Secrets of Midland Heights

[LoyaltoAMC]

Does anyone else remember this short-lived prime time Lorimar soap? I actually recall this rather fondly and saw every one of the 10 or so episodes aired in the early 80s. It had a terrific cast and very catchy theme song. David Jacobs and some other Knots people produced it, and it was essentially a gothic Knots. Lots of interpersonal relationship and intergenerational stories in a suburban setting, but with a darker twist and more of an emphasis on the kids. Some really fine actors rounded out the cast, including Bibi Besch, Martha Scott,and Jordan Christopher--and it had some very strong young cast members including Lorenzo Lamas (whom Lorimar would ship off to Falcon Crest the following season), and Marilyn Jones, Linda Hamilton, Doran Clark, and Daniel Zippi (all three of whom would be shipped off to Lorimar's repackaged, more gothic version of Secrets called "Kings Crossing" on ABC the next season). The show was a ratings dud from the get-go, airing Saturdays at 10, when the target audience--teens and young adults--were not home. I was such a soap geek growing up, I remember waiting for this show to air with great anticipation and being bummed when it didn't take off. Anyone else recall this show?

[Steve]

Yup, and I recall King's Crossing, too. Wasn't Michael Zaslow part of the cast of one of those shows?

[LoyaltoAMC]

Yep, Zaslow and Stephanie Braxton played husband and wife Jonathan and Carol Hadary on King's Crossing. They weren't in Secrets. I loved King's Crossing as much as Secrets. I was only 13 at the time, but I was such a soap geek I remember NEEDING to find out the backstage specifics-politics of why the show was being retooled and renamed. By the way, Braxton, who we all know also wrote GH and ATWT for ages, is the step-mother of Josh Hamilton, the first teen Charlie on AMC (the one who first appears during the Kate Martin funeral sequences). He's a pretty successful actor now, I guess. His dad is Dan Hamilton long-time soap director and actor. He played Kitty's first husband on AMC. The soap world is just so incestuous, I love it.

[EricMontreal22]

I've long been interested in this... I found a few interesting New York Times articles on it, that I can try to post but thats it... (Of course they didn't like it much...) Wish something from it was online

[Paul Raven]

Secrets debuted in the Dallas timeslot (fri @ 10,so it got an enormous sampling) I recall it got a 41 share and won its timeslot easily. Dallas at that time was scoring shares in the high 50's. The following night it moved into its regular slot of Sat @10 and it fell to something like a 21/22 share and kept falling after that.At that time Love Boat and Fantasy Island dominated Sat night and CBS had been an also ran for years.

SOMH was developed as an 8.00 pm show and when Dallas exploded,CBS wanted another 10.00 pm soap so the whole concept was a little off.

SOD had an article when the show debuted and if I find it I will post some more info.

[LoyaltoAMC]

It was a pretty interesting show. Very laid back and a bit on the slow-paced side, but I remember finding it intriguing. It reminded me more of Peyton Place and of daytime soaps in general than of the other prime time soaps of the era, mostly because of its very cozy, middle America feel. Just maybe a little more on the gothic side. I remember there being a hint of an incestuous relationship btwn Guy Millington and his niece Ann Dulles, or maybe I perceived there to be one. Interesting that it had been developed as a tamer show for the 8pm slot. I didn't know that. I do recall it doing gangbusters in Dallas's slight then free-falling in its regular Sat 10pm slot. Then again, they could've run Marblehead Manor in Dallas's slot in the early to mid-80s and they'd be guaranteed at least a 40 share. I still remember the theme song and opening titles. The song was very, very catchy, and fit the slow, somewhat lazy pace of the show. It was probably from Jerrod Immel who created the Dallas and Knots themes. King's Crossing wasn't bad. There were some gothic elements, but it had a brighter, much less dark tone to it than Secrets. It seemed to carry the same basic premise as Falcon Crest (normal nuclear family return to spouse's hometown to find a cold, calculating aunt with a family secret). I thought Mary Frann and Bradford Dillman were very believeable as the Chase and Maggie of the show LOL. It was also geared toward teens, though ABC, which carried the show (Secrets was on CBS), aired it I think in the Sat 8pm slot, which didn't make sense. Just some fond memories of both shows.

[Jagger1966]

I've been looking for episodes, clips or opening credits of these shows on-line for years and the only thing I've found are two ABC promos for King's Crossing. and absolutely nothing for Midland Heights. I'm glad other people remember them or I'd think I just imagined these shows ever being on!

