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From an early 1980 Daytime TV (Sterling's Magazines, Inc)

THE LATEST NEWS

by Jason Bonderoff

NO HARD FEELINGS:

When Veleka Gray (Mia Marriott) got word that Love of Life was canceled (more on that later in this column) she wasn't too downhearted. "I'm just going to let life happen!" she confided. "I've been doing sample scripts and I'd love to land a job as a soap writer." Of course, Veleka won't turn down any acting offers either. "I'm not dating anyone in particular, so I'm free to go if California calls!" Veleka also mentioned that she still exchanges letters with the priest who helped her study Catholicism a few years back.

It's official. After almost three decades on network TV, CBS has signed the death warrant for Love of Life. Although the show has been suffering from low ratings for a long, long time, CBS finally felt cancellation was the only choice when the Portland, Oregon affiliate dropped Love of Life from its line-up, causing the show to lose several hundred thousand viewers. This September LOL would have celebrated its 29th anniversary on the air.

The DAYTIME WORLD of Paul Denis

WHY LOVE OF LIFE DIED:

The CBS-owned serial ran from September 24, 1951 to February 1, 1980, and the end came when it was attracting only 12% of its potential audience, compared to, for instance, Young & Restless having a 39% share. The Love of Life audience had been dwindling for three years, despite new writers, lavish new sets, new producers, and continuing assurance from CBS that it wouldn't give up the show.

The disappearance of LOL brings the total number of soaps to 12, the lowest in my memory. But because Young & Restless has expanded to 60 minutes, the total amount of network soap time remains at 10 and a half hours. It's the biggest block of programming in daytime or nighttime!

All three networks have soap operas warming up. NBC has promised another hour of soaps this year. So, more soaps are on the way!

Edited by CarlD2

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Love of Life turns 25. Part of this also includes Search for Tomorrow. S. O. D. Publishing Inc.

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Edited by CarlD2

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9/77 SOD. Elizabeth Kemp and Pamela Lincoln say goodbye. S. O. D. Publishing Inc.

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Edited by CarlD2

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Audrey Peters interview from July 71 Daytime TV. Sterling's Magazines, Inc

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Edited by CarlD2

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Now Audrey is firmly entrenched in the role, and the fans love her. In fact, they love her so much, they are sometimes embarrassing. Audrey recalls the time an actress playing her daughter got on the buss, and a woman recognized her and smacked her in the mouth. "Be nice to Vanessa!" the woman screamed at the terrified actress, "or I'll get you!"

Audrey is still awed at the remarkable workings of daytime serial stories. "It's remarkable, but sometimes what's happening to us in real life is also in the show's story line. For instance, on the show Bonnie Bedalia (as Sandy Porter) had a mother (played by Joan Copeland) who was dying of leukemia, and then died. And in real life, Bonnie's mother was dying of cancer, and died in 1964 when Bonnie was still on the show.

"One day, I went to Lindy's Restaurant with a friend, and the hatcheck girl said, 'Don't you separate from your husband!...You go back to your husband!' And I was shocked because I had just separated from my husband John, and nobody knew it. And then the hatcheck girl added, "Remember, Vanessa, don't leave your husband!" and i realized she was talking to me as Vanessa and not as Audrey Peters."

Audrey, divorced from the executive John Friedkin, is devoted to their one and only son, Jay. John lives a couple of blocks away, and Jay sees him often. Also, John always backs Audrey in problems affecting their son. As a result, Jay is a fine lad, and his mother adores him.

Audrey hurries home to cook dinner for Jay, and fixes his breakfast in the morning before she hurries to CBS, where she's due at 7:45 a.m. For three years she was a den mother to 15 Cub Scouts, and it was a tiring chore; but she did it gladly because of Jay.

She has never sought to do outside shows or movies; she's been satisfied to work on Love of Life and have time to be a real mother to Jay. Life has been made nicer by the good friends she's made on the show, like Diane Rousseau (Diana Lamont), Jonathan Moore (Charles Lamont), and Ron Tomme (who plays her husband, Bruce Sterling). She has fine words for Ray Wise (Jamie Rollins), "who'll be a big star some day," and for Cathy Bacon (Sally Bridgeman) who is "another big talent."

She takes Jay along on her many trips - to Paris, St. Thomas, Jamaica, California, Morocco, Spain, England - and on almost every weekend, she drives him to the family beach house in the Barnegat Bay area of New Jersey. Her parents, retired, occupy the house.

Jay is helping Audrey redecorate their apartment in midtown New York, and he's considerate of her sensitivity by wearing earphones when he listens to his rock music.

"This is my first soap," she says. "I'm happy working on it. I have no ambitions to be a big star. The most important thing in my life is to be a good mother.

"Jay is 13, and I want to enjoy his company...In a few years, he won't need me...

"Some day," she sighs, "I'd like to be independently wealthy and be able to travel...That would be very nice!"

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I remember reading that Audrey was ordered to modernize her hairstyle in the Jean Arley years as part of the update of the show.

