Paul Raven

Frank Lovejoy Your Family and Mine Steve Morgan

Seemed a mistake to drop Donna in the great wipe out of 1980. Donna was like Nikki on Y&R, a magnet for trouble. She would have provided extra story for Don and Marlena and could have got involved with the new characters eg Tod Chandler.

Even long after the official change, announcers/press releases etc would still call it THE Guiding Light so if TPTB didn't get the change, why should anyone else? Thanks for all your posts Vetsoapfan!

Arline Blackburn By Kathleen Norris 'The Black Fleming' Sylvia Fleming By Kathleen Norris 'Woman in Love ' Tamara (Woman in Love was a separate serial to this) Second Husband Rich Mans Darling Frank Pacelli Road of Life Junior Stephenson Midstream 1940 Affairs of Anthony 1940

Eloise Kummer Dear Mom Jane Road of Life Carol Evans (temp replacement for Louise Fitch) 1941 Romance of Helen Trent 1940 Alice Reinhart Editor's Daughter 1938 Wheatena Playhouse 'Bachelor Mother' Road of Life Lucia Standish (temp replacement for vacationing Elspeth Eric) Nona from Nowhere 1951 Front Page Farrell Laverne Rollins 1951 Laurene Tuttle The Guiding Light 1948 Man Named Jordan 1945 (west coast soap) Alice Yourman David Harum Front Page Farrell Edna Beckman 1945 Story of Bess Johnson Mrs Holt Martha Webster Marianne Miller 1941 Helpmate Mrs Hulberg 1942

July 1944 Top Day Show: "Integrated" By Author Marking another step toward welding "The Guiding Light," "Today's Children" and "Woman in White" more closely into a single presentation, Ed Prentiss, popular network announcer and actor, has been installed as master of ceremonies of the dramatic portion of the General Mills Hour (NBC, five -a -week, 1 p. m., WOW). Presentation of an m.c. to air -boss the serials follows the recent inauguration of a new drama device by Irna Phillips, author of the three programs, in which characters from one show are moved through one or both of the other broadcasts. Prentiss' narrations are blended into the format of the 45- minute period as a dramatic bridge between the respective serials. Franklyn MacCormack continues as narrator -m.c. of "Hymns of All Churches," which fills the fourth portion of the hour, 11 a. m., Tuesdays through Fridays, on WOW. Miss Phillips points out the m.c. was added "to give the listener an enlarged perspective into the dramas and their characters." She adds that the narrator also opens the way to another programming technique under contemplation in which each of the three shows will he scheduled for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on plot development, rather than the traditional 15 minutes. The conjunction of several basic facts conspire to make this situation unique. There is only one author for the three dramas, one sponsor, one producing unit and one network involved. Besides that, all three plots are contemporary, urban portraits. Experiments In bringing the technique into full play, the prolific authoress pointed out that she has experimented with the character transfer to a small degree during past years. Miss Phillips also noted that one of her first major experiments was attempted in 1938, when, in terminating "Today's Children," she had the cast tune in a radio serial titled "Woman in White," the program's successor, in a script that called for the participation of both casts. "I think there are at least two good reasons why the same per- sons should be heard in more than one program," she said. "In the first place, each of us, as individuals, lives much more than 15 minutes a day. And so it seems logical that we should get more than a quarter -hour glimpse into the daily lives of radio characters. "Secondly, I believe that listener interest will be enhanced if the audience can hear its favorite artists in more than one program." The innovation in serial- casting already is under way. Listeners to "The Guiding Light" and "Today's Children" are well acquainted with the character of Pete Manno, portrayed by Michael Romano, not only a real life lawyer, but also an attorney in the serials. Dr. Paul Burton (Ken Griffin), leading character in the forthcoming "Woman in White" serial, already has made his appearance in "The Guiding Light," and other characters slated to make the rounds of the serials in the near future are Mrs. O'Hearn (Helen Behmillor) and Dr. Jonathan McNeill (Sidney Breese) in "The Guiding Light" and "Woman in White," and Dr. Richard Gaylord (John Barclay), who will appear in all three serials from time to time.

