Paul Raven

From around April 76 Barbara looks at Adam. His eyes are boring into her, searching for the answer to his question: "I want to know what's bothering you. I don't want any more excuses or evasive answers; I want the truth, now." Barbara feels a headache coming on, she steadies herself on a nearby chair to stop the dizziness. "I'm waiting, Barbara." She sees the confusion and concern on her husband's face, she knows, despite her promise to Holly, that she has to tell Adam the whole sordid story. Barbara hesitates for a second then blurts out what she has discovered about his son. At first Adam doubts the veracity of her story, but when the shock dies down he realizes she's telling the truth. Adam says he'll talk to Roger when he and Peggy return from their European honeymoon. Love does strange things to a man. It distorts his vision and deafens his hearing. It creates false hopes to soothe the cravings within his body and soul. Tim's in love and he's experiencing all these things. The object of his affections, Rita Stapleton, tells him over and over she wants things free and easy. She cares for him but she doesn't love him. She begs Tim to heed her words, but she knows he's deluding himself with dreams of walking into the sunset with her. Rita's right. Despite all she's said, Tim asks her to live with him. He says it'll be a trial marriage. "Let's live for the moment (with Tim anyway)" Rita ponders over how to handle this lovesick young man. Before heading back to Springfield, Mike has one final meeting with Clint Pearson. It's a very profitable one, since Clint's parting words hint at a man who's got something to hide. This burly gent tells Mike he's making a mistake looking for Spence Jeffers around here; people who interfere in other people's lives are only hunting for trouble. When Mike tells Ann what he's learned, her eyes sparkle like a child who has just been given her favorite toy for Christmas. She tells Mike she's sure Clint is Spencer and she wants to go to Redding to see for herself. Mike warns her not to, saying Clint is a dangerous character. Ann is too excited to listen to his warning. There was a time when Tim's career was all that mattered to him, but with the advent of Rita, his work seems to be taking a back seat to his love -- and it hasn't gone unnoticed! Steve comments to Joe that he has observed a change in Tim's surgical technique; it seems to be much slower. "If he doesn't pick up," Steve warns, "we'll have to take back the recommendation to make him Senior Resident." Meanwhile the love of his life -- the fire of his heart -- has her own fires ignited by receiving a letter from Ed. Ed tells Rita he's decided to go into neurology. These written words bring a smile to Rita's lips. Trouble at the Bauers Mike's total involvement with Ann's case is causing Leslie great distress. Leslie feels there's more there than meets the eye -- or when Mike and Ann's eyes meet. It's bad enough that Mike has already taken two long business trips for this woman, but now he's going to accompany her to Redding, California. Ann is determined to go and Mike feels it's too dangerous for her to go alone. Leslie expresses her fears, telling Mike she feels that Ann is very much attracted to him, even though he may not reciprocate her feelings. She's afraid if they go off to California together something might happen. Mike assures his wife that he loves no one but her and she should have no worries in that direction. Leslie half-heartedly accepts Mike's explanation and lets him go on the trip. Refreshed, rejuvenated and full of love and gifts -- the Thorpes (Peggy and Roger) have returned to Springfield. The hard cold dawn of reality that Roger's soon to be faced with, will be quite a change from the warm and serene dawns of Europe. Roger gets a glimpse of the future when he stops by his father's house to bring him, Barbara, and Christina, some presents. He's surprised that Barbara won't come out of her room to see him. He's also perplexed by his father's strange behavior. Adam's Anguish It took a long time for Adam to trust his son and now with the heavy dose of truth Adam just consumed, it seems as though this trust has been destroyed. Roger tries to make his father see why it happened ("we were just two lonely people reaching out towards one another") and why he never told him the truth ("too many people would have been hurt if they knew I was Christina's father") but Adam just stares at his son coldly. From looking at his son's eyes, Adam knows Roger's really hurting by this rift between them but he feels there's little he can do at the moment to relieve Roger's pain, Roger leaves; and Adam replays their meeting in his mind. He wants desperately to believe his son but the truth is a bitter pill to swallow. Adam's mind twists and turns with indecision. Ed's New Life Ed's the picture of health and confidence as he walks through the halls of Cedars Hospital. He tells Joe and Sarah that he's decided to go into neurology. Later over a home cooked meal in Rita's apartment, he tells this beautiful young nurse -- and new friend about his new medical specialization. He also says she's greatly responsible for this change in him and he's quite thankful. Rita wants more than thanks from Ed (and she makes subtle hints in that direction) but Ed says he won't be ready for an involvement for quite a while yet. Ann's Ordeal: Is It Now Over? Ann and Mike wait for Clint, Ann's quite nervous; Mike asks her to wait in Clint's office. He says he wants a chance to prepare Clint for what's about to happen. Clint arrives and Mike tells him the real reason for his visits to Redding. Clint replies Mike is crazy and walks into his office. His mouth goes slack with recognition when he sees Ann standing there. Ann utters a questioning "Spence?" Ann's Little Boy Lost for Good? Spencer is not exactly overjoyed to see Ann. Her appearance places him in quite an agitated, nervous state. What he doesn't need is a part of his past showing up in Redding. Ann says she doesn't want to harm him, all she wants to know is where Jimmy is. At first, Spencer is quite evasive, but Ann keeps pumping him for information. Spencer can feel the noose tightening around his neck, he finally blurts out that it's too late, Jimmy is dead. He dies in a drowning accident in Alaska. Ann is completely shattered. Mike tells Spence that he's not through with him yet. He's going to check out every last detail of that story. When Mike arrives back in Springfield, Leslie is distressed to learn her husband is still involved with Ann's case. She thought he'd be finished once he got back from this last trip. Peggy Talks to Adam Peggy has a heart-to-heart with Adam. She begs her father-in-law to accept the situation. She has and she's going to stand right by Roger. Peggy says Roger so needs Adam's love and respect. Adam finds it very hard to resist Peggy's heart-felt words. He tells his son he forgives him. He's not going to turn away from him again. Peggy fares less well with Barbara. Barbara still blames Roger totally for the situation. She refuses to place any of the blame on her daughter's shoulders (something which Holly now does readily). Holly is going to be Steve's new secretary. At Ed's suggestion, Steve interviews, then hires her for the job. Ed tells Holly they're both starting new lives now. Tim Gives Rita a Gift Rita opens the small, beautifully wrapped box. Inside she sees an antique brooch. Tim says the pin belonged to his grandmother and she gave it to him in the hopes that someday, he would give it to the girl he loves. Rita tells Tim it's lovely, but she can't accept it. She would feel very wrong about it. He's the best friend she has in Springfield, but she doesn't love him. She tells Tim it may be best if they stopped seeing each other. Things have just gotten too heavy.

