I am a new member, and in an earlier post on the defunct, "Best of Everything," I mentioned that I had also watched "Secret Storm" as a youngster during my grammer school years. It's neat to see such young people expressing what I hope is a genuine interest in the program, (and rather surprising for me--as I have a nephew who's 20). In any case, Carl and Amello both very kindly requested further dope on the show, and at the risk of dating myself, (I'm 53) I will be happy to oblige. This is off the cuff, stream of memory posting rather than an in depth plot synopsis, which I would be, in any case, unable to completely supply, and which I believe has been documented in several books available at the public library.

"Secret Storm" aired in the late afternoon, and, thus, like the "Edge of Night" was comparatively easy to see after returning home from school. (depending on any number of other factors, such as haircuts, dental appts. etc)--my point being, that in those pre-VCR days, there was no such thing as "time-shifting" so that what you missed--you missed! Nor, were there newspaper soap synopsis, which are common in the TV pages of many daily's today.

I suppose, the best place to begin is the line up of players as I recall them, which I am sure, will leave out many worthy people--but the ones that really stuck in this then kids' impressions.

Marjorie Gateson, a veteran of stage and screen, who looked like a rather more aristocratic version of movie actress Helen Twelvetrees, (who was before my time!--but you can research her and get photos on the WEB) was I would say "the star" in terms of her centrality, when I began seeing it in the mid 60's. Those of you reading this, can "see" Marjorie Gateson via Cable TV or home video, as she appeared in many films of the 30's and 40's in roles that somewhat anticipated her performance as "Grace Tyrrel" on "Secret Storm", (hereinafter SS). She was in fact, the genteel, grande dame, of a type no longer in existence in our "popular culture" as they say.

By way of a side bar, (and I say this in reference to Carl's kind reference to the Guiding Light clips, which I watched and brought back many memories--Lynne Adams, and Fran Myers, (who always specialized in these neurotic scenes)GL was very much of a middle class show, that is, the Bauers, with Old World Papa, hard drinking, (and despite the necktie, blue-collerish Ed)--strong medical/hospital tie ins, department store furniture, and with women in the cast that looked like women in one's own neighborhood--not, (at least in the 60's--it changed later I'm told) a glamourous show.

SS was not that way. Its tone or flavor if you prefer, was altogether upper crust, its fictional setting, "Woodbridge" would have been more like Westchester, Ct--well heeled matrons with sucessfull husbands, comparatively chic settings, with antiques etc. Not that there weren't characters from lower rank-there were, I'm just referring to the tone.

Which leads me back to Miss Gateson (Grace Tyrrel), who was the heiress and controller of Tyrell's Department Store. Grace led a gracious life, and had the kind of flawless diction what doesn't hear anymore. Her maid was none other than Margaret Hamilton, (yes the Wicked Witch of the West) who would do SS during the day when she was appearing at night on the Broadway stage, (very common at the time for daytime actors to be on stage at night--how did they ever learn their lines!!!)

I can see, Grace Tyrrell in one of her expensive dark suits, or "daytime dresses" trying to reason with her willful daughter--Pauline as they both sat before the silver tea service with Margaret Hamilton serving in full maid's uniform (the movie buffs amongst you may know that M. Hamilton frequently played domestics on screen and stage).

The "Woodbridge" context then, was of a conservative town, where "quiet" wealth counted, and reputations mattered. Today it would be called snobbish.

Now, in Pauline, the ever hand wringing, (or should I say handkerchief wringing since women still carried embroidered handkerchiefs) Grace--had a tigress by the tail.

And not really by the tail, since Pauline almost always had her own way! By the time I watched Pauline, (played by Haila Stoddard--one of the really formidable stage actresses of the 20th century--in the original cast of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"--she also moonlighted)Pauline was married to Arthur Rysdale, who was the publisher of "The Wooodbridge Clarion" the town's leading newspaper.

Pauline, (very nordic, blonde, and stylish with an almost little girlish voice that concealed a real schemer--think of sort of a blonde Tallulah Bankhead type) was always "up to something". And it was hard to imagine her as Grace's daughter--since Grace was so virtuous (rebellion I suppose).

