Paul Raven

Chicago Tribune 17 May 2000.

Warren Swanson worked with Irna Phillips. I never knew he was gay. Looks like ha came out later in life. The claim in the article that he was involved  on 15 soaps I find a little suspect. Also a mention of Steve Babecki. Katherine Phillips wrote under that name so perhaps Steve was her husband?

Warren L. Swanson wore many hats–he was an attorney, a soap-opera writer and the co-author of well-known guides to Chicago. He dreamed up the idea of the first Easter Seal telethon and owned some prime real estate in the city.

“He was a Renaissance man,” said his son, Sheridan Christopher. “He tried everything and he had a knack for it.”

The 66-year-old South Loop resident who lived two doors away from Mayor Richard M. Daley died May 7 of a brain hemorrhage in Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago.

Mr. Swanson was born and lived most of his life in Chicago.

Mr. Swanson graduated from the University of Chicago and then Northwestern Law School. He at one time tutored former Gov. James Thompson through law school, his son said.

During the early part of his career, Mr. Swanson butted heads with the late Mayor Richard J. Daley. As one of two special prosecutors in a vote fraud probe 40 years ago, Mr. Swanson won convictions against three Democratic precinct workers who pleaded guilty to altering ballots in the 1960 election. Then, in 1968, when board members of a civic group he headed, the Citizens of Greater Chicago, decided to give the late mayor an award for “safeguarding lives and property” during the Democratic convention, Mr. Swanson resigned the group in protest.

But he considered himself a friend of the younger Daley and his wife, Maggie.

Mr. Swanson’s partner of 17 years, Thomas Brown, called him “one of the finest attorneys I know.”

Mr. Swanson helped the city of Palos Heights incorporate during the 1950s and then stayed on as the city attorney for 40 years.

It was while working as an attorney that Mr. Swanson landed a job writing for soap operas.

Back in the ’60s, many of the well-known TV dramas were being created in Chicago. An attorney friend who had been asked to write a courtroom drama for “As the World Turns” was not interested and so he passed on the job to Mr. Swanson who took the assignment and ran with it. He became the lead writer for “As the World Turns” and “Another World” and helped create 15 other shows, including “Somerset.”

In 1977, Mr. Swanson joined forces with Steve Babecki and wrote a 38-page guide to Chicago-area museums, “Museums of Chicago.”

Mr. Swanson also owned such properties as the building housing the Ann Taylor store on Oak Street and he once owned the Helene Curtis building in the North Loop.

Survivors also include a grandson. Services were held Friday; the family is planning a celebration of his life at an as yet undetermined date in June.

@JAS0N47 as we are constantly discovering, what is reported in reference books re dates etc is often incorrect.

4 hours ago, kalbir said:

Friday episode mentioned the anniversary of Victor and Nikki first wedding. With April 13 being a Saturday, the celebration episode would be April 15. 

In real time it's 40 years but given SORASing they can't really mention the number of years.

Well considering that Nick and Victoria seem to have been frozen in time as late 30's maybe they can get away with it.

And we sort of expected to believe that just about everyone is vaguely aged somewhere b/w 30 and 45

Victoria, Nick, Phyliis, Chelsea, Billy, Nate, Adam, Sharon, Sally, Abby,Devon etc

Ashley, Traci and Tucker maybe early 50's. Jack, Nikki late 50's early 60's and Victor early 70's?

They got rid of SORASED kids to keep them young- Noah, Faith, Reed ,Mattie,Charlie.

Thanks @JAS0N47 for the script.So Steve never got a farewell? Was there a mention in subsequent scripts that he had left town or was he just forgotten?

I hate when that happens. I know SS was recurring but he must have got caught up in the headwriter change as Harrower was using him regularly.

I'm against Nick/Lily. How many more love interests can Nick have? Currently Sharon, Chelsea, Phyllis and Sally have all been with him.

Having Lily stuck with Cane all those years means only Billy and Daniel are on her scoreboard.

I know there are issues with having all these vet characters and finding love interests but constantly swapping around is not working.

Nick should be backburnered for a while.If Faith and Noah were around he could play a parental role and be a part of (well written) business stories.

All the April spoilers are blah.

Quite bizarre really. A pity they waited so long to bring back Steve as he could have returned at any time to boost the Hortons. He was a blank slate character wise and could have been worked in many ways.

But the writers were always in favor of creating new characters instead of using what they had.

Spencer Olsen was mentioned when Julie returned for the 90-93 stint. she gave the impression he was a bit of a rascal, but any plans to bring him on were scuttled.

If only they nurtured the Hortons, Steve and Sandy's children/grandchildren could be major players today.

3 hours ago, j swift said:

When Nicki, Victoria, and Claire were talking at the ranch about Claire's dream, what room was that supposed to be?  It had white sofas, and it didn't look like the ranch living room that I recall.

The original Newman ranch was burnt down 10 or so years ago and rebuilt with a bland set that was pretty much universally derided. A few years ago we stopped seeing that set and a new smaller room took it's place. There is no longer a front entrance or staircase, just this sitting room.

OT I was impressed by the Ernie pic so did a pic search and found others from a few years back where he looks more wrinkled and jowelly (but still good for his age). Wondering if he did't have a few procedures in anticipation of being in the public eye again...

I don't understand why after 35 years of stories and characters to choose from, you would pay tribute to a long ago plotline about a gorilla.

It's not as though it was up there as one of AW''s memorable moments and much loved/referenced by fans.

As for Beverlee returning, they could have asked Beverly Penberthy,Richard Bekins or a host of others to return. Even Carmen Duncan to bring us up to date on Iris.

So many possibilities not considered or rejected.

GUIDING LIGHT

Helene Wallingford Benedict   Kay Campbell   8/25/1958- ? 64- periodic appearances over that time in San Francisco, where she lived. and visits and stays in LA. Wife to Henry, mother of Anne. Unlike Henry, supportive of Anne's marriage to Paul and Paul's subsequent marriage to Robin Holden. Killed in offscreen car crash,6/27/1965 leaving Henry devastated and motivating Paul to allow grandson Johnny to live with Henry.

GUIDING LIGHT

Joe Roberts          Reporter for City Times ,married Meta Bauer, father to Joey and Kathy

                     Herb Nelson      1952- Dec 55

Joe "Joey" Roberts  son of Joe, brother of Kathy, married Lois and moved to San Francisco working as a commercial pilot. Accepted Meta as his mother, unlike Kathy.

                      Tarry Green    1952-53

                      Richard Holland  1953 (Temporary)

                      Dec 1955 returned for his father's surgery played by ?

Susan Douglas

SCARLETT HILL 'Queen of Spades' Originally aired Feb 62

Sharon Acker

SCARLETT HILL 'The Amherst Case' Originally aired Feb 62

The success of 'Women of Brester Place' lead ABC to order a follow up series which aired May 1990.

It was short lived, maybe due to the show itself or poor scheduling(following Doogie Howser) Perhaps the half hour format was limiting?

Requests

Daniel Greene

Melody Anderson

Rod McCary

Thom Sesma

Like other shows of that time going through constant headwrier changes (SFT,AW,GL) the new teams were too hasty in dropping characters for newbies instead of looking at what was there and how placing a character in a new story could work out well.

Often the new characters were basically replicas of the old and those characters could have easily been worked into the new storyline and provide viewers with more continuity.

Dee looks miserable. Maybe she's thinking back to those Electra Woman days and all the hopes and dreams she had of the future. Now she's sitting in a crappy room signing a board game. Quite poignant really....

27 minutes ago, denzo30 said:

If i remember she filled in for a few months.  I wonder what was wrong with Ford at the time. 

i think she had pneumonia or something similar. 

TAMMY GRIMES

ONE LIFE TO LIVE       Headmistress Mary Margaret Donahue    March 15/16 1983

Glad I decided to give it a miss. I learned the hard way not to commit to a show until the whole season is done and dusted and reviews/comments are in.

The trailer looked great, visually impressive but the Ryan Murphy brand had me wary, with good reason, it seems. Plenty of other stuff to watch.

I've tried to watch a few of these but find MB interviewing style annoying. He's not particularly articulate and meanders around a bit.

But he seems to be doing something right as he's clocked up quite a few episodes.

Well put @Vee the stories are poorly plotted and paced  w/o any real long term ramifications. Just incidents that fill up a few weeks of airtime.

Josh left once before due to some unspecified issues so I can't see how taking in so much of the load is helpful to him or the show.

4 hours ago, kalbir said:

Jill parentage (2003), Cassie death (2005), and John Abbott death (2006) were the trifecta that lead to the end of Y&R as we knew it.

Let's add Pheila, Phillip back from the dead,Jill is a Fenmore and the Katherine/Tucker/Devon debacle as icing on the cake.

I don't want to see a wealthy family unless the budget can support it. Also that immediately limits the type of stories that can be told.

Who is the woman above Don Stewart with that 80's do? I'm drawing a blank...

Deidre has had excellent work done over the years but as she gets older I am sure it is more difficult to maintain a certain look. Perhaps she has had some more stuff done and it is settling in. 

We need @DaytimeFan to give us some professional feedback. And maybe the name of her doctor!