Jump to content

ALL: Proposed Soaps Over The Years


Paul Raven

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 346
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Members

I’m wondering the same thing. Ones like Union Place you could slightly tweak to reflect current day, everything else stays true to the concept. Put them out on the Internet/streaming services, we don’t need NBC, CBS, ABC anymore to get great soap ideas to the masses.

 

My only question is: would there be any pushback from using some of them? I’m sure a Union Place revamp could possibly see issues with the Labine family unless you break bread with them, since Claire came up with the concept/bible and all of that. I could be wrong, but it’s something that a young writer who would be interested in getting this out would possibly have to deal with

Edited by Failsafe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Labine was still shopping around "Union Place" in some form or another at least a year before she passed. I heard her and Kate Mulgrew speak at an event benefiting a theatre group Claire was involved with in Connecticut. When Claire was asked about "Union Place," Claire gave some details, but admitted she couldn't say much but that a mutual friend was helping. When Mulgrew asked who, Claire stated it was "OD," who I assumed was Rosie O'Donnell. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • Members

Feb 1955

Irna Phillips and Agnes Ekhardt (Nixon) developing half hour soap for Fall 55 premiere with Ted Corday producing.

Tentative title 'Journey's End'. This evolved into 'As The Earth Turns' which debuted April 56  'As The World Turns'

Edited by Paul Raven
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

 

Yes. I had a sweet note from Eleanor and she enclosed a couple of RH photos. I had actually written to Claire, but Eleanor explained that the letter had been misplaced under other correspondence and wasn't recovered until after Claire passed. Eleanor assured me that Claire had read my letter and had every intention of replying but passed on before she could.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

1954

King's Castle

Chicago based producer/director Alan Fishburn, serial writer Bess Flynn and Dallas Jones, president of studio that bears his name are behind 'Kings Castle' a syndicated 15 min daily syndicated serial. The plan was to film up to 15 episodes every 2 weeks using local talent.

Flynn was behind radios 'Bachelors Children' and planned a TV version to air behind 'King's Castle'

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • Members

ABC

1981 2 hr TV Movie pilot 'Golden Gate'

Set in San Francisco, telling the story of the Kingsleys, an influential Nob Hill family involved in publishing.

Jordan, estranged son, returns after 8 years to save family newspaper 'San Francisco Bulletin'.

Financial ruin threatens the family after stroke suffered by publisher and patriach Thomas.

Cast

Jordan... Perry King

Jane, his mother... Jean Simmons

Thomas his father... Richard Kiley

Natalie his sister ...Mary Crosby

Johnny, Jordan's son ...Eric Copeland

Karen, the Kingsley maid... Melanie Griffith

Claire McCartney, works at the paper, wants Jordan as her husband... Cheryl Paris

Richard Byrne, attorney for the paper... Peter Donat

 

Guest cast

Candy Martin ...Robynn Douglas

Monty Sagar... John Saxon

Bess McCartney...Maggie Blye

Frank Nightingale...Tim Thomerson

Harry Stillwell...Jason Evers

 

Producer...Lin Bolen

Wrriter...Stirling Silliphant

 

Edited by Paul Raven
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

"Dark Mansions" was originally developed as a potential tv series described as a cross between "Dynasty" and "Dark Shadows". Produced by Aaron Spelling with Joan Fontaine as the draw, it was eventually re-tooled into a tv movie and shown on ABC during the summer. It got pretty bad reviews from what I can tell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Dark Mansions was a primetime soap pilot.Originally Loretta Young was announced as star,but for whatever reason,she dropped out and Joan Fontaine too her place.

 

It was not picked up and aired over summer, as aTV movie.

