Paul Raven

The ill fated 1985 reboot. From what I recall, it captured none of the essence of the original. And didn't use the original setting! 'Peyton Place' reunion By VERNON SCOTT HOLLYWOOD (UPI) - For millions of Americans in the 1960s "Peyton Place," TV's first prime time soap opera, was a vicarious way of life. In its own time and place, the hour-long drama based on Grace Metalious* novel of sex and intrigue in a small New England town, was bigger than "Dallas" and "Dynasty" together. First telecast in September 1964 and concluded in June of 1969, "Peyton Place" ran as often as three times a week, enmeshing its cast of more than 100 (overall) in scores of plots and subplots. The ABC series spawned two movie stars, Ryan O'Neal and Mia Farrow. During the course of its TV life "Peyton Place" also featured Mariette Hartley, Wilfred HydeWhite, Leslie Nielsen, Lee Grant, Susan Oliver, Leigh Taylor-Young, Gena Rowlands, Dan Duryea, Barbara Rush and the late Diana Hyland. But O'Neal, Farrow, Dorothy Malone, Christopher Connelly, Ed Nelson, Pat Morrow, Barbara Parkins and Tim O'Connor were most closely associated with the Harrington and Mackenzie clans who were the backbone of the early episodes. This May NBC-TV will telecast a two-hour movie, "Peyton Place: The Next Generation," with many of the stars of the original cast. Executive producer Mike Filerman was a student at the University of Illinois during the show's heyday, but when he was handed the assignment by 20th Century Fox Television, he was delighted. He remembered watching the series off and on when he should have been studying. "I think we're going to capture a big audience that fondly remembers the series and the excitement it created at the time," Filerman said. "Because the cast was so large, we couldn't begin to bring back everybody. "We didn't even try to contact Farrow and O'Neal. We knew they wouldn't be interested in view of where their careers are now." Casting director Marc Schwartz agreed. "Even if Mia and Ryan were interested, they would have cost too much." Schwartz said rounding up most of the cast wasn't as difficult as anticipated. Malone, who played Constance Mackenzie, is now a society figure in Texas who works in movies and TV now and then. She was overjoyed at the prospect of rejoining her old friends and stepping back into her past. Schwartz had talked last year to Parkins, who played the muchmarried Betty Anderson, about a role in another project. Parkins, who works regularly in London and Hollywood was quick to agree to the reunion show. Ed Nelson, the suave Dr. Michael Rossi, was co-starring in the daytime soap "Capitol" and told Schwartz he would be thrilled to return to "Peyton Place." Nelson's son is an actor and will appear as Dr. Rossi's son, a young M.D. Connelly, who played the younger Harrington brother, Norman, is one of the town's busiest actors, working in TV movies and episodic TV. He, too, loved the idea of playing Norman one more time. O'Connor and Ruth Warrick, who played Elliott Carson and Hannah Cord respectively, were easy to find. Both are regularly seen on TV The three most difficult cast members to run down were Morrow, who portrayed Rita Jacks from the wrong side of the tracks; Evelyn Scott, who played Rita's mother, Ada, and James Douglas, who played Steven Cord. "We found Pat last summer," Schwartz said. "She had quit acting to become a successful lawyer and was doing some work for the Olympics. She didn't hesitate a moment to try her hand at acting again after all these years. "Evelyn had limited herself to only a few acting parts a year, but she was happy about coming back. Douglas was in New York working occasionally in soaps. He's not as active as he once was. But he said OK, too." "Peyton Place: The Next Generation" will deal with the return to the town of Allison Mackenzie's (Farrow) illegitimate daughter, Megan, and subsequent revelations that unravel TV soap mysteries two decades old. Schwartz is jubilant that he has found the perfect young actress — he isn't free to announce her name as yet — to play Allison's offspring. "She is an absolutely uncanny look a like for Mia,'' he said. Filerman said flashbacks, using footage from the original shows, will be used if he is able to obtain permission from the actors. Schwartz speculates Farrow will agree and O'Neal won't. It is doubtful if "Peyton Place" will be revived as a series next season, even if the Nielsen numbers come up roses. "But it's nice to think it could happen," Filerman said. "Peyton Place was a fascinating little town populated by interesting people."