[DRW50]

There was a People's Choice Awards clip but that was just Valerie Harper talking about the show

[Paul Raven]

Finally found something on this show

Edited June 17, 2015 by Paul Raven

[DRW50]

Please register in order to view this content

 

Opening credits at the end, and near the start, a really cool banner for the show.

 

[Paul Raven]

 Secrets of Midland Heights. (Series; Drama; CBS; 1980–1981). A prime-time serial that explores the dreams, frustrations, hidden secrets and shames of the people who live and work in Midland Heights, a small Midwestern college town. Margaret Millington is a descendant of the town’s founder; Dorothy Wheeler is her friend; Guy Millington is Margaret’s son; Holly Wheeler is Dorothy’s daughter; Ann Dulles is Margaret’s niece; Professor Nathan Welsh is Dorothy’s romantic interest; Teddy and Danny Welsh are Nathan’s sons; Burt Carroll is the football star; Lisa Rogers is Burt’s girlfriend; Micki Carroll is Burt’s sister; John Grey is Burt’s friend; Calvin Richardson is a teacher at Midland Heights College; Sue is Ann’s friend; Lucy Dexter is the diner owner; Mrs. Grey is John’s mother.

Cast: Martha Scott (Margaret Millington), Bibi Besch (Dorothy Wheeler), Jordan Christopher (Guy Millington), Linda Grover (Holly Wheeler), Doran Clark (Ann Dulles), Robert Hogan (Nathan Welsh), Daniel Zippi (Teddy Welsh), Stephen Manley (Danny Welsh), Lorenzo Lamas (Burt Carroll), Linda Hamilton (Lisa Rogers), Melora Hardin (Micki Carroll), Jim Youngs (John Grey), Mark Pinter (Calvin Richardson),Irene Arranga (Sue), Jenny O’Hara (Lucy Dexter), Arlene Golonka (Mrs. Grey).

 

[GymnastGuy]

I have acquired 10/11 of the original scripts.  The show is good, too bad it was not given a chance.

[vetsoapfan]

I have two VHS tapes of this...somewhere.

 

Unfortunately, they were not among the tons of material I sent to a friend, which he later digitized for internet purposes.

 

If I find the tapes, and if they are still playable, I'll let you know.

[Paul Raven]

Lorenzo Lamas and Linda Hamilton

[slick jones]

THE SECRETS OF MIDLAND HEIGHTS

DECEMBER 6, 1980-JANUARY 24, 1981

MIDLAND HEIGHTS

 

 

Etta ___ Borman     Bea Silvern

Max Borman     Gordon Clark

Burt Carroll       Lorenzo Lamas 

Hilda ____  Carroll   K Callan

Micki Carroll    Melora Hardin

Clay Cole     Michael Prince

Serena  ___ Costin      Erica Yohn

Eric Dexter     Fred Weiss

Lucy __ Dexter    Jenny O'Hara

Anne Dulles  Doran Clark

Helen Millington Dulles     Kathleen Widdoes

John Grey     Jim Youngs 

Mike Grey     Christopher Stone

Nancy ___ Grey     Arlene Golonka

Julie Hammond    Denise Nicholas

Mrs. Harris    Toni Sawyer

Fran ___ Hilliard     Marie Masters

Mark Hudson    Bill Thornbury  (80-81)

                            Robin Strand

Henry Johnson      Peter Hobbs

Tracey Johnson    Laura Johnson

Dr. Loy      Stephen McNally

Guy Millington     Jordan Christopher

Margaret ___ Millington    Martha Scott

Calvin Richardson    Mark Pinter

Lisa Rogers    Linda Hamilton

Dr. Sims    Donegan Smith

Karen Weaver     Lee Chamberlin

Danny Welsh     Stephen Manley   

Professor Nathan Welsh     Robert Hogan

Teddy Welsh     Daniel Zippi
Dorothy ___ Wheeler    Bibi Besch

Holly Wheeler (Pilot)    Linda Grovenor

                    Marilyn Jones

Martin Wheeler     William Jordan  

Mrs. Wolf     Ann Nelson

 

 

Al             Jonathan Prince

Chris        Lisa Alpert

Jesus        Henry Darrow

Sue           Irene Arreaga

Madame Zeena       Zohra Lampert

 

Carnie            Martin Beck

High School Student   Stan Wells

Sheriff      Fred Pinkard

 

 

@GymnastGuy  If the scripts contain any other cast information, let me know and I can add it in.  Welcome to SON.