 

From IMDB

 

The opening credits leave no doubt "Dark Mansions" is patterned after "Dark Shadows" - but, surprisingly, "Mansions" isn't like the successful supernatural-dominated "Shadows" of 1967-1970. Instead, it revisits the show as it played out during the more lackluster years of 1966 and 1971. This show has the Gothic tone of writer Art Wallace's original concept, which producer Dan Curtis steered the show back toward, in 1971. Taking the vampires, werewolves, and witches out of "Shadows" proved to be fatal, so "Mansions" may seem like puzzling pilot. But, it's also a shadowy version of the then successful "Falcon Crest" (actor David Selby did "Crest" and "Shadows"; writer Robert McCullough did "Crest" and "Mansions").

 

So, "Mansions" begins with star Linda Purl (as Shellane Victor) arriving as an authoress, to work on the biography of reclusive matriarch Joan Fontaine (as Margaret Drake). The character's name "Shellane Victor" is likely an homage to original "Shadows" protagonist "Victoria", who was originally named "Sheila". Like legendary golden-aged actresses Joan Bennett ("Shadows") and Jane Wyman ("Mansions"), Joan Fontaine assumes the role of a wealthy family matriarch. Note, Jean Simmons fit the bill in the 1991 run of "Dark Shadows", which makes it a Joan/Jane/Joan/Jean quartet. (Play other name games at home).

 

Anyway, Ms. Purl is the spitting image of the dead "Yvette" (rhymes with "Josette"), who plunged to her death over the seaside cliffs, where the two "Drake" family mansions rest (but not in peace). The mystery of what really happened to "Yvette" is the ABC-TV movie pilot's main storyline. Widower Michael York (as Jason Drake) is also Fontaine's favorite son, and a potential romantic interest for Purl.

 

Other family members (and suspects) include: Mr. York's bratty blonde daughter Nicollette Sheridan (as Banda Drake), his bratty blonde son Grant Aleksander (as Nick Drake), adopted "old house" castaway Paul Shenar (as Phillip Drake), his sexy wife Lois Chiles (as Jessica Drake), their blind clairvoyant daughter Melissa Sue Anderson (as Noelle Drake ), and hot-blooded son Yves André Martin (as Cody Drake). Blue-collared Steve Inwood (as Jerry Mills) and Raymond St. Jacques (as Davis) are significant outsiders.

 

There are too many characters, and too much back-story, in "Dark Mansions" - although, admittedly, it all would have served a TV series well (had this "pilot" sold). The locations, sets, and overall setting is beautifully done; and, as photographed by Paul Lohmann and directed by Jerry London, they are the film's greatest strength. The cliff-side dwelling is how the original "Dark Shadows" might have looked, with a bigger budget. Watch for especially representative scenes as characters walk along the cliffs, with waves crashing in the background. And, if the house looks like "Collinwood", it's because it is the house (Greystone) picked to serve as "Collinwood" for both the 1991 and 2004 versions of "Dark Shadows".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I follow a Classic Soap Digest News Tumblr, and they reported on the development of Dark Mansions often in the Breaking News Section.  There were a number of recastings prior to filming and I think it was the first project that Grant Aleksander was cast in once he left GL.

 

