Y&R: Old Articles

[Broderick]

 

We all remember things differently, of course.  For instance, I vividly remember the episode in 1980 where Bond Gideon's Jill puts the multiple layers of lipstick on the customer at Jabot, and John Abbott fusses at her, and then later tells her the idea has merit.  BUT I could've sworn Brett Halsey played John Abbott in that episode.  When it surfaced online earlier this year, John Abbott was played by some complete stranger that I never remember seeing in my life.  I remembered the episode itself, but just not the actor.  Our memories are fuzzy that way sometimes.  

 

Whoever came up with the "Joseph Thomas was a doppelganger to scare Nikki" is just remembering it wrong.  That never happened.  Jill only strayed into the Greg/Nikki storyline for like ONE DAY, and that was when Liz was shot and was hospitalized.  Jack Abbott took Jill to the hospital, so Jill could make sure her mother was going to be ok.  And then Jill was like, "Ok, looks like Ma is going to make it!  Thanks for the ride, Jack!", and she went directly back into her new Jabot storyline.  She didn't plot any "revenge scheme" against Nikki, and Quinn Redeker didn't appear.    

[cassadine1991]

So was November 26, 1973 Jeanne Cooper’s debut as Katherine?

[Meredith]

I have been watching a lot of Y&R since the pandemic started.  I like almost everyone on this show except for that Lola character.  She is such  waste of air time.  IMO

[soapfan770]

 

Who was that actor again? I remember watching that and found his heavy (possibly German?) accent strange to listen for John Abbott. The funny thing is nowhere as far as I know is that actor credited for playing John!

[Broderick]

 

His name was "Sean Garrison"; he was an actor from western shows in the 1960s.  

[soapfan770]

 

 

Thanks! It seems so much of Y&R history from 1973-1983ish comes off as quite murky sometimes for sure. 

[YRfan23]

His name was Sean Garrison

[Soaplovers]

It's possible Kay might have come on as a customer in Nov 1973..but maybe she became more than just a bit player in early 1974.

 

So Jill had a bf in the early months of the show and a life pre Philip and Katherine?

[Paul Raven]

Yes the mysterious Brent...

[will81]

There is only one place I found Sean Garrison credited as John Abbott, but it was in relation to a request for a cast list in a newspaper tv column and it was from January 1981, when Brett Halsey was very much in the role. The columnist also spelt names wrong and listed Tammy Taylor as Patty, though Lilibet was in the role at that point. 

 

 

The Brett Halsey/Sean Garrison casting along with Jeanne Cooper's start date is going to haunt me for some time I think, haha. CBS/Sony need to get these episodes onlin to ease my mind.

[will81]

This is the only mention of Jeanne Cooper joining Y&R that I could find. This comes from the Feb 21, 1974 issue of Daily Variety. This seems to add to the idea that her start date was Jan 28, 1974. I am still not willing to say 100% confirmation, but the evidence is mounting, haha

 

ETA: I am thrown off by Jeanne stating in 1976 that she joined the show 6 1/2 months after it debuted. But what if that is when she signed her contract. It doesn't mean that is when she started taping. Bell/Conboy could have made sure they had her on board several months prior to her first tape date. It is the only way to explain the discrepency

 

 

Please register in order to view this content

Edited September 12, 2020 by will81

[Broderick]

 

If I remember right, the Chancellors were discussed in the dialogue for several days (or weeks) before the viewers ever encountered them.  A slow-build to their debut, I believe you'd call it.  

There was discussion in the dialogue that on Foothill Road, there was a big house that overlooked the city.  The house, of course, belonged to Mr. & Mrs. Chancellor.  

It was also established that the Chancellors owned several factories and manufacturing plants around town, including the one where Liz worked.  

The Chancellor anecdotes seemed to be providing some "local flavor" to help flesh-out the physical appearance of Genoa City.  

I'd say it's certainly possible that we first saw Kay Chancellor for one or two appearances in late 1973, before Phillip and Kay made their big splash in January of 1974.  

That was just kinda the way Bill Bell wrote.  Slowly, and thoughtfully. 

The cast listing wouldn't provide any clue of when  Jeanne Cooper first became a contract player, because the cast only scrolled "in order of appearance", for any specific day.  

Jeanne could've well started appearing in late 1973, and the press assumed that she was recurring instead of contract, as her storyline didn't really kick-off till January 28, 1974.  

[will81]

That was the other thing I was thinking. Maybe her first appearance in Nov was so brief that it seemed almost like a day player role to the soap press.

 

I tried finding any info on John Considine's time on the show, as apparently Jeanne said he was there before her (maybe he is seen with Liz at the Chancellor factory) but I could find nothing at this point. 

 

Jeanne was well known in the 1950's and I think early 60's in terms of television. Not sure what her profile was like by 1973. So no idea if the general press would bother to announce her arrival. I have some 1973/74 daytime tv issues coming so I will see if there is anything in those as well

[Titus Andronicus]

I've checked. Cooper's mentioned in cast lists for television and movies being aired on TV, but her profile wasn't enough to merit mention joining Y&R.

[Broderick]

 

By 1973, she was mostly just a washed-up, middle-aged TV actress who was drawing unemployment and raising her three kids.  I believe her last notable TV appearance had been in "Bracken's World" circa 1969-1970, and her movie career was pretty much finished for good.