she had The Allegro transformed into a replica of his out of town club) Obviously,they didn't want to waste the Jonas set and probably The Allegro was looking a little tired at that point. Then Gina took over and that set became Gina's.

Esther will fantasize about Jack and Victor fighting over her and Nick swooping in and staking his claim. It will be one scene.