Can't recall one interesting storyline Sally came up with. She did bring back Dina to her credit.

Note the pics taped to the locker door-this dude is straight-got that?!

Sun July 31 1977 ‘Life’ Lived Again By JON-MICHAEL REED NEW YORK — One life is apparently not enough for some people to live. While one character was buried on ABC’s “One Life to Live,” another one was brought back to life. Naomi Vernon was so distraught when her psychiatrist husband Will left her in hopes of winning the heart of a younger woman that she plotted a suicide attempt with the intention that she’d be found in time, thereby creating enough sympathy to win back her husband. Unfortunately for Naomi, no one came to her aid before the suicide pills worked their terminal end. “I had conflicting emotions doing Naomi's death scene,” says actress Teri Keane. “It was a humdinger to play since it was so well written. But I certainly 'hoped that the audience would not view Naomi's action as a solution to her type of problem. "AFTER ALL THIS was a human who played by the rules most of her life, but the bottom dropped out anyway. It’s a situation many middle-aged women face, but suicide is definitely the coward’s way out. As a strictly dramatic situation, Naomi’s death was necessary to the writer's plot. But it's only fiction and was merely a reflection of an unbalanced woman's muddled mind, not a reflection of life as it should ideally be faced.” Keane, a veteran of eight soap operas, including a dozen-year stint as Martha Marceau on “The Edge of Night,” departed “One Life to Live” in high spirits, despite her character’s helpless demise. During rehearsals of the scene where Naomi’s body wasfound. Keane wore a specially made T-shirt that read, “Are you sure, ABC?”- The serial, meanwhile, was certain it wanted to resurrect the character of Paul Kendall, the presumed-dead husband of heroine Pat, who had since become engaged to another man. ACTUALLY, PAUL has been working undercover for a CIA-type government agency. And the actor hired to portray the returning character is Tom Fuccello, who was last seen as Mark Elliott on “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” Since that show, Tom has been working in Hollywood, appearing in nighttime TV i series guest spots, most ; recentlv a segment of “Family.” “It was terribly difficult for me on ‘Love Is,’ since I was one of the many replacements for the original jactor in the role of Mark, David Birney, whom audiences identified with strongly. It’s certainly a relief to originate this new role on ‘One Life’ and not have to follow in somebody else’s footsteps,” says the bachelor from Bloomfield, N.J. Another newcomer to “One Life” is David Reilly, as Richard Abbott, the deceased Victor Lord's nephew. Reilly, a former art teacher, won the critics’ hearts in Tennessee Williams’ ill-fated recent Broadway drama, “Vieux Carre.” In that play, Reilly played a low-life hustler, but on “One Life” he’ll portray an intensely brash voung reporter.

There doesn't have to be an event for stuff to happen, just better pacing of the stories. The Bill/Hayley story should have been planned to have several reveals along the way. And when the story gains some movement-the poisoning, Lynette's arrival, there is no follow through. Same with Leslie- the reveal that she ran over Laura was Wk1 and here we are over a year later and nothing. Now she just struts around mouthing off at everyone. If the plan was to keep Hayley and Leslie, then the story should have been structured for that, so they had an option to keep them around in a viable way-not just delaying/forgetting stuff that happened. My other note is the lack of triangles-that old soap staple. There's a hint of it with Hayley/Dani/Bill-but nobody is acting on it. And Nicole/Ted/Kial/Carlton again isn't played strongly enough-Ted/Carlton are not adversaries, Nicole doesn't seem overly serious about Kial or Carlton. Kat/Eva/Tomas was dropped as was Ashley/Derek/Andre. Martin/Smitty, Jacob/Naomi, Joey/Vanessa, Madison/Chelsea, Eva/Isaiah don't have any third party creating conflict. Not that every relationship should have that, but at least one strong triangle should be incorporated.

Sherry leaving was a blow, but because of all the cast changes around her, there wasn't anyone else to step into that role. She was a reminder of better times. Only Marcia McCabe had any kind of longevity at that point and Sunny had yet to have a proper romance after years. Had there been other established characters eg Laine, Renata etc, still around, Liza could have been rested for a while. The revolving door of Lloyd Kendalls didn't help.

Good point. Marland also faced that issue when he arrived at The Doctors and there was the"Matt accused of mercy killing story' which he attempted to continue. He said he learned from that to pull the plug on a story that wasn't firing. Now in the case of GL, the baby switch was working but he probably wasn't enthused on having to spend a lot of time on a plot he wasn't that invested in. Maybe with Cindy out the door, Jackie should have been the one with the illness so she decides to hand over Phillip to Elizabeth, who then takes off with him when Dalton departs. Then in 83 Phillip returns wanting to reconnect with Alan.

Carrie Mowery, like Jennifer Cooke seems to have been chosen for looks over talent. GL really was in turmoil at that point-the Marland/Potter clashes, PFS and then LVB gone after 13 week runs, Potter leaving etc. Seems like CBS and P&G were running scared. SFT and AW were both seeing constant writer changes also.

Also I read it as that cohort wanting it to be 'relevant' -like unless something directly centers on them it's not authentic to their lived experience etc etc. Everything is filtered through their personal lens.

The previous winner was Lydia Bruce , so I assume the same reasons were there for it to be awarded to Susan Most Cooperative Performer: Magazine writers agree that Lydia Bruce of "The Doctors" is truly delightful to interview. Not only is she always accessible to the press, but her good humor and honesty make for consistently lively copy

THE JOURNAL-NEWS, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1983 Life is not all suds for writer of soap operas By LYNDA HIRSCH On a recent Monday, L. Virginia Browne was assured by a Procter & Gamble executive that she would have a long life as “Guiding Light’s” head writer. On the following Thursday she was asked to stop down at the office before lunch, where Allen Potter told her she was fired. It was Potter’s last day as executive producer before he was to head out to fill that spot at 'Another World.” Browne called us and said she was “stunned. If I hadn’t been assured just four days earlier that they loved me and my work, loved the storyboards and the long-term plot lines, I wouldn't have been so surprised. We all assumed with a new producer coming in that things would change, so being told that everything was fine was a great relief.” Why was Browne assured one day that she was doing well and a few days later let go? “The man who assured me that my job was safe was conspicuously absent. When I asked the others why I was let go, I was told that I was ‘too strong’ a head writer, whatever that means.” According to Browne, under her head-writership the show had gone , from No. 7 to No. 5 in the daytime ratings. Browne, who served along with several other writers as dialoguers to Doug Marland when he was head writer of the show, took over a mere 13 weeks ago, right after Pat Falken Smith was let go. Browne said she had a conversation with Falken Smith, who told her, “At least you beat the length of my term as head writer.” Gene Palumbo, who came on with Browne to be cohead writer, is going to continue in that role. According to Browne, she has been asked to continue working on the show’s long-term stories through July. “They may throw it out the window when I’m done with it, but I’m at least pleased that it appears I might have some say on how the show goes through July.” As for future projects, Browne says that she has a nighttime idea that is being serious connsidered, and of course she would still love to do daytime. “I truly love ‘The Guiding Light.’ I’ve worked I on other soap operas, and of course they’re all special to you, but ‘Guiding Light’ was more so than others. I loved the group of people I worked with and the characters. Although I may have been head writer for only 13 weeks, I worked on the show in a writing capacity for over a year.” As to who decided to axe her, Browne says she’s not certain; she was unable to reach Gail Kobe, the show’s new executive producer, as Miss Kobe was on vacation before taking over her duties. The Cullitons, who served as head writers on “Texas” before that show’s demise last month, are coming over to “Guiding Light.”It would appear that life is not all suds for those working in the world of soap opera. L Virginia Browne could have been good for SFT or ATWT but she never had a headwriting position again,

