Paul Raven

Reagrding the current (Feb 69 ) episodes we are seeing,there seems to be a lot of negativity towards the Liz/Phillip story on other boards. I wonder if this is because Rita Lakin is not writing this.When she became co writer with Rick Edelstein,her contract called for 16 weeks off.How that was broken up,who knows,but perhaps she had time off at this point and wasn't totally focussed on the show. Maybe she agreed to the concept of the story but Edelstein did the actual plotting. We do know that by June 69 she was Mod Squad story editor. Raymond Owen is seen again in February as John Powell,hospital board member.

Mid June 73 - was that during the writer's strike? That battle for #2 was so close.

Variety reported that Don Ettlinger came on board in January 65.

She always seems to be big noting herself. She claimed to have written storylines but never says what or when,that NBC held off on cancellation in the 80's because of her, and various other things. As I said,maybe it's just me and my interpretation of her comments.

For 1977 that seemed a very forthright article. Pat Falken Smith had in another interview talked about how they deliberately kept David and Val from touching/kissing so as not to offend audiences and they hoped that by the time it happened viewers would be supportive of the couple. She was furious that they kissed at Doug and Julie's wedding which was a big episode. Have read elsewhere that the David/Trish pregnancy was a quick rewrite to break up David and Val. What was the point of the Sharon story?

I wonder why they recast each time?Were they not happy with the first two Janene's and kept looking for an actress that would click in the part and maybe then expand the role? Or was Janene only ever meant to be a minor role and the actresses were not available/interested in returning?

Victoria Wyndham always annoys me in interviews. Maybe I just have a set against her....

Just to put what we are seeing in relation to 1967/8/9/ This was the time that NBC's 90 min soap block began making waves in the ratings with Days @2,TD @ 2.30 and AW @3pm. ABC had Newlywed Game @ 2 but 2.30 was an issue,Dream Girl of 67 lasted throughout that year and then something called The Baby Game was tried for 68 until July when Dating Game took over.3pm was GH. CBS introduced LIAMST at 2.00 in Sept 67 as the long running Password was dropped.Then Sept 68 the longrunning Art Linkletter was dropped for new 30 min GL, at the same time To Tell the Truth was dropped at 3 in favor of Secret Storm. This really the time that soaps took over as CBS went for an all soap afternoon lineup. NBC's strength was diminished by these changes.Also losing Let's Make A Deal as the lead in for the soaps affected them as replacement shows weren't as strong.

The boy standing next to Millette would be TJ (Tim).

Looking back over the thread I came across this item that suggests that Joan Blackman did originate the role of Mary. From Daytime TV, February 1972 issue. Anne Helm is now playing the role of Mary Briggs. Maybe Joan was only in the role a few weeks? 0

Dynasty debuted in January in the Monday @9 timeslot vacated by Monday Night Football.

GH had cast Keely Shaye Smith as Katherine Delafield,Scorpio's new love interest, a concert pianist. Edie Lehmann was brought in to play piano for close ups but exec producer Joe Hardy was impressed with her look even though she had never acted and gave her the role of Katherine, Keely got to play Valerie a therapist.

Millette Alexander (Sara GL) receiving a lifetime achievement award. http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/10-honored-Sunday-with-Westport-Arts-Awards-2224548.php#photo-1677985

I love these color shots from the 60's

Around that time several soaps featured black characters. Love of Life Joe and Rita Bond GH Tracey Adams and Douglas Burke OLTL Carla,Price etc AW Peggy Harris and Dick Nolan

Vana Tribbey was married to Larry Linville.

Interesting to see Joan Van Ark working 4 days ahead of some of the better known performers. Janene must have been important to the story at that time.

Interesting article.The message is - go back in time and buy NY real estate!! Yes,I too would like more info on Mike and an earlier marriage. Can I also ask if Steve has mentioned his family in regards to his marriage and also what (if any) mention Nick made of family as he was preparing for marriage. As we move into 69 and the final year of Lakin/Edelstein I wonder what is in store for Nick and Althea.Storyline summaries at that time mention marriage but nothing of what followed. Same with Matt and Maggie - will they purely be support for Mike and other hospital staff? Karen will give birth at some stage.Will we see the beginnings of Steve/Carolee? Anna stays around.I think the character of Simon Harris will appear in June In several reference books Conrad Roberts is listed in this role but others have Mel Winkler which is obviously correct. I have gone thru jam 6242's postings of newspaper summaries to give a clearer picture of the timeline 64-66 pertaining to current characters. July 64 Matt Powers and Maggie Fielding arrive. August Maggie clashes with her husband Alec over him having surgery.Gossip that Matt and Maggie are an item.Matt operates on Alec and saves his life,thus keeping Maggie tied to her husband. Sepember Rex Thompson appears as Mike. Feb 64 Maggie is widowed and now pregnant. March 64 Maggie's sister Nora arrives and romances Matt using Mike as an ally. April 64 Maggie goes to Wyoming and meets Brock Hayden.Her father appears.She decides to fight for Matt. May 64 Matt and Nora are engaged.Maggie and Matt work together on a project and try to be professional. June 64 Maggie loses her baby??She goes to see Brock and he comes back with her. August 64 Althea arrives. September 64 Matt/Nora wedding doesn't happen? Oct 64 Kurt Van Allen romances Maggie. Nov 64 Valerie Shaw romances Matt. Nora and Steve Lloyd get closer. Dec 64 Kurt is ill Jan 65 Dave Davis (Althea's ex)comes for a visit. March 65 Maggie and Kurt are wed Penny is ill. Valerie is jealous of Maggie May 65 Maggie and her father leave for Wyoming Gloria Davis (Dave's wife??) arrives in town. July 65 Kurt is in prison. August 65 Kurt is hospitalized with a terminal illness. September 65 Kurt's actions bring police to the hospital. Althea is attracted to Matt October 65 Maggie now (Bethel Leslie) returns. Dec 65 Nora is still around. Feb/March 66 Maggie goes to London searching for Kurt.She has had her baby and there is a custody battle (Theodora Van Allen??)

