GH: Classic Thread

[DRW50]

I used to say that JFP's best technical work as a producer was gone by the time she was at OLTL and GH, but posts like this remind me that wasn't entirely true. She did work hard on the technical aspects of GH. Valentini just doesn't care (and doesn't have the budget anyway).

[DRW50]

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[titan1978]

Nobody said Monty had never employed a recast. There is also a huge difference in the show from her arrival in 1978-1981 when Jeff Webber leaves, before we get to Cassadine Island. The HW had more control over story before then.
 

She stopped doing it during her first run after Rick and Heather. There were 3 Tom and Margos in 10 years on ATWT. Several Tina’s on OLTL. GH was very different.

Her second run it was still limited, and Anna was only recast for a month of shows because Monty was pissed at Finola Hughes for trying to do GH and another show. Because she was petty, especially in her second run as EP. It also cost the show both Finola and Tristan Rogers. But it’s not like DAYS recasting Bo Brady. They didn’t try a new Laura out with Luke instead him being Bill.

 

Everything is lit like the sun is in the room with them.

Edited September 8, 2024 by titan1978

[depboy]

Work's been a killer, but I've taken time to summarize April 1975.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 1, 1975: Jim remembers finding Phil dead; Lee learns from Jim that he is intensely relieved to know that he didn’t kill Phil. Jessie is very happy that Jim’s memory exonerates Diana, but she is troubled that someone else on the floor murdered Phil. Jim refuses to accept that alcohol was the source of his memory loss and blames Audrey. Lee tells Peter that no judge will release Diana because of Jim’s confidence in his memory; they will need to know who the real killer is before Diana can get out of prison. Augusta faints.

Wednesday, April 2: Lesley overhears the nurses and Henry speculating about who the real murderer might be, suspicion falling on Peter; Peter senses that the nurses suspect him and feels very uncomfortable.  Audrey learns Jim regained his memory. Lesley gets a call from a patient, Mrs. Maderos, who complains about getting no attention the night of the murder. Lee tells Audrey that Jim blames her more than alcohol; Audrey blames herself too. Joel is surprised to meet Margaret Colson at the hospital - he knew her at Mass. General; she is now working for Mr. Thurston and newly divorced. Beth tells Diana that Lee is trying to find Phil’s killer in order to free her; Peter arrives and realizes that Diana suspects him; he tries to assure her he didn’t kill Phil.

Thursday, April 3: Pre-empted - President Ford Press Conference.

Friday, April 4: Lesley examines Augusta and tells Steve she thinks she knows why Augusta fainted; she tells Steve she can’t tell him the reason, but that she plans to talk to Augusta this afternoon.  Margaret drops in on Joel at the free clinic; she is friendly and aggressive, but he resists.  Later, Cameron warns Joel that he might have to withdraw his support of the clinic if Lesley’s personal life reflects poorly in the management of it.  Augusta is irritated when Lesley tells her that she knows she is pregnant.

Monday, April 7: Lucille is not optimistic when it comes to Audrey’s future with Jim; Audrey tries to get Jim to state his future plans; he tells her he’s been contemplating divorce.  Diana tells Lee she thinks Peter murdered Phil and blocked it out.  Jim tells Augusta he’s remembered more than what he’s told anyone thus far, he’s telling her first because it involves her; Augusta fights for her composure.

Tuesday, April 8: When Augusta ends her conversation with Jim to call Peter for his help in steadying her, Beth asks Peter some pointed questions about his relationship with Augusta.  Kira tells Steve that she and Cameron had a baby boy that died shortly after birth; Joel interrupts them and asks that Steve come to the hospital to check on an ailing Margaret.  Jim tells Augusta that he remembers her going down the corridor to Lesley's office shortly after Peter left; Augusta is defensive and angry, saying no one will believe him.

Wednesday, April 9: Augusta is defensive with Lucille, wondering how Lucille can be sure that Diana didn’t kill Phil.  Jim tells Lee that after Peter left Phil, he saw Augusta go into Lesley’s office.  Kira tells Steve how Cameron left her on the night she gave birth to their third child; Cameron interrupts them by bringing her pictures of their kid on spring vacation; Kira is shocked to see Lesley with her children in one of the pictures.  Peter tells Augusta that someone is making Diana suffer deliberately, by letting her stay in jail; Augusta begins to cry, and Peter suggests she face whatever is bothering her…for her own good and their baby’s.

