Members FrenchFan Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 As some of you might have noticed, in the main thread, old issues of the DNS are posted with summaries from 1972 to 1976. I am trying to give all these summaries the correct head writers and executive producers. It is quite a nightmare. Here is the list I have tried to make, as accurate as possible, given articles, soap books, online credits... Maybe we could correct and improve it with all your knowledge. ALL MY CHILDREN Head writer : Agnes Nixon (January 1970 – November 1978) Executive producer : Bud Kloss (January 1970 – April 1980) ANOTHER WORLD Head writer : Harding Lemay (August 1971 – May 1979) Executive producer: Paul Rauch (December 1971 – February 1983) AS THE WORLD TURNS Head writers : David Lesan & Irna Phillips (January 1972 – July 1973) Robert Soderberg & Edith Sommer (July 1973 – December 1978) Executive producers : Fred Bartholomew (February 1971 - June 1973) Joe Willmore (June 1973 – December 1978) DAYS OF OUR LIVES Head writers : William J. Bell (July 1966 – May 1975) Pat Falken Smith (May 1975 – Avril 1977) Executive producers : Betty Corday (August 1966 – April 1977) Betty Corday & H. Wesley Kenney (April 1977 – January 1980) THE DOCTORS Head writers : Eileen & Robert Mason Pollock (September 1970 – August 1975) Robert Cenedella (August 1975 – February 1976) Margaret DePriest (February 1976 – September 1976) Douglas Marland (September 1976 – October 1977) Executive producers : Allen M. Potter (1967 – September 1973) Joseph Stuart (September 1973 – August 1975) Jeff Young (August 1975 – July 1977) THE EDGE OF NIGHT Head writer : Henry Slesar (April 1968 - May 1983) Executive producer : Erwin Nicholson (January 1966 - December 1984) GENERAL HOSPITAL Head writers : Frank & Doris Hursley (April 1963 – April 1973) Bridget & Jerome Dobson (April 1973 – June 1975) Richard & Suzanne Holland (June 1975 – February 1976) Robert & Eileen Mason Pollock (February 1976 – July 1977) Executive producers : James Young (November 1963 - July 1975) Tom Donovan (July 1975 – December 1977) GUIDING LIGHT Head writers : Robert Soderberg & Edith Sommer (November 1969 – July 1973) James Gentile (July 1973 - March 1974) Robert Cenedella (March 1974 - June 1975) Bridget & Jerome Dobson (June 1975 – December 1979) Executive producers : Lucy Ferri Rittenberg (June 1952 – February 1976) Allen M. Potter (February 1976 – February 1983) HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE Head writers : Anne Howard Bailey (January 1974 – June 1974) Rick Edelstein (June 1974 – January 1975) Margaret de Priest (January 1975 - April 1975) Executive producers : Charles W. Fries & Peter H. Engel (January 1974 – June 1974) Jeff Young (June 1974 – April1975) LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING Head writers : James Lipton (November 1970 - February 1972) Ann Marcus (February 1972 - March 1973) Executive producers : ?? LOVE OF LIFE Head writers : Esther & Richard Shapiro (September 1970 - February 1972) Loring Mandel (Feburary 1972 - April 1973) Claire Labine & Paul Avila Mayer (April 1973 – April 1975) Margaret DePriest (April 1975 – December 1975) Paul & Margaret Schneider (December 1975 – September 1976) Gabrielle Upton (September 1976 – November 1978) Executive producers : Bertram Berman (June 1969 – April 1973) Jean Arley (April 1973 – June 1975) Darryl Hickman (June 1975 – October 1978) ONE LIFE TO LIVE Head writers : Agnes Nixon, Paul Roberts & Don Wallace (July 1968 – July 1972) Agnes Nixon & Gordon Russell (August 1972 – September 1973) Gordon Russell (September 1973 – October 1978) Executive producer : Doris Quinlan (February 1969 – May 1977) RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE Head writers : James Lipton (April 1972 – March 1973) Robert Cenedella (April 1973 - January 1974) Executive producers : Chuck Weiss (April 1972 - March 1973) George Parris (March 1973 – January 1974) RYAN’S HOPE Head writers : Claire Labine & Paul Avila Mayer (July 1975 – March 1982) Executive producers : Claire Labine & Paul Avila Mayer (July 1975 – March 1982) SEARCH FOR TOMORROW Head writers : Ralph Ellis & Eugenie Hunt (November 1969 – December 1973) Theodore Apstein (January 1974 – May 1974) Gabrielle Upton (May 1974 – November 1974) Ann Marcus (November 1974 - April 1975) Peggy O’Shea (April 1975 – November 1976) Irving & Tex Elman (November 1976 – June 1977) Executive producers : Woody Klose (June 1969 – February 1972) Bernie Sofronski (February 1972 - December 1973) Mary-Ellis Bunim (January 1974 – October 1981) THE SECRET STORM Head writers : Robert Cenedella (November 1971 - March 1973) Frances Rickett (March 1973 - February 1974) Executive producer : Charles Weiss (June 1969 – February 1974) SOMERSET Head writers : Henry Slesar (January 1971 – May 1973) Roy Winsor (May 1973 – April 1974) Robert J. Shaw (April 1974 – March 1975) Don Appell (March 1975 – December 1975) A.J. Russell (January 1976 – May 1976) Russell Kubeck (June 1976 – December 1976) Executive producer : Lyle B. Hill (March 1970 – December 1976) WHERE THE HEART IS Head writers : Pat Falken Smith (October 1970 – February 1972) Robert & Elizabeth Haggard (February 1972 – May 1972) Claire Labine & Paul Avila Mayer (May 1972 - March 1973) Executive producer : Charles Weiss (June 1969 – March 1973) THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Head writer : William J. Bell (March 1973 – October 1997) Executive producers : William J. Bell & John Conboy (March 1973 – February 1982) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I have a few newspaper articles that mention writers that I can post. In terms of the writers strike, I assume