This is so random but on this podcast, I Was There Too, which is about the little known actors is major movies, there's an interview with the actress who played Bus Passenger #1 on Speed. She's an actress by the name of Simone Gad, at one point during the interview it's mentioned that she had the very first line on Days. Listen here at 17:49.

Yes, I just interviewed Simone Pascal (her name back then) last year and mentioned to her that she had the first line ever on Days. You can read the full interview here: http://www.jason47.com/days/interviewsimonepascal.html

Thanks for posting those newspaper articles. I especially loved the letter about Julie.

FROM THE VAULT: 45 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK: WORK SCHEDULE FOR 4/13/70-4/17/70

Interesting to see Joan Van Ark working 4 days ahead of some of the better known performers.

Janene must have been important to the story at that time.

Edited April 13, 201510 yr by Paul Raven

Interesting to see Joan Van Ark working 4 days ahead of some of the better known performers.

Janene must have been important to the story at that time.

She had a busy week that week, but as to the order of the list. It's all of the contract actors (Mac Carey through Bill Hayes) followed by whoever works each day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. That's why the yet-uncast U/5 Guard (working Wednesday) is listed above Mike Farrell (working Friday), who had been with the show since 1968.

Wow! Didn't realize Joan Van Ark was on DAYS! Cool. What was her character? How long was she around, was she well-liked?

And I presume those episode numbers are the ones they were shooting that day and that they did not air until a later date?

Thanks, Jason!

I believe JVA was only on for a short time - 1969-70, if I'm not mistaken.

Wow! Didn't realize Joan Van Ark was on DAYS! Cool. What was her character? How long was she around, was she well-liked?

And I presume those episode numbers are the ones they were shooting that day and that they did not air until a later date?

Thanks, Jason!

You're welcome! Yes, those are the episodes taped those dates, they aired a few weeks later.

Janene was played by three actresses. She was a model who briefly dated Bill Horton.

Mary Wilcox (Janene Whitney) 6/6/69-10/29/69

Pat Hornung (Janene Whitney) 11/5/69-3/19/70

Joan Van Ark (Janene Whitney) 4/27/70-9/11/70

This is a June 1977 column pertaining to the David/Val and Sharon/Julie stories.

Well...at least they tried. #shrug

Ketty Lester's quote breaks my heart, because it's so true.

I had never heard so much detail about the Sharon story, beyond synopses. It sounds like something DAYS should have just avoided.

When I was bored and coming up with story ideas a few years ago, I wanted to bring in a young niece for Julie, by her brother, who would be a lesbian and very rebellious and have a lot of issues, and it would force Julie to address what happened with Sharon all those years ago.

That's a fascinating (and blunt) article. Thanks for posting. Pat Falken-Smith's quote about the actors expecting too much is ridiculous, though.

Yeah, Pat Falken-Smith was blatantly lying. Who ever heard of an engaged couple not even kissing?!

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19770805&id=mndjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oXkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7151,1068853&hl=en

1977 Marlena/Samantha article.

You're welcome! Yes, those are the episodes taped those dates, they aired a few weeks later.

Janene was played by three actresses. She was a model who briefly dated Bill Horton.

Mary Wilcox (Janene Whitney) 6/6/69-10/29/69

Pat Hornung (Janene Whitney) 11/5/69-3/19/70

Joan Van Ark (Janene Whitney) 4/27/70-9/11/70

I wonder why they recast each time?Were they not happy with the first two Janene's and kept looking for an actress that would click in the part and maybe then expand the role? Or was Janene only ever meant to be a minor role and the actresses were not available/interested in returning?