The aging up of Mike and David did more harm than good. Bill/Mickey/Maggie/Laura and Julie had enough drama in their lives without teen kids. I think a slight SORASING would have been OK ,David and Mike were both born in 68 I think so making them 10 by 75 wouldn't have been a stretch. A good child actor of that age could be a vital part of family drama. Then later Mike and David become teens and provide story for their parents who by that time age and story wise would be more appropriate as strong supporting. Days had Steve and Sandy in the wings to come on as younger Hortons. And/or give Maggie a younger brother or Tommy a long lost child etc to have teens in the family sphere.

Backstage intrigue rocks 'Another World NEW YORK Oh, my friends, they've got trouble. Trouble right there in Bay City on "Another World." That's Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with P, which stands for post-pregnancy problems. As reported several weeks ago, Christopher Rich, who plays Sandy Cory on the NBC serial, and his wife, Nancy Frangione, who played Cecile DePoulignac, were having contract renewal problems with Procter & Gamble, which produces the show. Nancy threw in the towel and Cecile disappeared from the soap by entering but not emerging from an amusement park Tunnel of Love. Chris decided to stick around the "AW" scene until the writers met his demand that his character of Sandy be "beefed up." Also implied in his negotiations was that if he were "made happy," Nancy might be persuaded to return as Cecile at an equally beefed-up salary boost. During this backstage turmoil, another problem was born. Laura Malone, who originated the role of Blaine Ewing Frame Cory, took a maternity leave and was temporarily replaced by Judy Dewey. When Laura returned, she found the situation at the "AW" studio chilling; she got a strong display of cold shoulders from a few former "friends," both in the production office and even among the cast. Since her baby's arrival, Laura had added some excess baggage to her frame, and she was told by the producers to lose the weight pronto. She reports she lost 15 pounds, and even gave up breastfeeding her child. Nonetheless, a few weeks ago Laura's contract was not renewed, and Judy Dewey, the former "temporary" replacement, became the permanent "new" Blaine. , Laura promptly claimed on TV talks shows that she was a victim of discrimination because of her baby and that she couldn't lose weight fast enough to satisfy the producers. It may be a case of discrimination of another sort, because now the rumors are flying hot and heavy that it was Chris who complained that Laura was no longer up to snuff; that Miss Dewey would be a more suitable and workable screen mate for him. The actor did, indeed, comment during Miss Dewey's first go-round on the show that she brought a fresh approach to the screen relationship and was a delight to work with. Chris shrugged off insinuations that he had something to do with "AW's" decision regarding Laura. It was rumored that he reported that he could care less, one way or another, and that it was of no concern to him. Which is a strong reaction from a guy who was, for many years, a friend of Laura's. Indeed, Laura, Chris and Nancy are no longer the intimate chums they once were. Before Laura's marriage and pregnancy, they were a regular threesome around Manhattan. For their part, "AW" representatives report that they just plain "liked" Miss Dewey better than Laura and scoff at discrimination charges. It may simply have been a matter of weighing advantages, since it is a known fact that "AW" is trying everything to win back Nancy to the cast, and that means keeping Chris as snug as a bug in the rug. Whatever, the problems of "AW" will soon weigh on a new executive producer's shoulders. Allen Potter has announced his retirement. Mary-Ellis Bunim, presently executive producer of "As the World Turns," is expected to move over to "AW." But at press time there was no confirmation, although Robert Calhoun, one of the producers of "Guilding Light," was an announced as taking over the reins at "ATWT." On an upbeat note, Robert Sedgwick joined the "AW" cast as Hunter Bradshaw, a rival of Ben 'McKinnon for school quarterback and for the affections of Marley Love. Sedgwick graduated from Bennington College last spring, and his sister is Kyra Sedgwick, the first actress to play Julia Shearer, a character recently "killed off" the show. Also, Julie Osburn debuts this week as Kathleen McKinnon, M.J. and Ben's sister, and a potential romantic interest for Cass. EG

This article lists the 15 actreeses in the final running for the tite role. Some familiar names there. Search Nears Climax For Star in 'Kitty Foyle' Show Early last August a search began to find the girl for the title role in Christopher Morley's '"Kitty Foyle," the first-person chronicle of the young "white collar" girl. "Kitty Foyle" will be telecast live from New York, Monday through Friday, over Channel 4 beginning Monday, Jan. 13. Now, as "Kitty Foyle" prepares to go into production, one of the widest talent searches in the history of the medium is reaching a climax. Over 190 girls have been screened, and associate producer Hal Cooper has narrowed the field down to 15 prospects. The role of Kitty will be an acting plum for the girl selected. For the entire series will revolve around the life, loves, ambitions of this daughter of a Londonberry Irishman from Philadelphia.kitty is more than a character in a book, she represents the ideal of a young working girl. After many months of interviewing girls, most of them working actresses, some with more or less experience than others, the field was narrowed to 45. Then, last weekend, 15 girls were picked as finalists. Kinescopes of each of the 15 girls reading the same scene have been made. The 15 finalists, to be presented to the public via many NBC Television shows, include Elizabeth Allen (currently appearing in "Romanoff and Juliet"), Francis Armstrong, Millette Alexander, Beverly Bentley (seen on NBC Television's "The Price Is Right"), Arlene Golonka, Daryl Grimes, Julienne Marie, Joan Holloway, Judy Lewis (the daughter of Loretta Young), Karla Most, Kathleen Murray, Cathleen Neal, Sandy Smith, Natalie Trundy and Marie Worsham.

Broadway Star Joins Soap Opera Takes Role In Doctor Malone By RICK DU BROW HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -Nearly eight years ago, Patty McCormack dazzled Broadway as a child murderess in The Bad Seed" and one would hardly expect to find her in that lowly art form, a television soap opera. Yet that is where she Is, a new regular of NBC-TV's daily weeper, "Young Dr. Malone." One's first impulse is to lament that, like many child stars who have created unforgettable stereotypes, such as Shirley Temple and Margaret O'Brien, she may have fallen flat on her career. And it is tempting to wish she would do with her new job what architect Frank Lloyd Wright suggested to officials after a look at Pittsburgh, namely: "Abandon it." To this viewer, however, who watched her Wednesday and at other times on "Malone," there is an admirable practicality, professionalism and lack of affectation about her decision to take the part. There is a reason for everything. And one may assume! that Miss McCormack, now in her late teens, took the role for the usual reasons that one accepts comedown jobs. She is also at the awkward age for an actress who does not play sexpots. Whatever the reason, she had the sense , to know an actress is not an actress unless she is acting. In "Malone," she plays Lisha Koda, a child born out of wedlock and later legally adopted. And Wednesday, as always, she made the program seem far better than it deserves. She looked after a little girl at night and gave the show a sense of acceptable tone. When she is not on, it falls apart as usual, with those soap opera hams, who, like most of our series heroes, are full of humanity and compassion and understanding full of everything, in fact, except the ability to act. Geroge Bernard Shaw once said something to the effect that an artist's first duty to himself is to provide his table with three square meals a day. And Miss Shirley Booth, as NBC-TV's "Hazel," has shown that a fine performer can be an asset to any format.

A quite detailed summary of the late 1962 storylines. IT'S GOTTEN to a point where I'm really worrying about soap operas. "Secret Storm" returns to the air November 19. I couldn't think of a greater public service than to catch the addicts part way up on what has happened to "Secret Storm." Up to the start of this month: Peter and Myra Ames reach a new understanding; and a closer relationship as they work to save their marriage. However, Myra still refuses to face the fact that her life with Peter must deny her longing; for the young love she never had as a girL With her psychiatrist's help, she struggles to work out her problems with Peter and tries desperately to keep Nick Cromwell out of her life. Much to Amy Ames' delight, the newly-reformed Kip Rysdale succeeds In winning over Peter and Myra. Peter recognizes the boy's change of heart and his sincere affection for Amy, and Is determined to help the young couple In every way possible as they prepare to enter Woodbridge College. After weeks of Illness, Nina Di Francisco, having confirmed her pregnancy at a nearby clinic, informs Kip Rysdale of her condition. She Insists that they be married immediately and then announce that they have been married for several months, thereby concealing the "accident." Driven to desperation by Nina's demands and his love for Amy, Kip struggles with Nina at the Dunbar's party. Nina falls and Is accidentally killed as she strikes her head against a bench in the garden house. Eduardo becomes the prime suspect through self admission because he was the last person to see Nina alive and he cannot prove his whereabouts at the time of death. Peter Ames and Pauline Fuller come to the boy's aid, and with the help of the Ameses' lawyer, they clear Eduardo legally because of insufficient evidence. However, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Eduardo. The majority of the community seems convinced of the boy's guilt, and it soon becomes evident to Peter and Pauline that the only real way to clear Eduardo is to find the person responsible for Nina's death. Amy enters college but remains unhappy, fully aware that something has changed Kip. Kip Is very disturbed over the fact that Eduardo Is still a suspect, and urges the boy to return to Mexico. Eduardo courageously decides to remain in Woodbrldge in school and face the ordeal ahead. Kip's conscience drives him to confess his guilt to his father. Arthur is shocked and terrified of the consequences of Kip's act. He warns Kip to keep quiet and takes charge of the situation himself. He is determined to protect his son and perhaps even more importantly, himself and his position - even at Kip's expense. Myra Ames grows more aware of the fact, that Peter Is once again slipping away from her because of his present involvement with someone else's problems. In this instance, she finds no quarrel with Peter's decision to help Eduardo, but Peter's actions point up the fact that he and Myra are perhaps really incompatible. Most of his time Is spent with Pauline in search of Nina's murderer, and Myra is left alone to work out her own problems. She finds she is thinking more and more of Nick Cromwell.

Constance Crowder Road of Life Mrs Evand

Never Too Young 1965 Mon Jan 10 Yardbirds perform 'I'm a Man' Tues Jan 18 Brook Benton performs 'Mother Nature,Father Time' Tues Jan 25 Bobby Goldsboro performs 'You Got a Heart'.

Not sure but when Jada Rowland decided she wanted to return, Lynne was out - so she went to TGL to reclaim the role of Leslie. leaving Barbara Rodell out of a job. Here's an article from 1965 Writers Plot 'Secret Storm' Soap Opera Year in Advance By MARY WOOD To many housewives - young and old - retired people, men and women, shutins and invalids, a cherished escape comes in the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the actors who people the TV screen on daytime serials. More than nine million viewers tune in each week day to watch complicated lives unfold on television, and to most of these viewer the actors are real people, so intensely do they identify with them. To produce these half hours cf escape requires the full-time efforts of many talents -the writers, who create the continuing dramas; the actors, some of whom live with the same role for many years; the producers and directors who are responsible for getting the show on the air each day. LET US BEGIN with the writers, those unseen and often anonymous people, who weave the happenings of a set of fictional lives into the stories acted out on TV. Jane and Ira Avery are a charming. vivacious middle-aged couple who have been writing "The Secret Storm," on CBS-TV, for 10 of the 12 years the serial has been running- together, from their island home near Darien, Conn. Jane and Ira plot the story a year ahead. Then, with the help of a couple of sub-writers, the scripts are written three weeks before air dale. "We keep the story flexible since we can't possibly know a year in advance which of our actors may be leaving the Storm for one reason or another." Jane explained to me. "For example. Ward Costello, who plays Peter Ames, is dropping out to go to the West Coast. Since Peter is so important to the story, he will be replaced by another actor." "NOW AND THEN, when we suddenly lose a character, the story must be revised in a hurry," said Ira. "When Diana Muldaur, who played Anne Wicker, went into a Broadway show a few months ago, we had to reform Susan (Judy Lewis) in a big hurry.' "Reforming a character fast is something Jane and Ira are loathe to do. "It is completely unbelievable that a person could be mean as sin one week and a perfect saint the next." Jane said. "For that reason, we try not to have our villains all bad. In the first place, the villain doesn't think he's a villain even in real life. How many stinkers do you know who think they're stinkers"?" The secret of writing a successful soap opera is to keep it flowing from one crisis to another, the Avery's agree. "You may have noticed that there is always the thread of a sub plot building in a serial witch will eventually become the focal plot. We want the story to be interesting enough for the viewer to want to tune in each day." said Jane. IN ALL SOAP operas, characters come and go. But when a strong character has appeared in the story, he usually returns eventually even if his role is played by another actor. 'We always keep the story loose so we can bring back a character. We never kill ours off. We may need him again," said Ira. "At The moment, 'Arthur' is out of the story and 'Kip' is in Europe studying medicine, but they'll be back " The Averys find that viewers tend to identify wholeheartedly with one character or another on a serial and get completely caught up in the character's problems. "Many viewers will actually root for the guilty party in an illicit affair." said Jane. "When Amy went through her illegitimate pregnancy, most of our viewers were rooting for her. One mother wrote us that her teenage daughter hid learned the facts of life from poor Amy's experience." . REMEMBER JANET, the beautiful blonde who broke up the marriage of Kip and .Amy last summer? "Janet was played by Bibi Besch, the daughter of actress Gusti Ruber. We had to write Janet out m a hurry when Bibi announced that she was getting married and moving to Washington," said Ira. "If you recall, Janet's departure was a four-handkerchief episode." But Janet had her moment of glory and may be back but not played by Bibi. Even as the devout fans of "The Secret Storm," the Averys live closely with their make-believe people. Avery family traits and habits creep into the Ames family from time to time. "You may have observed that we re the oniy serial on TV in which only Martinis are served." Jane pointed out. "That's because we both love Martinis."

Found one actor Ricky Lawrence - Robert Ellis

No .Y&R was his first soap and he's stayed on for 40 years so hardly hard the chance to do another. Same goes for most performers who played the same role for years eg Suzanne Rogers, Erika Slezak,Jeanne Cooper etc

June 1965 Actress Hasnt Changed, Remains Typical Teenager Jacqueline Courtney may play one of the featured roles on a top-rated daytime television show with considerable assurance and aplomb, but off-camera she has all the same typical reactions to the problems, frustrations, and hopes as any average American teenager. Jackie, 18, who regularly appears in the role of Alice Matthews on Another World" (weekdays at 3:00 p.m.) has a nightly curfew, hates vegetables, wants her own telephone, wishes she'd be permitted free use of her new sportscar, and just loves" rock-'n-roll music. The blonde, blue-eyed actress who entered showbusiness at the age of four, is under strict instructions from her mother to be home by 12:30 a.m. and that includes Saturday nights. And just to be sure that Jackie keeps to this schedule, her mother has not given Jackie a key to the house. But Jackie is not at all bitter about the restrictions placed upon her at home. As she puts it: I know my parents only want what is best for me, but what they cant understand as most parents cannot is that their little baby has grown up. PLEA FOR PHONE Like some teenagers, Jackie hates all varieties of vegetables and milk. As for the telephone a staple commodity and necessity of life" to any teenager Jackie has a problem. Although she has her own room, she has been unsuccessful in her arguments for a private phone. She confides that she has even enlisted the services of Doris Quinlan, producer of Another World," to help convince her mother that a phone is needed, but to no avail. Jackie's the proud owner of a brand new, white sportscar, but is prohibited from driving further than her own neighborhood in East Orange, N.J. For me, that's a tough situation," she says, because I love to really move in a car, and that's hard to do when you can only drive in a radius of a few blocks." DIGS BRITISH SOUND When it comes to music, Jackie is just nuts" about the Beatles, and has all their records at home. One of her greatest ambitions is to meet Paul McCartney of the group. She also likes the Dave Clark Five and Herman's Hermits. Jackie has a boyfriend who lives in nearby South Orange, but shes quick to add that hes not at all impressed" by her featured role on Another World. Although she doesn't contemplate marriage within the next five years, Jackie says that when she does take the plunge, shell quit showbusiness. As the saying goes," she points out, a woman's place is at home not in a TV studio." TOUGH SCHEDULE Although shes in many ways similar to the average teenager, Jackie's life has one big difference. As a featured actress on Another World," she must work a ten-hour day beginning with rehearsal at 10:30 in the morning, and ending with rehearsal for the next days show at 6:30 p.m. On top of that, Jackie spends two nights a week working for a degree in psychology at Upsala College. In the few extra moments of spare time she can find, Jackie loves to ride horseback and go out dancing. Shes also an avid football and basketball fan. Jackies professional career dates back to 1951, when she appeared on The Story Hour" over WAAT in Newark. She recalls that in her stage debut she appeared as the Good Ship Lolly-pop, singing and dancing in a candy-cane costume. She also recalls that at the time she was literally covered with curls I hated them, but my mom felt I should look like Shirley Temple, and look like Shirley Temple I did until I got to the fifth grade.

Some requests Jeanne Lange Phillip Moon David Mason Daniels Frank Pacelli Thanks!

Jason Alexander was on Ryan's Hope, probably a one day thing.

Thanks for the Kalember info. Fitchner was on Loving.

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 27. - Carlton E. Morse is going to hypo One Man's Family when it switches over from NBC to the Blue, January 30, by injecting more action. He feels that this will help keep the old listeners who will follow the show to the Blue, but will also keep the new crop of new dial -twisters tuned into the show. At first, Morse was skeptical about fooling around with the airer, feeling that his old listeners might resent a faster pace for Family, which has been on more or less of an even keel for years. However, he has already injected a murder mystery angle into the show, launching it on last week's program. Larger Cast Set Morse will also have a larger cast than he has used before. He won't attempt to add permanent characters to the show. but will use different voices from week to week. He feels this will give greater variety and allow regular cast members more play on the emotional scenes. Outside of establishing theme, Morse has never gone much for music on Family. When it shifts to the Blue, however, he will try and set the mood of the show with special music, utilizing bridges throughout the script.

Alex Donelly (Diane Jenkins Y&R) Deborah Mullowney (Sloane Capitol) Patricia Kalember (Merrill Loving)

Jerry Coffey Soap Opera Tells Secrets June 1972 This department’s recent New York visit turned up practically everything there is to know about soap opera except what fans are most interested in :whats going to happen next. Despite intense grilling by scores of reporters, the producers. writers and cast members generally held firm against revealing future plot developments. Oddly enough the least secretive group was from “The Secret Storm” — perhaps because that serial is especially concerned with rebuilding its audience and its image. “Secret Storm” is one of the oldest daytime dramas — it’s in its 18th year on CBS — but recently the show has been undergoing rather drastic revisions designed says producer Joe Manetta to bring in “new blood a more contemporary focus more modern attitudes” Even though the transition is being made gradually over a period of months and already has resulted in a ratings boost the program’s mail indicates that the changes are unsettling to a number of long-time viewers.They are scarcely less so for the people charged with putting them into effect — particularly head writer Frances Rickett who assumed the job several months ago with the assignment to wind up a “grim” plot situation as quickly as possible and chart a new course for the serial FRESH START HARD WITH SORDID PAST The trouble with giving the program a fresh start Miss Rickett noted was that the established characters had long eventful — and occasionally sordid — histories that kept getting in the way. For instance there’s Amy Ames Britton who literally grew up on the old “Secret Storm” and is a major holdover character — For purposes of Amy’s current romance and the “new woman” image being constructed for her it was important to Miss Rickett that the character’s previous marital record be downplayed as much as possible.So imagine her chagrin when in a routine on-the-air dialogue exchange between two other characters one was heard to remark casually as she was supposed to that yes Amy had been married before. Then she added unthinkingly: “ three times” The writer also has her work cut out in transforming the character of tycoon-governor candidate Dan Kincaid from a cynical hypocrite deeply involved with the syndicate drug traffic into a conscience-stricken good guy only faintly tainted by past associations Sometimes casting changes have to be made to go along with character alternations “Joanne Morrison” originally brought on for a brief stint as a teen-age dope victim developed into a major continuing character in the new scheme but the girl who played her was considered too young for the romantic entanglements envisioned for the role so a new Joanna was hired (“And she’s too old” Miss Rickett says) SERIAL STARTS YOUTH MOVEMENT In the foreseeable future the serial will be built around the youthful Joanna.the durable Amy (now played by Lynne Adams) and the alluring social-climbing Belle Britton who joined the show in 1968 and was supposed to die shortly thereafter She was miraculously cured however and has been a prime antagonist since. Lately though even Belle (Marla Adams) has shown signs of mellowing and in the press interviews she was flashing a diamond that would make Liz Taylor envious (“courtesy of the prop department") a wedding bauble from good new Dan. They are to be wed “secretly” in a sequence of episodes beginning Monday June 19 “If you don’t think daytime drama can be funny on purpose just watch these shows” Marla Adams (no relation to Lynne) suggested Amy’s love life is about to intensify too. Lynne was explaining to reporters that her character is going with Dan Kincaid’s son Kevin but not very far. “That’s about to change” Miss Rickett put in “You and Kevin are going to start living together” “We are?” Lynn seemed genuinely surprised but agreeable to the idea.

