More OLTL from that era.
August 1977
NEW YORK — After auditioning and testing more than 300 actors on both coasts since mid-April. “One Life to Lave” has finally cast a replacement for George Reinholt in the role of Tony Lord. The character of Tony is an integral part of a story triangle involving his true love. Pat, and her "returned-from-the dead” husband. Paul. “We decided it would be disastrous to try and find someone who looks, sounds and acts like George.” “OLTL” producer Joe Stuart says. "We chose to find someone that would be a physical contrast to Paul, as well as someone in his early 30s As you know. Jacquie Courtney is 30 years old. But we felt that when she played opposite George, the audience thought of them as a couple in their late 30s. So the new Tony will help the story into a younger emphasis. And we’re very pleased with our choice of Philip MacHale.”
MacHALE WAS. SEEN briefly last year as the last of numerous David Martins on the canceled “Somerset.” Stuart predicts that Philip’s portrayal of Tony will be “different than George’s. It won't be as caustic.”
“Different chemistry” was also needed for the role of Will Vernon. Bernie McInerney, who replaced the original Will, Farley Granger, has been “gonged” and will be replaced by Anthony George beginning Aug. 25. Tony was last seen two years ago in the popular role of TonyVincente on “Search for Tomorrow." Although Stuart says Bernie was an excellent actor, "the story line has undergone an organic evolution and we hope to get more mileage out of Tony’s characterization as Will.’’ Whatever that means.
MEANWHILE, contract renewal negotiations with Doris Belack (Anna Craig1 came to a standstill. "I asked for a clause that would enable me to be out for additional theater work. They didn’t want to give it to me, so I left,” says Doris, who was a 9-year original cast member of “OLTL.” “I couldn’t stay on the serial without the opportunity to do theater work also. They apparently failed to understand that an actor needs a change of stimulus to keep his work fresh.” Doris has consistently given a fresh, warm, humorous quality to a tent-pole character who's purpose was to rehash other people’s story lines for the audience. Her shoes will be difficult to fill. "I probably would have gone into deep depression if I hadn’t gone immediately into rehearsals for a stage production.” sighs the actress.
MISS BELACK will be appearing in “Plaza Suite” at the QCC Theater Company o f Queensboro Community College in Bayside, N.Y., through Aug. 21. The theater’s artistic director is Doris’ former “OLTL” castmate. Jordan Charney (Vince Wolek,1. and the director of the production is her husband. Broadway producer Philip (“Shenandoah”) Rose. How does Doris succeed in working for her husband? “I trust his judgement completely.” she answers. ‘Occasionally we scream and yell, but we don’t take our work problems home with u s. Anyway, he knows me better than I know me. But I still have to live with the whispers that I got the part because I sleep with the director, which I’m proud to say I do.'.” Doris met her husband during a Gilbert and Sullivan musical many years ago. “We don't need to mention how many years ago, but I was the soprano and he was the baritone. We’ve been making beautiful music together ever since,” she laughs. But will the “OLTL” audience sing the praises of the show's recent changes?
Oct 78
But it will be interesting to watch what will happen in terms of audience reaction in the next few weeks on at least one ABC soap opera, “One Life to Live.”One of the long accepted ruled ot soap-operaland is that audiences become as hooked on actors and characters as much as they become hooked on storylines. On “One Life” there will be a near glut of performer replacements and exits.
JULIE Montgomery has already left the show as Samantha Vernon. Kathleen Devine, an excellent actress who was generally wasted in storyline limbo during her tenure on “OLTL,” has been killed off as Pam Shepherd, just prior to her wedding to pychiatrist Will Vernon.
Kathleen Maguire, as Anna Craig, didn’t registger positively with fans who were anguished that the original Anna, Doris Belack, departed the cast a year ago. The producers are scurrying to find yet another replacement in the role.
First, he was called D. Bill Reilly, then he changed his name to David Reilly. Recently, on cast credits, he was given a third name, Luke Reilly. Under any name, the actor who played the role of Richard Abbott insists he’s leaving the cast of “OLTL” within the next several weeks.
REILLY WAS a fan favorite, but the biggest cast departure blow to “OLTL” viewers will be the absence of Kathy Glass in the role of Jenny Wolek Siegel Vernon.
By
Paul Raven ·
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