Members Paul Raven Posted June 18, 2018 Members Share Posted June 18, 2018 When I went to post this article, discovered the show did not have it's own thread. So all things Ben Jerrod now have a home. Tide Turns in Soaper Outlook By Cecil Smith Los Angeles Times April 1, 1963 Three new soap operas take the air today (no, no, this is NOT an April Fool joke on the nation!), and I was wondering if there were any major changes in the old soaper. So I dropped by NBC in Burbank where one of the new serials, BEN JERROD, was in rehearsal. It was a nostalgic visit because this was the studio where the noblest experiment in daytime television history once held forth, the distinguished MATINEE THEATER. Actually JERROD and companion soaper out of New York, THE DOCTORS, are replacing another NBC daytime experiment, THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, and attempte to bring "Tonight" out in the daylight. It was a pretty noble try, too - an intelligent, articulate, stimulating hour that the housewives conscientously avoided. Joe Hardy, who produces JERROD for the Ben Winsor organization, a prolific maker of daytime serials (LOVE OF THE LIFE. SECRET STORM) said he thought Griffin's hour was a splendid daytime show. I asked why it failed. Joe shrugged. "I think the daytime viewer needs a hook," he said. "She won't stop her work to watch just a show - no matter how good - but she will pause if she's involved in a story to see what happens, how the plot unfolds. Griffin had no hook." Continue reading... Hardy says there have been enormous changes in soap opera - particularly in the writing. "Check the scripts of LOVE OF LIFE in 1951. There's a world of differnce in the ones we do today. We don't write down to the audience - I don't think you can anymore. And we deal with serious adult and controversial themes. "For instance, when all that fuss was raised last year when THE DEFENDERS did its abortion story ("The Benefactor"), we were doing an abortion story on LOVE OF LIFE. We didn't have a complaint." First Color Soap Opera BEN JERROD is the first soap opera to be done in color. Another - and more shocking - innovation is that it has no organ music. It's musical bridges are handled (and quite effectively) by a guitar and percussion instruments. But a soap without that ever-lamenting organ! Times have changed. The setting of BEN JERROD is a small New England town, to which Ben, a successful corporation lawyer, has returned because he wants to be closely involved with people, rather than faceless corporate bodies. He immediately gets involved in a murder - these soaps don't fool arond, boy! Playing Ben is a handsome lad from the New York stage, Michael Ryan; Jeanne Baird is his girl Agnes, and the inevitable father figure, elderly Judge Abbott, is played by the splendid character actor Addison Richards. Although Hardy says name actors, or stars, are not important in serials - the audience identifies with the character, not the actor - at least one well-known performer seems to turn up in every soaper. Fred Scollay, for example, is in THE DOCTORS, and John Beradino, the onetime ballplayer, is the central figure on ABC's new serial, GENERAL HOSPITAL. Serial Appeal is Universal The soap opera concept seems universal. In England, CORONATION STREET, a twice-a-week serial, is the top show on television - it is said that Queen Elizabeth is an avid fan. The Spanish station here, KMEX, does a daily serial produced in Mexico City. The difference is the Mexican stories end after eight or 10 weeks and a new story with a new cast begins. "Actually, we do the same," said Hardy, "except that our central characters don't change. This murder story on JERROD will last about 10 weeks, then we'll pick up another story, a land fraud case. Then another, each one of a different kind of case." The crews taping BEN JERROD are already deeply involved in the plot. They keep asking Hardy who the murderer is. But he won't tell. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danfling Posted June 18, 2018 Members Share Posted June 18, 2018 The network obviously liked some of these performers. Michael Ryan, after this show was cancelled, appeared on Another World as John. Two actresses from this show, Regina Gleason and Denise Alexander, were later on the network's Days of Our Lives. Gerald Gordon later joined the cast of The Doctors. I wonder if this serial was a production of NBC , Roy Winsor Productions, or American Home Products. Was American Home Products its sponsor? William Kendall Clark, who had written The Secret Storm, was the show's writer. The innovation of music provided by instruments other than the organ was later used on The Secret Storm and Love of Life by Carey Gold. However, I am recalling that an earlier serial had music provided by jazz guitarist Tony Mottola and a drummer. This is probably known, but Mr. Hardy later produced General Hospital and Ryan's Hope. He and director/writer/producer Gloria Monty (who had directed Love of Life early in her career) had worked together earlier on The Secret Storm. Addison Richards (John Abbott) and director Fred Carney had worked together previously in "The Night of January Sixteenth" , an episode of Lux Video Theatre. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amybrickwallace Posted June 19, 2018 Members Share Posted June 19, 2018 (edited) Interestingly enough, Gerald Gordon appeared on all three soaps that debuted on April 1, 1963. He was in the original cast of Ben Jerrod and over a decade later went to ABC to play Dr. Mark Dante on GH. In between the two, of course, he found his greatest fame on TD as Dr. Nick Bellini. Edited June 19, 2018 by amybrickwallace 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted February 15, 2019 Author Members Share Posted February 15, 2019 Some details of Episode 19 Ben Jerrod, Attorney at Law NBC - TV 2.00 - 2.25 PM Burbank California Writer: William Kendall Clarke Executive Producer: Roy Winsor Producer: Joseph A. Hardy Director: Fred Carney Air Date : Thursday, April 25 1963 Tape Date: Thursday, April 11 1963 Cast Judge Abbott Agnes Abbott Jim O'Hara Adele Pike Charley Bender Sets Abbott Parlor and Hall Ben's Office Adele's Flat Sound Phone Rings A Roy Winsor Production Jason Productions. Inc 1 East 57th St NY 22, N.Y. PL 1-11105 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted May 9, 2019 Author Members Share Posted May 9, 2019 Some more info... Ben an idealistic young lawyer, left his law practice in Chicago for Indian Hiils, Rhode Island (his home town) for a more meaningful way of life. John P Abbott is a former judge with a languishing law practice. Ben has complete faith in the judge, although puzzled as to why he resigned rather than defend himself against charges made against him. Agnes is the judge's daughter and secretary. she's attracted to Ben, although understands he is waryt of romance due to a past unhappy affair. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amybrickwallace Posted May 9, 2019 Members Share Posted May 9, 2019 After the show went off the air, he became a business executive and lived in a place called Genoa City. Please register in order to view this content 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted August 7, 2020 Author Members Share Posted August 7, 2020 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slick jones Posted August 19, 2020 Members Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) BEN JERROD APRIL 1,1963-JUN 28,1963 NBC INDIAN HILLS, RHODE ISLAND Agnes __Abbott...Jeanne Baird daughter and secretary of the Judge Judge John Abbott...Addison Richards retired judge Charley Bender .... ??? Lt. Choates...Lyle Talbott believes Janet is guilty of murders Abel Collier Lance Fuller Janet Donelli...Regina Gleason widow, accused of murder twice over, Ben's client Vincent Donelli ?????? murder victim Coroner Engle...William Phipps Abel Forsythe... Don Collier angered/questioned Tom private investigator Wesley Gibbs ?????? cooperated with Ben Winifred Gibbs ???? acted foolishly toward Lil Ben Jerrod...Michael Ryan idealistic lawyer took Janet's case D.A. Dan Joplin...John Napier Tom Miller ????? questioned by Abel Lil' ____ Morrison...Martina Bartlett Pete's widow Peter Morrison...Peter Hansen Druggist, murdered Jim O'Hara...Kenneth Scott baits a trap, murder suspect; made an unusual decision in Ben's favor Adele Pike...Jo Helton panics and makes a plan Sam Richardson... Gerald Gordon Emily Sanders...Denise Alexander Dr. Withers ????? knew the Donelli's history, told Ben Hannah Zee Isabel Randolph Carrie ????? visited her aunt Ingenue Charlotte Stewart Sailor Josh White, Jr. (musician) ???? Joan Connors (pilot) Paul Geary Edited August 19, 2020 by slick jones 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jam6242 Posted August 19, 2020 Members Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) Synopses: Week of April 1: Attorney Ben Jerrod returns to his home town, coincidental with an apparent murder, in the premiere. Seeking a more meaningful way in life, Ben has left a successful law practice in Chicago to join his old friend and mentor, Judge John P. Abbott, in a small