All of you are inspiring me, and despite my ill health, I am charging ahead in putting my presentation together on 'The History of Soap Fan-dom' before the American Popular Culture Association's annual conference in mid-April in San Antonio, Texas.

My big news today is that I have just written to a former daytime star in the hopes of interviewing him for my presentation. But, more immediately, I will be interviewing him for my new hyper-local newspaper website. The gentleman, in question, is the VP of a successful Home Improvement Services shop in the area (Daytime's answer to Tim Allen!)...I am speaking of Kurt McKinney (formerly of GL and ATWT and currently on the web soap Steamboat)

I hope to interview him, first, to do a profile of his business, and then, as part of my series of articles of 'Notable Residents of the Past or Present.' Alrady, I have done articles on the late Pulitzer Prize winning author John Cheever (1912-1982) and screenwriter Dashiell Hammett, as next week is the 50th anniversary of his death. McKinney's birthday is mid-February...(he'll be 49). So, I thought I could do an article entitled "The 1,001 Lives of Kurt McKinney."

Wow, John Cheever/Dashiell Hammett and....Kurt McKinney...now that's a name I wouldn't have included with the other two!

Just kidding, good for you. Ask him if he thought the Mattessa's helped or hurt the characters on the show (I think they hurt with their insistence that they always be happy and perfect and together!) Love to hear what an actor with nothing to loose anymore thinks of the whackos out their in TV land.

Carl, poor Matt was one of the endless middle aged citizens of Springfield who did not have a job or a home, who just wandered around town and hung out at the freaking ugly 7-11 Wheeler put in a closet at CBS. Even though hotties like he, Josh and Blake would have no trouble snagging a piece of ass when they wanted it, Wheeler somehow thought they were pathetic wanderers. Matt did finally meet a cute woman who was his daughters teacher at the very end. It was always so stupid when hot guys like Matt and Josh (who the women and some of the guys in my town would be beating down their doors) were regulated to talking about picking chicks up at that ugly store, and poor Blake was reduced to keeping an open account at the vibrator store.

In addition to Kurt McKinney, Dashiell Hammett and John Cheever, others in the area include: Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt Wallace, the late publishers of 'The Reader's Digest' (coincidentally, the company has recently vacated their magnificent property that served as its headquartes for decads), David Selby (Dark Shadows), Kyle Lowder (DOOL & B&, Gavin McLeod, basketball player Otil Hill and Jeff Van Gundy...I am hoping to do profiles of these notable residents of the past periodically in our publication.

This isn't strictly fan-related but it does involve meeting fans, and I thought it was sweet. From the September 1978 Digest (SOD Publishing Inc)

What a heartwarming story, and one that is especially appreciated, after the tragic events of yesterday. Thank you!

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Later today, or tomorrow, I'm going to post an old Daytime TV article where the cast celebrated a big fan of the show. Since you're such an EON fan you might enjoy it.

I think I may know who the fan is...if my hunch is correct, she just turned 80 years old yesterday...EON Fan Club president Frances Nonenmacher

You were right. So I guess you know her?

From the December 1976 Daytime TV (Sterling).

I've known Frances for 40 years...They did make a mistake, though, Ann Flood joined Edge in March of 1962 not when it premiered in 1956.

Good eye, catching that. I wanted to say if you would like me to redo the fourth one, since it's blurry, let me know.

You've probably already seen this, since you were such a fan and know her, but I hope you got some enjoyment out of it.

Yes, if you could re-do it. Thank you. I meant to tell you that Frances and I were the only two fans at the studio on the final day of taping. Earlier today, my wife was flipping the tv channels, and we saw Lois Kibbee in Caddyshack and the famous pool scene.

You'll never know how much you've brightened my day today...it has been a terrible day for me. Thank you again.

From the September 25 1982 Digest (Network Publishing Corporation)

These pictures are fantastic. I haven't heard from Kurt McKinney, but I HAVE successfully contacted Scott Bryce will be answering my questions on Wednesday!

That's wonderful. I'm sure you'll have a lot of great things to ask Scott. I sure miss him on daytime.