THE BRIGHTER DAY Network: CBS -TV !sme: Mon. thru Fri., 1 -1:15 p.m. EST Sponsor: Procter & Gamble Agency: C rripton Adv. Inc. Cast: B111-Smith, Brooke Byron, Hal Hol- brook, Mary Lynn Beller, Lois Nettleton, lV ary Michael Producer: Mary Harris Director: Ed Kogan Music: Dick Leibert Announcer: Jimmy Blaine Producing Agency: Young & Rubicam Inc.Writer: Doris Frankel UNDER the by no means surprising sponsor ship of Procter & Gamble, The Brighter Day, a daytime 'serial, has been inserted in the CBS -TV. schedule. Among soap operas, this one is super -sudsy. The new serial began last Monday. By Wednesday the story had become so hopelessly tangled that it would take months to straighten out the plot, assuming, as is definitely not the case, that the manufacturers of such programs would ever consider straightening. Already problems, problems. The format deals with one Reverend Dennis, a model minister, fully equipped with the standard platitudes; his- congregation, as folksy a collection of people as ever a clergyman has been blessed with; and members of his family, each with a personal crisis all his own. A good portion of last Wednesday's installment was given over to Patsy, Rev. Dennis' young daughter, presumably involved in a love affair not destined to lead up the aisle at least for the present. Typical dialogue in a touching father-daughter scene: Rev. Dennis: We're going to have a change in the weather. It's beginning to snow. Patsy (after an unexpected phone call from her beau): No, Father, that's not snow, that's orange blossoms. And it's not January -it's June after all! Acting quality on the new series is on a evel with the script.

FROM THESE ROOTS The Frasers of Stratfield, U.S.A., are an interesting sociological study. Classes and callings of the family and friends include editors, farmers, writers, mill foremen, bankers, doctors and maiden aunts. There are wise old heads, middle -aged members of the family and rebellious grandchildren, all re- volving about Ben Fraser, head the family and editor of the town newspaper. The abandon with which the character types have been thrown together strains the limits of credibility. Still their battles with life -love, bills and mortgages -help while away an afternoon. Reviewers have been thoughtfully provided with copies of the Fraser family tree. The occasional viewer probably would appreciate a copy too. Production costs: Approximately $25,000 weekly. Sponsored on NBC -TV Monday- Friday, 3:30-4 p.m. EDT, by Procter & Gamble through Benton & Bowles and Alberto - Culver Co. through Geoffrey Wade Adv. Producer: Don Wallace; directors: Joseph Behar and Paul Lammers; assistant director: Paul Freeman; writers: John Pickard and Frank Provo

Apparently LOL had a trial color broadcast in 1954. LOVE OF LIFE Network: CBS -TV Director: Larry Auerbach Producer: Richard Dunn Writer: John D. Hess Executive Producer of Color: Richard Lewin On Air: Mon. FrL, 12:15 -12:30 p.m. Color - cast, Sept. 8 only. Star: Peggy McCay Sponsor: American Home Products Corp. Agency: Blow Co. Production Costs: $8,500 gross weekly IF COLOR is going to add anything to tv's day time serials it will be in displaying the clothes of the female characters to the predominantly feminine audience. In the Sept. 8 colorcast of Love of Life the gowns of the heroine, her sister and her best friend certainly showed up more attractively in color than they would have in black -and- white. The addition of color did not extend the action of this installment of the drama, which utilized the entire 15 minutes to introduce the brother of the hero, a surly individual who is obviously "up to no good" and who seems likely to interfere with the plans of his brother and the heroine for an early marriage. But experience has proved this to be just about the perfect pace for a daytime drama and it doubtless would be unwise to let the addition of color disturb this basic factor. No soap opera fan, this masculine reviewer sees little likelihood that color will do anything to change his attitude. And he's sure the sponsor couldn't care less.

I remember Ann Flood's ad for the bag in SOD in the late 70's.Was it somethng like the Convertriple? I recall it could be converted from a shoulder bag to a carry bag etc. Tres versatile!! I'll see if I can find it.