Remember When: Scott Holmes

As the unflappable Tom Hughes from ATWT, Scott Holmes crafted a character who wound up the bedrock of Oakdale. In this article, which first appeared in the November 28, 1989 Soap Opera Update, shows that the same down home charm evident on the show was just as obvious in real life. Read more to find out how Holmes viewed about his life away from the camera.

To read the article in its entirely, just click on the thumbnails. Enjoy!

Flashback Video: Robin & Stone GH

One thing soap operas have always done exquisitely well is to challenge their audiences on controversial storylines. From the marital rape of Kim Dixon by husband John Dixon on ATWT to Carla Gray’s “Passing” on OLTL to the plight of the homeless on B&B, daytime has a long and distinguished history of tackling controversial social issues long before their evening counterparts.

Played by Kimberly McCullough, Robin Scorpio first cam on the canvas as the daughter of two of GHs most popular characters: Anna Devane and Robert Scorpio. Audiences watched her grow from child to young adult and she was a frequent participant in the show’s major storylines. All of this exposure made Robin well known and well liked by the audience at home. Michael “Stone” Cates came onboard GH in the early 90s and his love story with Robin would become one of the most loved and remembered storylines in the show’s history. Taken in off the streets by mob boss Sonny Corinthos, Stone was the classic bad boy with a heart of gold.

As the relationship between the couple bloomed, it was revealed that Stone had tested for HIV and it had come back negative. But he never did the follow-up test. One night, Robin and he made love without using any protection and when Stone discovered he had AIDS, his first concern was for Rob. Although the initial test gave Robin a clean bill of health it was later discovered that Robin had contracted the disease. However, Stone never discovered he had infected Robin as he was dying when she found out and she decided to spare him that knowledge.

Still active on the GH canvas, Robin is living with her HIV status and has gone on to become a successful doctor, wife and mother. By showing a person living with HIV and not just dying from it, GH has taken a substantial step in educating the public. In this flashback video, we take a look back at some of the highlights of this legendary storyline.

Stone and Robin make love but don’t use a condom which has disastrous effects.



Stone tells Sonny he has AIDS




Stone tells Robin he has AIDS.



Robin discovers she has HIV.




After a long battle, Stone finally dies but not before seeing Robin one last time.



Stone leaves Robin a final letter of love.

As Robin’s husband searches for a missing Robin, she has a vision of Stone who urges her to keep fighting and to let him go.

Fandom Files: Soap Opera Divas Paper Dolls

Growing up, I was never into dolls of any variety and that includes paper. But when I saw this little treasure at an off-beat bookstore I knew I had to have it. Published by Dover Publications in 2007, Soap Opera Divas Paper Dolls features 32 pages of paper doll goodness. Overall, each show is well represented but the women selected definitely skewers to who was popular at that time. Sadly, that means true divas such as Beverlee McKinsey and Genie Francis to name just two. Those who are included include:

Susan Lucci as Erica Kane from AMC
Eileen Fulton as Lisa Grimaldi from ATWT
Victoria Wyndham as Rachel Cory from AW
Deidre Hall as Marlena Black from DOOL
Linda Dano as Felicia Gallant from AW
Less Walton as Jill Abbott from Y&R
Debbi Morgan as Angie Hubbard from AMC
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh from ATWT
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor from Y&R
Ruth Warrick as Phoebe Tyler Wallingford from AMC
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester from B&B
Erika Slezak as Viki Lord from OLTL
Robin Strasser as Dorian Lord from OLTL
Renee Goldsberry as Evangeline Williamson from OLTL
Kelly Monaco as Samantha McCall from GH
Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady from DOOL

Each Diva is is given a doll figure and one wardrobe change. While some of the illustrations do the actresses proud, such as Ruth Warrick and Victoria Wyndham, other illustrations are down horrid, such as Erika Slezak and Susan Flannery. Overall, I’d say this was a collectible most fans would enjoy simply for its novelty.

To see a sample of the dolls, please click on the images below. It will open up in Photobucket and you can click the image again to make it even larger. Enjoy!