Thursday, April 10: Lee is interested to hear Lesley tell Jessie that Mrs. Maderos rang and rang on the night Phil was killed but Augusta only came to see her once; Jessie says that’s not true, that Augusta said she went to see Mrs. Maderos twice.  Chase Murdock gives no credence to Jim’s return of memory.  Joel tells Lesley more about how he loves her.  Peter insists to Diana that her taking the blame for him doesn’t matter if they never have their own child – she and Martha are all that matters to him.

Friday, April 11: Joel has an examination with Dr. Marshall.  Peter admits to Beth that Diana confessed because she believed he had killed Phil.  Lee suspects that Augusta knows more than she is telling about Phil’s murder.  Joel is cheerful with Lesley because he suspects his examination went well. 

Monday, April 14: At Lee’s urging, Lesley agrees to talk with Augusta at dinner.  Jim tells Augusta that he has talked to Lee about the fact that he saw her go down the corridor to Lesley's office approximately when Phil died.  Kira finishes telling Steve about the death of her baby; she explains that Cameron was with his girlfriend through it all.  Audrey is hopeful when Jim comes home; but he is only there for money; she gives him all that she has in the house.  Lesley confronts Augusta with the discrepancy between what she has said and what other people have said happened on the night Phil died.

Tuesday, April 15: Jessie tells her friends on the 7th floor that she is on the mend.  Audrey tells Lee that Jim is no longer interested in marriage.  Lee tells Peter that they must talk today.  Kira reminisces about her breakup with Cameron.  Lee tells Peter that his investigation has cast suspicion on Augusta.

Wednesday, April 16: Jane agrees with Augusta that her pregnancy is beginning to show.  Lee explains to an incredulous Peter about the discrepancies in Augusta’s story of what happened the night Phil died.  Margaret flirts with Joel.  Lesley tells Cameron she is offended that he had Joel investigated; he tells her that he also had her investigated.  Augusta senses a change in Peter’s attitude.

Thursday, April 17: Peter tells Lesley that the inconsistencies in Augusta’s story must be explained, but he doesn’t believe that she killed Phil.  Lucille and Beth are shocked when Augusta amidst that she is pregnant – but she will tell no one who the father is.  After Margaret has called for Joel several times, Lesley asks him about her; Joel admits that they used to date.  Later, Lesley tells Jessie that she believes Joel is coming close to proposing.  Dr. Marshall tells Joel that there is a problem with his heart and his future is uncertain.  Augusta tells Peter she’s revealed her pregnancy to everyone, and that she is disturbed by his change in attitude; Peter says he is upset because Diana is in prison needlessly.

Friday, April 18: Beth tells Diana that Augusta is pregnant.  Lucille tells Steve that Audrey mentioned that she and Jim may be getting divorced; Audrey calls Lee and says she would like to go to an Al-anon meeting.  Augusta finds the letter she wrote to Phil and burns it.

Monday, April 21: Peter tells Lesley that he intends to find out if Augusta is in any way a part of the reason Diana is in prison.  When Joel tells Lesley he wants to talk to her about something important, she privately expects a proposal.  Margaret introduces herself to Lesley and talks about her friendship with Joel.  Augusta breaks down with Peter; she says she only did what she did for their baby; Peter asks what she has done, but she can’t find the words; Peter demands her to tell him.

Tuesday, April 22: Augusta admits to Peter that she killed Phil.  Cameron cautions Lesley about staying at the free clinic alone at night.  Audrey attends an Al-anon meeting.  Lesley asks Joel what it is that he wanted to talk to her about, but he cannot bring himself to tell her.

Wednesday, April 23: Jim calls Audrey, drunk; he insists that Audrey let him see Tommy.  Augusta is defensive with Peter, saying she did what she needed to do to protect her baby.  Peter calls Lee to come to Augusta’s apartment.  Joel turns Margaret’s advances down.

Thursday, April 24: Lesley hates the idea of Cameron’s investigations into her and Joel; she makes Cameron assure her that all of the records were destroyed.  Peter tells Lee that Augusta murdered Phil; he also tells him that Augusta is pregnant and that Phil slapped her that night: she killed him in self-defense; Lee calls Murdock to come to Augusta’s apartment.