In the mid 60's, Pauline's son Kip Rysedale, was very much front and center, and involved with several of the women in the cast, all of whom were vying for him. Nice looking, in an earnest, polite way, Kip loved Amy Ames, and Janet Hill (Bibi Besch) simultaneously, before he was written out, by being called up to military service, in Germany, and later Vietnam, (though he wanted to be a doctor). Kip was the object of much attention during the 1964-1966 time span and was on very frequently. He is also, of a type, I think a vanished breed today, well bred, well spoken, well coiffed, and in a neck tie usually--and very young--say 25 or so.

Bibi Besch, played Janet Hill, and I can't remember exactly how she came into the cast, but she was very much a trouble maker and was married to a man named Bob Hill, whom I remember, but not too much about. She was related to Valerie Hill, (more on her later) who married Peter Ames.

Sorry this is so disorganized--rather stream of consciousness, but bear with me.

Peter Ames, had of course, been at the very beginning of the show, some ten years before I joined it. As you may know, he was a widower, with two children Jerry and Amy Ames.

By the time I was SS, Peter Ames was played by Ward Costello. Peter had a VERY troubled history with Pauline, which was still very rough in the mid 60s, and included hostility to Valerie Hill, (because Peter loved her and not Pauline.

His children, Jerry, Susan and Amy were continuing focal points, (particularly Amy) for nearly 20 years.

Valerie Hill, (played by Lori March) is probably the woman I most associate with SS during the period I watched. She came on about the time I started to watch, and was on when I stopped, (Marjorie Gateson had a stroke in 68 and never came back). At that time, (no longer I believe) the CBS serials had a heroine, usually a woman in early middle age, who was attractive, and a paragon of virtue. At that time, (and in order to distance her from the schemers and vixens) the heroine embodied honor, nobility and chastity. She was the woman, the female viewers viewed as "their sister" and with whom they would commisserate with.

Lori March was SS's heroine in the second half of the 60's. Her speaking voice was creme de la creme--she was "finishing school" material, and so it was, perfectly natural, that long widowed Peter Ames would marry her, which he did, (and I can remember the wedding with her little pillbox hat and veil). Jerry and Amy took to Valerie, though Susan had reservations.

Now to Peter's children.

Jerry was an amiable young man in the second half of the 60's--I remember his presence, but nothing very particular. His sister's however, now that's a different story.

Susan Ames, (Dunbar--married to Allan Dunbar when I watched) was a complicated woman. The role was played by Judy Lewis during my days as a viewer. Miss Lewis was the daughter of screen super star Loretta Young. Though supposedly adopted, I always felt that Miss Lewis looked much like her famous Mom, and it has since been suggested that she was in fact really her natural daughter.

Susan was a fascinating lady, deep, ruminative, attractive, but very reserved and not quick to shower affection on Valerie or anyone else. When I started the show, she was married to Allan Dunbar, (can't remember who played him first--sorry) who had a drinking problem. I remember Allan pouring liquor from cut glass decanters in the middle of the day--he also got sent to Vietnamn--and was declared dead--which lead the way to Susan and Frank Carver, (Laurence Luckenbill). She had a little blonde son, named after her father and called "Petie" who was featured quite often.

Am going to have to run off in a minute--getting a bit exhausted as it heads toward 1:00 a.m. here--will have to pick up on more later--we'll get to Amy(Jada Rowland), Belle (!) (played by beautiful Marla Adams), Joan Crawford, Belle's daughter Robin, movie star Troy Donahue, (yes he was on as a villain--and what an end he met).

SS was moody, really moody and that's not a cliche--it was serious--and didn't pander too much to an audience craving stupidity. Scenes were intense and the acting was good. The sets were evocative and I remember details of the homes, (Valerie's particularly) since I was interested in set design at that time. And every living room had a stocked bar, with a loaded ice bucket and tongs! for mid afternoon "jolts". I once asked my mother why our liquor wasn't out, and "ready always" like it was in Woodbridge.

And the clothes. The feminine viewers must have had a field day at the elegant wardbrobes, (women didn't wear slacks then--jewelry, heels, the works--every day. So noted were the clothes on SS, that the New York Times wrote a feature article in 1964, on the kinds of dresses sported by the different generations of players, (Grace, Valerie, Pauline, Susan, and Amy were all photographed for it)--sometimes the actresses liked them so much they bought them for themselves).

I have several stark memories, one of which I'll close with.

