Although I feel bad for having almost nothing to offer, I realized that GH was the only "current" soap (until now) that does not have a thread that can be used for discussing classic storylines, posting articles, etc. While never a personal favorite of mine, I do consider GH to be the second-most important soap in the genre's history (with ATWT ranking as the most important soap), given the fact that it was largely responsible for shifting the genre's direction away from the "traditional"/P&G method of storytelling to campy plots that were written in an attempt to capture the popularity of young America. (To be fair, Y&R was the first soap designed to blatantly appeal to youth. However, nobody was better at doing this--or was more copied than--GH was back in its 80's heyday.)

To get things started, here is a 1963 (partial) promo for the "new" soap:

<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QrCHlvQrnrs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's a 1963 opening (in poor video quality), with a very beautiful theme:

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xGoM9CP1p2w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The iconic opening sequence that ran from the 1975 until 1993 had two themes (the first of which lasted just a year), as shown below:

<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qe8ZYMK1SiA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jSPVL8HkPfk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited May 2, 201213 yr by Max

1 hour ago, titan1978 said:

That long ass scene through Monica’s eyes was very old fashioned as far as style.

It reminded me of what the Pollocks got away with all the time on THE DOCTORS: long ass flashbacks that don't really add anything to the scene except time.  Because, if you remove the flashback, what's left?  Monica finishes packing Alan's suitcase.  The end.

Oh, well.  At least I got to see a young Patricia Elliott (ex-Renee, OLTL) in that Aim toothpaste commercial (not to mention, a shirtless James O'Sullivan (ex-Jeff, AMC; ex-Pete, OLTL; ex-Jerry, SOMERSET) in the commercial for One-a-Day vitamins, lol).

Edited yesterday at 05:04 AM1 day by Khan

5 minutes ago, Khan said:

It reminded me of what the Pollocks got away with all the time on THE DOCTORS: long ass flashbacks that don't really add anything to the scene except time.  Because, if you remove the flashback, what's left?  Monica finishes packing Alan's suitcase.  That's it, lol.

It’s also strange that it was Monica! I just don’t think of her as the staring off into space type of woman!

I watched a bunch of other clips and stuff from random 1978 and 1979 episodes. I’m so used to seeing movement from Monty’s era, especially the early part, that this really is a cool relic. Pretty soon you have scenes start at the new nurses station, the elevators opening and doctors walking to the desk to get their messages from Jessie or Bobbie. People often walk towards doors while taking coats on or off, many Webber house scenes start or end with someone walking up the stairs. This episode is even more static than some of the way earlier ones I have seen, where you would have Steve or Jessie at least going from the old school nurses desk to the medicine room, Steve’s office, etc.

That bland dialogue is very much like what they have now. The show picks up a lot of personality.

Knowing what we know about David Hamilton and how that really started to get the ball rolling as far as viewers you really see just how vital Lesley and especially Laura were to get things moving for them. They focused on the right characters to get fast results. The show now could learn a thing or two from this.

50 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

@depboy Thanks. That does help.

@titan1978 @Paul Raven Really enjoying the analysis of the production methods and what Monty was doing. 

I wish we got some of those biopics here that a few UK soaps got as a biopic on Monty's first few years at GH would be fascinating. 

I spent years hoping we would get an oral history like the OLTL book, but it’s too late now with so many having passed away.

28 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

Knowing what we know about David Hamilton and how that really started to get the ball rolling as far as viewers you really see just how vital Lesley and especially Laura were to get things moving for them. They focused on the right characters to get fast results.

And to think the original plan was for David and Lesley to have an affair.  Not only would that have made no sense - Lesley wasn't THAT stupid, lol - but it also would've ruined her and GH.

It's interesting to watch this having watched The Doctors. I'm not sure I'm seeing that much of a difference in the characters Gerald Gordon and Anna Stuart played on The Doctors and what they're playing here.

I still am baffled by why Monty brought back stunt hire Gerald Gordon in the early '80s out of nowhere for like a year. I haven't found anyone who can come up with a thing he did in that second stint of note.

10 minutes ago, Vee said:

I still am baffled by why Monty brought back stunt hire Gerald Gordon in the early '80s out of nowhere for like a year. I haven't found anyone who can come up with a thing he did in that second stint of note.

Yes, that out of the blue return was odd.

Maybe GG found a forgotten clause in the contract he signed when he was wooed to ABC and they were forced to take him back!

Like George Reinholt he talked about the contract that promised him primetime roles. But it was loaded in the networks favor. I think it was Gloria Loring that re-signed at Days on the promise of primetime opportunities, but that was all it was- she was put up for guest spots and TV movies but not necessarily guaranteed that she get the role.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

I still am baffled by why Monty brought back stunt hire Gerald Gordon in the early '80s out of nowhere for like a year. I haven't found anyone who can come up with a thing he did in that second stint of note.

All I can think of is if a lot of big names were leaving around that time she wanted him back as a stopgap, although I have never seen any real evidence that he was popular with GH viewers.

Creatively, he probably should have stayed with The Doctors, where he stood out as an antihero lead. Not sure what happened with GH. He didn't have the same impact. Was it bad writing, not clicking with co-stars? Didn't they gave him a boat load of money to join GH in 1976?

Was Mark Dante just a toned-down version of Nick Bellini? Were they basically the same character?

Edited yesterday at 08:57 AM1 day by Jdee43

9 hours ago, Vee said:

I still am baffled by why Monty brought back stunt hire Gerald Gordon in the early '80s out of nowhere for like a year. I haven't found anyone who can come up with a thing he did in that second stint of note.

It’s strange. I wonder if the writers at that time had worked with him somewhere else and had a relationship? That time is murky AF to find info on. Rachel Ames in effect left the show at one point in the early 80’s and she is credited like she was there until JFP. Tristan Rogers also took various contract breaks that were not short, and websites also credit him one long stint from 1981-1992.

So many people come and go in short succession in 1982-part of 1983. I know they lost a lot of viewers when Genie left, but the show somehow survived yearly at number one through like sheer force of will.

nvm

Edited yesterday at 03:44 PM1 day by Vee

According to the newspaper columnists at the time of Mark Dante's return, Gerald Gordon had been a favorite of Fred Silverman, who left ABC for NBC and took Gordon with him. Silverman supposedly put him on a contract with NBC. Gordon return to "General Hospital" occurred after Silverman left NBC so Gordon may have been in need of work and he may have left Monty on good terms. His pairing seems very C-story at best based on synopses but maybe there was more to it. 

 

22 hours ago, Khan said:

And to think the original plan was for David and Lesley to have an affair.  Not only would that have made no sense - Lesley wasn't THAT stupid, lol - but it also would've ruined her and GH.

After reading your comment and thinking about Monty taking Genie Francis and her father to dinner to tell them she wanted to court a younger audience and use Laura to get them, it makes me think the story switch from Lesley to Laura was instigated by Monty. A shocking and modern storyline for the times that played to the strengths of an emotional actress like Genie. The original idea was much more traditional for the times than  going that far with Laura instead. She essentially is raped by Hamilton IIRC, which is wild to think about for back then. They certainly wouldn’t tell that story today, they don’t take risks or go to the edge like that.

Thanks for the 1978 épisode !