Late 83 thru early 84

Here's what was happening around the time of the Xmas episode to put things in perspective

Learning their marriage has been annulled, Whit decides to tell everyone Charmaine is not his sister but his former wife. Paul accuses Gunnar of murdering his father, causing Barbara to take the child to a psychiatrist. On TV, John and Karen expose James as a fraud, stating Gunnar is the real Stenbeck heir with Dusty in line for inheritance. Gunnar decides to give money to John to do research on the heart disease that killed Burke. Steve proves to Whit that Craig stole one of the coins used to frame Steve. David finds empty pill bottle and insists Jeff have blood test. David is called away on emergency; Jeff starts to change label on sample as David returns. Craig tells Ernie Cricket is pregnant.

 

Caught by David trying to change blood samples, Jeff runs off. Jeff winds up on Skid Row and buys some methedrine to shoot into vein, but stops when a policeman comes on scene. Jeff goes to sleazy motel and tries to go cold turkey. Whit believes Steve's charge that Craig double-crossed Whit with coin theft. Whit fires Craig and Craig vows to get even. Margo invites Bob and female judge Sara Compton for dinner. First Bob feels uncomfortable because on his first date with Sara she came on to him, but the two enjoy each other's company and laugh off their first date. Arriving in Oakdale, Ernie asks Cricket to marry him. Samantha finds Cory and now has information to free her mother. Learning Craig embezzled from her, Diana insists on his interest in nightclub or she'll go to police.

 

Craig tracks down graphologist who agrees to modify Betsy's letter to Steve. In the new letter, Betsy tells Steve she loves Craig and regrets having betrayed him. Bob and David tell Annie that Jeff should go to a treatment center after he's released from the hospital. Jeff nearly becomes violent at the thought of going to detox center and persuades Annie to let him come home. Steve agrees to tend bar at Anemone on temporary basis. Craig has a dream in which Betsy leaves him and he suffers fall. Craig later goes to therapist, saying that he needs information on novel he's writing. Following car trouble, Diana spends night on Steve's couch. When Betsy arrives to talk with Steve, Diana, wearing Steve's nightshirt, opens the door and makes it look as though she and Steve went to bed together.

 

Lisa and Barbara are impressed by a man named Richard, who claims his wealthy dad wants to open a boutique. Steve cries in Diana's arms, saying he's lost Betsy forever. Craig asks stuntman to teach him to take fall without getting injured. Diana tells Brian she intends to marry Steve. Brian has negative response, saying Steve isn't good enough for her, Margo and Tom want to start family. Unable to find job, John physically attacks Bob when he won't give him a reference. Tom and Margo fight about their fathers' disagreement. Lisa is furious when Whit writes damaging article about Jeff’s drug abuse.

Craig feigns paralysis. Betsy refuses Lyla's request that she leave Craig. Annie learns that Jeff has been skipping his psychiatric appointments, but balks at David's suggestion that she leave him. Richard, foiled in his attempts to be with Barbara, continues to stare at her from the apartment across the way. Barbara receives flowers from an anonymous admirer.

 

Betsy will not listen to Kim's suggestion that she leave Craig. Craig checks out of hospital against doctor's advice. Frannie’s friend, Marcy Thompson fantasizes about Bob kissing her and promising eternal love. Frank Andropoulos, Nick and Steve’s cousin, is interested in Lila. Ariel tells Whit she knows he's a bigamist and gets him to offer job in return for keeping mouth shut. Richard breaks into Gunnar's hotel room and steals camera. Annie leaves Jeff but promises to return if he gets help. Lisa is stunned when she's the only one dressed formally for her party. Everyone else is in punk attire thanks to Ariel. As the guests are all assembled, Lisa asks them to meet the new advice columnist for the newspaper and both Ariel and Kim stand. Whit's newspaper runs headline accusing Bob of sexually attacking Marcy in hospital.

 

Gunnar is stunned when Richard suggests Gunnar stop seeing Paul. Gunnar realizes Richard isn't who he claims to be. Frank is falling for Lyla. Marcy’s mother, Peggy let her live with her boyfriend. Alice gets job at hospital working with children. Cricket and Ernie announce engagement. At treatment center, Jeff refuses to see Annie. Bob is cleared of all charges in molestation of Marcy.

