ALL: Errors, Myths, Omissions & Firsts that weren't

[Contessa Donatella]

Of course! Where's my brain been hiding? 

Ruby Dee on GL 1967

Cecily Tyson on GL 1966

@I Am A Swede  Thanks so much for jumping in! 

Edited February 2, 2024 by Donna L. Bridges
new info

[j swift]

I have to go with some actor's mythical tales about fans.

1.  I don't believe anyone ever threw fruit at ATWT Eileen Fulton in a grocery store.

2. I don't think anyone ever asked OLTL Roger Howarth to rape them.

3. I don't believe anyone ever made a bet with their family for a steak dinner that was resolved by a letter to Soap Opera Digest.

 

[Contessa Donatella]

But you do believe that at Luke & Laura fan events some women screamed, "Luke, rape me!"? Or not? 

[Contessa Donatella]

Another World

There was a myth that Irna offered the show to CBS & they had no room for it on the schedule & she was heartbroken. 

This is debunked in a document called The Creation of Another World. It is by Eddie Drueding with reporting by Lynn Liccardo & Elana Levine. It can be found on the Another World Home Page under Publications. 

http://anotherworldhomepage.com/creation.htm

According to it, actually in 1963 NBC approached P&G/PGP about getting Irna Phillips to create a new serial for them. Details & names of sources are in the document. 

The second most popular myth about AW is that it is a sister soap to ATWT. 

That it is not is covered in the document. Yes, both shows, including some others exist in an Irna Phillips universe but it does not make them sister soaps or spin-offs. 

Much more information about BTS about the show beginnings is included also in the document. 

[BetterForgotten]

Wouldn’t the fact that they existed in the same universe make them sister soaps alone? Same with GL when Agnes Nixon crossed over Michael and Hope Bauer. 

[Mona Kane Croft]

I always understood that Peggy Harris Nolan (played by Micki Grant) was the first on-contract African American character on a soap opera (first appearance July 1965).  But I'm sure by 1965 there had been many non-contract short term roles filled by African American actors.   

[Contessa Donatella]

I don't believe so. 

In the Irna Phillips universe there were small cities clustered near each other. They were Oakdale, Illinois [ATWT], Flat Rock, Centerville, Somerset, [itself] Bedfordtown, Brookville, Ogden, Centerville, Bay City, Illinois, [AW] - Donna L. Bridges

They all represented the bedroom communities that surrounded Cincinnati, home of domestic product giant, Procter & Gamble. 

I'm not sure how much intent counts but it was not Irna Phillips intent that these be sister soaps. The same way her use of the "world"  motif was not meant to create sister soaps. 

Quoting from the document referenced upthread

 

That's AW. That may be the first contract role. Thanks. 

[Khan]

I'll bet you a steak dinner that you're wrong. 

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[Darn]

What the hell does sister soaps even mean? Is that just a fancy term for spin-off?

[Contessa Donatella]

Good question, You see them used in a sentence such as, "not a spin-off or a sister soap." Although you also see each term on its own, without the other being mentioned. 

I've both been talking to people about this & also trying to noodle with my own thoughts. I think it is a preponderance of different factors. Perhaps including: same fictional universe, same creator, same production company, same style (family or adventure or escapist or mystery or gothic), maybe same network ... and if they have a number of these factors then they add up to being sister soaps. 

Obviously this is (1) opinion and (2) a theory & definitely "in process" so I may say something different, say, on Tuesday! 

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🫨

So, for example that would make AMC & OLTL sister soaps but GH wouldn't be one with them. 

And, I need to do research about The Young Marrieds & GH. People say they are sister soaps which didn't make sense to me since it was off the air before it was even established that GH's locale was Port Charles, NY. So, it seemed like a write back to me that Robin & Patrick lived in a suburb which is where TYM was fictionally located. Some people say it does make sense even though they get what I meant so I need to do some reading in some episode descriptions. Just have to make the time. 

Edited February 5, 2024 by Donna L. Bridges

[Paul Raven]

In terms of first black characters on daytime, Rex Ingram was announced as joining The Brighter Day just  weeks before its cancellation in 1962. Unsure if this was a contract role.

[Contessa Donatella]

Does that mean he never aired? 1962 is wonderful. Thanks for posting. I was hoping you'd stop by. 

[P.J.]

Originally, I think calling ATWT, AW and Guiding Light "sister shows" just referenced them being created by Phillips. Maybe there was some implied cache about linking them in the viewers minds. After Phillips' firing, it became more about them being sponsored by P&G.

[Contessa Donatella]

You often see people now call AW a sister soap to ATWT. Within the last 3-4 months an active poster in the ATWT discussion topic referred to them as such. They really enjoyed reading the document then. 

[Contessa Donatella]

WOW, remarkable. Wedding Interrruptus getting a 13.2 in 1983. WTG, Agnes, Larry Lau, Kim Delaney ! !