Interesting they would have a party because 2 cast members were leaving. Even then that was not such an uncommon thing. Nowadays, it would be one non stop party!

I think i mentioned this in The Doctors thread, that Pamela Lincoln was wife of LOL's previous producer Darryl Hickman. when she was axed from LOL, he arranged for her to get a job on TD, as he was friends with Bud Weiss,producer of TD. Actress Jennifer Wood was dumped to make way for Pam as Doreen

  • Member

I missed that the first time you mentioned it. That's interesting. I thought she was very unique when I saw the episode of Doreen. Do you think she was any loss to LOL? I wonder what Jennifer Wood was like as Doreen.

I guess half hour casts (or 25 minutes, whatever LOL was at this time) are closer knit. I like the idea of keeping the Polaroids.

I can see why they wanted Van to have a more modern haircut, she was still young and attractive, although I like the Bea Bernadet bun in some of those photos.

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I was going to ask, who is the older woman with the short white/grey hair in the leaving party photos?

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That is Jean Arley. She went on to produce OLTL. I wonder what her ethnic background is. I will try and dig out the SOD article where she talks about the changes at OLTL.

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Thanks. I thought that might have been one of the matriarchal figures on the show.

So did she leave LOL willingly or did they fire her? She was at OLTL right before Rauch right?

  • 2 weeks later...
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An episode from 1970. Even with the hazy film quality, I found out rather gripping -- especially the confrontation between Victoria Randolph and her mother, Amanda.

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Also the closing credits from the mid-70s. I love this theme.

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Thanks for posting those. I think the guy who played Ben for the last years of the show posted that.

It's great to see Melinda Fee before she became so hard looking in her later soap years. Good work from her.

  • 2 weeks later...
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1953-

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  • Member

I was reading through the From Mary Noble to Mary Hartman book. Apparently the co-author, David Rounds, played Phillip Holden on LOL. The book has a photo of him as Phillip. I will try to scan later if I can get a good picture. He started on the show in 1963 and stayed for several years. He talks some about the rehearsal process and the taping and the sets. I was surprised to read that his character came to town with a past of being falsely accused of attacking women. I didn't think a soap would do that type of story back then.

Paul Raven already mentioned some of this, but in case anyone's interested, the book has Roy Winsor's story projections for some of 1962 and 1963. At this time Roy Winsor was producer, Joseph Hardy associate producer and script editor, and Don Ettinger the head writer.

LOVE OF LIFE, Rough Chronology

FEBRUARY '62

MURANO killed. RICK implicated in murder, must use alibi that JULIE MURANO spent night in his apartment. This makes for final breach with BARBARA, who to VIVIAN's pleasure and VAN and BRUCE's discomfort definitely decides on divorce and makes arrangements for Mexican divorce. RICK takes over running of Havana Club with JULIE as boss. LINK-TAMMY growing closer to marriage. DENTON, murderer of MURANO, caught. PHILIP HOLDEN reassured by real criminal being caught rather than injustice done to RICK. BARBARA leaves for Mexican divorce.

MARCH

Girl who was in love with PHILIP HOLDEN in mental hospital shows up in Rosehill. PHILIP, realizing how important that he not reject her, refuses to try and keep her appearance a secret. Because of girl JUDSON WILLIAMS learns of PHILIP's mental hospital background, demands his dismissal from Windfield job. BRUCE and VAN go to mat for him, BRUCE threatening to quit as headmaster if PHILIP is dismissed. BRUCE finally wins. BARBARA returns from Mexican divorce.

APRIL

LINK and TAMMY announce their engagement. TAMMY concerned about whether she'll make good housewife for LINK. Other doubts about age, etc. The dead MAGGIE's twin sister (AGGIE?) appears on the scene, moves into PORTERS' house. She seems exact replica of sweet MAGGIE and is constant reminder of her to LINK. BARB gets job at Winfield as secretary. Meets again with TONY, and gradual rapproachement seems to be in offing. VAN alone distrusts and dislikes MAGGIE'S TWIN. BARBARA discovers she's preg but tells no one.

MAY

VAN sees that MAGGIE'S TWIN is out to get LINK (and SANDY) and is making progress. TAMMY more and more insecure. BARBARA and PHILIP HOLDEN become friends out at Winfield. BARB tells VAN (and Viv?) about pregnancy. ALLEN falls for girl in beatnik crowd, begins, to VAN and BRUCE'S despair, to go way out. Beard, pad, poetry, sex - the works.

JUNE

RICK, now running Havana Club and carrying on loveless affair with JULIE MURANO, learns of BARBARA's pregnancy (possibly through TAMMY in SALTZMAN's office), tries to patch up marriage for sake of unborn child, but to no avail. TAMMY, in face of competition from MAGGIE's TWIN, withdraws more and more. LINK believes she's cooling off; she believes he is. MAGGIE's TWIN does everything to widen breach, every day ingratiating herself more and more with LINK and SANDY. TAMMY refuses to take VAN's advice and fight. ALAN gets in deeper with beatnik set and beatnik girl, maybe gets job as waiter in poetry-coffee joint and moves out of house.