 

After meeting John on train, Richard is under impression John wants Bob murdered. Richard, now believing he has airtight alibi, shoots Bob. Tom and Margo find the wounded Bob and rush him to hospital. John is only doctor at hospital available, due to emergency. Tom is against John operating, but Margo insists. Bob needs splenectomy and surgery reveals he may have nicked aorta. John is arrested for attempted murder. Maggie agrees to take Frank's legal case. Lyla is unaware that Frank is member of Andropoulos family. Jeff refuses to see Annie at clinic. Later he opens Christmas gift from her and starts to cry when he sees picture of Annie and the children.

Frannie is on strict diet. Jeff sees Karen and agrees to let her tell Annie he needs her. Richard gets job at pinball joint, claiming he is psychologist doing study on video arcades. John is reinstated at hospital with David voting against him and Bob abstaining. Barbara believes Richard has left town. John tells Det. Kevin Callahan about meeting Richard on train, but Kevin doesn't believe Richard exists. Maggie wants to adopt a child. Jake, an old flame of Diana's, wants to resume affair, but she refuses. Ernie and Cricket wed as she goes into labor. On way to hospital, Cricket gives birth to baby girl. Paul tells Gunnar he wants him to move back home.

 

Betsy is pinned under the beam loosened by Craig at the lakefront property. Steve gets Betsy out unharmed. Craig convinces Kim through Betsy that she should sell the lakefront property. Richard manages to exit hospital by posing as priest. Deciding to frame Karen for Bob's shooting, Richard places a bloodstained handkerchief in the Dixon house. John throws out the handkerchief but Richard retrieves it. Betsy considering going to bed with Craig in order to save her marriage, but Kim suggests she remain true to herself. Kirk tells Frannie that he loves her. Lyla agrees to reconcile with Frank even though he withheld information that he was Steve's cousin. Richard learns John's phone to be tapped.

 

Frank learns his life is in danger and cancels his trip to Montreal with Lyla, saying she's in danger when she's around him. Craig is furious when he learns Kim turned the lakefront property over to the Throwaway Kids group. Tom tells Margo that Callahan is setting a trap for John. Dusty loses many of his friends when their parents believe John shot Bob. Karen convinces Dusty that John saved Bob's life and didn't try to harm him. Richard tells John he wants him to kill Gunnar or Karen will be framed for Bob's shooting. Marcy applies for a job as Danielle's nurse but runs out when Betsy checks her references. Lyla walks in while Betsy is with Steve and calls her a tramp, although Betsy insists she and Steve have done nothing.

 

Karen is upset with John for talking to Gunnar about Dusty. Frannie saves Marcy from being arrested for shoplifting. John tells Richard he hates Gunnar but needs more time before killing Gunnar for him. Paul has a nightmare about a man wanting to take Barbara away. Bob is so fixated about his problems of working with John that he ignores Frannie's problems. Frannie is torn between attending Yale and staying in Oakdale to be with Kirk. Betsy sees Zack, who assures her her love for Steve is not wrong and she is not responsible for Craig's paralysis. Maggie considers artificial insemination. Lyla tells Craig she thinks he and Betsy should move to Boston.

 

\

 

What year was this?

It was 1983.

Wow @ Paul Raven, thanks for posting that summary.

 

I would've liked to have seen that whole storyline of Marcy accusing Dr. Bob.  Most of the episodes posted on You Tube are after Bob's reputation has been restored.  In some episodes you can see a lingering tension between Frannie and Marcy but it is also clear that Frannie has forgiven and both have moved on at that point.

 

I remember seeing episodes when Maggie was involved with Tom Hughes and then Tom and Margo became involved but I don't think I ever knew that Lyla and Frank Andropolous were involved before Maggie and Frank.  Pretty interesting to reflect on just how entangled the Andropolouses and Montgomerys were back then, whether in love or in hate (Steve and Craig).  Their families sure were intertwined back then!

 

Too bad there aren't more episodes from 83 & 84 posted online.  Heck, I'd take more episodes from December 89 or January/February 1990!  I never got to see Phillip Lombard get arrested for Brock's murder or Emily's reaction.

Edited December 10, 201510 yr by DramatistDreamer

Wow @ Paul Raven, thanks for posting that summary.

 

I would've liked to have seen that whole storyline of Marcy accusing Dr. Bob.  Most of the episodes posted on You Tube are after Bob's reputation has been restored.  In some episodes you can see a lingering tension between Frannie and Marcy but it is also clear that Frannie has forgiven and both have moved on at that point.

 

I remember seeing episodes when Maggie was involved with Tom Hughes and then Tom and Margo became involved but I don't think I ever knew that Lyla and Frank Andropolous were involved before Maggie and Frank.  Pretty interesting to reflect on just how entangled the Andropolouses and Montgomerys were back then, whether in love or in hate (Steve and Craig).  Their families sure were intertwined back then!

 

Too bad there aren't more episodes from 83 & 84 posted online.  Heck, I'd take more episodes from December 89 or January/February 1990!  I never got to see Phillip Lombard get arrested for Brock's murder or Emily's reaction.

Damn Procter & Gamble. I hate how these episodes are wasting away b/c there are tons of episodes from the 80s I'd love to see. I hate that it is easier to find episodes from the last decade of ATWT, which are hardly ever taken down, over the older episodes when the material was good. So annoying.

That Richard /John story was ATWT's rip off of Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train', which starred Farley Granger who turned up a few years later as Earl Mitchell.Imagine if Farley had have been cast as Richard.

ATWT could have scored some publicity by having a star from the original movie now playing the villian.

Imogene Coca was Alice.She was a huge TV star in the 50's on 'Your Show of Shows'.

That Richard /John story was ATWT's rip off of Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train', which starred Farley Granger who turned up a few years later as Earl Mitchell.Imagine if Farley had have been cast as Richard.

ATWT could have scored some publicity by having a star from the original movie now playing the villian.

Imogene Coca was Alice.She was a huge TV star in the 50's on 'Your Show of Shows'.

Paul how long was Imogene Coca on as Alice ?

Not sure how long Coca was on the show =matbe 13 weeks?

Here's a quotefrom a radio interview with Helen Wagner discussing the storyline after Doug Marland died.

HELEN: Well, there has been a slight change. It's very difficult, though, to maintain an author's ideas. He left a Bible, so-called in quotes, that he had put together, fortunately, just previous to his heart problems, and we've gone on that now for more than a year. I don't know how much of that is left and how much of what they are doing will be continued. I'm sure they will continue Doug's people, but now they really have to strike out on their own and we've got to just cross our fingers and hope for the best, because that's what we all want.

Not sure how long Coca was on the show =matbe 13 weeks?

Here's a quotefrom a radio interview with Helen Wagner discussing the storyline after Doug Marland died.

HELEN: Well, there has been a slight change. It's very difficult, though, to maintain an author's ideas. He left a Bible, so-called in quotes, that he had put together, fortunately, just previous to his heart problems, and we've gone on that now for more than a year. I don't know how much of that is left and how much of what they are doing will be continued. I'm sure they will continue Doug's people, but now they really have to strike out on their own and we've got to just cross our fingers and hope for the best, because that's what we all want.

Its sad the show fell apart after Marland's death. I am sure a lot of vets were crossing their fingers for the best to no avail. I had high hopes when FMB and Lorraine Broderick were brought on board. I thought they would save ATWT. They started off really strong and the ratings went up but then FMB had to hire her friends and LB writing went south.

 

The ratings for ATWT after Marland's death were still good/great…I think it was because the bible Marland left was still being used. But the more than a year comment by Wagner makes me think that his bible was over in late winter 94 because thats when the ratings started sliding and the stories weren't the same. 

Edited December 10, 201510 yr by Soapsuds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKntJ9yWrTk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95TVa4Qfa9Q

Edited December 10, 201510 yr by Soapsuds

Here's what was happening around the time of the Xmas episode to put things in perspective

Learning their marriage has been annulled, Whit decides to tell everyone Charmaine is not his sister but his former wife. Paul accuses Gunnar of murdering his father, causing Barbara to take the child to a psychiatrist. On TV, John and Karen expose James as a fraud, stating Gunnar is the real Stenbeck heir with Dusty in line for inheritance. Gunnar decides to give money to John to do research on the heart disease that killed Burke. Steve proves to Whit that Craig stole one of the coins used to frame Steve. David finds empty pill bottle and insists Jeff have blood test. David is called away on emergency; Jeff starts to change label on sample as David returns. Craig tells Ernie Cricket is pregnant.