Among the many dumb decisions made on the show in the final years,not bringing on Kevin and Jason Marler ranks with the best of them. Two brothers,different personalities,constantly trying to one up each other,fighting for the same girl etc. With Blake caught in the middle.

Two performers from the Dobson/Marland era have died recently. Rita Lloyd (Lucille Wexler) Tom O'Rourke (Justin Marler)

Virginia Vestoff was there for a year 1969-70.Unfortunately,that is before my time,so I can't comment on her performance. She died young,age 42.

Meta came in just as Laibson and McTavish were ousted.Wasn't there some story that Meta recognised Zachary 'the angel' from years gone by or some such crap?It was quickly dropped. I always thought Meta should have come to town at the time of Bert's death,to take over as matriach,rather than all those years later. Keeping the Bauers alive and active on the show should have been a priority,not an afterthought. i forgot about Kasdorf on SB.The Dobsons obviously liked her,although the character never amounted to much.

I think it was Lenore's choice to leave,to give Hollywood a try.She was also a new mother and her husband was an actor also. Possibly,GL didn't pressure her too much to stay as Marland may have been more interested in his own characters at that point,and Rita had had a lot of story in her time on the show. She showed up on DOOL in 83 as Veronica-a non contract role.It was hinted that it would become contract,but Veronica simply vanished. Rita could have returned to Springfield at some point,but succeeding writers showed little interest in the past-a big mistake. The fact that the Bauers didn't really have a next generation was a problem. Mike,after 4 marriages only had Hope.It would have been smart to have Leslie give Mike a child.Ed only had Rick and later Michelle,despite numerous marriages also.

GL now joins some illustrious company in the cancelled soap thread. Let's share memories and ask questions here.

Janet Margolin played Betty in MIPP. The Encyclopedia of Daytime TV lists Susan Oliver as appearing in 73

Some other tidbits... Don Matheson (Cam GH)was also in the Peyton Place 79 pilot. One problem with continuing the PP legacy was that,as we can see,each version made changes. Selena Rossi was never a part of the nightime versions and they pretty much ignored the daytime developments in subsequent nightime shows. I wonder how many primetime cast members were approached when RTPP was being developed? Only Frank Ferguson, Pat Morrow,Evelyn Scott and Susan Oliver appeared in both. Also worth noting that in Jan 73 a nightime episode played where Alison was found guilty of murder.This would be the first time a daytime soap had a primetime airing.