The pilot was on YT and a kind assessment would be to say that it did not hold up well to the passage of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • Okay, I continue to maintain that what is so good about this particular reveal followed by umbrella storyline is that you can see & understand many different points of view where there is not one bad guy or one 100% right person.  About your stated opinion, that Lois & Gloria did the right thing, you know that this was technically an illegal adoption? For it to have been legal the father, if known, would have to have been informed & have signed off on terminating his own paternal rights. And, of course, it is clear how many people they lied to.  Personally I feel like Lois is going to take the biggest "public" blame with Lulu a close second in the blame category. I am looking forward to a tongue lashing I hope Brook Lynn gives to Gloria. I continue to be more than annoyed with Dante. First his attitude toward Gio with regards to Rocco & a drinking game & its results. Second his attitude toward Lulu. Meanwhile enjoying the show every day!
    • Lois and Gloria did the right thing I feel knowing it was Camila that raised Gio has BL feeling some jealousy No one is saying that Camila was a bad mother to Gio I believe it will be Gio saying that Camila was great to him, thanking Lois and Gloria to get BL to see truth
    • Its realistic for Dani and  true of how the character thinks and operates. We've known her long enough to by that this would be consistent with her past characterizatioin
    • Random takes: - What was even the point of that jeweler guy? Also—Dani was borderline harassing him. - I know I’m probably in the minority here, but I want Jacob and Kat to happen. I need something messy to completely dismantle the Duprees—and Katomas just isn’t cutting it.  - I officially can’t stand Jacob and his wife. Same goes for Anita and Vernon. - Hayley’s corset was just as ugly as it looked uncomfortable. - I genuinely don’t remember when or how Derek and Ashley reconciled—and I’m someone who didn’t even mind their storyline! LMAO. - Tuesday’s episode was a mess. - Dani finding out about Hayley’s pregnancy and immediately thinking, “She’s faking it”—huh?! What writer thought that was a realistic reaction? I get denial, but that leap was absurd. I agree the ‘Leslie Victorious’ moment was way OTT. But hey, at least I wasn’t yawning. The following episode, where she handed over her daughter’s last few belongings was much better. - I can’t with the constant back-and-forth between Orphey Gene’s and the Country Club. I forgot this was such a soap trope, but even back in my loyal viewer days (late ‘90s, early 2000s), it wasn’t this bad. While GH has a ton of beautiful sets, we’re stuck with the same three—and half of them are ugly. Also: it’s been way too long since we had a party, gala, or any kind of event. I know the Richardsons’ anniversary gala (back in late April) has had a big ripple effect, but I was kinda getting used to those large-scale episodes. Fingers crossed they don’t go with Guza.  
    • The horrific comments execs and writers make when they justify rape storylines or keeping rapists as love interests is just so icky. I remember Ron Carlivati's comments about the reraping of Marty storyline on OLTL. Made my skin crawl.  No matter what you think of her, Susan Lucci could have demanded front burner storylines but she never did. She was happy to be part of an ensemble. I never got that vibe from Zimmer.  For me, Reva was just not a character I cared that much about after a certain point no matter how talented Zimmer is/was. I think Zimmer had a keener eye for what made a good storyline, but she was less willing to take a backseat if it meant someone else got to shine. I'm trying to recall if she ever mentions Michelle Forbes in her book--one of the few times the viewers did not care about Reva in a storyline. My sense is if she did, it was probably some backhanded remark about how she had to show Forbes the ropes.    
    • GH was good? I havent watched since Joss went away to do her traininig and Lulu had just called Brooklyn out for having Dante's baby and not telling him
    • BTG: A-  DAYS: B+  Eastenders: C
    • There was a rumor that Jean will die and that’s probably why she’s back then
    • There has been some confusion about Michael & facial burns. Please see this post: https://bsky.app/profile/shallotpeel.bsky.social/post/3lqkrryu54226 I've chosen to put this here instead of the Classic Thread because it is now with the appearance of recast Michael that this has come up. Different places online, including at least one podcast, remarks have been made about how remarkable it is that he is without facial scarring. Other fans say it was clear from the first that he did not have facial burns. What is included in this post is 2 screengrabs where you can see his face at the hospital & a very quick edit of that day in the hospital. 
    • Put me in the LOVE KMH camp. As a poster alluded to above, her detractors seem to come from people who first experienced the 80s Emily actress. And that's often the case with soaps, myself included. I enjoy the original actor so much that I just never take to the recast. However, KMH played Emily far longer than the original - for almost 20 years - and when she had great material, she was great. I get the sense she didn't like playing the whiny oh-woe-is-me Emily which was all the material she got from about 1996 until she took over the Intruder in late '99/early '00 and got to play a stronger kiss-ass woman who didn't care what anyone thought of her. (Some would call that a bitch but, if a man was in that role, he'd just be called a smart and savvy businessman.) Her relationship with Hal was great. The transformation was done realistically and I thoroughly enjoyed those years the best out of all. Once the writers decided to break up those two, they went back to writing Emily half the time as whiny and pathetic. I preferred when the writers made her stronger.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy