Paul Raven

Thankyou again Carlfor all of this stuff you are sharing with us in the various posts. To answer my earlier question about actor Anthony Cannon and his character of Tom Barrett,he was involved with Althea. He might have been a victim of writer changes as Althea was next matched up with Scott Conrad. When Gerald Gordon returned in 77,did he usher Althea out of the show?

Interesting that SOD would print such a scathing critique of the show-in those days there was very little editorial comment. When they did do that sort of thing, it was usually to praise a particular performance or story. Here's aSOD synopsis from July 78 Charges will not be filed against Bentley -- and it's all due to Lee. Lee backs up Bentley's story with the police. Lee tells Sgt. Damico that Bentley had no idea that the cars he was driving to the garage at night were stolen. He told Bentley they came from a used car dealer. Though the prospects are greatly frightening him, Lee is still following through with Tessa's wishes and cooperating with the police. He learns from Sgt. Damico that the guys at the top of the stolen car ring are into more than stolen cars... and the Justice Department, as well as the police, are out to nail them. Sgt. Damico says that in return for turning state's evidence Lee will be spared from prosecution. He will also, under the Justice Department's Relocation Program, be given a new place to live and a new identity. When it comes time to testify, the Justice Department will bring him back to Pt. Claire. Lee's life will be fully protected. Giving up everything and everyone in his past is a high price -- but not that high a price -- to pay for his life, but can he expect Tessa to do the same? Does he really have the right to ask? Tessa proves he has every right when she tells him once again how much she loves him and how her place is now with him. Where he now goes, she goes. It will deeply hurt her far more to live without him. These are by far the most beautiful words Lee has ever heard. She is the first person who has had such total faith and belief in him. Lee tells Tessa he's never going to let her down. He's going to make the most of this second chance which has now been given him. Moving Right Along Megan is glowing. Jason is wearing a self-satisfied smile. Why? It's very simple. Jason proposed and Megan accepted. She is now wearing his ring, and in a very short while will be his wife. It is Jason's dream come true. He's finally going to be a fully accepted member of high society. He may not love Megan, but he'll definitely love the accoutrements that will go along with being her husband. He knows he will no longer have anymore trouble achieving even greater power at Cushing and Sons. His success is guaranteed. While Jason goes about his business, his ex-lover goes about hers. While she waits for Jason's signal -- which she's beginning to believe will never come -- Laurie is making sure her marriage to Desmond will be a comfortable one. She's going to make sure she has every material thing she ever wanted. It will not be at all hard for Laurie to achieve these desires. Desmond will do anything for her. She easily manipulates him into buying a glorious new home. It's a mansion-like dwelling situated on a grand plot of land. She may not have great love, but she hopes and prays this grand and wealthy life will make up for it. Laurie is steaming. She's now out for Jason's blood. He has taken her love and heart and pulverized them. She begged him to call off his upcoming marriage to Megan... but he wouldn't listen. Wealth and power are still of the primary importance to him. She can't make him see that without love these things along won't bring him happiness. Well, she's through pleading with him. As she warned Jason, she's going to make his life as miserable as he made hers. She no longer has any reason to hold back the blade. True to her word, Laurie secures the name of the private investigator who trailed her and Jason (Viola slipped and gave her the name) and she heads immediately for Chester Higgins's office. She tells him she wants to purchase all the file material he has on her and Jason. Chester responds he no longer has anything on their case. He ran everything through the shredder shortly after the assignment was completed. Laurie then takes her copies of the incriminating photos of her and Jason from her purse, and tells Chester she wants him to deliver these photos to Megan Cushing. Chester declines the assignment. Laurie doesn't let that stop her. She says she'll deliver the photos herself. ...No Time to Waste Jason hasn't taken Laurie's warning lightly -- and feeling thusly, has made some very quick plans of his own. Pleading the urgency of a great and undying love, Jason tells Megan he doesn't want to wait to the fall to get married... he wants to elope... now. At first reluctant, Megan finally gives in and agrees to an elopement. Jason is breathing easier. He feels that once he marries Megan, there'll be no way Laurie could wreck the relationship. Tessa goes to her folks to say good-bye. She tells them about the Justice Department's program and how this means she and Lee will never be able to come home again. It will put the lives of all their friends and family in jeopardy if they do. The knowledge that this is a final good-bye, forces Lester to forsake his pride and make up with his daughter. They have a tearful, but loving, parting. Connie's neurologist, Dr. Roy White, has given Connie and Bill some hopeful news. He says he knows of an experimental drug which might help Connie with her memory block -- and once this block is removed her fainting spells should disappear. Roy is glad to hear Bill and Connie agree to his request. Dr. Roy White has grown to look upon Connie as much more than his patient. He wants to do anything he can to help her. Lee and Tessa return home one night to find the place ransacked and a straw dummy with a knife in its back, hanging from the ceiling. Lee knows what that means. His conversations with the police are no longer a secret. The mob now knows he has turned stoolie. Lee runs to Sgt. Damico with the news and this detective says that means they can no longer put off Lee and Tessa's departure from Pt. Claire. They're to leave town tomorrow. Lee and Tessa get ready to do just that... but these plans are put aside by a phone call Tessa receives from her mother. Josie tells her, Lester has taken a bottle of whiskey and disappeared to parts unknown. He just couldn't take the thought of losing Tessa for good, and he is doing what he has always done during times of stress... he is seeking solace in booze. First telling her mother, she's not going to leave town until her daddy is found, Tessa then tells Lee to go on to Seattle without her. Lee refuses. He says he's not going to desert her during this critical time in her life. Poor Lee. It looks like he has just made a very unwise decision. His love for Tessa may end up costing him his life. Little does he know, Guy Sparks, Big Tony's flunky, has just hired a hit man to do Lee in. If Guy has his way, Lee is going to be burning in hell very, very soon. Too Late! Laurie arrives at the Cushing home... but it's too late. She's there when Megan telephones her mother to tell her that she and Jason have eloped. They couldn't wait until the fall. They have just gotten married at the City Hall in Rockford. Laurie is crushed. She can no longer delude herself into believing that Jason will someday be hers. His promises were nothing but lies. How is she going to find the strength to go on living knowing that she'll never be able to hold Jason in her arms again? The drug has started to work, Connie has begun to remember -- but she didn't think the price she'd be paying for the return of her memory would be so high. She had no idea that any part of those missing eight years would contain so much agony. What her mind's eye has just seen has caused a searing, brutalizing pain to rip through her body. She has just remembered the night Bill broke their engagement. The night he told her he had fallen in love with Megan Cushing. It was one of the most agonizing nights in her life, and now she is reliving this horrible moment. It causes her to scream aloud. Her piercing wails send Dr. Roy White rushing back into his office. She collapses in tears in his arms. She is very thankful for his comforting embrace. With Roger's resignation now official (he told Edith it's time her went back to managing his own firm), Edith now has a tough decision to make. Who is she going to select as the new president of Cushing and Sons: her son Austin or her new son-in-law Jason? It's not going to be an easy choice, both of these men are qualified, in different ways, for the position. She's indeed a tormented woman. Edith speaks of her dilemma to Roger and he suggests she put both men to the test. She should tell each of them they're up for the job. They'll have two months to show her their stuff. She'll make her decision at that time. Armed for Battle It is definitely going to be a raging, blazing war at Cushing and Sons. Austin is not going to hand Jason the job on a silver platter. He's still one person who doesn't buy his reformed act. He still feels very strongly that Jason is only out for Jason. He'll destroy the firm if he's appointed president... and he, Austin, has to do all he can to prevent that from happening... and he, Austin, has to do all he can to prevent that from happening... and he means to do just that! He couldn't live with himself, if he didn't fight Jason for the job.

