THfc DOCKLAND COUNTY JOURNAL-NEWS NYACK, N. Y., TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1963
Vendig Is Best At Mysteries by HARVEY PACK
Irving Vendig is one of the most successful men in TV, but he lives in Sarasota, Fla., and rarely bothers to come to New York City. Vendig and his associate, James -Gentile, write the popular, long-running CBS soap opera "Edge of Night” which is scheduled to switch its time slot to 3:30-4 p. m. July 1. Vendig has been turning out well polished daytime misery for the past 25 years, and he considered the best in his field. Playwright Marc Connelly calls "Edge of Night” one of the best written shows on TV, and fan mail has come in from the likes of Tallulah Bankhead and Shirley Booth. Many a top executive, bedded down with some minor ailment, has become so enthralled with the troubles of "Edge of Night” that he has procrastinated and lengthened his illness hoping to see the end of a plot. But Vendig's show is one that never ends.
I asked Vendig whether he responds to audience criticism of the show. "I get quite a bit of mail,” he replied, "and Gentile and I go through all of it. We do not change the situation to please the fans, but years of experience have taught me how to interpret the letters. If we get a batch of threatening mail telling us that if we don't do something the listeners are going to turn us off and never watch again then we know we’re right on the ball. In fact, such letters are a tipoff for us to slow the pace of the series. Conversely, complimentary letters mean we have to speed it up.” Vendig, who used to write "Judy and Jane," and "Perry Mason” on radio, always used an apprentice to assist him in the grind. Thirteen years ago he was shopping around for an assistant, when James Gentile was suggested to him by a mu-tual friend, a University of Florida professor. Gentile was working in a Florida radio station and Vendig refused to see him, but requested a copy of anything he had written. Gentile sent him an article on artificial insemination and Vendig saw something in the style and quality, and offered the young man an apprenticeship at $50 a week.
Training Apprentice
"During the first year I had him writing dialogue, but I dim t think 1 used a sentence a week, continued Vendig. "Then, as he progressed, I gave him more and more responsibility — and money—and now he is a full partner. At the time, I was doing “Search for Tomorrow. a 15-minute show, and that's where Gentile really started.
Vendig and Gentile are now interchangeable writers. The training was so complete that they do not have to collaborate on individual scripts. We each write three-day sequences, explained Vendig. Then we edit each other. We work anywhere from 45 to 60 hours a week, so ] please don’t picture us loafing on our lawns in Florida."
They do not come to New York City for conferences. Their sponsors go to them. The series is generally plotted as much as four years in advance, but here’s always room for changes. This time, they came to New York City because they were requesting more money from the sponsor. They were very impressed by a young actress who portrayed a minor running role for about 15 shows. "We liked her so much we want to write her in. Now this entails a budget increase because we will need more sets and production money to tell her story, so we thought we'd have a better chance appealing for it in person. Naturally, this means writing ahead, but all our vacations and side trips require that. New York always has three to four weeks of completed scripts." continued he 59-year-old native of Holly Springs Miss.
Strong On Plots
Vendig is a bug on plot structure and that probably accounts for his reputation as the best in the field. He runs one main plot and develops them in such a way that when main crisis is resolved the minor one is in a position to bloom. “Characterization is also vital,” he said, "because our audiences must believe that these people exist. We do not want stereotypes, but living,breathing people.
Vendig’s daughter, a former actress who appeared on one one of his shows, is married to a doctor and Vendig quite frankly admits that her childhood problems often cropped up in the show. Gentile has a wife and three youngsters who are also used as models, In addition to Edge of Night, Vendig is currently working on a play. He is writing it alone, but he said that when it s finished partner Gentile will come in for the rewrites.
I noted that Vendig winced when I inadvertently used the cliche “soap opera," and he obviously prefers the more acceptable term "daytime drama."
‘Performers Famous'
"Performers on my show are more famous than the biggest nighttime stars,” he concluded. "Wherever they go they are greeted not by stage name but by character name. One of my actresses summed it up beautifully when she said she's a celebrity in every restaurant but Sardi's.
Those interested in the goings on of 'Edge of Night' better make a note on their household schedule that beginning July 1 they're to neglect the housework from 3.30-4 rather than 4.30-5.
By
Paul Raven ·
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