3rd Annual Afternoon Tv Awards. Best Actor Larry Bryggman John Dixon "As The World Turns" Best Actress Victoria Wyndham Rachel Cory "Another World" Best Female Newcomer Dixie Carter "Brandy" Henderson "Edge Of Night" Best Male Newcomer Lou Criscuolo Danny Micelli "Edge Of Night". Best Actor — Single Performance John Reilly "As The World Turns." Dr. Dan Stewart in his first love scene with Kim Dixon Best Actress — Single Performance Fran Brill Fran Bachman "How To Survive A Marriage" Best Supporting Actor Douglass Watson MacKenzie Cory "Another World" Best Supporting Actress Constance Ford Ada McGowan "Another World" Best Juveniles Suzanne Davidson Betsy Stewart in "As The World Turns" and Shane Nickersorn Billy Fletcher "The Guiding Light" Favorite Daytime Actor Ron Tomme, Bruce Sterling "Love Of Life" Favorite Daytime Actress, Audrey Peters Vanessa Sterling "Love Of Life" Most Cooperative Performer Susan Seaforth Julie Anderson "Days Of Our Lives" The' Best Talk Show Award "Today," The Best Game Show and Game Show Host was $10,000 Pyramid" and its host, Dick Clark. Five Special Awards for Outstanding Contributions Charita' Bauer (Bert Bauer of "The Guiding Light" since 1950) Doris Quinlan, Producer of "One Life To Live," a pioneer in daytime drama Gordon Russell and Sam Hall, headwriters of "One Life To Live" Lucille Wall, one of the serial world's superstars for her portrayal of Lucille Weeks on "General Hospital." Best Serial "The Young And The Restless," Best Written Serial "The Young And The Restless"

I guess they felt it was time for Phil to grow up. Amy never returning was a waste. Maybe Kathleen Noone could have played her instead of Ellen? And Devon could have been a young girl she adopted or took care of.

Tonawanda NEWS Friday, August 31,1973 Soaps still actor's way to make living By JACK OBRIAN Talk to anyone who's been sick for a while, and chances are pretty good that person is hooked on the "soaps " Yes soap operas are alive and well on daytime TV, and they offer an excellent way for a young actor to make a living. Don Stewart stars on The Guiding Light." TV's longest running detergent drama. Don said If he wrote us a letter, it would go like this ' 'Dear Jack, In the five years since I last wrote you, I married and divorced a girl who turned out to be a really bad one. In fact, she is trying to break up someone else's marriage now. Brother Ed as you know is an alcoholic, and he started drinking again long enough to get married to a very restless and impulsive child. I'd expect more from a great surgeon. Then, the other day, I finally married Ed's ex-wife, which of course makes me both father and uncle to his son. I guess that means I could be called "Uncle-Daddy." I recuperated well after being shot in the heart. It turned out to be only a flesh wound. My law practice has been extremely successful since I saved at least three people from the gas chamber or prison. My daughter ran away from home, but I found her in a blinding snow storm. Don "WOULD YOU BELIEVE that all these incidents related above happened to me " Don asked. "It's true. They did - that is, they happened to me on the television screen. They're all incidents which have occurred in the last five years to Michael Bauer, attorney-at-law, in The Guiding Light ' How can they get away with such stories? The fact is they appear just as often in the news. In the words of Mary Stuart, a friend of mine who stars on 'Search for Tomorrow,' a redeeming factor about daytime TV is that the villain always pays for what he has done —and pays, and pays, and pays. "SOME MEN put down soap operas and they put down their wives for watching them. But after all, what's the difference between watching soap operas all day or watching football games all day? "I don't want you to feel that I'm trying to justify my existence as an actor on a daytime drama (as it is more respectfully referred to). It is a tremendous job for an actor, very highly sought after and coveted. It's steady, it offers an opportunity to work continuously in one's craft, and allows time to pursue other activities. More than half the actors on our show are doing or have recently finished Broadway jobs. Also, daytime drama is a fact of life and affords an outlet for people who find it difficult to communicate, people in hospitals, older people, as well as housewives who are home with small children. "ONE DAY I was entertaining on a program that featured great actress Joan Crawford. I was supposed to introduce her on the show. I went over to her table to meet her, but before I could introduce myself she said, I know you. You're a very fine lawyer!' "On another occasion I had the opportunity to go up to the late Irene Ryan to compliment her on her role in Pippin.' But again, before I could get a word out, she said: Hi! I know you. I watch you everyday.'