town law firm in Indian Hill, RI. Janet Donelli keeps a rendezvous. Ben investigates death of businessman Vincent Donelli. Vincent Donelli's death becomes a murder case. Ben agrees to represent Janet, Donelli's wife, and warns her to expect the worst in the inquest. Janet denies any guilt in what has now become a murder case. Ben learns that gossip swirls about her social life, and that apparently she is trying to shield somebody. Ben learns the personal history of Janet and her deceased husband from Dr. Withers, and hires an investigator to dig up information on the murder victim. Janet reveals there is a secret man in her life. Week of Apr. 8: Police and the DA suspect Janet and the local druggist (Pete Morrison) having poisoned Janet's husband. Janet has new information about her husband's death. Ben believes the coroner is headline hunting. Ben tells Judge Abbott that the truth is more important than a client's acquittal. Janet tries to hide her most recent romance from Ben. Janet and a local druggist (Pete Morrison) are suspected of having poisoned Janet's envelope. Week of Apr. 15: Ben learns about the "other men" in Janet's life. Lieutenant Choates arrests Janet on suspicion of murdering her husband. Pete discovers he has a mysterious benefactor. Ben probes a new angle in the Donelli case. Ben believes someone intended to frame Janet. The case against Janet is resolved. Janet is released from jail. Week of Apr. 22: The mysterious death of druggist Pete Morrison ---the second death in the home of Ben's client, Janet Donatelli---casts new suspicion on the distraught woman. The DA is confronted with a surprising volunteer witness in the Donelli case. Lil Morrison, the wife of the slain druggist, declares that Janet will pay for his death. Judge Abbott uncovers a new slant in the case. Janet's double-talk infuriates Ben and infuriates her case. Week of Apr. 29: Janet seeks Ben's forgiveness. Janet makes another costly mistake. Lieutenant Choates is sure Janet is guilty. The DA gets two new witnesses, both dangerous to Janet. Week of May 6: Ben and Agnes share a dramatic encounter. More damaging facts about Janet develop. Ben reprimands Janet. The DA plans the prosecution. A sympathetic witness for Janet appears. Drugstore employees speak out against Janet. Week of May 13: Ben finds a new motive for the murder. Winifred Gibbs acts foolishly toward Lil Morrison. Ben receives some surprising news. Carrie defies her aunt. Tom Miller pays an unexpected visit to his home. Ben's case suffers another setback. Week of May 20: Janet remembers writing a dangerous letter. The Assistant DA makes a damaging admission. Lil Morrison receives unexpected help. Emily has a new plan. An ingenious plan is set. Janet receives a terrifying gift. Week of May 27: Ben encounters a fanatic. Ben and Dan (Joplan/Joplin) wage a battle. Week of June 3: Abel Forsythe angers Tom Miller with embarrassing questions. Jim O'Hara makes an unusual decision in favor of Ben. Wesley Gibbs continues to cooperate with Ben. Janet refuses to make a deal that could save her life. Week of June 10: Agnes tries to save Ben from danger. O'Hara baits a trap for the killer. Janet pleads vainly with Ben. Adele Pike begins to panic. A strange young man upsets the court. Week of June 17: Janet Donelli faces the jury. Agnes is rebuffed when she seeks information. O'Hara learns he is a murder suspect. Adele Pike's plans backfire. Ben springs a trap. Week of June 24: Abel makes a startling discovery. Judge Abbott is enraged by a young man's rudeness. Ben cross-examines brilliantly. Agnes loses her temper for the second time. Ben's strategy verges on collapse (last show of the series). @slick jones First name of DA Joplin (sometimes listed as Joplan) was Dan. I think there are a few other characters not previously listed: Vincent Donelli (murder victim---not sure he was actually seen). Dr. Withers Winifred Gibbs Tom Miller Carrie (maybe the ingenue?) Oops, looks like we were posting at the same time! Edited August 19, 2020 by jam6242 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jam6242 Posted August 19, 2020 Members Share Posted August 19, 2020 As far as I can tell, Joi Lansing wasn't part of the show. Just modeling with Don Collier for unknown reasons. Please register in order to view this content 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted September 17, 2021 Author Members Share Posted September 17, 2021 Jeanne Baird Regina Gleason, Micheal M Ryan 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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