from GL

---Nola getting dragged by Kelly when he found out she had lied and trapped him. LAWD...that dragging was literally the first fifteen minutes of the show.

---Nola and Vanessa's catfight before the engagement party. 

---Reva's Slut of Springfield moment

---Phillip finding out he wasn't Alan's son

---the Blackout of '92

---Maureen dragging Lillian after finding out about the affair with Ed

from ATWT

---the Doug Cummings stalker story

---"Hello, Barbara.."

---Paul shooting James

---the end of the Spa Story, when Jack finds Carly

10 minutes ago, kalbir said:

It was the combination of Roger return and Robert Calhoun becoming EP that got GL to finally hit its stride after some pretty bad years. Unfortunately the ratings during the Calhoun/Long/Curlee era did not reflect the quality of the show.

The all-too-brief Calhoun/Nancy Curlee tenure proved conclusively that TGL could be repaired with the right people in charge. Sadly, the show had been so badly butchered for so long, I think former fans had just become too burned out and were hesitant to give it yet another chance. There comes a point when viewers finally give up, and their emotional attachment to a series evaporates.

10 minutes ago, kalbir said:

It was easy to ignore Ronn Moss acting when he had Bill Bell writing for him and scene partners Susan Flannery and Joanna Johnson to carry him through their scenes. Ronn Moss acting got progressively worse in the 1990s, then again, Bradley writing didn't help matters much either.

A less-than-skilled actor always ends up looking even worse when the material he's asked to play is weak. I know we are stuck with Bradley Bell, all things considered, but he should have been replaced decades ago. IMHO, B&B did not showcase Bill Bell's best work, either, but Bradley's writing is subpar.

6 minutes ago, P.J. said:

from GL

---Nola getting dragged by Kelly when he found out she had lied and trapped him. LAWD...that dragging was literally the first fifteen minutes of the show.

That era of TGL was golden. And the actors played that memorable episode to the hit.

6 minutes ago, P.J. said:

---Phillip finding out he wasn't Alan's son

There were so many beats left to play in that story; so many emotional chords left to hit. Discarding Justin Marler so quickly was a terribly bad decision.

6 minutes ago, P.J. said:

---Maureen dragging Lillian after finding out about the affair with Ed

The audience still resents losing Ellen Parker's beloved Maureen. If the rumor is true, that we lost her to make room in the budget to pay for Justin Deas, it's all the more egregious. We finally had a warm and sympathetic character to replace Bert as the Bauer matriarch, and instead we got a hammy and loud-mouthed buzzard inflicted upon us. No, thank you.

6 minutes ago, P.J. said:

from ATWT

---the Doug Cummings stalker story

---"Hello, Barbara.."

JWS reaffirmed that he was more than just a pretty face in that storyline, and the "Helloooooo, Barbara!" moment became iconic. In its heyday, ATWT gave us some great stuff!

Great thread idea, vetsoapfan. You are wealth of information having seen so much. I envy you. Unfortunately, I was born too late to enjoy the golden years of the soaps but I was alive to see the 70s. I think the mid-late 80s was golden for ATWT but there were too many things I remember seeing from that time period to name. Although I wish I had seen ATWT and TGL in the 70s, I did see what were probably the two best-written soaps in the 70s and they were Y&R and DOOL. I remember mostly moments as opposed to storylines and the moments I remember were the most sensational (since they stood out the most in a kid's memory). I remember:

Kay Chancellor driving herself and Phillip off the cliff

Peggy Brooks' rape

Lorie slamming the piano key lid down on Leslie's fingers while she was playing the piano

Vanessa and her veil

Julie Anderson getting her face burned (I think she wore a veil for a while also)

Trish Clayton bashing her stepfather over the head with an iron

Stephanie Woodruff purposely burning her hands on a hot skillet to burn off her fingerprints

Laura Horton going insane, putting Jennifer Rose alone on a bus, and then hanging herself

Margo Horton waving goodbye to the Hortons as Mike drove her off to die

Linda Phillips taking Mike Horton to bed to prove he wasn't gay

As far as whole storylines, I remember vividly watching the Salem Strangler storyline which I loved. I was not a fan of the subsequent serial killer storylines but thought the first one was very well-written. 

There are many more but those are the scenes I remember seeing first-hand. Looking at the list, it's all pretty morbid but, as a kid, those things were what stood out to me more than the sweet and romantic moments. I've never been a fan of romance which people who find out I love soap operas don't understand (most people who don't watch soaps only equate them with romance). 

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Great thread idea, vetsoapfan. You are wealth of information having seen so much.

