Love of Life Discussion Thread

[dc11786]

Some more notes on 1958. The Paley Center has in its holding the first 30-minute episode from April 14, 1958. Hess In examining the switch to a half-hour, not only did Bartlett and McBride leave within the year, so did the show's creator/headwriter John Hess also left in July, 1958. So Harry Junkin, with Roy Winsor's input most likely, developed the Rosehill story that started in early 1959. 

The return of Meg in Max Wylies "Wriitng for Television" is outlined as the third act of the "Extended Visit" story set to run co-currently with the John / Tess / Bill storyline. The outline I believe is from Winsor as the set up of Lucy Beale, the woman who becomes the object of desire for Bruce, has some elements of the Ann Wicker bio we have seen in "The Secret Storm" material.  In "Extended Visit," Sarah Dale has a stroke and is invited to stay for the holidays with Bruce and Van only to sell her home in Barrowsville and give the money to Bruce and Van. Meg returns late in the story to get the money for herself, but Van demands that Meg take Sarah as well as Sarah's presence has driven Bruce into the arms of Lucy Beale, a woman he nearly runs over with his car. 

[Soaplovers]

I think the two sister focus with Van being good and Meg being bad would have worn thin if it continued beyond 1958.  Only way it would have worked is if the show made Meg and Van more complex.

Deciding to focus just on Van was the right idea..and having marry and move to a new town in 1959 was a nice reset for the show.

I think bringing back Meg in 1973/4 along with her two kids was perfect timing.  This Meg seemed a bit more naunced and not so broadly drawn as the 'bad' sister.

Had the show continued beyond Feb 1980...I have faith the show would have reinvented itself.  If Meg was going to leave and Van's step daughter Barbara did come back....having her and Dana Delaney's characters as the main focus would have been interesting.

[DRW50]

Lucy Beale...later to be another iconic soap name.

Thanks for the extra info. I know this has already been talked about before and I've forgotten it but were Sarah or Vanessa/Meg's father ever on in the show's earlier years? How much influence did she have on her daughters' lives when she did become a presence?

[Paul Raven]

@DRW50 Ed Jerrome played Will Dale from 51-53 Jane Rose was Sara from 51-56 according to info at present, although possible that those dates may be a little off.

[DRW50]

Thanks. I thought she played the mother but couldn't remember in what period. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

Not sure if this has been posted, but the podcast, "Terror at Collinwood" has recently dropped a 60-minute interview with Jerry Lacy who played Rick Latimer on Love of Life during the Claire Labine era, and he was the final of several actors who had played Rick over many years.    

I'm unable to post a link.  But you can search YouTube for "Terror at Collinwood.  Or go to your favorite podcast channel and search for Terror at Collinwood Penny Dreadful.   Great interview with Jerry Lacy.   

[DRW50]

Thanks! Love Jerry. 

[DRW50]

I was going through some of the old pages and had forgotten about how many articles I scanned for a few years.

The stuff I wrote down from Mary Noble to Mary Hartman (the story projections and then the November 29, 1962, breakdown) - they're on pages 7 and 8.

The December 1954, January 1955 and October 1955 Radio TV Mirror summary is on page 12, as well as a Daytime TV Stars review of the show from April 1975. On page 13 a July 1956 TV Radio Mirror photo story. A July 1956 Jean McBride Radio TV Mirror interview on page 14 and an SOD fashion page with Tudi Wiggins also on page 14. Pages 15/16 have a RTVM interview with Steven Gethers (Hal Craig). 16 also has a Daytime TV feature on Sammy Davis Jr having a cameo. On page 17, a Bill and Tess wedding spread in Afternoon TV June 1971; also on that page, a July 1979 SOD about a play the cast and former producer were doing, a November 1965 TVRM goodbye interview with Lee Lawson and a September 1959 interview with Audrey Peters. On page 18, an October 1976 TVM anniversary feature and interview with Ron Tomme and a June 1975 goodbye with Sally Stark. Page 19 an October 1978 welcome to Christain Marlowe. 

