OLTL Tribute Thread

[DRW50]

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[MissPalmer]

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[NothinButAttitude]

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Wow. This is the first I've seen Claire Malis in the role of Dorian. From what I've seen, I've quite enjoyed her. She was quite aloof, controlled, and haughty compared to Robin's Dorian. 

And who is playing Karen in this episode? Is that Judith Light? 

[Khan]

No, that's Kathryn Breech, who originated the role.  Not to take anything away from her, but from the little I've seen of her work, she doesn't bring the psychological layers to Karen that Light would later on.  In a way, she reminds me of Catherine Hicks.

It's always a treat to see pre-1978/9 OLTL.  It was such a different show from what it would become in the '80's; yet, in some ways, it all feels familiar.

Edited May 12, 2024 by Khan
I meant "Hicks," not "Hickland."

[NothinButAttitude]

Thanks! She does look like she and Judith Light could be sisters, which makes it a perfect recast. 

I am wondering why Larry didn't want Dorian around. I am assuming this is b/c of the whole Victor Lord saga. 

Also, was that Farley Granger? If so, I did not know he was on OLTL. I just thought ATWT was the only soap he did. 

Something that I find myself loving about old clips is looking at the sets. Even though they are so simplistic from what they became, they still have a grandness about them. 

[Khan]

Farley Granger was the first actor to portray Dr. Will Vernon.  However, that wasn't FG portraying Will, but Bernie McInerney, who replaced him.

You could tell back then that they didn't splurge on sets; yet, as cheap and artificial-looking as they were, they still were more distinctive, visually appealing and revealing of character(s) than the sets you see on soaps today.

[NothinButAttitude]

Yes. I like that all the sets were distinct and weren't all that chestnut brown color that became to be too popular on soaps. I guess that is because it might be an HD type matter, but I miss when soaps would experiment with sets. They all look the same. 

[Khan]

Regardless of who is supposed to be living and/or working there.  TPTB don't understand (or seem to have forgotten) that, just as in theater or in movies, a set often can reveal more about characters' inner lives than dialogue or action.

[Paul Raven]

I think Bernie was brought on quickly to replace Farley, who left suddenly? They needed someone who could step into the role with ease and Bernie had daytime experience.

He was then replaced by Anthony George who was more in keeping in what they wanted from the character, an older but still attractive man.

[Khan]

Officially, Granger said the pace was too much for him.  Allegedly, however, he left (or was let go) because he had been sexually harassing one of the male actors on the show.

Edited May 13, 2024 by Khan

[Vee]

Erika stuck to the official story on Farley Granger as recently as the OLTL oral history, which makes me think it was probably true because she was extremely candid and no bullshít for the rest of that book lol (as she often has been over the years in her fan newsletter, which flew under the online radar for many years). I do know the other rumor, which got to some pretty dicey territory in terms of names.

Edited May 13, 2024 by Vee

[Khan]

I think it was probably true as well.  Granger never stayed at any soap for a long period of time, which suggests to me he just didn't cotton to the rigors of working in daytime.  Plus, I've never known Slezak to tow the company line.  If things weren't going right at the show for whatever reason and she wasn't in a position to comment on it, she just didn't.

[Vee]

Erika usually waited, then unloaded much later. The only time she did when a story was still airing that I know of were possibly in '96 during the "Viki is hypnotized to kill Kevin" story under Laiman(?), and definitely during Dena Higley's reign in the mid-2000s when she sounded off about the writing in her newsletter. This was among the first times (if not the first) that the newsletter leaked to online and the mags got ahold of it, and within weeks she was fired.

Erika's response was basically a verbal shrug.

[NothinButAttitude]

I miss that in soaps. Again, they all just look the same. I mean we see that nowadays as mostly everyone lives in a damn hotel room on most soaps. 

[Khan]

I realize that set decorators' hands are tied financially these days, but it really doesn't take much to head into the local thrift and antique shops and find a few, inexpensive pieces that can be removed easily and that say something about the character or characters who supposedly inhabit a particular home/office/whatever.  And if I say anything more, I'm liable to get into some trouble, so I'll just leave it at that, lol.

I mean, what else could she say?  Dena's work sucked.  Everybody knew it sucked.  Erika said something about it, and Dena was promptly let go.  Problem solved!

Edited May 13, 2024 by Khan