Paul Raven

Velekka Grey, Beverlee McKinsey, Barbara Rodell...

General Hospital Enters 8th Year Back on Monday, April 1, 1963, the ABC Television Network's Network's daytime serial "General Hospital" aired its first half- hour episode. On Wednesday, April. 1, 1970, with episode No. 1,797, the five - times - a - week series about the hospital staff and its patients patients began its eighth year on the air. Of the original cast only John Beradino (Dr. Steve Hardy) and Emily McLaughlin ( Nurse Jessie Brewer) remain. Along the way 250 principal players and. 395 bit performers have come and gone. Behind the scenes, the original producer - director, James Young, is still at the helm and the show's creators and writers, Doris and Frank Hursley, who have turned out a record - breaking 53,885 pages of scripts, are still at their typewriters. Dr. Fran Bauer, dean of the University of Southern California Medical School, who read the first scripts, continues as the series' medical advisor. Runner-up to John and Emily is Lucille Wall, who joined the show as Lucille March in episode No. 14 and has played the role ever since. The part of Dr. Phil Brewer, which Martin West has played for the past two years, had three other actors in the preceding five years. Roy Thinnes played the role for I6 months, was written out for a time, then came back for another six months. When Roy left to star in ABC's "The Long, Hot Summer," Dr. Brewer was again written out. Ricks Falls then came into the part for a few months when he was injured in a fall and the character was written out again. In February 1966, Robert Hogan put on Dr. Brewer's whites which he wore for almost a year and a half before leaving to play the minister in ABC's ''Peyton Place." And Brewer was sent off on another trip. In March 1968, Martin West, became Dr. Brewer. Patricia Breslin played Meg Baldwin for four and a half years until she left last summer to marry Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns. The role of Meg is now in the hands of Elizabeth MacRae, who joined the series in August 1969 . Many names familiar to television viewers have appeared appeared in the long-running series. Mark Miller played Randy Washburn for two years, leaving for "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." Leonard Nimoy did a one-shot appearance as a dope pusher preceding "Star Trek," and Liam Sullivan played an addict prior to ABC's "The Monroes." Young Johnnie Whittaker a run while he still had his baby curls before he went on to "Family Affair." Others include Ed Platt of "Get Smart," Greg Morris of "Mission: Impossible' and Lew Parker of ABC's "That Girl." Simon Scott was a hospital patient, patient, now plays recurring roles in ABC's "The Mod Squad" and "The FBI." Other familiar players who. have appeared during the past seven years are Coleen Gray, Rudy Solari, Jan Shepard, June Vincent, Isabel Randolph and Harry Bash. Former juvenile star Tom Brown recently returned to the show after a two-year absence. Other principals now in "General Hospital" include Peter Peter Hansen, Rachel Ames, Julie Adams, Paul Savior, Shelby Hyatt, Ray Girardin, CraigHuebing and Sharon DeBord.

Slick, thanks again. Your contributions are much appreciated!

Some more requests Mark Pinter Roy Poole Barbara Berger Conard Fowkes Thanks in advance...

Billboard Review Concerning Miss Marlowe (TV) Cast: Louise Albritton. Jane Seymour. Helen Shield, John Gibson. Patti Bosworth. Eddie Brian. Producer, Tom McDermott. Director. Larry White. Writers, John Pickard. Frank Provo. (NBC -TV. 3:35.4 p.m. EDT. July 5.) NBC -TV has lined up an impressive new soap opera block for its daily 2 -4:30 p.m. time period. "Concerning Miss Marlowe," sponsored on an alternate -day basis by Procter & Gamble, is the most glamorous entry, with Louise Albritton playing a celebrated actress as contrasted with the s u b u r ban housewife -white collar motif of the other epics. However, the ladies don't mind a little glamour if the heroine's swank outer trapping mask plenty of inward torment. In fact. a you -cant- buy -happiness theme has its compensations, since it probably enables the little woman to face a sinkful of dirty dishes with less animosity than usual, comforted by the thought that sometimes it's rough to be rich. Miss Albritton is a decorative and accomplished actress, although the opening scene (wherein she gazed soulfully at some unidentified photos) required her to bear down a bit too hard on registering silent emotion. Monday's show spotlighted her return from a successful engagement in England, with plans to retire from the stage and raise a family. Tragic Day! However, sponsor forbid that any poor girl's life should run smoothly on daytime video. The finish found her stunned with grief after a friend (Bill Cooke) broke the news that the man she planned to marry had died four days ago.This seemed a rather drastic device to stir up excitement, but it certainly made it obvious that Miss Albritton wasn't going to settle down to a vine- covered coltage for the next few episodes. The apartment setting was really expensive looking and the sheet-covered furniture gave the star some effective business on her first entrance, as well as firmly establishing the fact of her return home after a long sojourn abroad.