 

Caught by David trying to change blood samples, Jeff runs off. Jeff winds up on Skid Row and buys some methedrine to shoot into vein, but stops when a policeman comes on scene. Jeff goes to sleazy motel and tries to go cold turkey. Whit believes Steve's charge that Craig double-crossed Whit with coin theft. Whit fires Craig and Craig vows to get even. Margo invites Bob and female judge Sara Compton for dinner. First Bob feels uncomfortable because on his first date with Sara she came on to him, but the two enjoy each other's company and laugh off their first date. Arriving in Oakdale, Ernie asks Cricket to marry him. Samantha finds Cory and now has information to free her mother. Learning Craig embezzled from her, Diana insists on his interest in nightclub or she'll go to police.

 

Craig tracks down graphologist who agrees to modify Betsy's letter to Steve. In the new letter, Betsy tells Steve she loves Craig and regrets having betrayed him. Bob and David tell Annie that Jeff should go to a treatment center after he's released from the hospital. Jeff nearly becomes violent at the thought of going to detox center and persuades Annie to let him come home. Steve agrees to tend bar at Anemone on temporary basis. Craig has a dream in which Betsy leaves him and he suffers fall. Craig later goes to therapist, saying that he needs information on novel he's writing. Following car trouble, Diana spends night on Steve's couch. When Betsy arrives to talk with Steve, Diana, wearing Steve's nightshirt, opens the door and makes it look as though she and Steve went to bed together.

 

Lisa and Barbara are impressed by a man named Richard, who claims his wealthy dad wants to open a boutique. Steve cries in Diana's arms, saying he's lost Betsy forever. Craig asks stuntman to teach him to take fall without getting injured. Diana tells Brian she intends to marry Steve. Brian has negative response, saying Steve isn't good enough for her, Margo and Tom want to start family. Unable to find job, John physically attacks Bob when he won't give him a reference. Tom and Margo fight about their fathers' disagreement. Lisa is furious when Whit writes damaging article about Jeff’s drug abuse.

Craig feigns paralysis. Betsy refuses Lyla's request that she leave Craig. Annie learns that Jeff has been skipping his psychiatric appointments, but balks at David's suggestion that she leave him. Richard, foiled in his attempts to be with Barbara, continues to stare at her from the apartment across the way. Barbara receives flowers from an anonymous admirer.

 

Betsy will not listen to Kim's suggestion that she leave Craig. Craig checks out of hospital against doctor's advice. Frannie’s friend, Marcy Thompson fantasizes about Bob kissing her and promising eternal love. Frank Andropoulos, Nick and Steve’s cousin, is interested in Lila. Ariel tells Whit she knows he's a bigamist and gets him to offer job in return for keeping mouth shut. Richard breaks into Gunnar's hotel room and steals camera. Annie leaves Jeff but promises to return if he gets help. Lisa is stunned when she's the only one dressed formally for her party. Everyone else is in punk attire thanks to Ariel. As the guests are all assembled, Lisa asks them to meet the new advice columnist for the newspaper and both Ariel and Kim stand. Whit's newspaper runs headline accusing Bob of sexually attacking Marcy in hospital.

 

Gunnar is stunned when Richard suggests Gunnar stop seeing Paul. Gunnar realizes Richard isn't who he claims to be. Frank is falling for Lyla. Marcy’s mother, Peggy let her live with her boyfriend. Alice gets job at hospital working with children. Cricket and Ernie announce engagement. At treatment center, Jeff refuses to see Annie. Bob is cleared of all charges in molestation of Marcy.

 

After meeting John on train, Richard is under impression John wants Bob murdered. Richard, now believing he has airtight alibi, shoots Bob. Tom and Margo find the wounded Bob and rush him to hospital. John is only doctor at hospital available, due to emergency. Tom is against John operating, but Margo insists. Bob needs splenectomy and surgery reveals he may have nicked aorta. John is arrested for attempted murder. Maggie agrees to take Frank's legal case. Lyla is unaware that Frank is member of Andropoulos family. Jeff refuses to see Annie at clinic. Later he opens Christmas gift from her and starts to cry when he sees picture of Annie and the children.

Frannie is on strict diet. Jeff sees Karen and agrees to let her tell Annie he needs her. Richard gets job at pinball joint, claiming he is psychologist doing study on video arcades. John is reinstated at hospital with David voting against him and Bob abstaining. Barbara believes Richard has left town. John tells Det. Kevin Callahan about meeting Richard on train, but Kevin doesn't believe Richard exists. Maggie wants to adopt a child. Jake, an old flame of Diana's, wants to resume affair, but she refuses. Ernie and Cricket wed as she goes into labor. On way to hospital, Cricket gives birth to baby girl. Paul tells Gunnar he wants him to move back home.