October 1966--A character by the name of Brooke Ames is causing major trouble. Brooke is a villainous par excellence and she really has it in for Valerie. Can't remember her origins or what her particular plot motivations were. But one scene I'll never forget.

Brooke, (a very expensive looking model type with Scavullo style lips and hair in a tight chignon) takes a pair of scissors out of the drawer, and stabs her hand. As she wraps her bleeding finger, she phones Valerie.

I can still remember parts of the dialogue: "Valerie, can you come over--I've just cut myself pruning some roses and I haven't an antiseptic in the house" She smiles in tight close up as Val agrees to come and she hangs up the phone.

Valerie arrives and moments later the confrontation with Val that Brooke wanted ensues.

Brooke spews all her venom at Valerie, at which Valerie says, "Brooke you haven't a sparkle of honesty in you".

At this, Brooke picks up a letter opener from the desk and tries to stab Val. In the struggle between the two women that follows, Valerie accidentally stabs Brooke who falls to the floor dead.

"Brooke, Brooke...Oh Dear Heaven" Val turns to survey the dissaray the fight has created, cups her hand to her mouth and flees...the organist really had a job on his hand that days, as the throbbing chords punctuated Val's flight.

No less than famous British writer Alec Waugh, (brother of Evelyn, "Brideshead Revisited" Waugh) wrote an article in the "National Review" about his addiction to "Secret Storm" at this time, and how he dreaded leaving the US to return to England since he would have to miss it, and his friends would have to keep him up on the plot on transatlantic telephone calls. It had an appeal to intellectuals.

Don't know whether this disorganized rant has been any help. Hope so. And please excuse typos as I was rushing.

All best,

BU

@soapfave06

 

 

This link brings you to John Kelly Genovese's Remembering Woodbridge which has a lot of storylines.  I don't recall twins, but a faux stepbrother storyline with Amy is in there.  There are a few part to the text.

Remembering Woodbridge.

To soapfave06, after Amy had a breakdown and was institutionalized (and actress Jada Rowland was taping the first season of PBS's Sesame Street), Amy returned.    While she had been in the institution, she had remembered her mother and father (Ellen and Arthur) talking or arguing about a pregnancy.  It seems that Ellen Ames had had a fling which resulted in her expecting a baby.  I am not sure how this had been hidden from Jerry and Susan (That part of the story never made sense to me.), but Ellen bore a son and the son was put up for adoption.  No one knew this, and Amy's memory was stunned (probably from the death of Ellen, which began the initial conflict of the show.)

Anyway, Amy resolved to locate this young man.  She found him, but he, at that time, was an American soldier in Vietnam about to be discharged and to return to the United States.  The brother's name was Sean Childers.  James Storm played the role.   Sean's friend was named Corey.   Sean told Corey that he had learned about a sister he had, that she had contacted him, and that he was going to Woodbridge to meet this part of his family.

 

So, just prior to the return of Sean, he was killed in the war.  Corey  (who was leaving the military at the same time as Sean) thought that a message of Sean's death would be too cold and impersonal, so Corey decided to travel to Woodbridge to inform Amy, Lisa, and the others about Sean's death.  When he got there, Amy and Lisa were overjoyed to see this strange man, and jumped to the conclusion that he was Sean before Corey could blurt out that the real Sean was dead.

Corey had a friend with him, Mickey Potter, who also knew the truth.  

Corey Boucher, posing as Sean, was being played by Terry Kiser.  Mickey, the loyal sidekick of Corey, was played by the late Larry Block.

Amy eventually was falling in love with the man posing as Sean, so she decided to leave Woodbridge with Lisa (who was being played by Diane Dell) with Sean to marry him.

Corey was bothered by his sense of right and wrong and was also being reminded all the time by Mickey that the plans of Corey and Amy were wrong.   I think that Corey was blinded by the wealth of the Ames family and Amy.

I don't know what finally prompted Corey to do the right thing, but he and the flirtatious Didi Clayborn, following the shock of the deaths of Jill and Hugh Clayborn (the father of Didi), left Woodbridge together.

 

Some of these details could be a little wrong.   For instance, I assumed as a fourteen-year-old that the real Sean had been killed in battle, but he may have just died naturally.    Also, I never understood how Ellen Ames could have given birth secretly.   It seemed to me that Amy would have been quite a few years older than Sean.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing, that seems pretty controversial, even more so than Marie/Tommy on DAYS. 

