GH: Classic Thread

[DRW50]

General Hospital- February 25, 1981 (partial) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

[janea4old]

Thanks!  Really great to see Leslie, Rick, and Jeff interacting.  The one and only Richard D. Anderson, cuteness himself.  A few seconds of P.J. (baby Steven Lars).  I had to fast forward through Laura kissing Luke a couple of years after he raped her.  But otherwise a great episode.   Laura working at the Quartermaine office, and Robert arriving and being so charming, and Laura seeing right through him.  Robert asks Laura if she's seen the Cassadine.  A few seconds of Police Captain Burt Ramsey when he was still a good guy.   A few seconds of Bobbie and Ruby!

What's really interesting is the closing credits showing the full production staff and technical staff.


It starts out with Jeff telling Rick and Leslie that he wants custody of PJ and that Diana had said PJ is Steven Lars and talking about Diana as if she's still alive and I assume she was. 
PJ is shown alone in a room and the phone is off the hook, but they don't show Diana's body or its discovery.   Towards the end of the episode, Rick and Leslie are dressed the same so it's the same "Port Charles day" but they're talking about planning Diana's funeral.  There must be a chunk in the middle missing, including the discovery of Diana's death.

I was so confused.  Then I read the description on the archive site which says "Howard and Mrs. Grant enter Diana's apartment and get shocked to see her body and Anne's name inscribed in blood." but I didn't see that in the episode.  That must be the part that's missing.  Either that, or it didn't happen in this episode?  
Or maybe it's there and I missed it?

This is the description from the archive
Featuring most of the second half of the episode, this classic episode of General Hospital takes place just after a great outdoor parade at Port Charles, with events ranging from P.J.'s identity being Stephen Lars, while Howard and Mrs. Grant enter Diana's apartment and get shocked to see her body and Anne's name inscribed in blood.

Here's CurlyQ's description:
https://www.angelfire.com/tv/curlyqgrl/gh/eps/gheps1981.htm
February 25, 1981 :41 mins Luke wakes Laura up. Jeff takes the footprints to Burt. Stephen Lars somehow doesn't see Diana. The babysitter calls Alice for assistance. Joe parades the nurses' banner into GH. The expert starts looking at the prints. Laura is tired of Luke's evasions. Laura turns down a date request. Audrey inquires about Scotty. Jeff hears the good news. Lesley urges caution. Stephen Lars ensures his play time is uninterrupted. Laura is curious about Luke's box. Luke finally lets Laura help him. Luke calls Benny's bluff. Jeff is planning for the future. He tells Rick and Lesley what Diana had in mind. Rick and Lesley have a heart to heart. Laura tries to get more information. Luke makes a deal with Benny. Stephen Lars could be headed for trouble.

--
Thank you again for posting.  So nice to see some of these characters again.

Edited April 8 by janea4old

[victorlord75]

Here we go again with sketchy memories, but I believe Brooke Bundy reacted so strongly to filming planned scenes of her character's dead body with the child actor playing PJ/Stephen Lars, that they were not done that way.  Ms. Bundy was concerned about the child actor's mental well being.  I never cared for Ms. Bundy's version of Diana, but if this story is true, it does speak well for Ms. Bundy as a person in real life.

[DRW50]

Good for her - moments like that can be traumatizing.

@janea4old Thanks for the episode details. And yes, that's my general choice with Luke and Laura too. 

[janea4old]

Kristina Wagner April 9, 2025 interview with Stephanie Sloane,
looking back at the history of Felicia's various relationships
https://www.swooon.com/gallery/general-hospital-felicia-romances-frisco-luke-mac-kristina-wagner/

She makes some hilarious comments acknowledging fan dislike of some of the pairings.

[Paul Raven]

Nowadays i believe it is a requirement that child actors not partake in scenes involving violence, bloodshed etc.

They edit such scenes to make it appear the child is present if necessary.

But back in 81 things may have been different. So good on Brooke for taking a stand.

Speaking of Ms Bundy she was a constant guest star on primetime in the 70's. I always wondered why such an in demand actress would go to soaps -first DOOL and then GH when she still seemed to be getting work in primetime.

 

[DRW50]

Thanks. The comment about the Tom pairing is probably my favorite. No one seemed to like that. 

[AMCOLTLLover]

I think people don’t Like it coz of the way they ended toms character tbh

[janea4old]

I loved that KW said re: viewers' reactions to Felicia and Luke: "People didn’t like that. They were grossed out by that."

Edited April 10 by janea4old

[janea4old]

April 2025: Mara Levinsky interviews Finola Hughes on 40 years as Anna Devane
https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-exclusive-finola-hughes-on-celebrating-40-years-as-anna-its-really-gratifying/

Really great interview

[Planet Soap]

I love that after years of absence, Anna has been a primary player on modern GH for over a decade now. 

Compared to other veteran cast that we brought back at/around Frank's trnure, she's been on very --- if not the most -- consistently.

[Khan]

Yeah, but the Anna Devane of 2025 is a far, far cry from the Anna Devane that many '80's viewers still remember.

[Planet Soap]

Did anyone catch that at Will Trent episode featured the 2003-2004 faces of the heart open, with will in there lol. 

That was my favorite version of the open. Especially loved the character names. The only think it lacked was 2002's shot of Luke & Laura's face rising at the end.

https://tvline.com/features/will-trent-general-hospital-faces-of-the-heart-theme-song-1235436139/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6pvM37q116Gnm5KWF2wugLhfLohb0x9ySBLzBqmBFShZ3w9iFETYnBW_G-3Q_aem_Grc94CMDFBiz1k-9fPSjCA#

 

[DRW50]

I rarely hear a great deal about Gina Dante. Was she popular with viewers? I am trying to remember what Anna Stuart said about the role. 

[Vee]

The one good thing about that very late FOTH opening is that they did the beat with L&L's faces rising together at the end.