I probably saw more of the soaps than I did of real life, I'm embarrassed to admit, LOL. I was very shy as a child, and found great fascination and comfort in books, vintage movies, music and soaps.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

I envy you. Unfortunately, I was born too late to enjoy the golden years of the soaps but I was alive to see the 70s.

I'd include the 1970s in the golden era of soaps. I think that's when they really blossomed into topical, complex adult drama.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

I think the mid-late 80s was golden for ATWT but there were too many things I remember seeing from that time period to name. Although I wish I had seen ATWT and TGL in the 70s, I did see what were probably the two best-written soaps in the 70s and they were Y&R and DOOL.

 

 

Personally, I'd include Henry Slesar's The Edge of Night and Harding Lemay's Another World (among others) as the best-written serials of the decade. Looking back on it, viewers were truly spoiled in those years. The majority of soaps were very well written most of the time. (And when the quality did dip in the 1970s, changes were made very quickly.)

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

I remember mostly moments as opposed to storylines and the moments I remember were the most sensational (since they stood out the most in a kid's memory). I remember:

Kay Chancellor driving herself and Phillip off the cliff

A moment that shaped the course of the show for years to come.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Peggy Brooks' rape

Did you see the first sexual assault story on Y&R, centered on Chris Brooks? I found that even more harrowing than Peggy's experience. Trish Stewart's performances blew me away.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Lorie slamming the piano key lid down on Leslie's fingers while she was playing the piano

There were so many astonishing moments in that storyline. Another one of my favorites is when Leslie finally figured out the depths of her sister's twisted manipulation and betrayal. She confronted Lorie in the mental hospital and they really had it out. Knowing the jig was up, Lorie just dug the knife in a little deeper by saying, "No one is ever going to believe you about this, Les. They all  know...you are SICK!"

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Julie Anderson getting her face burned (I think she wore a veil for a while also)

The scar seemed to move around a bit from time to time, LOL, but the scenes of the fire were terrifying.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Trish Clayton bashing her stepfather over the head with an iron

It was sheer melodrama, but Pat Falken Smith's writing and Patty Weaver's performance made this storyline must-see TV. I tell you, 1976 was my favorite year of DAYS.

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Linda Phillips taking Mike Horton to bed to prove he wasn't gay

Wesley Eure's clingy, almost translucent and form-fitting pajama bottoms left so little to the imagination.🫣

24 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

There are many more but those are the scenes I remember seeing first-hand. Looking at the list, it's all pretty morbid but, as a kid, those things were what stood out to me more than the sweet and romantic moments. I've never been a fan of romance which people who find out I love soap operas don't understand (most people who don't watch soaps only equate them with romance). 

As I got older, I started to appreciate the smaller, sweet moments between characters, but when I was a kid, the "actiony" stuff stood out for me more, too. I think that's normal.👍

6 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

Caroline dying in Ridge's arms was the one time Ronn Moss truly showed some acting ability and was more than just the hunky guy that looked fetching in his speedos.

This is sort of ironic since, like Ronn Moss, the late Drake Hogestyn was often ragged on about his own acting skills or lack thereof. (But the man had heart and charisma. And really? I think there were worse actors...) And that John also had his wife die the same exact way as Ridge/Caroline described here: Isabella died in John's arms in Italy from pancreatic cancer after they shared a final dance to Bette Midler's "Glory of Love". Was it a "masterpiece"? Arguable. But I also think Drake did a great job selling John's heartbreak, too. (But how eerie and ironic that Drake passed from the same real disease that killed fictional Isabella.)

I would never have put Drake in the same sentence as Ronn Moss. Drake could sell a scene any day of the week.

AW:

• Rachel taunting Alice about Steve: "We had a love you could never know."

• Practically any scene between Vicky Wyndham and Beverlee McKinsey

• Rachel saving Mac in St. Croix

• Dennis and Jamie discovering Rocky's dismembered body beneath the floorboards of the Cory boathouse

• The sound of Olive Randolph wailing over the end credits after she discovered that her husband killed her lover

10 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

I probably saw more of the soaps than I did of real life, I'm embarrassed to admit, LOL. I was very shy as a child, and found great fascination and comfort in books, vintage movies, music and soaps.

I'd include the 1970s in the golden era of soaps. I think that's when they really blossomed into topical, complex adult drama.

Personally, I'd include Henry Slesar's The Edge of Night and Harding Lemay's Another World (among others) as the best-written serials of the decade. Looking back on it, viewers were truly spoiled in those years. The majority of soaps were very well written most of the time. (And when the quality did dip in the 1970s, changes were made very quickly.)