On 2/5/2023 at 4:36 PM, FrenchFan said:

In the « remembering Woodbridge » article :

It was now June of 1969. The show's ratings had continued to dip when Lou Scofield replaced John Hess as headwriter. But when Roy Winsor had replaced Scofield with Don Ettlinger, the audience began flocking back. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough for CBS. The network leased both Love of Live and The Secret Stormoutright from American Home Products and gained control of both shows, while the idealist genius of Roy Winsor was no longer called for. Roy Winsor was forced to close his office, and The Secret Storm was to endure countless different writing regimes before the real end came.

Or had it already come in June of 1969?

CBS hasn’t had a good track record when taking over soaps.  They ran this one into the ground before selling it back to American Home Products.   They eventually did the same with Love of Life.  And their in house productions Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Spendord Thing ran about 5 years with struggles 

CBS also purchased The Brighter Day from Procter and Gamble.  The network moved the production from New York City to California.  Didn't the network own the serial The Clear Horizon?

Jada Rowland (Amy Ames #1 on The Secret Storm) on the first season of PBS's Sesame Street.

 

#3899 – Thursday, January 23rd 1969

Val phoned Amy to have some news. She invited family over for lunch and Bill would pick her up. Jill arrived and noticed Amy had morning sickness. Jill admitted Susan tried to convince her she should tell Amy to reveal her pregnancy to Paul. When Jill told Amy that Paul and Bill greeted them at the restaurant, Amy realized Bill was a lawyer with many succeeding divorce cases.

Paul left work early and joined Belle at her apartment. He discussed with her his divorce from Amy and worried that Amy would name Belle as co-respondent. Belle didn’t care. Paul worried about his career but Belle assured she had brighter plans for their future.

Grace and Susan arrived at Valerie’s. Val and Grace were worried about Amy’s health and questioned Susan as she was with her when she visited Dr. Hadley. At Amy’s, Bob arrived to pick her up. She questioned him about his lunch with Paul. Bob admitted he had no sympathy for Paul and refused to advise him on his divorce. He suggested Amy could be vindicative but she didn’t want to destroy Paul’s career. She suddenly fell sick again and told Bob to go to Val’s alone. Amy phoned Val and excused herself. Worried about Amy, Valerie called Dr. Hadley who assured her Amy was fine. She was sick as every pregnant woman could be.

#3900 – Friday, January 24th 1969

Sam arrived at the Country Club bar and asked Ken for a drink. He was looking for bridge partners for the night. Nola arrived and Sam agreed to offer her a drink. Wally the waiter told Ken there was a good reason Nola was always without her husband. Nola told Sam she saved Ken’s job because her husband was acting foolishly. Alex joined and greeted the judge.

After the phone call with Dr. Hadley, Val rushed over to Amy. Val told her how she found out and wanted to know why Amy kept mum. After Amy explained the situation, Val was compassionate but she wondered how long the charade could be kept – a pregnancy couldn’t be hidden forever. Amy didn’t know but Valerie promised she wouldn’t tell Paul.

After Sam bored Nola to death with bridge game, she went back to the bar and asked Ken why he phoned Laurie and didn’t call back again. Ken said he wrote some lyrics for her song but thought they needed some work to be done. Nola said Ken and Laurie should meet but Wilfred wouldn’t know about it. When Nola left, she exchanged glances with Alex. Wally told that was the reason Nola came alone at the Country Club. Ken was aghast : were Mr. L. and Mrs. H. lovers ?

random things about the show (questions and statements):

To soapfave06, I initially did not connect with your question about the twins.

When Amy was institutionalized, her doctor was Dr. Ian Northcoate.   Dr. Northcoate was married to Mary Lou Northcoate (Clarice Blackburn).  Mary Lou was insane and very jealous of Valerie.  Ian was the twin of the evil Owen Northcoate.    I cannot remember all of the trouble that Mary Lou (who eventually died - I am thinking that it may have been in a fire) and Owen did.    I think that Owen may have posed as Ian and attempted to have his twin brother committed as a criminally insane man.   I cannot remember this whole storyline.

Ian and Owen were played by actor and director Gordon Rigsby.    Later, Ian and Valerie were married.   Mr. Rigsby departed the show and was replaced by Alexander Scorby (who was the real life husband of Lori March).   He remained on the show as a recurring character until the cancellation.

Mr. Rigsby later directed episodes of The Doctors.   Mr. Scorby later played Nigel Fragate #2 on All My Children.

I am still curious about who played Bill, the lawyer.

I learned (by searching through Slick Jones' listings about the show) that Addison Powell played Dr. Hadley at this time.

Jay Lanin played Alex.

Joseph Warren (All My Children's Larry Colby) played Wally.

The last sentence in the last synopsis mentioned Mr. L and Mrs. H.    I know that Mrs. H. was Nola Hollister, but I do not know who Mr. L is.    Who is Mr. L?

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, danfling said:

random things about the show (questions and statements):

To soapfave06, I initially did not connect with your question about the twins.

When Amy was institutionalized, her doctor was Dr. Ian Northcoate.   Dr. Northcoate was married to Mary Lou Northcoate (Clarice Blackburn).  Mary Lou was insane and very jealous of Valerie.  Ian was the twin of the evil Owen Northcoate.    I cannot remember all of the trouble that Mary Lou (who eventually died - I am thinking that it may have been in a fire) and Owen did.    I think that Owen may have posed as Ian and attempted to have his twin brother committed as a criminally insane man.   I cannot remember this whole storyline.

Ian and Owen were played by actor and director Gordon Rigsby.    Later, Ian and Valerie were married.   Mr. Rigsby departed the show and was replaced by Alexander Scorby (who was the real life husband of Lori March).   He remained on the show as a recurring character until the cancellation.

Mr. Rigsby later directed episodes of The Doctors.   Mr. Scorby later played Nigel Fragate #2 on All My Children.

I am still curious about who played Bill, the lawyer.

I learned (by searching through Slick Jones' listings about the show) that Addison Powell played Dr. Hadley at this time.

Jay Lanin played Alex.

Joseph Warren (All My Children's Larry Colby) played Wally.

The last sentence in the last synopsis mentioned Mr. L and Mrs. H.    I know that Mrs. H. was Nola Hollister, but I do not know who Mr. L is.    Who is Mr. L?

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. L. Is Alex Lockwood, the boss at the Country Club whom Nola is having an affair with.

Thanking you for sharing more episode descriptions, I would really love to see more Amy and Valerie scenes. 
 

I read more of Owen/Ian in the recap thread provided, it seems Owen tumbled down a flight of stairs to his death, perhaps in a fight with Valerie. 
 

It’s interesting how sometimes you get great details in these summaries but then portions seem to be missing. 
 

I am very intrigued by this show. 

#3901 – Monday, January 27th 1969

Amy felt better this new day but Paul visited her to talk about their divorce. Dr. Hadley called Amy to apologize – he didn’t realize Valerie didn’t know about her pregnancy. She answered vaguely to avoir Paul noticing what was going on. Paul said the divorce should be the friendlier possible. Amy asked if he was worried about what she could do on his reputation. After calming down, Amy assured Paul she wouldn’t cause him any harm. He was Lisa’s father after all. After Paul left, Amy sobbed.

Val visited Sam’s chamber. He couldn’t go on lunch with her because he was expecting a call but he bought them both sandwiches. When he asked her about her family dinner, her face changed. She said something happened but she couldn’t talk about it. Sam shifted the conversation to his son. He said Ken had written lyrics to a song composed by Laurie, the Hollisters’ daughter. Val thought it was exciting but Sam wondered how Jill would react if Ken spent time with another woman and Wilfred Hollister wouldn’t enjoy that either.

At the Country club, Laurie said Ken she was surprised he didn’t call her back but Ken answered he was disappointed in the lyrics he wrote. Laurie liked them but Ken was sure he could do better.

#3902 – Tuesday, January 28th 1969

In his office, Nick was talking to Amy on the phone and said he was ready to move to his new apartment with her help. Frank arrived after he hung up and they talked about Amy’s pregnancy. They disagreed : Nick thought it was maybe for the best if Paul learned she was having a baby after their divorce. After work, Nick went back to his hotel and visited Paul in his room. Paul assured Nick he made the right decision leaving Amy.