Sun (Sydney, NSW ) Friday 26 July 1946 Big Sister," 2UW's popular daytime serial, is finally coming off the air. It was scheduled to conclude a few weeks ago, but has been continuing pending an official decision. "Big Sister" will finish on Friday, August 16. The following Monday it will be replaced by a new morning serial from 2UW, "Crossroads of Life." Main characters of "Big Sister" —Thelma Scott (who plays the lead). Nigel Lovell (Dr. John Wayne) and Peter Finch (Dr. Reld Bannister) — will have leading roles in "Crossroads of Life." So Australia did their own version of Big Sister.I wonder if they used the exact scripts or just the overall concept? Also worth noting is Academy Award Winner Peter Finch starting out on a local radio soap. , Monday 10 February 1947 Persil's dramatic daytime serial which has the largest radio audience in Australia continues on its exciting trend even though the weekly time schedule has been lessened. "Crossroads of Life" is heard at the same time, 10 a.m. each day, but listeners are asked to note that it can now only be heard from Monday to Thursday on 2NZ. Never before have the four main characters in this story had so many emotional upsets, and we find they are literally coming to their most dramatic crossroads of life. With four of the best known stars in the leading roles the story cannot .fail to be of exciting interest. Dr. Larry Halstead is the most colourful personality at the moment. He has been suffering from amnesia brought on when knocked unconscious by gangster Minchin, and the life of Tad Jackson, charged with murder, depended on Larry regaining his memory. Nige lLovel plays the part of Dr. Hastead. lexciting episodes is Julie Halstead his wife (Thelma Scott). Steven Crane (played by Peter Finch) the young barrister who confesses his love for Julie has to put this aside for the more important task of absolving his taxi driver friend Tad Jackson of the murder charge levelled at him. The other member of the Crossroads foursome is Kathie Marriott, Steven's ex-fiancee who is playing a losing battle for his affections. Kathie is played by Lyndal Barbour. AUNT JENNY. Another fascinating- radio session which has changed its weekly season is, "Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories." ' This popular Velvet Soap' programme is now to be heard from Monday to Thursday also.

Was it Terry Lester or Peter B who said that Eileen always brought something unexpected to a scene when taping so they had to be ready to react? Not in a negative way, like she was trying to outshine or upstage them, but rather just finding another angle in a scene. I think Eileen and Terry definitely 'played' with each other onscreen.

TV/Radio & Cable Week, July 18, 1982 Is Lance Cumson TV's top jerk? by Steven Reich The Lance Cumsons stink up the world. Even though Cumson is a fictitious character on "Falcon Crest," he reminds us of a despised boss, a devious colleague or a brown-nosing classmate. Cumson is the kind of fellow who lies, cheats and steals to achieve his own ruthless ends. Male heartthrob, Lorenzo Lamas, the son of famed actor Fernando, is having the time of his life portraying Angela Channing's (Jane Wyman) scheming nephew. There are popular obscenities to describe just such a fellow. But Lamas doesn't view Cumson in those dark terms. "He's a jerk. But. I think he does have some redeeming qualities," the actor informed TV/Radio Week. "Lance really has a good heart. He just looks after his family. He just doesn't like to see anybody upset his domain. He's out for the bucks. If it weren't for the money, he would have left 'Falcon Crest' with the girl he had fallen, in love with last season. Lamas may be kidding himself, but he actually sees Cumson as a good guy. "By the end of the season, I made him act like a son of a gun only when it was necessary to protect his family. When he was around his mother and sister, he began to show warm emotions." The Hollywood native modeled this character on several fellows from his youth. "I've met a few Lances and even had a good time with them running around L.A. and acting like we were maniacs. We used to wreak havoc. There's enough of that past in my life to really get into this character. I understand that beneath this slick and shallow heart lies a young man with big. problems. Being exposed to great wealth, heavy expectations were put on him at an early age." Lamas says a heretofore unknown stepson of Angela Channing's will visit "Falcon Crest" this fall. "He's a real snake in the grass. He inherits the news business from his late father, who was played by Stephen Elliott last season.' He stirs up a cacophony of romance and crooked business dealings." David Selby, of the cancelled "Falmingo Road" series, plays the wicked stepson. Having spent several summers in Bordeaux, France, Lamas became familiar with wines, the product produced in "Falcon Crest's" vast vineyards. "I watched barrels being made, grapes being pressed. But by no means am I a wine expert. I've learned a lot just being on the show. I don't ever want to read a line and not know what I'm talking about. I keep the Encyclopedia of Wines" always handy. Though I'm not an accomplished wine taster, I know the difference between good wine and bad." Before winning the Lance Cumson role, Lamas costarred in two poorly-received series — "California Fever" and "Secrets of Midland Heights." He admits that he began to question his own talents following those debacles. "You begin to really doubt yourself. It's difficult. But you have to live in the present and have faith that the right thing will come along. In the case of 'Midland Heights,' it was a blessing in disguise because Lorimar remembered me for 'Falcon Crest.' Even if a show doesn't last, you still meet people, make important contacts that can help you later on." Lamas claims that reports of the snowballing drug crisis in Hollywood have been' overblown by the press. "I've read a lot more about it than I've seen. You have to remember, however, that when you are in the midst of creative people and a lot of money, some will experiment and live their own experiences. But it's just not this industry, it's everywhere now." Actor Richard Thomas has warned the industry that he will walk off the set or expel offenders if faced with a drug situation on any of his film projects. Lamas admits that his views aren't as strict. "If they know their lines, don't bump into the furniture and come to work on time, I don't think I would have any right to do such a thing. I don't really see how anybody could stay focused if they're strung out. After all, it does something to your memory and you have to remember your lines. I never mix the two."