A moment that shaped the course of the show for years to come.

Did you see the first sexual assault story on Y&R, centered on Chris Brooks? I found that even more harrowing than Peggy's experience. Trish Stewart's performances blew me away.

There were so many astonishing moments in that storyline. Another one of my favorites is when Leslie finally figured out the depths of her sister's twisted manipulation and betrayal. She confronted Lorie in the mental hospital and they really had it out. Knowing the jig was up, Lorie just dug the knife in a little deeper by saying, "No one is ever going to believe you about this, Les. They all  know...you are SICK!"

The scar seemed to move around a bit from time to time, LOL, but the scenes of the fire were terrifying.

It was sheer melodrama, but Pat Falken Smith's writing and Patty Weaver's performance made this storyline must-see TV. I tell you, 1976 was my favorite year of DAYS.

Wesley Eure's clingy, almost translucent and form-fitting pajama bottoms left so little to the imagination.🫣

As I got older, I started to appreciate the smaller, sweet moments between characters, but when I was a kid, the "actiony" stuff stood out for me more, too. I think that's normal.👍

Oh yes, I would definitely include the 70s in the golden era. I think I was just too naive to know that I was in the golden era in the 70s. Otherwise, I would have watched a lot more soaps. Y&R and DOOL were the only ones I watched and that only started because that's what my babysitter watched. I'm glad she had good taste. I didn't realize at the time how great it was that I was watching these show first-hand during the last golden decade. I actually think, in retrospect, that the 70s was the best decade ever for soap operas. 

I would also include AW in the group of best-written soaps during the 70s. However, I think the decade just gets tainted for me because so much started going really south starting in the middle of the decade. But I actually think AW from 1964-1975 is soap opera at, perhaps, its finest. 

To be honest, I might be confusing Chris and Peggy's rape storyline. It's a faint memory. However, I think it was Peggy. It was whoever was raped by Ron Becker because I remember him. And I remember whoever it was, Peggy or Chris, compulsively showering. Not sure why I remember that. Stood out to me as interesting as a child for whatever reason. 

Now that you mention Lorie telling Leslie that nobody will believe her because she was mentally ill, a very faint memory of that came back to me. I think I saw that as well. 

8 hours ago, Wendy said:

This is sort of ironic since, like Ronn Moss, the late Drake Hogestyn was often ragged on about his own acting skills or lack thereof. (But the man had heart and charisma. And really? I think there were worse actors...) And that John also had his wife die the same exact way as Ridge/Caroline described here: Isabella died in John's arms in Italy from pancreatic cancer after they shared a final dance to Bette Midler's "Glory of Love". Was it a "masterpiece"? Arguable. But I also think Drake did a great job selling John's heartbreak, too. (But how eerie and ironic that Drake passed from the same real disease that killed fictional Isabella.)

To me, Ronn Moss always came across as quite wooden. Drake Hogestyn may not have been the single greatest actor of all time, but he was warm and personable, and had charisma to carry him through.

8 hours ago, Vee said:

I would never have put Drake in the same sentence as Ronn Moss. Drake could sell a scene any day of the week.

There are some performers who just have a certain "je ne sais quoi," which endears them to the audience regardless of their actual acting talents. RM came across as an empty shell (IMHO), whereas DH had a likeable guy-next-door charm.

7 hours ago, teplin said:

AW:

• Rachel taunting Alice about Steve: "We had a love you could never know."

That entire scene stayed burned in my memory for decades. I was thrilled when it was discovered to exist, and started making its rounds through the internet. When it was first broadcast, I was cheering for Alice as she chased Rachel down the stairs and throwing copper pots at her. Go Alice!!!

7 hours ago, teplin said:

• Practically any scene between Vicky Wyndham and Beverlee McKinsey

They had electric chemistry in their scenes together, like Jacquie Courtney and George Reinholt exhibited.

14 hours ago, P.J. said:

from GL

---Nola getting dragged by Kelly when he found out she had lied and trapped him. LAWD...that dragging was literally the first fifteen minutes of the show.

---Nola and Vanessa's catfight before the engagement party. 

---Reva's Slut of Springfield moment

---Phillip finding out he wasn't Alan's son

---the Blackout of '92

---Maureen dragging Lillian after finding out about the affair with Ed

from ATWT

---the Doug Cummings stalker story

---"Hello, Barbara.."

---Paul shooting James

---the end of the Spa Story, when Jack finds Carly

We must have been watching at the same time! Well I never could stand Jack and Carly..so not that.