I think Peyton Place 79 was a syndicated offering that was aimed at a late night audience.Adam West was Batman in the 60's tv show. There was also a TV movie in 77 Murder in Peyton Place which re-united many of the original cast.In the story Rodney and Allison are in a car crash,but murder is suspected. In 85 NBC piloted Peyton Place:The Next Generation as a possible primetime soap.Dorothy Malone,Tim O'Connor,Barbara Parkins and other originals were there along with a new young cast.

Thanks for sharing,French Fan. Interesting that Connie had an abortion on the show.I never knew of this. Along with AMC and SFT,abortions were starting to happen in storylines in the 70's,but then it seemed the plug was pulled and it pretty much wasn't used as a plot point.

Wayne Tippit,who played Ted Adamson,has died age 76. Ted was the father of Laine and Sunny and grandfather of Gary Walton's son by Laine. He was involved with Stephanie,Janet and married Jaime(played by Patricia Arrants,then wife of Rod Arrants(Travis)

NBC 4/3/72 - 1/4/74. Replaced Bright Promise.Replaced by How To Survive A Marriage. Up against One Life To Live on ABC and Edge of Night/Secret Storm/Match Game on CBS.

Under Pam Long,the show was in much better shape,storywise than it had been in years.But it was too late. Thanks French Fan for the list of writers. For whatever reason,the show went through so many writers.Especially in the 70's.Despite the constant changes,the ratings stayed high until about 77,when the show dropped from the top 5.Ryan's Hope was the first show to challenge it's dominance at 12.30. The last time the show made rating gains was under the Corringtons who introduced Travis,Sunny etc.Despite their success,they were replaced and Linda Grover destroyed all they had put in place. I'll have to check,but I think the Corringtons left earlier than May of 1980.

In honor of Search debuting this week 58 years ago,I thought I'd start an official thread for this sometime neglected soap, Search seems to have a reputation as a failed soap based on the ratings and stories of the NBC years,but during it's CBS run was amazingly successful - throughout the 50's and 60's,always placing in the top 5 shows. Let the memories and questions begin....

Some info on First Hundred Years. This show has historical significance as it was the first P&G sponsored show and the first daytime soap. It was more lighthearted than the 'traditional' shows. cast members who appeared on later soaps were Charles Baxter ,who later appeared on TGL,AW,LIAMST and LOL Valerie Cossart-Kitty Foyle & LOL(as Meg& van's mother) Larry Haines,who went on to SFT for 35 years Nancy Malone on TBD and TGL(also countless primetime shows in 60's thru 80's) Katherine Meskill -SFT,TD,WTHI,GL,LOL,TEON Nat Polen-ATWT,EON,TN,HF,OLTL Jean Holloway wrote many primetime shows b/w FHY and LOL Gloria Monty was also director. The show began as a radio show in 1948 then became one off nightime drama,with the same title as part of an anthology series'The Silver Theatre' in 1950. Jimmy Lydon continued his role on the daytime show and William Frawley was announced as also continuing.However,he did not and went onto nightime fame on 'I Love Lucy' and 'My Three Sons'. The cast had 4 hours rehearsal each day at NY's Leiderkranz Hall,which several other later CBS soaps used.Apparently,it was quite basic. Background film of Long Island and Westchester County was used and it was the first use of a teleprompter. It stayed on the air for 2 and1/2 years and was doing well in the ratings but P&G wasn't happy and replaced it with a TV version of The Guding Light.

In honor of AW's 45th anniversary,I thought I'd start this thread and perhaps all future posts concerning this show could be in one place.at present there are several threads. Here's a description from Irna Phillips at the time of debut. "What I want to say is that none of us can face reality 24 hours a day. We must have private 'worlds', made up of our down dreams and pleasures and emotions, into which to retreat. Otherwise, it would be simply too much!" The story follows the lives of the families of two brothers, William and James Matthews, in a suburban university town. It opens with the death of William, then shows how the sad events affects the widow and their children and the other brother and his family. Grandma Matthews gets into the action, to. The writer promises to relate to contemporary problems; two of them she mentioned are school dropouts and illegitimacy.

1989 Summary Cruz was on the trail of the man who raped Eden. C.C. threw a costume party at the country club in hopes of flushing out the rapist, and Cain's girlfriend, Andrea, was killed. Cain was charged with murder, but later released. He left town, as did Major Phillip Hamilton. Eden was relieved to learn the rapist was not the father of the child she was expecting. She gave birth to a baby girl, Adriana, in a cave after the helicopter taking her to a hospital made an emergency landing. The newborn had an unusual birthmark on her arm. The poor infant was kidnapped — by Dr. Zack Kelton, Eden's rapist. Cruz chased Zack into the mountains. During a scuffle on the edge of a cliff, Zack fell to his death. Eden didn't believe Zack's dying declaration that Adriana was dead. In fact, the baby had been sold on the black market to a couple in Paris, Ric and Hollis Castillo. Ric was Cruz's troublemaking younger brother. While Cruz pursued Kirk Cranston, Eden's deranged ex-husband, who was also after Adriana, recurring dreams about her child drove Eden to Ric's place in Paris. Sandra, a psychic, helped Cruz with his investigation, and became obsessed with him. Cruz rebuffed Sandra's advances and joined his wife in France, where he located the doctor who had removed Adriana's birthmark. Confronted about the baby's origin, Hollis admitted that she bought the baby on the black market because her inheritance depended on her having a healthy child. She handed Adriana to Eden, then slipped into the Seine and drowned. The Castillos — widower Ric included — returned to Santa Barbara. Another Castillo relative, Cruz's father Rafael, entered the picture, at an Acapulco hotel where he performed a magic act. A competing magician, Mephisto, kidnapped Rafael and in exchange for his freedom, Rafael gave him his greatest illusion. Eden convinced the elder Castillo to reconcile with his sons and move to Santa Barbara. Robert Barr, the right-hand man of a Las Vegas mobster named Tonell, arrived in town to engineer a takeover of Capwell Enterprises. His real objective was a reunion with Eden. They'd been in love as teenagers, and Barr couldn't forget her. A case of amnesia had blocked out Eden's memories of Barr and their summer on the island of Sirenas. Eden had also repressed the memory of the murder of a man named Raoul. Robert had served five years in prison for the crime, believing he was taking the rap for Eden. Santa Barbara mayoral candidate Jerry Calhoun, a childhood friend of Mason's, was found to be the culprit after a re-creation of the night of Raoul's murder on the Capwell yacht. Jerry jumped overboard and drowned. The crime solved, Cruz fretted that Eden still loved Robert. Castillo lost his job, thanks to Tonell. Mason's split-personality, Sonny Sprocket!, tried to sabotage Mason's wedding to Julia by having her catch him and Gina making love. A humiliated Julia left Mason at the altar and turned to Father Michael for comfort. Mason emerged and went to talk to Julia. When he saw her making love to Michael, he was devastated. Julia and Michael agreed that what happened was a mistake. Still, the padre left the Church. Bunny stopped cross-dressing in order to win Gina's heart, to no avail. Gina and Sonny successfully bilked C.C. out of ten million dollars. As revenge, C.C. sought permanent custody of Brandon. During the battle, Brandon learned that Santana was his natural mother, not Gina. Sonny offered to marry Gina to provide a more stable home, which would look good in court. At the wedding, Bunny's Uncle Mario hired a hit man to shoot Mason (for his nephew's sake). After an out-of-body experience, Sonny disappeared and Mason reunited with Julia. Ethan Asher, the new DA (and Zack Kelton lookalike), arrived in town with his wife, Laura. Years earlier, when Michael was a Boston cop, he had romanced Laura. In a shootout with criminal Leo Mitchell, Laura's son, Jamie, was caught in the cross fire and killed. Anxious for revenge on Michael — who had also fatally shot Leo's brother — Leo escaped from jail and turned up in Santa Barbara. In a showdown at the Beach Bar, Leo was killed. His body disappeared. Michael was thrown in jail, although Laura had really killed Leo, ostensibly to save Michael's life. Once Leo's body was recovered, the bullet in his body didn't match Michael's gun, and he was released. When a betrayed Michael learned that he had taken the rap for a murder that Laura committed, he ended their affair. Scott and Heather's romance hit a snag when Celeste DiNapoli, Scott's high school sweetheart, got a job at the clinic. Scott broke up with Heather and proposed to Celeste — then Heather discovered she was pregnant. Scott's engagement to Celeste went bust when he found out about his intended's past as a hooker. He hoped for another chance with Heather, but she didn't want anything to do with him. Heather gave birth to a boy and named him Mike. She did agree that Scott could be a part of their son's life. Heather, Mike, Scott and Celeste all left town. C.C. learned that a one-night stand eighteen years earlier, with Megan, the author of his autobiography, resulted in the conception of their son, Greg. Greg fell in love with Emily DiNapoli — sister of Celeste. Megan, who was dying of leukemia, left town. TJ sold the Lair to Bunny and headed for Palm Springs; Bunny's family pressured him to marry a woman named Vanessa but he refused; Ted went to find Mason in Europe and didn't return; Jeffrey and Kelly divorced and he left town; Kelly had a brief flirtation with Ric; Mason and Julia finally got married.