Jan 1962 Secret Storm actor resigns after 8 years. Constant viewers of CBS long running daytime serial ' Secret Storm' are in for a mild shock next Monday. The face and figure of a principal character will be different - although the name will be the same and the plot will go on and on and on. After eight years of playing problem dogged Peter Ames, department store owner and widower with three children,actor Peter Hobbs has decided to quit after next Friday's episode. he is giving such short notice-his departure is not entirely amicable-that there's no time to wrap up the current storyline, and, as is the usual practice, send the character to India or some other remote place to cool off before bringing on the new actor to play the old role. "I' sorry to lose Hobbs", said Roy Winsor, producer of the show,"but his leaving isn't a real problem. There's just one answer-recast the part. In a daytime serial, it's the character,not the actor,that counts". Hobbs says he is leaving-"after all, eight years is enough"- largely because he has some television ideas of his own he wants to pursue. *Hobbs did return to daytime with roles on Bright Promise and Days.He also was in scores of primetime shows.Born in 1918, he is still living.

Jerry was written out,never to return.

You may already know this ,but Elizabeth Levin was the wife of Michael Levin (jack on RH) and David Cherill acted under the name C David Colson.He played Tom Hughes during the 70's.

Continuing LaGuardia's book The 70's 1970 After a bitter misundersatanding with Steve, the pregnant Carolee married psychotic Dr Dan Allison (Richard Higgs). Jealous, and deserate to keep Steve and Carolee apart, Dan- who knew he was dying of heart disease-took his own life and made his suicide look as though Steve had murdered him. steve was tried and found guilty, but just before sentence was to be passed, Carolee and Dan;s son Billy (Bobby Hennessy) found Dan's old diary, which proved Steve innocent. English actor Patrick Horgan played John Morrison, the unscrupulous psychiatrist who married Althea right after her divorce from Nick. To keep his new wife and Nick apart, he manipulated neurotic nurse Kathy Ryker (Holly Peters, Carol Pfanderr,Nancy Barrett) through psychiatry into faking a pregnancy so that Nick would marry her. Eventually his schemes fell apart: Kathy killed herself in an attempt to kidnap Steve and Carolee's new baby, and John Morrison was murdered. 1972 Steve and Carolee were married on March 9th. There was happiness but also hidden anguish as Maggie was tormented by the idea that she was losing her mind (in reality she had a brain tumor). Mike Powers and Toni Ferra (Anna Stuart) the new lab technician had fallen in love. Toni's long lost mother Barbara Ferra (Nancy Franklin) suddenly showed up at Hope Memorial, Some of her past was seamy, but she redeemed herself by preventing Dr Vito McCray (Paul Henry Itkin) fro breaking up her daughter's engagement to Mike. Toni and Mike were wed and Barbara left town. Celebrating their 9th anniversary were Sally Gracie (Martha),David O'Brien (Steve), Katherine Squire (Emma,Carolee's mother),Lydia Bruce(Maggie) Allen Potter(producer), Jim Pritchett (Matt), Liz Hubbard (Althea), Paul Henry Itkin (Vito), Palmer Deane (Hank),Bobby Hennessy (Billy), and Jennifer Houlton (Greta). Steve and Carolee were happy with new daughter Stephanie, until Steve's interfering mother Mona (Meg Mundy) came from Boston and tried to cause trouble for them. Possessive and willful,she tried to convince Steve that Carolee wasn't good enough for him, but failed. The Doctors had several storylines involving black characters. Hank Iverson (Palmer Deane) had a romance with nurse Lauri James (Marie Thomas) Lauri had been a singer,but because of fear,gave it up to become a nurse. Althea's daughter Penny, who had been out of the story at boarding school,became an important character now played by Julia Duffy. Penny desperately tried to get Nick and Althea back together. In 1974 she was accused of murdering John Morrison, but was proven innocent. Geraldine Court came on as Ann Larimer, who was going to marry Nick until she contracted a rare (and fictitious) tropical disease, Obonda Fever, which left her unable to have sexual relations. Both Geraldine Court and Gerald Gordon left in 1974 but returned in 1976. 1974 Gil Gerard and Mary Denham played Dr Alan Stewart and his wife Margo. After Margo died and Mike Powers, who was hooked on drugs,ran off to a desert island and was reported killed, Alan and Toni Ferra Powers (now pregnant) fell in love and were married.But then Mike (now Armand Assante) turned up alive and Toni was torn between the two. Toni called her baby Paul. Alan left town. 1975 Leslie Ray was emotionally disturbed art student Stacy Wells, who had won the affections of singer Andy Anderson (Lloyd Bremseth) Penny was attracted to Andy and resented the relationship.Andy was written out by the end of the year. Lauren White played nurse MJ Match, Penny's roommate, best friend and confidante, After a brief relationship with Dr Alan Stewart, MJ became interested in Dr Kevin McIntyre but he was less serious about the relationship than she. When Matt went through male menopause and showed signs of irritability, Maggie became worried. Matt eventually accepted the course of nature and their troubles subsided.

