One Life to Live Tribute Thread

[Paul Raven]

From 'The Soap Opera Book' 1976

One Life to Live is an ABC New York show that has recently gone to forty-five minutes. It is daytime's "show of stars." Erika Slezak, Lee Patterson, Jacquie Courtney, and George Reinholt are members of the cast. These are the stars that inspire fan clubs and win straw polls in the magazines. They are the subjects of numerous stories and stunts. For example, George Reinholt has stripped for photographers and talked about it. (The picture that appeared in the fan magazine was vague below the waist.) Jacquie Courtney shared with her fans the disagreements that led to her highly publicized departure from Another World; and she has provided one of the fan magazines with spreads of photos from her personal album.

On One Life to Live, Jacquie and George portray Patricia Kendall and Tony Lord. The two had an affair about ten years ago, after which they went their separate ways (Patricia with child) only to be reunited in the present storyline. Patricia's son Brian is, of course, Tony's son, though he will be the last to know it. Patricia and Tony will not be free to marry when they rediscover that they love each other. (Tony is married to Cathy Craig, a neurotic young woman.) However, the fans love to see this couple, as a couple. Jacquie and George—"they just can't stay away from each other" says a fan magazine, referring to the course of their daytime careers. Before coming to One Life to Live, the two portrayed Alice Matthews and Steven Frame on Another World. Much of their present popularity derives from that earlier relationship.

Jacquie Courtney, as Alice, came to mean a great deal to the viewers of Another World. Her eight-year romance with George Reinholt, as Steve, is perhaps the most celebrated in all of soap history. In fact, when a man recalls with pleasant complaints his wife's old addiction to soap opera—when he says she used to greet him at the door with tears in her eyes—he is probably paying tribute to that old relationship between Jacquie and her fans. What makes Jacquie a star? She is unquestionably beautiful; she's a fine actress; and she had, at least on Another World, a role that every woman could identify with. As Patricia Kendall on One Life to Live, Jacquie continues to lead the straw polls in the fan magazines (sometimes sharing the honor with Susan Seaforth Hayes). But it's a more mature Jacquie. Not the pretty teenager grown up—but a very womanly, very interesting newspaper reporter.

The appeal of co-star George Reinholt is easy to understand. Until recently, the soaps have had few men who are not Establishment types—father figures, at least in appearance. Reinholt has always looked a little more fiery, more dangerous than your Chuck Tyier or Dan Stewart. He is brawny, rough- faced, and given to tragic expressions. He has had (on both Another World and One Life to Live) a questionable past and a respectable present—a combination no woman can resist. Unlike most soap heroes, Reinholt doesn't look as if he can be dominated by women. He is known to be very difficult to work with (a fact that accounted for Steve's sudden helicopter crash on Another World). And nobody yet has succeeded in marrying him.

Jacquie and George are relative newcomers to One Life to Live. The other superstars on the program have been there for many years, and have very devoted followings. Erika Slezak is undeniably one of the loveliest ladies in daytime. According to her fans, she projects "warmth," in character and in person. Certainly she is kind to viewers who contact her or organize on her behalf. Erika is moreover a very fine actress (she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London). And, as every fan knows, she is the daughter of actor Walter Slezak. Erika plays Vicky Lord Riley, the heroine of the show. Her partner and usually-loving husband is Lee Patterson, another superstar.

Like Erika, Lee Patterson has many fans who are totally committed to One Life to Live. Most of these fans are women who find him sexy, even though he hardly ever unbuttons his jacket (in the prevailing young and restless fashion). As Joe Riley, Patterson is attractive mostly because he is ruggedly down-to-earth, protective of those he loves. And because of the chemistry between him and Erika. Erika Slezak and Lee Patterson are a couple the fans love to see together, and now, after many years of difficult storyline, they are.

Although Jacquie and George and Erika and Lee are the primary attractions on One Life to Live, a number of younger actors seems to be achieving star status. Among these are Michael Storm (Larry Wolek), and Katherine Glass (Jenny Wolek). Tom Berenger, who played Jenny's true love Tim, was also exceedingly popular before Tim met his untimely death. There are few soaps which so derive their popularity from individual stars.

The appeal of the show, apart from its superstars, is harder to identify, in part becauseOne Life to Live has changed so over the past few years. It was at one time thought to be one of the young trendy shows. The Jenny and Tim romance was compared to that of Phil and Tara (All My Children). Issues were "relevant." Cathy Craig was known to be a feminist. There were a few ethnics and even a Jewish family (the Siegels). In short, storylines were such as to interest college-aged viewers.

Recently, however, One Life to Live has begun to sound more like a traditional soap. Adultery, mysterious parentage, kidnapping of babies, etc., is what is happening now—good storylines in the old mold. There have been frequent changes in storyline direction, and inexplicable (though highly interesting) changes in character, particularly among the evil set. Characters are becoming less realistic, more melodramatic. For the present, "relevant" storylines seem to have disappeared. Time Magazine described the show as a "sociologist's delight now giving way to careless love...."

One Life to Live is a soap of middling popularity. It reaches about six million households every afternoon. The presence of so many daytime superstars guarantees that it reaches some of soap opera's most ardent, and most organized, fans.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Paul Raven

[DRW50]

This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I had to laugh about poor Michael Storm achieving star status...after being on the show for 6-7 years. I wonder if they thought he was a newcomer.

[DRW50]

I hadn't seen this before. It's when Viki first arrives in Heaven. Some cool, and very 80's, effects.

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[DRW50]

Robin Strasser's best performance?

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[Paul Raven]

[DRW50]

Weird seeing Linda Dano with that hairstyle.

[SFK]

I have seen Linda with that hair before but totally did not recognize her there. She looks like FMB. And I thought Brynn was a guy.

[Paul Raven]

Larry & EdDorian & Victor

Jenny & Brad

Edited May 12, 2011 by Paul Raven

[DRW50]

I still wonder why they fired Jameson Parker.

[SFK]

I wonder if that pic of Dorian and Victor is from their original s/l. A lot of photos from that set have seemed to survive showing up in various books and magazines. In the oltl scrapbook is a pic of Dorian as seen above talking to a very imperious looking Viki in a large black fur coat undoubtedly discussig Victor. I feel like that pic says so much about their relationship if you read into it a little. Dorian and her jealousy of Viki... the kind of woman she wanted to be, and became.

[Paul Raven]

Steve and Viki's weddingViki and VinnyMark and Julie

Edited May 12, 2011 by Paul Raven

[DRW50]

That Viki/Vinny photo is great. I'd never seen it before. Erika looks stunning in the all black. The show had such vibrant color schemes at this time.

[Paul Raven]

o

Edited May 12, 2011 by Paul Raven

[SFK]

My thoughts exactly, I agree with everything you said. She is gorgeous and something about that red pillow against the blue velour and the peach chair in the back... back when color tv was still kinda new and appreciated. Is that Llanfair and Ernest Graves Victor on the desk?

[DRW50]

Vinny looks like he's going to devour her. I thought by the time Erika came along Vinnie was happy with Wanda.