Y&R: Old Articles

[yrfan1983]

Possibly but it was almost a full 5 years from Veronica’s debut to when John first looked at Mamie in a romantic light.

[FrenchBug82]

THAT long? Then I clearly am remembering wrong.

[Soaplovers]

I thought it was because the actress opted to leave.  She was a warmer ,motherly figure while Veronica's Mamie was almost too cold and mean as Mamie.

[DRW50]

Didn't Ray have conflict with someone in the cast, or is that just a rumor?

[YRfan23]

I only know she didn’t like Brenda Dickson!

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[DRW50]

I thought someone here once said she and Jerry didn't get along but I can't remember now.

[FrenchBug82]

I guess I am the most naive person in the world but I always wonder what "not getting along" means in the context of filming a soap.
What do they have to argue about?

[soapfan770]

Both Ray and Redd brought some pretty unique strengths to Mamie. I personally think Redd still oozed some much needed warmth but also was capable of holding her own ground especially with Dru and Jill.

I think Ray while warm and wonderful sometimes got used too much for either comedic relief or over the top flair ie flipping over and dropping a whole pan of hors d'oeuvres at the sight of Dina, fights with Jill etc. but it would have been interesting to see her carry on in the role into the early 90’s. 
 

One curious thing, I do wonder why Olivia and Dru were made nieces instead of daughters of Mamie herself or if Mamie had children of her own. I think that would have been a great classic classism story in retrospect and possible envy I suppose. I only thought about about it after my mother misremembered Mamie being their mother instead of their aunt during the 2020 classic reruns lol. 

[kalbir]

I think it was established that Mamie was a widow with no children when she came to work for the Abbott family. In a 1988 episode, it was mentioned that Mamie had worked for the Abbotts for 25 years.

[Darn]

I've seen a lot of soap actors talk about conflicting acting methods. For instance if you like to run lines and your scene partner doesn't you're going to have a problem.

[soapfan770]

I recall reading something that Johnson wasn’t her maiden name a long time ago but can’t remember where for sure. I suppose she wasn’t able to have children herself? 

[Soaplovers]

I think Dru should have been Mamie's daughter and causing trouble to get attention...and also stealing from the Abbotts out of resentment for her mom devoting herself to her second family over her.

 

[kalbir]

I remember Mamie was addressed several times as Mrs. Johnson. I don't think we ever knew what Mamie and Lillie Belle's maiden name was.

[Paul Raven]

August 1982

Jack hired glamor girl, Gloria, to split John and Jill.

So there was another Gloria involved with Abbotts all those years ago, Does anyone know who played her? It was probably a couple of episodes.

Imagine if this was the same Gloria, who years later remembered wealthy John Abbott and this time managed to land him.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Paul Raven

[Khan]

If Ron Carlivati were writing this show, and he had somehow stumbled upon that information?  Believe me, he would have found some way to tie the two Glorias together.

IKR?  I would have LOVED to see Drucilla, as the maid's daughter, who resented how much more attention her mother gave her boss's children, at least try and seduce Jack (or even John) into marriage just to prove she was just as good as the Abbott children.  If Drucilla and Olivia had been Mamie's daughters, rather than her nieces, then a Jack/Drucilla union could have caused so much tension among the two families.

My guess?  Even though she was playing a maid, she didn't want to play her like she was Beulah, and Jerry Douglas thought she was being "uppity" for demanding her character be written with dignity.

But, again, that's just my guess.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Khan