In the article posted above,LaGuardia talks about popular leading men like Gil Gerard and Anthony Cannon leaving.All i have been able to find on Anthony cannon is that he played Dr Tom Barrett. Can anyone supply details of the character and his storylines?

Gil Gerard was on from 74-76 Re Mike- after Peter Burnell-68/74,each Mike only lasted a few years.Michael Landrum-74/75,Armand Assante-75/77,John Shearin-77-79,James Storm-79/81, Ashby Adams-81/82 and finally Stephen Burleigh in 82.

Thanx Carl.Loving these old articles. Dino Narizzano had been very popular on SFT as Len Whiting.I wonder if TD poached him to bolster their ratings? Whatever the case Dino/Kevin didn't make much of an impression and he ended up back on Search. The previous article talking about the shows problems rang true in that the show had heavily relied on Steve/Carolee,Althea/Nick and Matt/Maggie.Mike/Toni had been popular but I think Armand Assante was not suited to the Mike Powers character and popular Gil Gerard left.Once these couples were together there was nothing as strong to fill the void so the writers were faced with splitting them up to create story,which viewers probably resented. TPTB have to be really clever about having the next couples ready to take over and keep viewers interested.

Val Dufour was gay and is Morgan Fairchild a lesbian? I ask this in light of the fact that she has never had a publicized serious relationship and is single and over 50. Those 'dating' stories don't mean much.

i think that Lauren White left at the end of her contract. Carla Dragoni was cast as MJ but when Kathy Glass left OLTL (was she fired?) TD snapped her up and Dragoni was dumped.

That article was a real treat. Was any explanation given as to what happened to Janet's child by Bud? It's interesting that Janet and Patti were originally roughly the same age but when Milee Taggart took over in 71,Janet now had two teen children while Patti was still in her 20's.Did the writers rewrite that Janet and Patti were friends?

From LaGuardia's book Jan 4th 1954 When TBD premiered, the Dennis family and some of their friends had moved to the town of New Hope after their homes had been washed away by a horrendous flood. Liz,the oldest Dennis had had a breakdown and been institutionalized before the show went to TV. Brooke Byron was the first actress to play Althea Dennis Bigby on TV. Althea had many worries. When the story began on TV,her husband Bruce had died in Korea, leaving her to care for infant daughter,Spring.Having gotten a job touring in a play,Althea was crushed on the first night by a falling sandbag.She had now returned to her family and was prone to frequent fits of hysteria. Her brother, Grayling, discovered she had stopped her psychiatric treatment and persuaded her to became a patient of her brother in law Dr Randy Hamilton (Larry ward). She later left for New York to become a glamorous career girl. 1956 Blair Davies replaced Bill Smith as Rev Richard Dennis. Mona Bruns was his widowed sister,Emily Potter, and Jayne Heller mow played Althea. "Aunt" Emily otter soon became the show's mother figure. The love story between Rev Max Canfield(Herb Nelson) and Lydia Harrick(Muriel Williams) was extremely popular with viewers. The couple wed after overcoming numerous obstacles. 1957 Lori March played Lenore,Lydia's spoiled rich sister. The warm and loving life that Max,Lydia and the Dennis family led helped Lenore change into a more sympathetic person. Lori stayed with the show a year and a half. 1958 Gloria Hoye played Sandra Talbot, a new arrival in new Hope. At first, Sandra was mysterious, but later it was revealed that she had once been involved with Robert Ralston (Mark Daniels) a shady character who had become Grayling's business partner. Grayling and Sandra married. He had a drinking problem, but later overcame it. Some years later, Sandra had a nervous breakdown over her inability to conceive and became insanely convinced she was pregnant. Meanwhile, Grayling had a brief affair with her nurse. 1960 Mary K Wells played Sandra during the later troubled years of her marriage to Grayling.Grayling was now played by James Noble. 1961 Nancy Malone now played the youngest daughter Babby Dennis, who had a tender love story with tough gambler Peter Nino (Joe Sirola) 1962 Richard and Emily's luckless, misfit brother Walter (Paul Langton) came to visit them and stayed on longer than they would have liked.Walter was dreamer and Emily would reprimand him. June Dayton was the last actress to play Patsy, whose psychiatrist husband,Dr Randy Hamilton, was now dead.Patsy turned to alcohol and Poppa Dennis tried to console her. Blair Davies and Mona Bruns, although not original cast members, were the show's mainstays, remaining until it left the air. Emily,who wore a lace collar on almost every show, and Richard usually spent a great deal of time in the kitchen talking over the family's problems. scenes such as these will always be remembered by fans. Mona Bruns gives an excellent account of her years in the show in her autobiography By Emily Possessed.

Thank you Bojangles for this. During the wedding eps,they also played the story of Maggie thinking she was losing her mind(it was actually a brain tumour) Mike Powers(Peter Burnell) and Toni Ferra (Anna Stuart) were also at the wedding.