Daytime Dial by Lynda Hirsch Be grateful 'Somerset' lasted as long as it did! It was bound to happen. The minute NBC confirmed that "Somerset" would air its final chapter on Dec. 31. the fans started writing. Most letters voiced the same plea. "How can we save 'Somerset'?' You can't. Just be glad that it lasted six years. Despite efforts of talented executive producer, Lyle B. Hill, dedicated staff and good actors, from the moment Somerset started on March 30, 1970, it was suffering from a terminal illness only saved by miraculous remissions from time to time. Just when you thought, "This has got to go off the air," someone would breathe life into the ailing story line. In the beginning it was decided to make Somerset a spin-off of the highly popular "Another World." Two of Another World's popular characters, Sam and Lahoma Lucas, left Bay City to start life anew in the nearby hamlet of Somerset. But the biggest audience pull was to be the return of soap opera darling Carol Roux. As Missy Matthews oh Another World, Carol had a huge following. When the actress decided to give up the serial for marriage and West Coast life, producers decided to write Missy off in a blissfully happpy sunset just in case Carol might return someday. When Carol agreed to star in Somerset, everyone felt a sure winner was at hand. Unfortunately for Somerset, Carol's permanent return to daytime drama was more like a month's vacation. According to a Somerset castmate, "Carol was a dynamite actress and a pretty girl, but she had a lot of hangups. Every week she came down with supposed illnesses. It was a drain on the show's time. Everyone tried, including Carol, but it just didn't work out." With the Missy Matthews character gone, a focal point of the show was lost as well as several characters who had no place to go without Missy. All series, especially new ones, need regular characters an audience can grow to love, hate and feel sorry for. Somerset has always seemed like one giant transient hotel. In the first year characters from Another World and Somerset kept switching towns. Just when Somerset would hit on an intriguing character, he would be sent to Another World as in the case of Rachel's father Gerald Davis and the popular Robert Delaney. All the constant shuttling of characters from show to show weakened Somerset, so it decided to sever all connnections with Another World and strike out on its own. Deciding to try a new tack, the show followed "Edge of Night's" successful mystery formula. Even though Henry Slesar, an Emmy-award-winning writer of Edge, took over scripting duties for a time. Somerset never had the same whodunit flavor. Instead of fully using a mystery tone, the show tried to keep an air of romance and only succeeded in confusing everyone. Jordan Charney (presently toiling on "One Life to Live" as Vince Wolck) created the character of Sam Lucas on Another World and was as confused as anybody. "On Another World, Sam was a great character. He was a garage mechanic who had a prison record. He worked hard and went to school, eventually becoming a lawyer. Then Sam went to Somerset and fell apart. "In the last six months that I played Sam," Jordan continues, "Sam had a different social problem every week. One week he was a gambler, the next an alcoholic, then a womanizer, a wife beater and neglectful father. Sam's true character was lost sight of and I don't think anybody cared what happened to him anymore." Whenever Somerset hit a story line snag, everyone was promised an exciting new plot line and improved writing. But Somerset never came through. For example, an interesting May-December love story between Ellen Grant and student Dale Robinson was dropped in the middle of the plot and with it a powerhouse actor, Jameson Parker. One studio bigwig was aghast when Jameson was let go for a lack of story line. "You make a story line for someone like that." says the official. Obviously they didn't. Instead Somerset came up with an offensive, ridiculous script and made three name performers look like fools. Certainly the show scored a coup when it signed Molly Picon, Mae Questel and Louis Jacobi all big name Broadway stars to play three elderly Jewish citizens of Somerset. During one show. Miss Picon spent three minutes talking about the high price of potatoes following with a two-minute speech on meat prices. Almost every sentence ended with "oy vey." Maybe the "oy vey" was the actress's personal opinion of the degrading script . The biggest gaffe, however, was when one of the ladies, concerned about finding a kosher butcher in the neighbornood, had a Christmas wreath on her door. . When Somerset calls it a day next week, not one of the original 17 characters will be around. While most serials constantly revamp their cast of characters, all of them leave a few friendly faces around. ' Lately, watching Somerset was like watching a magic show first you saw them, then you didn't. It's doubtful we'll know what happened to Ellen,Dale,Jill, David, and the rest. When the network was asked what happened to certain characters and performers, they answered with the highly curious "They're still in town, just not on the air." In a soap opera if you're not on the air, you're not in town. A sad fact Somerset fans will learn after Dec. 31.

Horace Braham We Are Always Young Rosemary Dr Jim Carter Society Girl Second Husband The Goldbergs Frank Behrens Caroline's Golden Store Theodore'Ted' Collins Romance of Helen Trent 1940 Backstage Wife 1941 Today's Children 1946 David Harum 1946 Whispering Streets 1955 Mary Jane Higby Thanks for Tomorrow Five Star Matinee 'Small Town Girl' Emily Larkin 1955 Esther Ralston Our Gal Sunday Marcella Hudnall 1940