Remember When: Shelly Burch

As Delila Garretson on One Life to Live, Shelly Burch was the epitome of a scheming and stylish diva whose bad girl ways were only redeemed once she found true love. In real life, however, things weren’t nearly as simple for Burch. In this article by Mimi Leahey which appeared in the August 22, 1989 Soap Opera Digest, Burch describes her struggles with insecurity, anorexia and bulimia. Unlike today when celebrity confessionals are the norm, this article stands out for its honesty in a time when such medical issues were not openly discussed.

To read the full article, click on the thumbnails below.

Saturday Snapshot: The Edge of Night at the Emmys

Edge of Night is one of those soap operas that many people have heard about but few remember watching. Produced by Procter & Gamble, it aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 until November 28, 1975. It was then picked up by ABC where it ran from December 1, 1975 until December 28, 1984. The original idea for the show was to have it be a mystery meets soap opera that would be penned by Perry Mason creator, Erle Stanley Gardner. Although that fell through, the series would become well known for its focus on crime and its high production values.

In this photo, the cast of Edge of Night gathers to celebrate its first Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Drama Series. FRONT ROW [left to right]: JOHN SEDWICK (Edge director), JOHN LaGIOIA (Johnny Dallas), JEANNE RUSKIN (Laurie Karr Lamont), ALBERTA GRANT (Liz Hillyer Fields), ANN FLOOD (Nancy Karr), ERWIN NICHOLSON (Edge executive producer), TERI KEANE (Martha Marceau), PAT BRIGHT (Edith Berman), KATHERINE MARSHALL (Edge production secretary), VIRGINIA KAYE (Rose Pollock), and LESTER RAWLINS [behind V. Kaye] (Orin Hillyer). SECOND ROW: RICHARD SHOBERG (Kevin Jamison), FORREST COMPTON (Mike Karr), DONALD MAY (Adam Drake), ALAN FEINSTEIN (Dr. Jim Fields), JOY CLAUSSEN [partially hidden] (Corky), MAEVE MCGUIRE [partially hidden] (Nicole Travis), WARD COSTELLO (Jake Berman). THIRD ROW: NICHOLAS PRYOR (Joel Gantry), BUD GOWEN (Edge associate producer), PAUL VINCENT (Ashley Reynolds), TED TINLING (Vic Lamont).

Remember When: Nancy Lee Grahn 1989

I thought we’d start the weekend early with an article on the incomparable Nancy Lee Grahn which first appeared in the December 4, 1989 Soap Opera Update. Written by Rosemary Rossi, this two page article proved to Santa Barbara viewers that the woman behind Julia Wainwright Capwell was just as articulate and passionate as her alter ego. In the intervening years, not too much has changed if her Twitter account is any indication. Not only does she still demonstrate the same fiery spirit viewers fell in love with but she makes some of the best points regarding the genre of daytime.

To read the article in its entirely, just click the thumbnails below. Happy reading!

Flashback Video: Neal's Murder ATWT

While I was never an obsessive fan of As the World Turns, there are moments from the show’s run that have stayed with me. Yet, most of the moments I remember are not the ones pointed to by most fans. Case in point: the mysterious relationship of Neal and Royce. Played by the amazing Mary Kay Adams and Terry Lester respectively, these two arrived in Oakdale chock full of secrets. As their stories intersected with the other residents, it was revealed that Royce and Neal were actually the half siblings of Oakdale’s Queen Bee Lucinda Walsh.

In this set of scenes, Neal meets a grisly end and Oakdale is thrown into a full scale murder mystery. What I remember most about this storyline was the exquisite work done by Terry Lester as he comes to grips with the death of his beloved sister and his part in it. And while the police letting a bunch of people pollute the crime scene is beyond absurd, the human emotion underlining the brother/sister reveal rings true thanks to the work of Lester.

It’s a dark and stormy night and murder is in the air. As Emily accepts Royce's proposal, the police receive a mysterious call.



Royce and Emily gleefully celebrate their engagement while Neal lies dead in a pool of her own blood.



Royce calls Neal to tell her of his engagement and takes off to her apartment once the police answer. Meanwhile, Royce’s butler flashes back to an earlier argument with Neal.



Neal and Royce’s relationship is revealed as a despondent Royce falls apart.




Royce refuses to leave Neal’s side until emily convinces him it is time to leave.