I'm sure there are many more episodes retained by producers,directors,actors etc. For example Ann Williams children had Search episodes never seen before from 76.

Robin Eisenman was the first Jennifer. She later played Nurse Stacey on GH and subbed as Nikki on Y&R. I can't imagine George Gaynes as Sam.Was this intentional to make Sam less appealing and strengthen Jo/Tony? I agree with Carl about Sayno's posts. It is great to read his perspective on the soaps of that time. Please keep posting,it is much appreciated. Carl,unfortunately i cannot tell you which issue the synopsis is from as I have the synopsis only,not the complete issues.

I believe that Bunim started her soap career on search as a production assistant or similar and worked her way up.It's sad to think that she wanted to get rid of Jo,the only constant (apart from Stu)from the beginning.One factor may have been that Mary Stuart was very vocal and protective of her character and the show and perhaps Bunim saw this as some sort of threat. Carl,thanks for posting the article.Do have any others in the series? It's interesting to see an opinion piece from that time rather than just a synopsis.As regards the treatment of 'feminist' characters,perhaps it's indicative of the the attitudes of the time. The viewers were homemakers and so career women were presented as less than sympathetic to make women at home feel good about themselves.Kathy had an abortion and was presented as selfish for not wanting a child. I read that Tony Vincente was killed off because Anthony George wanted to leave.I think Jo and Tony were popular,especially considering that Tony came along after Sam,who was very popular as partner to Jo.I can imagine that with Jo and Tony happy,there wasn't much for them to do and Anthony George may have been bored in the role. Tony and Jo were married in 72 and he died in 75. Jo had a tough year in 76,being shot in May and then having her sister shot in November! Courtesy of French Fan July 74 Search For Tomorrow Written by : Gabrielle Upton Produced by : Woody Klose Paula Markham insisted the arrival of her former fiance, Mitch Farmer meant nothing and insisted she and Stu went on with their wedding plans. However, Stu forced her to admit she had feelings for Mitch. He cancelled the wedding and left Paula and Mitch plan their life together. Eunice was upset that upon returning from their honeymoon, John would rather attend a charity ball than rush to bring home her daughter Suzie who was having trouble adjsting to John. Len, after leaving Seattle to be with Patti, began drinking heavily when he learned the doctor who replaced him was taking credit for his work. Jennifer was furious to learn her mother suffered a heart attack and her father did not tell her. She asked Scott to accompany her home to Wahsington where her mother died. She sought comfort from Scott. Mr. Pace told Jennifer he liked Scott but opposed the fact Scott was married. In Washington, Scott saw Doug and learned he was walking again. He explained his situation with Kathy. When Kathy called to tell Scott she had finished in California, Jennifer answered and Scott told Kathy that he and Jennifer were having an affair. Shocked, she asked Doug’s help and told him Scott had to be back to Henderson or she’d go to Europe. Doug took his car to find his son. Meanwhile, Len, drunk, drove into Doug’s car. He reported the accident anonymously and left without noticing Doug was the passenger. Tony operated on Doug but injuries raised the possibility he might not work again. Len was upset to overhear a policeman saying the hit and run car would be tracked down by paint smears on Doug’s car. Scott felt great guilt. Jennifer supported him but Scott realized Kathy must have thought he would not want to save their marriage and had already left. Stephanie confronted Tony on his feelings. He admitted being physically attracted to her but he loved Jo. Upset, Stephanie took time foff to visit her step-mother, Rainey who cared for Stephanie’s nine year old daughter, Wendy. She decided to bring them to Henderson. Patty learned Stephanie had a child and Stephanie said she divorced Wendy’s father after two years of marriage. Jump forward to June 76 Jennifer snuggles close to John. She loves these early morning hours when she can bathe in his manly scent, while he sips his cup of coffee. She feels so warm, protected and safe in his arms. (the arms that she lied to get!) It's a perfectly beautiful way to start the day. Happiness (sometimes) is a fleeting thing. Jennifer's morning happiness is interrupted by the ringing of her doorbell. This blond (lying) lovely is quite surprised to see a police officer standing in her doorway. He comes bearing (he feels) good news. The officer tells Jennifer they have picked up the man who attacked her, and they would like Jennifer to come down to the station and identify him. The color drains from Jennifer's face, turning her cream white complexion even whiter. She tries to get out of going downtown (she feigns fright) but John convinces her identifying the man is the only right thing to do. Jennifer's caught; there's no way out, she agrees to look at the line up. After the policeman leaves, John tells Jennifer she need have no fear that he will pack up and go as soon as she identifies the man. "I can't leave," John confesses, "it suddenly dawned on me that I don't want Eunice anymore." Liza's beauty and Steve's songwriting ability may end up enriching (financially, anyway) their lives. Liza is offered a job as a model and Steve has composes a catchy folk tune, which he has sent out to recording companies. The coming days may hold a few surprises for the Kaslos Davis Lands a Job Henderson has gotten a new resident. David Sutton is remaining in town. He has gotten himself a job as an investigator with Scott's law firm, Anderson & Fine. Christopher Delon (alias Miller) also has a new job. He tells Jo he'll be working for the Henderson Herald. Jo's hospital room is bedecked with flowers. Liza walks over to the windowsill and wistfully touches a petal of a yellow rose. Steve follows and tenderly takes his wife's other hand. Bruce and Jo simultaneously look at their watches, then glance over at the justice of the peace. He too, looks at his watch and notices that he's not the only one anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bride. He has a heavy schedule and he wishes that the young woman would hurry up and make her entrance. His wish is answered; Amy breathlessly enters the room. She apologizes for her tardiness, saying she couldn't put Tory to sleep. Amy then positions herself next to Bruce. She stands rigidly by his side, until the justice of the peace says the final words: "You may kiss the bride." These words have the impact of a gale force wind, they push the tensions of the last few days right out of her. Amy collapses in tears in Bruce's arms. This release may mean a happy, new beginning for Bruce and Amy. Their wedding night (spent in the bridal suite of Hartford House) is tender and romantic. It looks as though this marriage may not be the cold, arrangement-type union Amy originally had in mind. While one marriage begins, another one is coming to an end. Scott has given John the legal separation agreement, and all that is needed to end the Wyatt marriage is John's signature on the dotted line. John is not so quick to sign. He doesn't like what he reads. Eunice states point blank (legal point, by legal point) that she doesn't want any financial help (all she is asking for is minimal child support). Clutching the agreement in his hand, John arrives at his old place of residence to discuss this grave error her feels Eunice is committing. Eunice tells John that's how she wants things; she wants to make it on her own. Seeing that he can't persuade his wife to change her mind, John agrees to go along with her wishes. Daddy, Daddy, Where Can You Be Scott and Kathy have a problem on their hands. Eric has expressed the repeated desire to know who -- and where -- his father is. Scott doesn't want to tell him. Discussing the matter with Kathy, Scott says: "I don't want Eric to know what a louse his father is. The man was a liar and blackmailer who deserted him!" Surprise! Surprise! "Gwen!" Chris utters in amazement as he sees his ex-wife standing outside his door. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" Gwen replies. She doesn't let Chris's gaping mouth throw her; she's the model of cool sophistication. Chris motions his former wife inside. Once in the confines of his room, Gwen wastes no time getting to the point. She tells him she wants to get back together. "I was stupid and foolish. I should have trusted you. I should have realized you weren't having an affair; I should have known there must have been another reason for your constant disappearances. This reason was only recently revealed to me in a newspaper article detailing your heroic exploits. After I read that article, I headed straight for Henderson and vowed to myself not to return to San Francisco unless you are with me." Chris tries to tell Gwen it would be futile for her to hand around and hope. "It's too late," Chris says. "Whatever I felt for you has long since died." These words fall on deaf ears, Gwen's adamant in her decision to get Chris back. The living room of the Phillips' house seems to reverberate with the harshness of Eric's words. Eric has just lashed into Scott saying he'll never forgive him for not telling him Ralph Hayward, the man who used to live next door, is his father (Eric found out the identity of his father by reading his birth certificate). Scott tries to make Eric understand that he couldn't tell him, but Scott reveals nothing about Ralph's true character, so these words are too empty to soothe the hurt feelings of the young boy. Kathy advises Scott that the best way to handle the situation is to find Ralph and have Eric meet him face-to-face. "Eric's an intelligent and perceptive young boy and it won't take him long to realize his father's true nature." Scott ponders over Kathy's suggestion. "Hello, Jo. I'm Gwen Delon," says the cool, controlled figure standing in front of Jo. Jo's really not surprised to see Gwen, she knew it was only a matter of time before she met Chris's ex-wife. It only stands to reason that the former wife (especially if the wife isn't exactly happy with her "former" status) would be desirous to meet with the new woman in her ex-husband's life. Jo listens quietly and patiently to Gwen's words. It pains Jo, but she realizes that Chris wasn't very fair to his ex-wife. After all, Gwen only divorced him because she thought he was having an affair (what else was a woman to think when her husband disappeared for days at a time!) Jo can see that Gwen is still very much in love with her former husband and Jo can't be sure that Chris doesn't feel the same for her (even though Chris denies repeatedly that he still loves Gwen). It's not hard to guess Chris's feelings about Gwen's visit. It angers him to see the impact she made on Jo. Jo is now more unsure than ever about marrying him. Tying the Knot Scott walks Ellie down the aisle. He positions her next to Stu and then takes his seat. The ceremony begins. The love shines from both Ellie and Stu as they listen to the minister's words. It's a traditional ceremony and it ends with the very traditional: "You may kiss the bride." Stu obliges, placing a semi-passionate kiss on Ellie's lips. They no sooner break from their embrace, then they're besieged with the well-wishes of their friends and family. Stu and Ellie have to fight back their tears. This is the happiest moment in their lives. It's a moment that's made even more blissful by Jo singing a song she wrote especially for them. Jo's lilting voice, accompanied by Bruce's guitar, caresses the air and cradles them in an embrace of love. Woody Reed, big head of a modeling agency, has big plans for Liza (and it doesn't look as if these plans are strictly business!!) Woody offers Liza a $500 modeling assignment in Hawaii. Liza surprises Woody; she turns him down cold. She says she can't leave her husband; even if it is for only a few days. Woody tries to make Liza see the error of her ways, but she's adamant in her decision. Liza's spunk doesn't turn Woody off, in fact he finds it quite a refreshing change. He's too used to models jumping at any tidbit he offers them.

In answer to an earlier question,Kathryn Harrold left at the end of 77 after Jason and Nola married. When they returned from their honeymoon,Kathleen Turner was playing Nola.

Three more in 1977 AW John Aprea,who would later appear as Lucas,replaced David Ackroyd as Dave Gilchrist while Ackroyd filmed a pilot called 'Exo-Man' AMC Humphrey Davies subbed for Hugh Franklin as Charles Tyler when Franklin had a gall bladder attack and was hospitalized. OLTL Susan McArthur replaced Kathy Glass as Jenny

Would love to read the L&F write up. As for the performance of the show,both CBS and ABC had quite an advantage in that SFT had been running in that slot for over 25 years and RH had made quite an impression also,both critically and ratings wise. SFT was in 5th place and RH in 8th (after only 2 years,ahead of OLTL and GH and doing well in young demos) NBC had never run a soap in that timeslot and their soaps were tumbling. AW was still #2 but Days was #7 and TD #11 Add to that the negative reaction to the show itself and you have a recipe for disaster. Yanking it off air seems quite drastic.Other new soaps have retooled while on air and the changes made after all those months were minimal anyhow. Then to come back as FRFP and be slotted at 1.00 was insane. NBC hadn't run a network show in that slot since the 50's. And to go up against AMC which was peaking was madness. And the lead in was the flop talkshow America Alive. Maybe if they had been slotted at 4.00 after AW or at 2.30 following Days and moving The Doctors. I would love to know more behind the scenes stuff about daytime at that time. Who was NBC daytime boss?

Looking at the cast of FRFP it's interesting to see that several performers quickly moved to other shows,while some vanished off the face of the earth. Rod Arrants and Stephen Burleigh went to SFT Stephen Joyce,Christine Jones and Richard Backus went to AW Cynthia Bostick and Dennis Romer to ATWT Robert Burton to TD Breon Gorman to OLTL Whatever happened to Flora Plumb,David Abbott, Julia MacKenzie etc?

Thought I'd start an official thread for these two. SOD synopsis Jan 78 Connie still hasn't gotten Bill to marry her... but she isn't given up yet. Plan A (pretending to give their soon-to-be-born baby up for adoption) failed miserably, but plan B (faking suicide) should work well. Plan A should have resulted in wedding bells; but what Connie heard instead was the sound of the judge's gavel. Bill took her to court. Wanting desperately to block the adoption, he sued for custody of their child. He didn't win the suit, but he did get the court to recognize his rights as the baby's father. Connie could no longer place the child up for adoption without his consent. Cynthia Bostick as Connie Ferguson Connie leaves the courtroom with dreams of plan B floating through her head. She'll fake this suicide by pretending to OD on sleeping pills. She'll take only a few pills... but an empty bottle will be found at her side. Only she and Lee will know that the rest of the pills were flushed down the toilet. Bill will learn of this act and then assume the suicide was for real. He'll then marry her... she knows it. Lester's self-esteem is eroding more and more by the day... and the situation isn't helped when he learns his son Bentley is dropping out of college to get a job to support the family. Supporting the family is the job of the father, not the son, but obviously this father isn't man enough to do his duty. He can't find work... of any kind. These thoughts build and build in Lester's mind until he can no longer take the pressure. He needs something for the pain. He runs from the house and heads for a bar. He takes his first drink in a long... long... while. Danger Ahead? Since her break up with Bill, Megan has been burying herself in her work as a reporter for City Magazine. She asks her editor and friend, Stan, for a really tough assignment and he gives her one. He brings a woman, Mrs. Mildred Quinn, in to see her and tells Megan this woman has a real shocking story to tell. The tale Mildred relates to Megan is one of horror and heartbreak. She says her neighborhood is being terrorized by street gangs and her son Donny died as a result of this terrorism. These gangs force tenants out of apartments, steal their belongings, and then set fire to the who apartment structure. Her son Donny died trying to protect an elderly neighbor from these vicious hoods. These scum of the earth beat her sweet teenage boy and left him to die in the subsequent fire. Megan writes Donny's story and then decides she wants to dig deeper. She feels a major crime ring is really behind these arsons and burglaries... they just use these gangs to do their dirty work. These criminal kingpins are very aware that as the law stands now teenagers are not sent to jail. Megan tells Mildred of her desire and asks for help. Mildred agrees. Life seldom works out as you plan... such is the lesson Connie will learn... if she ever returns to this life. Right now she is lying in a deep coma in a hospital. This wasn't supposed to happen. She was to have been discovered long before the pills' poisonous substance had a chance to filter into her bloodstream... but obviously this didn't happen. Her would-be rescuer (her great love, Bill) didn't read her suicide note until it was too late. She may have been picturing him reading her scripted prose as she popped pill after pill... but little did she know that was not the case. Bill was protecting his great love, not reading her good-bye words, as she slipped into unconsciousness. She had left the note in his camera case thinking he had an assignment, but Bill had cancelled the shoot to play Lord protector to Megan. (She was meeting with Paco, information minister for the Savage Avengers, and Bill wanted to make sure no harm would come to her.) Too Late Bill returned to his apartment, found the note, and rushed right over to the Ferguson's. He was greeted at the door by a grief stricken and violently angry Lee. His eyes flashing, Lee shoved the empty pill bottle in his face and said, "You did this to my sister. She would never have tried to kill herself if you had done the right and honorable thing and married her." Bill is shaken. He may no longer love Connie, but he still cares for her. Lee's words hit hard and deep. He steels himself for a torturous stay at the hospital. He prays Connie and their baby will be all right. Albert Stratton as Lester Saxon Lester's dark days are over. he has found a job. He'll be working at Desmond's young and growing law firm as an office manager/paralegal assistant. Desmond, long an admirer of Lester's, jumps at the chance to hire him, after he finds out from George that Lester did legal work in the army. Lester is very thankful to Desmond for having trust and faith in him. It's not everyone who would hire an alcoholic -- as Lester has had the sorrow to discover. Listening in on the extension, Viola overhears Laurie setting up a rendezvous with Jason. She doesn't interfere with her daughter's plans... it will have far greater impact if she catches her in the act... and that's exactly what she does. Viola was hoping her surprise appearance would leave Laurie quaking and shivering and kissing Jason good-bye... but that isn't what happens. Her daughter is now no longer so easily dominated. She is developing backbone. She tells her she'll come home when she's ready. Laurie is strong in front of her mother, but alone with Jason she breaks down. Jason is very cool. He tells Laurie she has nothing to fear. Viola isn't going to tell Desmond. She wants that marriage far more than Laurie does. She wouldn't do or say anything to wreck it -- after all, to be honest, didn't Laurie marry Desmond mainly to please mommy? Well, she no longer has to. She now can be with a man who she, not mommy, loves. If Laurie plays her cards right, their affair could go on for years. The outlook for Connie is very grim. She came out of the coma... but then developed a serious lung infection... and subsequently after that she went into labor. The birthing of her baby was very hard on Connie. It took even a greater toll on her already battered body. Dr. Ballard tells Bill things don't look good for either Connie or her two-month premature baby. Dr. Ballard's words do little to lessen Bill's guilt. He feels very responsible. The sight of Bill's guilt gladdens Connie's brother's heart. It brings Lee almost as much pleasure as the success of his business. He's getting quite wealthy on what really goes on in his garage. His reputable small business is really a front for a stolen car operation. How does he get the cars? It's as easy as pie. For a small fee, he gets the gang to which Paco belongs, The Savage Avengers, to steal them. Poor Bentley. He has no idea what he's getting into. Very anxious for a job, he approaches Lee about work in his garage. Lee replies her thinks he may have something for him. Right now Bentley is very excited about working for Lee... but what will happen when he finds out what really goes on in this business? A Trick Works Julia MacKenzie as Laurie Brewster Hamilton Viola resorts to trickery to keep Laurie under her thumb -- and hopefully away from Jason. What method of underhandedness does she use? It's the old fake heart attack routine -- and it works like a charm. Laurie later tells her good friend Megan that she, Laurie, is to blame for her mother's condition. She brought on her mother's heart attack by something terrible she has been doing. Megan asks for a further explanation, but Laurie says she can't tell her. Well, if Laurie does pull away from Jason, he won't be lacking for female companionship for long. He already has his sights on another woman. It's Megan! Jason is very aware it will be quite beneficial to his career if he married the boss's daughter. Edith would never kick a son-in-law out of Cushing and Sons. Will Megan be hard to get? According to Connie, no. A few days before she overdosed on pills, Connie told Jason, Megan is very vulnerable right now. If he plays his cards right, she'll be eating out of his hands in no time. While Connie hovers near death and Bill stays close to her side promising marriage as soon as she's well, Ellie and her husband George have both become aware of her underhandedness. Ellie learns from Dr. Ballard that Connie never made arrangements to have an abortion -- in fact she never even gave him the slightest hint she wanted one. It is very shocking news because the reason Connie gave Bill for not telling either him or Megan about the baby until his supposed wedding day to Megan, was that she was planning to get an abortion, but then couldn't go through with it. Ellie tells George what she learned and he advises her to forget it... don't say anything... don't interfere. Wise words, but will he be able to obey them when he himself learns a new bit of news a few hours later? Walking by the lounge area, he inadvertently overhears a conversation between Lee and Amy. Lee is telling Amy the suicide was a set up. He got Connie the pills. It wasn't supposed to go this far, but Bill didn't read the note as quickly as Connie thought he would. It was all a game. She just wanted to show Bill how much he was making her suffer. George digests the news... but will he speak out... or keep quiet? Laurie goes to Jason's apartment with every intention of doing her mother's bidding and breaking off with him, but she leaves as much involved with him as ever. Jason told her she'd be throwing their love away for nothing. Viola didn't really have a heart attack. She faked it. A Scheme Unlocked Laurie didn't want to believe Jason's words, but when she returns home and finds a medical text with the part about heart attacks underlined, what else is she to think. She confronts Viola and tells her she got her number. Her trick has been discovered. She no longer has any guilt. She's going to continue seeing Jason. There's no way she's going to give up the greatest love she's ever had.