there were no union writers between Apr - Aug 1973, which is when the strike took place. Except Irna who stated she was still writing as she wasn't part of the union For Love of Life. I have articles naming both Loring Mandel and Christopher Bell as head writer during the 72-73 season. Bell is mentioned both in a September 72 article on the show and around Apr/May 73 as well. Loring is only mentioned as a nominee for the Writers Guild for that season. So maybe Loring wrote the show up to September 72 and was still eligible when Chris Bell took over. I think Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer probably took over Aug/Sep 73. This is the first mention I could find of them and is in line with the idea that they took over after the strike. For Search For Tomorrow the earliest mention of Ann Marcus is October 1974 when the show celebrated 6,000 episodes For Guiding Light the earliest mention of the Soderbergs is Jun 1969 For The Secret Storm Gabrielle Upton (Gillian Houghton) took over the show in Aug 1969. Then Gerry Day & Bethel Leslie are mentioned as new head writers in Sep 1970. I also have Bob Cendella but the last writer of the show was Gillian Houghton a.k.a Gabrielle Upton. She is mentioned as early as March 1973 and mentioned in the articles about the shows cancellation in 1974. I'm not sure who Frances Rickett is, unless Gabrielle Upton had another peusdonym I will post the articles as soon as I can sort them out 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jam6242 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I have an article from June 1972 that said Frances Rickett had been hired as headwriter for The Secret Storm a few months previously. She was also a writer for Another World, Somerset, and Return to Peyton Place. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) So I guess Frances Rickett was maybe after Gerry Day & Bethel Leslie and before Bob Cenedella? Edited June 12, 2020 by will81 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dc11786 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I believe Christopher Bell was Loring Manuel’s pen name. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) Ah okay, yeah it seems a few soap scribes had pen names So this article from Feb 72 shows Frances Rickett and Bob Cenedella. I assume Bob left around this time and Frances took over until Gabrielle Upton/Gillian Houghton about a year later Please register in order to view this content Edited June 12, 2020 by will81 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) Here are some for seach for tomorrow 1. August 1970 - Mentions Leonard Kanter and Doris Frankel as HW 2. November 1970 - Lists Lou Scofield as HW 3. Jun 1971 - Lists Richard Soderberg and Edith Sommer as HW of Search and GL 4. Sep 1972 - Mentions Ralph Ellis and Eugenie Hunt as HW 5. October 1974 - Mentions Ann Marcus as HW Please register in order to view this content Sorry here is one more for Search from Aug 71. Lists robert Soderberg & Edith Sommer with Eugenie Hunt and Ralph Ellis Edited June 12, 2020 by will81 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FrenchFan Posted June 12, 2020 Author Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 So fascinating Will ! Thanks a lot ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I swear not two or so weeks ago I got on this kick to research 70's soap writers while in lockdown. I think to break up studying and writing essays and basic University stuff. So I have a bit to share, though much of it would only confirm what you have anyway. If I find anything with new information I will post here 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sean Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I just read this 1975 interview with Labine and Mayer on one of the vintage soap tumblrs this week, and it states that they became the headwriters of Love of Life in September 1973, remaining with the show through May 1975. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FrenchFan Posted June 12, 2020 Author Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 Same of course. It is interesting to share what we all find to get the most accurate information ever. Thanks Sean for the info ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FrenchFan Posted June 12, 2020 Author Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 I am so confused about EP around late 1972. I found mentions of Charles "Chuck" Weiss for many soaps: LIAMST, RTPP, WTHI and SS at around the same time. Has anyone any information? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanessaReardon Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 If this is correct, Mary-Ellis Bunim was probably the youngest EP of a soap ever. She was 27 or 28 when she became EP of SFT? Wow! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) Here is what I found for Charles Weiss. He seems to have been on LIAMST and SS in 1969. Couldn't find anything for WTHI I could only find Don Wallace and Gail Kobe attached as producers on RTPP First is from Feb 1969 FOR LIAMST and talks about other shows too Next is Aug 1969 for SS And 1977 for The Doctors, which mentions the shows he has done Please register in order to view this content Here is a picture of Chuck with Kathleen Turner and Pamela Lincoln Edited June 12, 2020 by will81 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members will81 Posted June 12, 2020 Members Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) This one lists Joseph Manetta as Producer in Feb 1972 for SS Please register in order to view this content Edited June 12, 2020 by will81 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.