 

Betsy is pinned under the beam loosened by Craig at the lakefront property. Steve gets Betsy out unharmed. Craig convinces Kim through Betsy that she should sell the lakefront property. Richard manages to exit hospital by posing as priest. Deciding to frame Karen for Bob's shooting, Richard places a bloodstained handkerchief in the Dixon house. John throws out the handkerchief but Richard retrieves it. Betsy considering going to bed with Craig in order to save her marriage, but Kim suggests she remain true to herself. Kirk tells Frannie that he loves her. Lyla agrees to reconcile with Frank even though he withheld information that he was Steve's cousin. Richard learns John's phone to be tapped.

 

Frank learns his life is in danger and cancels his trip to Montreal with Lyla, saying she's in danger when she's around him. Craig is furious when he learns Kim turned the lakefront property over to the Throwaway Kids group. Tom tells Margo that Callahan is setting a trap for John. Dusty loses many of his friends when their parents believe John shot Bob. Karen convinces Dusty that John saved Bob's life and didn't try to harm him. Richard tells John he wants him to kill Gunnar or Karen will be framed for Bob's shooting. Marcy applies for a job as Danielle's nurse but runs out when Betsy checks her references. Lyla walks in while Betsy is with Steve and calls her a tramp, although Betsy insists she and Steve have done nothing.

 

Karen is upset with John for talking to Gunnar about Dusty. Frannie saves Marcy from being arrested for shoplifting. John tells Richard he hates Gunnar but needs more time before killing Gunnar for him. Paul has a nightmare about a man wanting to take Barbara away. Bob is so fixated about his problems of working with John that he ignores Frannie's problems. Frannie is torn between attending Yale and staying in Oakdale to be with Kirk. Betsy sees Zack, who assures her her love for Steve is not wrong and she is not responsible for Craig's paralysis. Maggie considers artificial insemination. Lyla tells Craig she thinks he and Betsy should move to Boston.

 

\

 

What year was this?

Had to be 83 right? The Dobs are gone as it seems the whole canvas was being used at least more then when they were there and the John/Bob feud was reignited. God..that Craig/Betsy/Steve thing went on forever didn't it? I know we were supposed to think Richard was James  but who was he really? Maggie stared having the boring baby obsession soaps love so much, Frank was hot and the best Andropolous?I hated Jeff and lo and behold, Lyla gets h  hot boyfriend and gets to call Betsy a tramp!!!! This is the most interesting that drip ever was.

Here's Imogene briefly talking about her ATWT run. As she also said elsewhere, she basically thought it was boring as hell.

 

http://thesoapoperasaga.blogspot.com/2014/11/look-who-loves-soaps-imogene-coca.html

Imogene Coca had the most expressive face (LOL).  WPIX in NYC used to air Your Show of Shows in the 1980s so I got the chance to watch quite a bit of it and the humor still held up (it probably still would today).

 

Yeah, it is a shame that the last decade of ATWT is posted on YT pretty much without any threats of being taken down, probably because it's the [!@#$%^&*]-tiest of all the decades that show ever produced.  The other decades may have some value, so P&G hordes those episodes.

 

Last night, I came across the SoapClassics You Tube page and all they had were clips.  I swear it was like 5 clips or something (if that much).  Pitiful.

You can find a lot of late 1979 and early 1980 material here.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvdRZvtdetApr-TBBcygBA

I'm quite a fan of the WLS blog so I bet I've seen a lot of their videos already.  I'm not above trying to find some others though.

 

At least the WLS page is well organized.  Some other accounts are a mess but bless them for posting anyway (lol).

Edited December 10, 201510 yr by DramatistDreamer

In case anyone is interested in that interview quote with Helen Wagner, the interview (from June 8, 1994, conducted by Peter Anthony Holder) transcript in its entirety could be found here:  http://peteranthonyholder.com/atwt-n.htm

In fact, the same site has interview transcripts of several other ATWT actors, all conducted in the first few years after Marland's death:  

Eileen Fulton (6/21/1995):  http://peteranthonyholder.com/cjad12.htm

Don Hastings: (5/9/1994): http://peteranthonyholder.com/atwt-bob.htm

Tom Wiggin: (5/29/1996): http://peteranthonyholder.com/cjad20.htm

There is also a much shorter interview (6/11/1996) with Julie Poll, who wrote under Marland then authored the ATWT Complete Family Scrapbook: http://peteranthonyholder.com/cjad25.htm