I think under earlier incarnations, Billy was presented as a little immature and irresponsible-unable to deal with being a teen father.when he returned as played by Alec Baldwin,he had turned into a more scheming character. It's interesting to see how the stories played out at that time and how the vet characters were front and center reacting to their childrens' lives. Nowadays, that would be reduced to a few scenes played out once every one or two weeks.

saynotyoursoap,thank you for those corrections. I was not sure of some of those dates as I typed them and was going to cross check,but ran out of time.... Here's a summary of SOD synopsis from late 1980 Greta brings Lee Ann home from hospital. Matt and Maggie notice a change in her -she puts off calling Brad. greta admits that she grew closer to Billy during this trying time, which infuriates Matt,who has little time for Billy. Matt summons Billy and tells him to stay away. Billy says he has fallen in love with Greta and knows the same thing is happening to her. Matt talks to Steve,who wants to believe Billy but admits that Matt's doubts are valid. Billy spins Steve the same line. Greta tells Brad she can't marry him right now-and he knows Billy is behind this. Darcy offers Brad solace. speaking from experience, she says old loves can spoil new loves. Greta does confide in MJ that she doesn't feel good enough for Brad. MJ says Brad can decide that for himself. Billy is persistently wearing down Greta's defences. Ashley confusion over Jack and John deepens when Jack says they have to face up to the fact that they love each other.John declaring that Jack stay away is an indication that he won't let Ashley make her own choices. Ashley tells John she has to realize that she is growing and changing. John's actions may be driving Ashley towards Jack. Leroy hassles Bobbie and Calvin tells Terry he thinks she may not be able to escape her ast. Steve and Carolee are at odds.She sides with Matt,which angers Steve as he has decided to trust Billy.He says they should be united on such matters.Vivica witnesses an argument and is pleased to offer Steve her support. at the custody hearing,Nola and Jason make statements, but despite her impassioned pleas, Jason wins custody.Mona is thrilled but puzzled that Nola doesn't react as expected. Nola is tempted to drink,rant and rave but will not give Mona the satisfaction.Even Jason is impressed.When Nola comes to visit Jessica,Mona demands to know what game she's playing. Nola merely replies that she has accepted the situation. She tells Jason she has reflected on her mistakes and wants to learn and change.Later,Jason tells Steve he is impressed with Nola and tells Mona not to hassle her. Carolee realizes the children are aware of her and Steve's arguments and tries to negotiate with Steve, but it turns into another argument. Jack is surprised when Ashley tells him she won't be seeing him.He won't let them be friends and allow her to work on her marriage,so they must part. Will jack accept this? Bobbie is thrilled that Calvin and Terry have prepared a nursery for herself and her daughter .Terri lays out education options to help Bobbie turn her life around,but then Bobbie remembers Leroy's threats and feels trapped. Terry decides to seek out Bobbie's family. Billy's mysterious phone friend from California arrives in the form of one Natalie Bell.Natalie worked for Greta's aunt,whois now dying and wants to make Greta her sole heir.Billy and Natalie want that money, so Billy will marry Greta and then...? Natalie suggests to get things moving he tries romancing Greta rather than using passion-appeal to her mind,not her body. Billy tells Greta that he was carried away when they made love and apologizes,convincing Greta of his honesty and kindness. Maggie tells Greta she has to be honest with Brad and trust him. Maggie fears Greta is falling in love with Billy.Brad is bewildered by Greta's new attitude and Darcy suspects Billy may be the root cause and Greta has feelings for him.Darcy has decided that if Greta doesn't want Brad,she may step in.