Page 20 has September 1976 SOD fashion with Deborah Courtney, July 1973 TVRM with Stark, an October 1976 TVM with Richard K Weber, an August 1952 story feature written from Vanessa's POV. Page 21 has a 1973-1974 Daily TV Serials cast list and 1973 recap. Page 22 a May 1973 TV Radio Talk interview with Zina Bethune. September 1979 Daytimres cover with Chandler Hill Harben, Veleka Gray and Margo McKenna. December 1977 interview with Peters. A number of pages from the special LoL magazine on page 23, including a cast photo. Page 24 has a Daily TV Serials look at the prison rape storyline. Page 25 has a TVRM McBride interview from September 1954 and December 1969 Afternoon TV Show in Progress. Page 28 TVRM March 1974 Tomme/Peters, March 1975 Jerry Lacy, July 1961 Peters hair tutorial. Page 29 has a November 1961 TVRM Lawson eye tutorial.

Page 30, February 1975 DTS, backstage. Page 31, April 1969 Afternoon TV interview with decorator Robert Galli. TV Star Parade May 1973 welcome to Brian Brownlee. Page 32 TV Dawn to Dusk February 1971 - Serial of the Month (cast bios and photos). Page 34 Ann McCarthy interview. Page 35 October 1978 SOD Marlowe/K.T. Stevens interview. Page 37 TVRM January 1954 Peggy McCay interview. Page 38 a 1969 TV Yearbook with cast list/photos. Page 39 a February 1971 interview with the Buas and winter 1970 interview with Gene in Daytime TV. 

I was going through because I wanted to see if this episode had ever been shared. @Mattmentioned it in a post from over a decade ago as existing, so it's clearly not a new find, but I'd never seen it before. Apologies if I'm tagging anyone who has, but I am going to just in case you also haven't.

I think I've seen more of 1953 Love of Life than any other period of the show...

I've said this several times now but I appreciate how much personality Peggy McCay gives Vanessa to hide how bland the character may have been on paper. 

This is the first time I've ever seen Paul Raven and Matt Slocum interact. It's nice to see them in some lighthearted triangle material.

Reading through earlier pages I see that there was another episode with Evans online at one point that I must have watched, but I don't remember it. He's a very fun figure here, shutting Meg down and reminding us she was not the campest person on the show. Very Gale Gordon-esque. I laughed when she said "Evans" and he sarcastically asked if she meant, "Heavens."

This also seems to end with whatever caused Meg's paralysis (it's not shown what happened to her but Vanessa gets a phone call).

@dc11786 @Paul Raven @te. @Vee @slick jones @FrenchFan @Contessa Donatella @soapfan770 @Soaplovers @jam6242 @j swift @will81 @TEdgeofNight @Joseph @robbwolff @vetsoapfan @antmunoz @All My Shadows @Khan @Bright Eyes @Mona Kane Croft @TVFAN1144

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Edited December 31, 2024 by DRW50

[Contessa Donatella]

Thanks for the tag. And, also such an incredible amount of pertinent text. I admit that I have seen very little of this, although I love Peggy McCay so & know about the show because of her. 

 

[jam6242]

Thanks @DRW50!

[Khan]

Vanessa needn't have bothered with a new dress to impress or entice Matt (and Paul).  Everyone knows her Wanchai Ferry heat-and-eat Chinese dinners are what bring the boys to her yard (IYKYK). 

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[slick jones]

Edited December 31, 2024 by slick jones

[Vee]

What a gift. Thanks for this.

[Paul Raven]

Everything I see of Jean McBride's Meg is gold. That 75 episode with Tudi Wiggins as Meg has her channeling the same character traits. Over the top but believable and always entertaining to watch.

[vetsoapfan]

Thanks for the tag, @DRW50.

I don't recall seeing this episode before.