I remember running in from the pool to watch Nola get hers...even though we were rooting for her ( a few losers liked Morgan...) Soap viewers today can't really have that anticipation and excitement built up over months of story and characters that could be both "bad" and good.  

I still remember how hot it was on the day watching Reva in the fountain...they really mimicked the midwest well with the sounds of the crickets and you almost felt that humidity on that patio. 

I was in the student lounge at college with "Hello Barbara" and this football player watched ATWT every day there and he got up screaming "Jame f*cking Stenbeck..Barbara girl watch out!"  Again..I can't see a soap inspiring that in an audience anymore. 

8 minutes ago, vetsoapfan said:

There are some performers who just have a certain "je ne sais quoi," which endears them to the audience regardless of their actual acting talents. RM came across as an empty shell (IMHO), whereas DH had a likeable guy-next-door charm.

While I always made fun of his acting, but I saw a clip of him with his son, at a gay party of all things, and he just gave off this warm, nice dad vibe that I could see is why he worked. He seemed just a nice guy and I can see why he worked against Hall's icy exterior. 

1 hour ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

 I didn't realize at the time how great it was that I was watching these show first-hand during the last golden decade.

I naively took for granted that soaps could and would always be this good, because I had only witnessed them offering high quality since I first started tuning in. Little did I know how suddenly and how far they would later fall.

1 hour ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

I actually think, in retrospect, that the 70s was the best decade ever for soap operas. 

My sentiment, exactly.

1 hour ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

I would also include AW in the group of best-written soaps during the 70s. However, I think the decade just gets tainted for me because so much started going really south starting in the middle of the decade. But I actually think AW from 1964-1975 is soap opera at, perhaps, its finest. 

Yes, I was saddened to see AW spinning out of control and down the drain after 1975. My anger was particularly pointed, because I knew it had been gratuitously decimated, and it didn't need to be.

1 hour ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

To be honest, I might be confusing Chris and Peggy's rape storyline. It's a faint memory. However, I think it was Peggy. It was whoever was raped by Ron Becker because I remember him. And I remember whoever it was, Peggy or Chris, compulsively showering. Not sure why I remember that. Stood out to me as interesting as a child for whatever reason. 

Chris was raped in 1973 by George Curtis, who was played by Tony Geary. Peggy was the one raped by Ron Becker, on June 16, 1976. Upon finding her baby sister had also been assaulted, Chris had memory flashbacks of compulsively showering after her own assault, to wash the stain off. It was heartbreaking.

1 hour ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Now that you mention Lorie telling Leslie that nobody will believe her because she was mentally ill, a very faint memory of that came back to me. I think I saw that as well. 

That was the first time I ever heard the word "bitch" uttered on a soap. As the scene faded to black, a split second before dissolving into the commercial, Leslie screamed, "BITCH!" at Lorie. I always wondered if placing the curse word at the last possible moment was a safeguard the show made in case they had to cut it out before broadcast.

Unpopular opinion, but soap acting before the 1980s was almost like watching a stage play and/or a broadway show.  I tend to find stage and Broadway performers to be subpar performers because you just know they're acting.

Give me the understated performers that have little to no stage experience and are likable and enjoyable to watch. 

24 minutes ago, Mitch64 said:

I remember running in from the pool to watch Nola get hers...even though we were rooting for her ( a few losers liked Morgan...) Soap viewers today can't really have that anticipation and excitement built up over months of story and characters that could be both "bad" and good.

 

Vintage soaps that took their time and played all the emotional beats of their stories always ended up being more emotionally gratifying than the modern ones. Today's shows are more apt to rush through everything at lightning speed, based on the idea that modern audiences have the attention spans of gnats.

24 minutes ago, Mitch64 said:

I was in the student lounge at college with "Hello Barbara" and this football player watched ATWT every day there and he got up screaming "Jame f*cking Stenbeck..Barbara girl watch out!"  Again..I can't see a soap inspiring that in an audience anymore.

That's hilarious, and it's so true how invested viewers were in "their stories" back then. The likes of Rachel Davis, Dorian Lord and Lorie Brooks made me scream at my TV. Nothing on soaps has engendered a strong reaction from me since BJ's heart transplant on GH in 1994.

24 minutes ago, Mitch64 said:

 

While I always made fun of his acting, but I saw a clip of him with his son, at a gay party of all things, and he just gave off this warm, nice dad vibe that I could see is why he worked. He seemed just a nice guy and I can see why he worked against Hall's icy exterior. 

Genuinely nice guys always have a certain edge.

Edited September 5Sep 5 by vetsoapfan