Mrs. Borman was shocked to open her door to her daughter Joan. Once inside, Joan phoned Nick to tell him she was back in Woodbridge and asked him if he had received the divorce papers. After the conversation, Nick toasted with Paul to his freedom. Paul wondered why Nick thought his leaving Amy was a bad idea while he had just divorced Joan. Nick answered Amy needed Paul, Joan didn’t need Nick. Nick stopped before telling Paul the truth.

At her mother’s, Joan told her she and Stan gave Archie the slip in New York and then she quarelled with Stan over everything. When he sold his hot car before crossing over and refused to shar the money with her, she decided to split with him. She got her decree, took every time of Archie’s and lit out. She then would live a different life in Woodbridge.

Belle visited Paul at his hotel room. He thought it was not discreet enough. Belle got tired of waiting for him to kiss her.

#3903 – Wednesday, January 29th 1969

In her living room, Val was talking with Jill in the evening. Jill was upset she didn’t have time to share with Ken as he had to meet Laurie Hollister. Jill would like Val to use her influence to stop Ken and Laurie working together. Valerie thought she should give them a chance. Later, Valerie told Jill how she learned about Amy’s pregnancy and that she could understand why she was hiding the pregnancy from Paul.

At the Country club, Ken called Laurie and told her they should work again at some point. After he hung up, Wally asked Ken if he knew about the Hollister girl’s past. Wally told him Laurie was carted off to a sanitarium for a while as part of trouble with her father but he didn’t know much. Ken then asked Alex if he could use the piano with Laurie and Alex was uncomfortable. When Alex went to his office with Nola, Ken questioned Wally about their supposed affair. Wally admitted it was only a guess and he didn’t have any evidence of him. Ken urged Wally to forget his stupid idea. In his office, Alex was not happy Nola suggested Ken and Laurie use the piano in the ballroom. If Laurie spent time in the Country Club, she could find out about their affair. When Alex told Ken there was a rule prevented him from using the piano, Nola said it was foolish but Ken assured he would find a piano elsewhere.

#3904 – Thursday, January 30th 1969

In Sam’s chamber, he heard Eleanor on the phone – she finally evicted her tenant. She told Sam she hoped the next one would act like a lady. Meanwhile, Joan was at her mother’s and she went through the Herald to look for a new place for herself. Mrs. Borman thought she should first look for a job, and later for a place to live. Joan has huge ambition and she still had some money she took from Stan.

Nick was moving in his new apartement. Amy was helping him and she offered him a rug to decorate his flat. They managed to put book on book shelves and Nick admitted that as a bachelor, his flat would probably be a bit disorderly. Amy admitted she promised Paul on a quick divorce, before he found out she was pregnant. She said that if he married Belle, he would not come back to her, only for the baby. Nick realized Amy was still in love with Paul.

Sam expected Wilfred in his chamber to work on a civic project together but he was late. He talked with Eleanor about Ken and Laurie working together. She wondered how Jill would feel about it. Wilfred arrived late. When Sam talked about Ken and Laurie’s collaboration, Wilfred was shocked – he wasn’t told about this. Sam was sure Nola only forgot to mention it. Wilfred assured he would put a stop to his nonsense.

#3905 – Friday, January 31st 1969

In the Hollisters’ living room, Laurie worried that Ken might come late and Nola wouldn’t like for him to come upon Wilfred. Laurie wondered why Alex Lockwood refused to let them use the piano at the country club. Ken arrived. He told Laurie he was surprised she didn’t mention her past to him. Laurie realized he was talking about her time in the sanitarium and asked if he changed anything. Ken apologized and told her he was sorry he asked.

Val received a phone call from Ken. He asked her if by any way he could use the piano at her place with a friend. Val was surprised but agreed Ken and Laurie come to her house to discuss it. After Val hung up, Amy arrived at her place. Amy told she was supposed to have dinner with Nick but he had to cancel their plans so she didn’t want to come back to an empty place. Val couldn’t join her for dinner either as Ken and Laurie would come.

Wilfred came home but Ken and Laurie had already left. (End of the episode missing).

 

#3906 – Monday, February 3rd 1969

(Beginning of the episode missing). At the Stevenses’, Val was ready to leave. She told Sam she heard from Amy that Joan Kane, going by her maiden name Joan Borman, was back in Woodbridge. Sam grimaced.