Here's what was happening on Love of Life around April 76. On this day in Rosehill, two doors slam: Ben slams Arlene's car door saying he can't run away with her, he loves his wife; Arlene slams the Hart's front door lashing out at Betsy: "Ben is my husband, not yours. We've been married for three years; you never were his wife." Betsy looks at Arlene in amazement and shouts: "You're lying. You're crazy, that can't be true." "It's true, sweetie," Arlene continues bitterly, "And it's about time you knew." Betsy's searching and pained eyes are still trying to discern whether what Arlene says is the truth when Ben walks in the door. Betsy runs into his arms and cries: "Arlene has been saying terrible things about you; tell me they're not true." Ben observes his wife's shaken state and realizes he owes her the truth. He takes Betsy aside and tells her the whole sorry tale. Ben couldn't have hurt her more if he had taken a butcher's knife and plunged it into her chest. Betsy runs to her room, crying in pain. Ben's guts are twisted into a knot, his eyes fight to hold back the tears; he realizes he may have lost the best thing that has ever happened in his life. He runs after Betsy and corners her in the bedroom. Ben tries to touch her, but she recoils in disgust. Her tear-streaked face speaks of the pain he has just caused her. Betsy tells Ben that as soon as her brother Tom arrives, she's going to leave this house. She never wants to see him again. Ben declares his love for her and begs her to stay, but in Betsy's eyes Ben has already showed his true colors and these declarations of love fall on deaf ears. Felicia's new life with her husband brings back memories of a childhood spend caring for her invalid father. She's trying to remain strong for Charles, but the strain is beginning to show. Charles observes these cracks in her facade and worries that he may be placing too big a load on her shoulders. This is a frustrating realization, for he already knows he'll always have to rely on her for some things. Cal is still getting flak about Rick from Eddie and Van. Both of them feels he's not the right sort of man for her. He's been involved with a lot of women and Cal is just too innocent to handle him. Cal tells them, in no uncertain terms, that it's her life -- and her love -- and to please stay out of it. Betsy's World Crumbles Betsy's whole world has gone into a tailspin. Her romanticized vision of the perfect love and marriage has been shattered like priceless stained glass. She sits in Cal's apartment trying -- unsuccessfully -- to put the pieces back together. Her friends and family rally around, attempting to nursemaid her back to emotional health; but it does very little good. Betsy is too wrapped up in her cocoon of grief to respond to their kindness. The crude and callow cad (?) who did this to Rosehill's Pollyana is also suffering greatly for his sins. Ben desperately wants his wife and baby back. He's using every emotional ploy in the book to try to convince Betsy that he loves her; but it's all in vain. It's like the iceberg meeting the Titanic. Betsy's icy demeanor sinks all chances of Ben's ploys succeeding -- even when he shows Betsy some real divorce papers (Ben flew down to Haiti and got a divorce from Arlene), it does little to crack the ice. Wallowing in his grief and agony, Ben's now a man to be pitied. Ben's Troubles Increase Ben may be in for more than emotional grief if Jamie has his way. Jamie tells Meg he wants to prosecute Ben to the full extent of the law. He wants her darling son to pay for his actions. Jamie goes to see Betsy and asks her to sign a statement of the facts of the case. Betsy declines, saying she's not interested in vengeance; she doesn't want anything to do with Ben. Jamie's not about to take no for an answer. He leaves the statement with he saying: "Think about it Betsy. This isn't vengeance; it's justice. Don't you want Ben to pay for what he's done?" Ray walks into the bar at Beaver Ridge. He spies Arlene sitting alone and in his usual gentlemanly manner, plops right down in the seat next to hers. Arlene tells him to get lost. Ray develops an immediate case of deafness and the words don't penetrate. He sees the distraught state Arlene's in and seizes upon the opportunity to make his move. Despite the repugnance she feels when she looks at this oily gent, Arlene responds a bit. Her need to talk -- or spew venom -- wins over any disgust she may be feeling. Stretched to Her Breaking Point Betsy is being pressured by Jamie to sign a complaint against Ben -- an action which could result in Ben's imprisonment. In her pain and confusion, she cannot feel joy at the first movements of her baby. In anguish, she goes to see Dr. Albertson, telling her she does not want the baby. The doctor manages to calm her down, reminding her that no matter what the state of things with the baby's father, Betsy's love for the baby is just as real as the baby itself. Don't, pleads Dr. Albertson, make the baby pay for the pain his father has caused. Calmer now, Betsy goes home feeling able to cope somehow with the things she must face. Van rushes to smooth the waters until Betsy is calmer. Although she agrees with Bruce, that Ben probably deserves it, what purpose would it serve to have him put in prison? And how would Meg react? Van is further distressed by this situation when she learns that Rick knew all along about Ben's deception; with Rick and Cal so deeply involved, Van is concerned about the kind of man Rick is -- how can he help but, eventually hurt Cal? Ben, busy packing a bag to leave Rosehill, will not be stopped, even by Meg. He almost wishes, he tells her, that Betsy would sign the complaint. Ignoring Meg's pleas that she will, somehow, get Betsy back for him, Ben replies that this time she can't buy an out for him. It is time he grew up and became a man, and maybe then Betsy would return to him. Desperate, Meg goes to Betsy to beg her not to sign the paper and to offer a substantial trust fund for the baby. Once again she is coldly rebuffed. Betsy will not allow Meg's money to destroy her baby the way it destroyed Ben. Feeling Utterly Deserted Meg tells Rick that she wants out of the new project because she doesn't want Rick destroyed too, with her money. He is frantic, because this project is, to him, the answer to all his dreams, but philosophically he suggests they forget it for now and have a drink. Van's, as well as Eddie's, fears for Cal's happiness seem very well founded when, well into their cups, Rick and Meg embrace quite passionately. He seems to have forgotten that he is secretly engaged to Cal and that he has given his word to Van that he would never, intentionally, hurt Cal. Rick may be getting more than he bargains for when he says "go" to the Schuyler Mountain project. Meg will provide the financial backing -- without, she says, strings. He hopes she means it when she assures him that it is not a trade-off for their night together. Cal Losing Out? He asks himself what he has done, and when Cal arrives at the club, he is so preoccupied that he calls it short. Meg, standing unseen in the background, smiles when she hears Rick tell Cal not to mention their secret engagement to anyone. Jamie tells the District Attorney about Ben's bigamy. The D.A. begins an investigation into the matter. Compelled by honor, Bruce hands over a letter he secured from Betsy. In the letter, Ben admitted to Betsy that he was already married to Arlene. Bruce is fearful that his action will destroy the new family feeling -- the only good thing arising from this mess. He is right, at least as far as Meg is concerned. She will never forgive him. Her first move is to attempt to get Ben to leave the country. He says no. Her second is to get him a lawyer. At a meeting called at the D.A.'s office, Arlene, under subpoena, tries to stonewall the D.A. when he asks her about the bigamy; she is forestalled by her mother, who begs Arlene to be truthful. Horrified when she sees the damning letter, Arlene cannot understand how Betsy could supply the evidence against the father of her unborn child. After talking to his grandmother and Eddie Aleata, Ben takes heed of their heartfelt advice not to run away this time, to face up to the consequences of his actions and prepare the way for a kind of rebirth: to become a man. Ben Faces the Music To the surprise of everyone present in the D.A.'s office, especially the three important women in his life -- Betsy, Arlene, and Meg -- Ben walks into the meeting. He admits writing the letter and states that what it says is true. When formally charged, Ben calmly says that he has got a long way to go to make up for what he has done, but he regards this as a good start. Felicia, overwrought by her intense caring to Charles, finally has the beginning of a breakdown. Joe firmly tells her she must have some rest and orders to hire a nurse. Felicia looks worried at the announcement, and Charles's face mirrors displeasure.