What changes did Larry insist upon?

Trouble is, Ashley will probably be handed some godawful story, and poor Eileen will be there trying to salvage it. Zilch faith in Josh Griffith.

Was Nick Benedict that bad? Anyway he lasted quite a few years. Killing Phil seemed unnecessary. Mary Lynn Blanks was a blah recast and Tara was later dropped, so they should have just had Phil and Tara leave town together with the option of bringing back either at some point.

Anders Hove (GH) appears in Series 2 of Danish crime drama Chestnut Man on Netflix.

Tuesday, June 14,1970 The other day I saw an ABC inter-office memorandum which began “Effective mid June, Rosemary Prinz who played Amy Tyler . . . will no longer be with the show.” For soap opera fans like myself, the world was coming to an end. There hadn't been a comparable bit of bad news since the day it was rumored that Penny (Miss Prinz’ last starring role) was leaving “As the World Turns.” Having turned a number of housewives on to the peace movement, why was Miss Prinz now abandoning the group? Was she the victim of a purge, the repression all the real-life political activists have been saying is now going on? The confidential ABC memorandum reported only that ‘at this point, the character of Amy is not being written out of the script. Amv will be leaving Pine Valley for a ‘rest.’ ” Isn’t that what the Kremlin said when Khrushchev stepped down? Was Amy Tvler being sent to Sochi, the Black Sea resort, or Siberia for a rest? Before Amy Tyler became a non-person, I had a cup of coffee with Rosemary Prinz at the Russian Tea Room last Friday afternoon to find out the real story. It’s true that Amy Tyler is kaput.' Miss Prinz had just finished shooting her last installment on the show that day. The last show will be on the air this Friday. It will be the bluest Friday in the history of daytime television since a bar of Ivory Soap sank in the Proctor and Gamble Co. swimming pool. Miss Prinz denied the show was getting rid of her character because of Amy’s political and social activities. “I promised Agnes (Nixon, who writes the show) that I would stay for five months. My time is up.” “You play a flaming moderate,” I suggested. “Are they explaining your vanishing act by sending you to jail for 90 days for trespassing or burning your sister’s son’s draft card?” Miss Prinz told me exclusively how Amy Tyler takes her final powder. “I write a letter stating my reasons for going away. My continuing presence in Pine Valley can only antagonize the already-oomplex emotional situation. I don’t want to hurt Philip anymore. I need time to get things together. While I am away, the letter explains, I hope to do something helpful for humanity in general. I wilt continue to work for peace—in Europe.” Reading the letter lasts about three or four days on the show. “It’s a long letter,” Miss Prinz said “Amv Tyler Isn’t one of your note-writers.” The last time we will see Amy Tyler on Friday she will be on an airplane. “I am having hallucinations. They call it flashbacks. In soap opera, characters have total recall; they never forget a word of old dialogue.” The very last scene in her career as queen of the soap opera shows Miss Prinz on the plane coming in for a landing somewhere in Europe. “I am crying,” she said. “No, I’m not crying for joy. I enjoyed working on the show, unlike 'As the World Turns.’ ” Historv repeats itself in soap opera. When Miss Prinz as Penny got out of “As the World Turns,” she also wrote a letter that last week explaining she was sorrv she had caused so much pain to the other characters. She loved everybody too much, especially her stepson, to go on like that.The last sight of Penny was on an airplane bound for Europe, and she was crying. It may be some consolation for soap opera fans to learn that Amy Tyler is meeting Penny in Europe, and they will live together unhappily forever. (P.S. Rosemary Prinz is really going to Beverly Mass., where she will open in a summer stock production of “Send Me No Flowers" on June 22. She has vowed never to return to soap opera. Like I am finally in my right mind.” Tune in next year for the continuing drama of Rosemary Prinz and her fight to stay disenchanted with soap operas.)