Laurie and her father quarelled. Laurie assured she was working with Ken, not dating him so why him being married would be important. Laurie mentioned another friendship Wilfred once broke up. Wilfred left. Nola admonished Laurie : this past incident should never be discussed again. Laurie apologized.

Back home, Val was surprised to see Joan at the door. Joan said she was sorry about everything that happened. She made a terrible mistake in thinking Nick and Val were having an affair. She wanted to live at peace in Woodbridge and begged Valerie for forgiveness. Val remained aloof and non-committal.

#3907 – Tuesday, February 4th 1969

Early in the morning, Amy turned up at Valerie’s. She told Val that Nick would introduce her to a friend, lawyer Thomas Austin. Amy wanted the divorce to go quick. Amy told Val she ran into Belle and Paul at the English Pub last night and it was awkward. It confirmed the baby would be only hers, not Paul’s. Nick arrived. Val told him about his ex-wife’s unannounced visit last night and Val assured she would never forgive Joan but had no desire to be vindicative.

Meanwhile, Belle was serving Paul breakfast in her apartment. She wondered if Amy was stalling the divorce. Paul phoned Amy but she was not home. He found unusual she was not home early in the morning. Belle reminded Paul that Amy said the doctor confirmed she was fine so there was no reason to worry about her. Belle talked about her plans for after their wedding. She imagined they could live in Europe. Paul admitted he had considered applying to some foundation for a grant that would support them.

After Amy went up to put on a new face before meeting the lawyer, Valerie questionned Nick about their recent bonding. Nick admitted he liked Amy’s friendship but Val wondered if he noticed she still loved Paul very much. Nick and Amy went to meet Thomas Austin. Austin asked Amy if she could prove adultery. Amy said she didn’t want to and wished she could protect her daughter. She then would need to be patient. Divorce could be final in two years. Nick suggested she should get a Mexican divorce like Joan did.

#3908 – Wednesday, February 5th 1969

In his office, Nick received a phone call from Joan. She asked him for a favor. She had an appointment for an apartment but as she didn’t have a job yet, she asked Nick to back her up saying she received money from their divorce settlement. Nick refused lying. Paul then dropped in. He said Tom Austin called him and introduced himself as Amy’s lawyer. As he was Nick’s friend, Paul assumed Nick introduced him to Amy. Paul thanked Nick as he wanted the matter solved as soon as possible. Nick lost his temper and told Paul he didn’t realize how much he had hurt Amy. Paul assured he appreciated Nick’s support to Amy. Given his feelings for Belle, Paul needed to leave Amy.

Meanwhile, Eleanor hoped her new upstairs neighbor would be less frivolous than the previous one. Mr. Travis, the landlord, seemed to prefer a woman in his apartement. Sam made fun of the situation – if Eleanor had a male neighbour, her life might be different. Sam then received a phone call from Nola Hollister asking him to meet.

Mr. Travis introduced Joan to the apartement. She wanted to take it immediately. Mr. Travis assured the neighbour downstairs – a spinster working as a legal secretary – was okay. Joan was very flirty and Mr. Travis was ready to forget a trifle like references.

Nola was in Sam’s office. She told him she didn’t share Wilfred’s feeling about Ken and Laurie. She was happy with what the collaboration was doing to Laurie. Sam said Valerie had misgivings about letting Ken and Laurie use her piano since Wilfred so strongly objected. Nola wondered how much Sam knew about Laurie’s past but Sam didn’t know much.

#3909 – Thursday, February 6th 1969

Jill visited Amy. She said she was still uneasy about Ken and Laurie’s collaboration. Valerie agreed to let them use her piano since Laurie’s mother told Sam she was all for it. Amy told Jill about how she met Paul and Belle at the English pub and that Nick’s lawyer friend told her she could only get a short divorce on the grounds of adultery. She was tempted if it was not for Lisa.

At Val’s, Ken and Laurie thanked Valerie for her favor. Val told that since Nola said it was right keeping it from Wilfred, she was okay. Nola called and thanked Val. After she hung up, Alex was seen seated nearby. As Wilfred was in New York for the day, Nola gave the housekeeper an extra afternoon. Alex admired the Hollister house. He understood why Nola wouldn’t leave Wilfred. Nola admitted that if she were ever going to, she would have done it three years ago with what happened with little Nancy Crawford. Nola said that Laurie would someday leave the house and Nola would be left with the impossible Wilfred. Nola wondered if Alex prefered she stay married for her money. He kissed her passionately.