By series end Lori Laughlin had departed and Karrie Emerson had taken over.She never clicked in the role as she lacked Lori's charisma.

From SOD New Kids On The Block LOVING’s Boys And Girls Of Summer Are Pumping The Show Full Of Young Blood By Jennifer Woodhouse You've read in these pages about LOVING's nationwide search to find new young talent. The hunt is over — now's your chance to judge the results. These fresh faces will be on LOVING's front burner all summer in stories that take the show, according to Executive Producer Fran Sears, "back to basics. We're going back to Alden University, which was so much a part of the show's beginnings." Not that the kids are flying solo, without benefit of family ties. According to Head Writer Addie Walsh, "We're connecting them strongly to their families; we're not just isolating them." Cooper is an Alden, Casey is Gift's son and Hannah is Dinah Lee's little sister. The writers are using these relationships, as well as the fraternity/sorority setting, as springboards for the new characters. The summer storylines revolve around Cooper Alden, their "wild card," according to Walsh. A traumatic incident lurks in rebellious Cooper's background. "We're building a classic quadrangle around him," reveals Walsh. Watch for action between Cooper, Hannah, Ally and Staige, with Kent acting as spoiler. Ally Rescott, an outsider to Corinth society, will learn the hard way that social climbing rarely pays. She is the first to attract Cooper. But Cooper is drawn to the sweet, innocent Hannah Mayberry, to whom he will open up like never before. "Hannah is the person who perceives the troubled soul in Cooper," says Walsh. "And that will be a major plot point." Meanwhile, Kent and Staige, AU's "face man" and "star girl" (terms the writers discovered when interviewing students about the Greek system), are out to cause nothing but trouble for Cooper. Nasty, nouveauriche Kent loathes the young Alden, and superficial Staige, Kent's girlfriend, wants Cooper — but only because he's an Alden. "Kent feels very threatened by Cooper coming onto his turf, which will result in physical and emotional injury for the young men," says Walsh. Casey Bowman, Giff Bowman's son, will act as a sobering force on the scene. "He finds himself in the position of a child raising a parent, which has matured him faster in some ways, but he lost some of his childhood. He is the wiser one of our kids. He's going to have a very strong effect on Ally, and there will be a chemistry between him and Ally that both of them will deny. They're like oil and water, but the oil and water might do a little mixing," Walsh hints.

A critique from Soap Opera Digest 1989 by John Kelly Genovese SANTA BARBARA is unquestionably the biggest cult soap since DARK SHADOWS. Its ratings never make headlines, but one would never know that by the way the show's followers talk about it. This is a loyal, vocal group that literally salivates over all the day-to-day action. Oddly enough, many of these viewers are he same folks who have watched ALL MY CHILDREN or AS THE WORLD TURNS for years, but they discuss the happenings on these shows in more reserved tones. Of course, there is a fundamental difference between DARK SHADOWS and SANTA BARBARA. While DARK SHADOWS was obvious camp (a Gothic horror poof with werewolves, vampires and time warps), SB doesn't fit neatly into any one category. Through most of its five years on the air, it has been an unlikely blend of Hamlet, MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTAN, SOAP, WHEEL OF FORTUNE and Waiting for Mr. Goodbar. Sure there have been serious moments. Cruz and Eden Castillo (A Martinez and Marcy Walker) dealt with Eden's rape with new level of dignity and maturity for daytime television — no soapy histrionics here. either Michael (Frank Runyeon) struggled convincingly as he questioned his commitment to the cloth (this was not a "guilt" storyline). Nonetheless, SANTA BARBARA became known mostly for its raunchier, funnier elements. Gina (Robin Mattson) wasn't just a vamp, she was an exhibitionist. Mason Capwell (Lane Davies) put away an average of a fifth of scotch per episode, yet was never too tongue-tied to deliver an erudite dig. And who could forget the much missed Lionel and Augusta Lockridge (Nicolas Coster and Louise Sorel), who proved that sex was not only alive after forty, but could be