BUFFALO EVENING .NEWS—Wednesday, July 28, 1943 Mere Man Invades the Cast Of Director's All-Woman Show Irna Phillips Gradually Adds Five Men to Nine Radio Actresses in "Lonely Women" By HELEN KING One of the happiest men In radio used to be one you never heard about—Guilbert Gibbons. He was In the enviable position as director of the "male-free* cast of "Lonely Women," on WBEN five times weekly at 2:15 o'clock. Irna Phillips, the writer, had dismissed men characters to unimportant parts, sometlmes not using them for weeks and thus Gull found himself surrounded by nine radio actresses. But that was too good to last. Eventually Guil found his unique territory was to be invaded. The script called for a "mysterious man." Then a male announcer came. Next a roving radio reporter entered the plot and finally a wealthy playboy qrept Into the script. That led to the final breakdown of the barrier against male characters. Five men now are on the casting list. Miss Phillips realized that an all-girl show might be fine in a musical way but the listeners do want a man to show up, if only to create a little trouble now and then, scriptually speaking. Lonely Women was revamped and renamed Today's Children, in reference to Irna's previous and way more successful serial. The all women concept didn't fly.

THE JOURNAL-NEWS. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 22, 1981 'Search' writer in search of a Job by Lynda Hirsch. After a seven month stint as head writer for “Search for Tomorrow,” Don Chastain, who started on the show as an actor, has been released from his writing duties. Don, who portrayed Max Taper before stepping into the role of head scripter, was let go one day after he had turned in his first long-term storyline projection. Says Don, "I enjoyed my tenure as head writer and felt I contributed much to the show in terms of storyline as well as taking a different route in telling the stories. What bothers me most is that nearly all the work I did in the past seven months was with storylines and characters I had not created. To be sure, I added my own touches, but I was anxious to work on storylines and characters that were my own. “I was particularly excited about a storyline which I had written for Travis. For years this virile, powerful character has been following his wife Liza around like a puppy dog, and I decided to create a story that could be truly his.” The story — Travis in outer space, complete with actual NASA footage Don had obtained and had stored in his apartment. Would it have worked? We'll never know because it's doubtful the plot will ever be told. Explains Chastain.' We had the go ahead, everyone seemed very excited and suddenly the enthusiasm began to wane.' Chastain feels he was let go for several reasons. "Because I joined the show as an actor, I was never considered an adult. It seems the higher ups considered themselves the adults, and then there are actors, and I was one of the actors. My friendship with the actors was not considered good by higher-ups either. For one thing, they thought I wouldn't be able to cope with writing a friend off the show. I tried to explain I was an adult and could handle professional and personal relationships with the actors. Chastain proved his point when David Gatreaux who played his brother Garth, was killed off. " I didn't want the character togo and gave them several options, but I was overruled. At first I think David, who is a marvelous actor, thought it was my decision. One day I took him aside and explained. If it had been my decision to axe him, I would have told him that, too. That was my other problem-too open, I rock boats, say what I think. One time, for instance, I was congratulated for a scene I had written in which Liza loses the child and custody is given to Cissy. Several execs from P&G were sitting there and when the saw the reactions between the characters of Cissy, Liza, Travis and Lee, they were mesmerized. One of the the P&G execs stood up and said, That’s what I mean! That’s great writing!’ But I told him, I didn’t write that.It was not on paper It was the actors. They did it.’ The man was trying to be kind to me by congratulating me, but I didn't want that. I wanted the truth told, that the actors had figured out the right emotions. Chastain have been too “different.” Different? Well, he did an inebriated Stu Bergman see a giant rabbit, but Chastain offers, “It was Halloween.” And Ellie did run away with the chef. “Billie Lou Watt had already left the show. We had several options, the usual things — terminal illness, car accident. One day my writing associates and I started to joke around about her running away with the cook. But suddenly out of the joke came the idea of Ellie having needs that the chef could fulfill and Stu being heartbroken when she left. I think the telephone call between Stu and Ellie with both taking the blame was wonderful, and it grew to get out of that silly joke about Ellie and the chef. Don admits that his main trouble was cranking fact, out the material. “We made our deadlines, but it was tough. We were told, ‘The other writers always got out on time without any trouble.’ Well, not to put down the other writers but we were striving for quality, for every scene meaning things. It was months of total work, 14 hour days, seven days a week. I had one Sunday off in seven months, and I literally walked around the the apartment in circles, thinking, I know there’s something I should be doing being today. I can’t possibly be having a day off. Despite long hours, heated discussions, having to get rj(j of characters he liked and exhaustion, would Chastain like to write another soap? You bet. in fact, his serial ‘Rainbow’s End” just might end up on our CBS. But for now he's looking forward to playing jazz in a Paris bistro and finding a place for the 6,000 feet of NASA footage that he was down going to use for the “Travis in Outer Space” storyline. Mmmm...I can think of a place for that footage! Let's see -Travis in outer space (is that even a story?) Using a joke to write off a beloved vet character and barely making deadlines. Gee, I wonder why Chastain was dropped. Those 7 months included him writing during the strike. Like others before and after, he was probably given the headwriter job as a thank you for stepping in, with the hope it might work out. But it didn't and he got dropped at the end of his cycle.

I think the move to NY coincided with the show going to 30 mins. Was this when Jean McBride left? So Van moving to NY was like a new show. Only her parents were back in Barrowsville and they might have been dropped at this time. I'd really have to check dates and storylines to be sure. It's Off With the Old Cal, On With the New Watertown Daily Times, Thus. , Oct. 28, 1976 NEW YORK - Weddings are usually the most anticipated events in soap opera land. There is usually much fanfare, weeks of preparation, and the press is usually invited to photograph the on-screen event. Such was not the case with "Love of Life" when Cal Aleata married Rick Latimer last week. The show had quietly arranged for nuptials to mark the final appearance of Deborah Courtney in the role of Cal. Miss Courtney has been playing the part for several years. Obviously the emotion on the set the day of the wedding was too much for outsiders to witness. It's unusual for such a long-running actress to get canned, especially on her wedding day. When the bride returns from her honeymoon November first, Roxanne Gregory will be playing the newlywed. And this viewer, at least, is hopeful that Miss Gregory will add a bit of spark" to a storyline that has been, to say the least, lopsided. Middle-aged Rick has been the romantic target of both early-twenties Cal and her venomous mother Meg. But mama seemed to have the upper hand since it was always painfully questionable why Rick would ever favor namby-pamby Cal to volatile and vivacious Meg. Miss Gregory, a Vassar graduate, played one of Heather's girlfriends, Buffy, on "Somerset" last spring, and did a recent one-shot as Jim Bouton's lady friend in nighttime's "Ball Four." She's appeared in stock and regional theater productions including many musicals such as "Fiddler on the Roof." "Sweet Charity." and "Promises. Promises." She'll have to do more than promise to make Cal a more interesting character. Stay tuned to see if she succeeds.