While working on a new song, Laurie had a burst on anger when she got hung up on a work. Laurie started talking about her time in the sanitarium to Ken. She mentionned a friend of hers, Nancy Crawford… but Val interrupted.

#3910 – Friday, February 7th 1969

Nick asked Amy if she could give him a hand with the livingroom walls she had selected. Nick started to light a cigarette but Amy asked him not to as she couldn’t stand the smell since she was pregnant. When the phone rang, Nick answered. Paul was surprised. He wanted to ask Amy if he could come and grab some documents in his study. Amy agreed, Mrs. Giddens would be there with Lisa as she and Nick were going out. Paul then returned at his table with Belle at The Water Hole. He realized how much time Nick was spending with Lisa. Belle wondered if he was jealous but Paul denied.

Mrs. Giddens arrived to babysit Lisa. Amy told her Paul would come and the babysitter showed her contempt for Paul and the « Clemens woman ». When they left, Nick asked Amy if he could smoke in the car despite her « delicate condition ». Mrs. Gidden had heard and was dumbfounded.

Once at Nick’s, the prints were hanged. Nick and Amy talked about Paul’s visit to Nick once he found out that Nick adviced a lawyer for Amy. He told Amy that you can’t really follow a man’s mind when he was falling in love.

Paul arrived at his previous home while Mrs. Giddens was watching the television. He went to find the papers in his study. While he was about to leave, Mrs. Giddens gave him a piece of her mind : deserting a lovely woman like Amy was shocking but leaving her as she was pregnant made him quite a monster. Paul was speechless.

I will share more of February 1969 soon. To keep you waiting, I did some monthly chart for January. 

I guessed Joel Crothers joined on January 17th. It is the day he last aired on "Dark Shadows" too. It is said he left DS for TSS and I imagined he was hired for the new love story with Laurie who was introduced the same day. Just a wild guess though... he might have replaced Gordon Gray a bit later.

 

JANUARY 1969 – 18 episodes

1. Jada Rowland (Belle Ames Britton) : 12

2. Nicholas Coster (Paul Britton) : 11

3. Audrey Johnston (Jill Stevens) : 8

4. Marla Adams (Belle Clemens) : 7

*. Joel Crothers (Ken Stevens) : 7                                             (first : 01/17)

*. Terry O’Sullivan (Judge Sam Stevens) : 7

7. Linda DeCoff (Laurie Hollister) : 6                                        (first : 01/17)

*. Rita Morley (Nola Hollister) : 6

9. Keith Charles (Nick Kane) : 5

*. Chase Crowley (Eleanor Gault) : 5

*. Mary McGregor (Susan Ames Carver) : 5

*. Lori March (Valerie Ames) : 5

13. Christina Crawford (Joan Borman Kane) : 4

*. Gordon Gray (Ken Stevens) : 4                                              (last : 01/14)

*. Barnard Hughes (Wilfried Hollister) : 4

*. Jay Lanin (Alex Lockwood) : 4

*. Lawrence Luckinbill (Frank Carver) : 4

18. Beverly Hayes (Karen Clemens) : 3

*. Joseph Warren (Wally Sikes) : 3

20. James Antonio (Stan Collins) : 2                                        (last : 01/15)

*. Elspeth Eric (Mrs. Borman) : 2

*. Marjorie Gateson (Grace Tyrell) : 2

*. Ken Kercheval (Archie Borman) : 2                                      (last : 01/15)

*. Addison Powell (Dr. Spencer Hadley) : 2

*. Ed Winter (Bob Hill) : 2

 

This is the era of the show during which Maroy McGreggor appeared as Susan?    I had assumed in the past that it was much closer to the show's departure from the air when she had appeared.   Thank you for the clarification.

 

Again, I assuming that this is NOT the same singer who later had a top 40 hit with the song Torn between Two Lovers.

13 hours ago, danfling said:

This is the era of the show during which Maroy McGreggor appeared as Susan?    I had assumed in the past that it was much closer to the show's departure from the air when she had appeared.   Thank you for the clarification.

 

Again, I assuming that this is NOT the same singer who later had a top 40 hit with the song Torn between Two Lovers.

From what I read, Judy Lewis will be brought back during 1969.