The Doctors - The 60's (from LaGuardia's book) 1963 When it premiered, The Doctors was not the continuing drama it is today, but a half hour anthology series centred around life at Hope Memorial Hospital.Each episode featured only one of the show's four leading players: Fred J Scollay as hospital chaplain Sam Shafer, Jock Gaynor as Dr Willia Scott, Margot Moser as Dr Elizabeth Hayes and Richard Roat as Dr Jerry Chandler. After a few months, the daily stories became weekly. 1964 Early in the year,the show became a continuing serial. The stars were now Jim Pritchett as Dr Matt Powers,Ann Williams as Dr Maggie Fielding,and Richard Roat and Fred Scollay from the original cast. Jim Pritchett is still on the show today. The early story emphasized the attraction between Matt and Maggie. She was originally married to Alec Fielding (Charles Braswell.Joseph Campanella). After the death of Alec,memories of his late wife Grace kept Matt from marrying Maggie. Distraught,she married Kurt Van Allen(Byron Saunders) on the rebound. 1965 Major cast members included; Adam Kennedy as wealthy cattle baron Brock Hayden,who wanted to marry Maggie but was murdered,Ellen McCrae as Dr Kate Bartok (now known as Ellen Burstyn,Academy award winner), Elizabeth Hubbard as Dr Althea Davis, and Gerald S O'Loughlin as hospital custodian Pete Banas. After Ann Willias became pregnant and quit, Bethel Leslie was cast as Maggie Fielding. Bethel played out the complicated Kurt Van Allen story. The marriage was bad and Kurt finally ran off-he was later reported killed on a South Sea island. 1966 Dr Althea Davis, head of the Outpatients Clinic, became engaged to Matt even though he still loved Maggie. Althe was divorced fro Dave Davis (Karl Light) and had two children Penny and Buddy. Morgan Sterne and Meg Myles came on for a year as troubled married couple, Keith and Harriet Wilson. Their teenage daughter Liz, tried to rebel against her archly conservative mother, who later suffered a breakdown. Her husband took her away,but Liz stayed on. 1967 Matt's teenaged son Mike(Harry Packwood) and the popular Liz Wilson (Pamela Toll) provided a story of Young Love. Liz almost fell to her death from a hospital ledge after taking a psychodalic drug that Mike had made as an experiment. Terry Kiser was Dr John Rice, a nice young man who wanted to help Liz. He stayed on till 1969. 1968 Pamela Toll was given a going away party when she left the show to do a Walt Disney movie.The same year, Bethel Leslie also departed for Hollywood, shortly after Matt and Maggie were finally wed. Gerald Gordon had just joined as brain surgeon Nick Bellini. Lydia Bruce replaced Bethel Leslie and has been in the part ever since. Nancy Donohue played Nancy Bennett. As a nurse in charge of rehabilitation of disabled patients, she helped newspaper woman Anna Ford(Zeida Coles). Anna had a romance with black doctor, Dr Simon Harris (Conrad Roberts). The Doctors greatest love story was between Althea and Nick. Viewers loved the idea of an involvement between a brilliant though brash rough neck surgeon from Chicago and a sophisticated lady physician brought up in the finest New England schools. Gerald Gordon,as Nick, has performed numerous brain operations on the show, and is considered so gifted a neurosurgeon that any viewers write to hi asking for medical advice. He always politely replies that they should consult their own physicians. Nick and Althea were wed in late 1968. Because of the difference in their backgrounds and temperements, they had a stormy and short lived marriage,. But they have always loved each other and even to this day,viewers are tempted to believe they will remarry.Gordon and Hubbard,who each won Daytime Emmys in 1976, are still with the show. 1969 Peter Burnell took over the role of Mike, who fell in love with Nancy Bennett, after Liz was out of his life.Nancy though her husband Paul (James Shannon) was dead, but when he re-appeared quite alive, Nancy left town with him. Liz Hubbard left in 1969 and Virginia Vestoff took over as Althea. a year later, Liz returned. Eileen Kearney played Greta, Maggie's daughter by the late Kurt Van Allen. For a while everyone thought she was a 'bad seed' child , until it was discovered her hostile behavior was caused by a bite fro an infected rabbit. Julie Forrest (Ginger Gerlach) became Mike Power's new romance. Julie, a distant cousin of Maggie's, moved into the Powers home and caused a lot of trouble. During a struggle with Greta,Julie fell down the stairs to her death.Not long after Ginger died from an overdose of sleeping pills. David O'Brien came on in 1969 as Dr Steve Aldrich, a complete heel with the ladies. He had an affair with Dr Karen Werner (Laryssa Lauret) and made her pregnant. Then he saw the folly of his ways and married her. But she was a complete neurotic and made him miserable. Carolee Canpbell as introduced as gentle and shy nurse Carolee Simpson only a few months after David O'brien. (The actresses first name was considered so interesting that it was also used for the character).Carolee was afraid to let the philandering Steve know that she was in love with him, but after his divorce from Karen, Steve professed his love and they had an affair. Carolee became pregnant. More to come...