Agnes Nixon: the 1997 Archive of American Television Interview

[Scotty]

Here are links to a 5-part interview with "Queen" of the modern soap opera Agnes Nixon on October 21, 1997. The quality is a little off, but it's not bad.

Part 1: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3...Nixon&hl=en

Agnes talks about her early life being an only child, her parent's divorce, and her growing up in Nashville, Tennessee during the Depression. She talks about living with her mom, grandmother, and four aunts, and how she liked to listen to Little Orphan Annie on the radio; also how she wanted to be actress writer growing up, and about her time at Northwestern University. Also how she had to give up Little Orphan Annie once for Lent. Also listening to Guiding Light on the radio growing up. She also discusses her radio play audition with Irna Phillips, and how she hired her. She mentions that her father helped get her the audition to show her that she couldn't right. She talks about being in awe of Irna when she first met her. She talks about writing for Irna's early radio soap Woman in White. She also talks about the tradition of soaps from radio to television, and a few early ones which flopped following the transition; as well as her Irna got her soaps on television, and the battle with the network.

Part 2: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=33...ceid=searchfeed

Agnes discusses her brief stint in prime-time writing in the 1950s, her 13-week writing stint on Search for Tomorrow, and the early days of daytime soaps...including Guiding Light and a little later, As the World Turns. She also talks about the strictness of Procter & Gamble in the 1960s, and how she had much more freedom at ABC. Irna Phillips is also discussed. Also the early '60's GL cancer storyline.

Part 3: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=61...ceid=searchfeed

She discusses Guiding Light briefly, then spends a few minutes on Another World, before talking in detail about the first couple years of One Life to Live, and to a lesser extent, All My Children. She also talks about just how close AMC came to becoming a CBS soap.

Part 4: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=54...ceid=searchfeed

She discusses the other days of soap opera writing and daytime tv. She goes from there to talking about Susan Lucci and Erica Kane. Then she discusses how she has to understand a character in order to write for them. Also discussed are gay storylines on her shows. She also discusses the technical aspects of the soaps, and working with Michael Eisner when he was ABC Daytime head back in the '70s. Near the end she discusses being the first woman writer to win a Trustee's award from the Acacdemy; and then discusses her partnership with the late Douglas Marland in creating Loving. Also discussed is how AMC has been consistant. And being 'Executive Consultant for ABC Daytime', and the future of Daytime. Also, all the publicity and advertising of soaps today, and her most memorable storyline from over the years, the AMC child abuse storyline.

Part 5: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1...Nixon&hl=en

She discusses how soap operas reflect change, and how she feels about the term 'soap opera'. She also talks about how she would like to be rememebered. She also makes comments on Irna Phillips, Bill Bell, Rod Ericson, Robert E. Short, Roy Winsor, Mary Fickett, Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak, Robin Strasser, Dorian Quinlin, Gordon Russell, Ruth Warrick, Douglas Marland, and several others. She also briefly mentions The City.

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What a great lady. She is truly a soap icon.

[Scotty]

The first four segments last about 22-28 minutes a piece...while the last segment is about 12 minutes.

[Scotty]

I thought this was a very interesting interview.

The stuff she said about Irna Phillips was very interesting. It is weird how cold and lonely that woman really was.

[Pine Charles]

Yeah, I watched this along time ago (I think shortly after Ruth Warrick's death). Agnes Nixon is a great woman. But I do have to wonder if her mind is slipping as of late. She was apparently completly fine with McT rewritting Erica's abortion... !!!

[Scotty]

Agnes Nixon truely is a great lady and an icon. Hard to believe she is 79 years old.