JULY

BARBARA refuses to marry TONY, but won't tell him why. He decides to leave Rosehill, anything to get away from this mysteriously bulging Circe. TAMMY gets off for made-to-order part in upcoming Broadway play and is very tempted to accept because of LINK-MAGGIE's TWIN situation. PHILIP quietly falling in love with BARBARA.

AUGUST

TAMMY decides to accept part in play - tacit breaking of engagement with LINK, who is enamored of MAGGIE's TWIN. VAN tries to dissuade TAMMY from decision to go back to New York and give up LINK but without success. She is furious with LINK, who can't see MAGGIE's TWIN for what she is. ALAN wakes up to discover he has only been used by beatnik crowd, supplying the money, the car, etc. Off comes the beard and all pretensions. ALLEN begins to look again in SANDY's direction.

SEPTEMBER

BARBARA has baby. RICK there but no reconciliation. TAMMY leaves for N.Y.C. to being rehearsals. MAGGIE's TWIN sure she's got it made. PHILIP's closest friend from Army days, GLENN HAMILTON, arrives in Rosehill, gets job playing at Havana Club. GLENN, with all his smiling and great friendship, obviously (to audience) insincere and up to no good. TONY returns to Rosehill, discovers BARBARA refused to marry him because of her pregnancy. He still lovers her and asks her to marry him.

OCTOBER

TAMMY opens in play and is tremendous hit, a bigger star than ever. LINK, through VAN's efforts, begins to see MAGGIE's TWIN for what she is. TONY and BARB get married, baby and all. PHILIP quietly hurt, but takes it calmly, if sadly. PHILIP and RICK strike up friendship through PHIL's friend GLENN, playing at Havana Club. RICK reaction to BARB's marriage very strong and he almost goes off deep end - of bar, that is.

NOVEMBER

Final break between LINK and MAGGIE's TWIN. LINK, urged by VAN, goes to N.Y. to woo big star, TAMMY. TONY and BARB face marriage with little money and a squalling baby. RICK begins weekly visit to baby with resulting tensions between TONY and him, TONY and BARB. First young girl attacked and murdered in Rosehill. PHILIP very upset.

DECEMBER

TAMMY decides to give up career, come back to Rosehill, and marry LINK. More attacks on young girls. PHIL asking himself if he did it. Very shaken. "Friend" GLENN and MRS. HOLDEN don't help. LINK very suspicious of PHIL, as is JUDSON WILLIAMS, etc. VAN, BRUCE, BARB, etc. stand by him, refuse to be panicked.

JANUARY '63

LUKE and TAMMY marry. Attacks on girls stepped up. WILLIAMS uncovers info on original accusation of PHILIP as girl-attacker which sent him to mental hospital. Wants to throw him out of Winfield. All hell breaks loose with everyone yelling for PHILIP's scalp. BRUCE and VAN (and SANDY) staunchly loyal and believing in PHIL, whose doubts about himself are growing. Is he doing these things? GLENN, supposedly helping, only increases his own doubts. BARB and TONY marriage tougher and tougher. TONY loses his job at garage, has to borrow money from RICK, who is getting richer and richer, colder and colder.

FEBRUARY

Trap set for girl-attacker and PHILIP inadvertently walks into it. (Probably GLENN finds out about trap and sees to it that PHIL walks into it. Maybe SANDY bait in trap.) WILLIAMS insists on PHIL quitting Winfield and Bruce, pressured by public opinion, forced to give in. RICK gets suspicious of GLENN, PHIL's piano-playing friend. LINK and TAMMY set up housekeeping and TAMMY faced with problems of housewife for first time. But VAN helping her out. (LINK and TAMMY also involved in PHILIP controversy, as are VIV and HENRY.)

MARCH

PHILIP wants to leave town but BRUCE won't let him, because to leave is and admission of guilt. RICK comes to BRUCE with suspicions about GLENN. BRUCE starts detective work and discovers attacks on girls have broken out in whatever towns GLENN has been playing the piano. TONY going to pieces in marriage, depending more and more on RICK for financial support. RICK always a part of the picture because of visits to his son. SANDY and ALAN now very much and very seriously in love and even thinking of marriage.

APRIL

BRUCE unmasks GLENN as attacker of girls and original committer of crime which sent PHIL to hospital. (GLENN in Rosehill to implicate PHILIP because he feared he was going to be found out for original crime, wanted to ensure PHILIP being thought guilty.) MEG, VAN's sister, arrives in Rosehill, broke, but VAN lets her take over real estate business. MEG is going to get into big-time development of outlying Rosehill which will get everyone in a mess.

MAY

Writer collapses.

The book then points out that "Aggie" was just a guidepost and that she went on to be named Kay, as Paul Raven has already mentioned.

Apologies if any of this was already posted or known. I hadn't seen as much detail so I put all this. If it isn't already out there then later I will post a daily breakdown they put in the book, for Episode No. 2919, Thursday, November 29, 1962. Just let me know if you want to see it, as I know the posts that take up too much space are an eyesore.

Edited by CarlD2

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