more fun than ever? In the past year, the show got even nuttier. Gina became entangled with a crossdresser named Bunny (Joe Marinelli). Mason was felled with amnesia and took on the alter-ego of redneck Sonny Sprocket. It was a hoot, but one began to wonder how much farther SB would go just to get laughs. We half expected Gina to become a nun, or Redd Foxx to show up as a long lost brother to millionaire C.C. Capwell (Jed Allan). Also, for far too long, the Capwells were the only family in town, and the writers seemed capable of writing for only one couple — Cruz and Eden. But then, SB shifted gear and turned into a good old-fashioned romance, reinstating a classic soap ingredient — the love triangle. In their search for infant daughter Adriana, Cruz and Eden crossed paths with psychic Sandra Mills (Miranda Wilson), who is obsessed with Cruz. Feisty Sophia (Judith McConnell) is rethinking her independence from C.C. with the advent of romance novelist Megan Richardson (Meg Bennett). Mason, recently married to Julia (Nancy Grahn), has been facing his drinking problem with the very interested support of Lisa DiNapoli (Tawny Kitaen). Dr. Scott dark (Vincent Irizarry) is caught between Heather (Jane Rogers), who is pregnant with his child, and a rekindled high school romance with Lisa's ex-hooker sis, Celeste (Signy Coleman). Michael — minus the collar — is reminded of his past with Laura Asher (Christopher Norris), wife of suspender-clad DA Ethan Asher (Leigh McCloskey). For SANTA BARBARA, this is pretty conservative stuff. Now that affairs of the heart have taken over, characters once again are allowed to sit and philosophize occasionally to examine their relationships without flippancy or risk of interruption. At the same time, the show never gets dreary. Mason and Julia enjoy sexual romps at the office; Gina still hurls her barbs; it is still great fun, but no longer absurd. This turn of events is largely due to the show's head writer, the underrated Charles Pratt, Jr., who has brought back the values that Bridget and Jerome Dobson (SB's creators) instituted at the beginning. The relationship between C.C. and Mason has always been tragic. It is a classic representation of millions of fathers and sons who never really accepted one another; whose attempts to connect were marred by mutual disapproval and distrust. As C.C. bares his soul to Megan for biographical purposes, and Mason looks at his life through out-of-body experience in Heaven (followed by AA), this relationship shows signs of a new beginning. And thank goodness for the humanizing of Gina. She's still one sexy wench, but she is once again being portrayed as a survivor whose one constant in life is her love for her son, Brandon (Justin Gocke). She, too, is looking at her circumstances through a new set of glasses; envying the simplicity and innocence of the people around her. When she and Brandon were held hostage by the psychotic Kirk Cranston (played chillingly by Joseph Bottoms), Gina showed fortitude and savvy in setting Kirk up for Cruz's trap. The woman may like sex and money, but she's not a total dingbat. These are examples of the wonderful "gray areas" that have made SB's characters so fascinating. Also better than ever is the overall caliber of the acting ensemble. Until recently, the cast was a combination of hits and misses. No more. The newcomers appear to be as strong as the veterans. Signy Coleman is absolutely endearing. Tawny Kitaen is one smashing lady — commanding in a self-assuredly feminine (never brash) way. Marcy Walker, Nancy Grahn and Judith McConnell also make for this brand of heroine. SB's male actors are equally strong. A Martinez proves that TV cops can be vulnerable and believable. Todd McKee (Ted Capwell) is an appealing young actor who deserves more challenging material than the cutesy stuff he is often given. Frank Runyeon and Vincent Irizarry seem far more focused and comfortable with their characters than they were on their previous soaps (ex-Steve, ATWT; ex-Lujack, GL, respectively), and they have proven they can be super male leads. Lane Davies? This is a master. He is the pathetic clown, the sardonic Greek chorus, the idealistic lawyer, the mischievous lover. Give this guy an Emmy. SANTA BARBARA has given its audience many moments of fun in what some consider to be a dour medium. And it's still fun. The show is simply growing