Friday, April 25: Steve checks Jessie and tells her he thinks she is well enough to return to work.  Joel examines Mr. Pizarra, a patient with a heart condition, gives him a clean bill of health; Margaret is hostile to Joel.  Augusta horrifies Jane by confessing that she killed Phil.

Monday, April 28: Lee tells Peter he is hopeful Diana will be released this evening.  Lee tells Jessie that Augusta killed Phil.  Steve looks at an engagement ring he intends to give Kira.  A drunk Jim arrives at Audrey’s, but she refuses to let him see Tommy in his condition.  An upset Jane asks Henry how she can be friends with someone who did a terrible thing; Henry tells Jane that everyone needs second chances.  Diana is told she is free to go home.

Tuesday, April 29: Kira learns that Augusta killed Phil; Steve verifies the news with Lee.  Diana is overwhelmed when she learns that Augusta killed Phil.  Joel is called in on an emergency.  Lee talks more with Jessie about Phil’s murder.  Joel tries everything he can to reactivate Mr. Pizarra’s heart - without success.

Wednesday, April 30: Jim watches Kira’s news broadcast and is halfway surprised that Augusta confessed.  Diana tells Beth that she is coming home.  Mrs. Pizzara berates Joel for saying her husband was fine, and then not being able to save him; Margaret overhears and wonders if the “almighty Dr. Stratton” has made a mistake.  Lesley and Jessie talk about Augusta’s confession; Lesley also admits that Joel seems troubled.  Steve asks Kira to marry him and she accepts.

[DRW50]

Thanks as always @depboy.

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[victorlord75]

I actually remember some of the story here.

I know characters like Kira Faulkner and Margaret Colson are mostly forgotten today.  I don't know what the producers were trying to do with the character of Kira, and God forgive me for writing this, but who Kira reminded me of was Barbra Streisand's character in "What's Up Doc" (the look, the wardrobe, her speaking voice, etc).  There was no way in hell that I thought Kira and Steve fit together.  It was like pairing Marcus Welby with Bugs Bunny.  Again I know it's terrible on my part to publicly admit this, but nonetheless, I am convinced that at least some people who'd view the little footage of Kira that is on YouTube would understand where I am coming from.

 

 

 

 

 

[SoapDope]

A very brief blip of 1969 General Hospital in color at the 6:40 mark

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[depboy]

They're out there, we just have to find them!!  Thanks for pointing that out, I saw the pt. 1 OVS posted, but didn't get a chance to watch pt. 2.

[SoapDope]

OVS knows people really want soaps and game shows, but he will rarely share anything like that. I bet he has that entire GH episode and cut the video off there. If he had some sort of pay to stream platform, I would pay a reasonable fee to purchase. He complains about needing funds and donations...that would be a perfect way to bring in money. 

[depboy]

I've always got that feeling that he's holding back a bit on that content.  I assumed it was to avoid copyright strikes.  I feel like he's sitting on a reasonable goldmine if he's keeping that footage to himself.  I would pay per view or something, too.  I chuckle when he posts the donation videos, not realizing that if he has rare soaps and game show material, we'd pay.

[SoapDope]

I agree. He could fund his projects if he would open the vault and allow access. He needs to post better samples of soaps, game shows etc...and create an index that lists this stuff and how much he would charge to view, download, copy etc...

[Contessa Donatella]

SOAP OPERA DIGEST 11-19-1985
Collector's Edition, 10th Anniversary Issue,
pg. 112 THEY GOT ATTACHED TO THEIR CHAIRS
Stuart Damon, as Dr. Alan Quartermaine on GENERAL HOSPITAL, was sitting at a table in a cafeteria scene. When he rose, his trench coat stuck to the chair, so he picked it up & carried it out. The scene had to be retaped.

Leslie Charleson, as Dr. Monica Quartermaine, on GENERAL HOSPITAL, got up from a table in a restaurant scene & her purse got itself hooked to her chair, which she dragged along behind her. She stopped, apologized to the chair (???). The scene had to be retaped.

[DRW50]

I didn't realize until now that Laura's father had the surname of Grey. Didn't the man who originally took Laura away have the surname Grey? David Grey? Was that ever intended to mean anything?

[Paul Raven]

Just coincidence I'm sure. By that time Laura and Leslie's past were just footnotes. GH didn't have much interest in anything pre Monty.

[DRW50]

Thanks. You're probably right.