Great topic Slick! What do we think is the minimum number of roles required to earn the soap hopper tag? Must mentions: Teri Keane Larry Weber Byron Sanders Could you please list the roles of each of these performers?

And Gloria had worked with Don Galloway way back in the 60s on Secret Storm.

Broadcasting August 1968 The social event of daytime tv last month was the wedding of socialite Lenore Moore and district attorney Walter Curtin on NBC -TV's Another World. Gene Tunezi designed an exceptionally elaborate set, including a cathedral and a country club. Producer Mary IHarris said, "It is the most elaborate set ever made for a daytime serial."

Re Modern Romances The May 14-18th 1956 story was a modern day update of Shakespeare's McBeth. Anne Howard Bailey was the writer. Ross Martin as Macbeth; Valerie Bettis as Lady Macbeth; Ralph Bunker as Duncan; Boris Aplon as Malcolm; Ed Peck as MacDuff and Connie Francis as ballad singer.

Looking over that list, I have some questions/comments Lergh Lassen is listed as Nurse Wendy 67-69 but wasn't she playing Patti on SFT for some of that time? I have seen the Holly Bauer character listed before and thought it must be a mistake as Holly on GL was involved with Ed around that time and was to become Mrs Bauer. Does anyone know of that character? Was the name a P&G in joke? Well, there were 2 John Randolphs on 2 different shows at one point... Did James Karen leave ATWT to play Linc Tyler on AMC and was Susans father thereafter referred to but not seen?

Re Love of Life 'Bobby Readick (Pepper Youngs Family, Road of Life on radio) played 'a shifty character on LOL pre 58.

Just read that back in October 1958 Bill Hayes worked on a CBS TV production of Little Women with Florence Henderson. They had previouly worked together on US Steel Hour, Oldsmobile commercials and a nightclub act.

Well, either Cenedella or DePriest had the smarts to bring back Mona. MJ should be turning up soon - the Pollocks final new character. How long was it before they went to GH? Were their GH stories similar to TD?

Penny does get to walk down the aisle with a character yet to be seen.... Interesting that the next writers Cenedella? DePriest? return a character that was on briefly years earlier and now has no real connection to the canvas.

Re The Bennetts Variety listed the cast in Jan 54 issue. Added names Karen Conley Jaqueline Berkey Jerry Garvey Carlton Kendall Dick Cleary Elsbeth Hoffman

Re Modern Romances John Cassavetes and Phyllis Love starred in 'Mountain Love' airing July 1955

re A Date With Life Barbara O'Neill starred in 'Ann Marlin's Story' in a story that played in Nov 55. March 56 Mark Roberts as a newspaper editor. Ann Loring as a housewife novelist.

I don't think that schedule lasted long. All of the Tuesday night shows faired poorly. Jessie was taken off the air and Paper Dolls went to 10pm. Who's the Boss moved to 8pm.

The last time the Horton siblings were together.15th Anniverary,Nov 79.

If Greg had hung around as GCs lawyer on tap (a la John Silva) then the Greg/Nikki/Jill connection could have been brought into play...

As much as Bill Bell resisted going to 1 hour, it did give him the opportunity to expand the canvas as by around 79, the original concept/characters were becoming a little worn. Had they stayed with 30 min and the limited characters that format allowed,I think he might have had to make some of the same decisions he made later on eg dropping the Brooks and Fosters.

Brian managed to avoid the axe while just about everybody else ,sans Mac, Rachel and Ada were dropped in the late 70s, early 80's. He only married Iris and then was 'arm candy' for a few others - Elena, Donna, Pat-nothing too serious. The decision to bring back his son Ted gave him a bit more longevity...

It will be interesting to watch TD under Cenedella/DePriest etc and see how things play out. Perhaps the quality dips, and maybe the competition at the time also factored in.

Nice tribute to Leann Hunley here http://neptsdepths.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/what-hunley.html

Mike stayed around, albeit with several different faces. Luke and Nola and Barney Dancy were pretty much on till the end as were Greta and Billy. So there was some consistency along with the changes.