Elizabeth Savage played Lynx(!)on GH after her Loving stint.Then pretty much disappeared from view.

I am unclear as to the fate of Nola and her baby.I will dig out SODs from that time and let you know. By the way We Love Soaps is reporting that The Doctors will air on The Hallmark channel this year! No further news at this stage.

From SOD January 20 1981 Billy's mysterious calls to California are explained when Natalie Bell arrives in Madison. She had to be with him,but he's afraid thar her presence will ruin their plans. Natalie tells him not to worry. Billy and Natalie met when they both worked for Miss Van Allen,a wealthy woman in California. Miss Van Allen unwittingly planted the idea in Billy's brain for a scheme to gain a fortune. It seems Miss Van Allen inherited her brother's money.She also wanted custody of Van Allen's daughter ,who is none other than Greta Powers!(Greta's natural father was Maggie's first husband Kurt Van Allen.) Miss Van Allen lost the custody battle to Kurt's widow Maggie! Now that she is facing death,she wants Greta,her niece ,and only surviving relative,to be her sole heir. Billy and Natalie soon concocted a plan to get that money for themselves.He will marry Greta and...and what?What did Natalie mean when she said that Greta would not "be around much longer". Natalie tells Billy he must work very quickly,because Miss Van Allen's health is much worse..to speed things up,Natalie suggests that he try to "romance" Greta instead of hot passion."Appeal to her mind ,not just her body". Billy's new approach may just be successful.After convincing Greta to have lunch with him at The Medicine Man,he gets down to work.He smoothly apologizes for making love to her.It was because he was so relieved about Lee Ann that he got carried away.But it was all his fault and he feels terrible that she feels so guilty.Billy soon convinces Greta that he is kind,considerate ,and very loving.