Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of Edge of Night aired on ABC.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind premiered on ABC. Producer Joseph Hardy, whose creative efforts helped turn Love of Life into one of the top-ranking daytime dramas, changed things up for the new series.

"With most new serials it takes months to build up audience awareness," Hardy explained at the time. "The story usually doesn’t begin unfolding until long after each of the characters has been introduced. I deliberately shortened this traditional build-up period with new serials by concentrating on themes that move quickly from event to event."

A Flame in the Wind told the story of a young widow, who returned to her husband's boyhood home and found the town and its inhabitants reflected alarming frailties and distorted values. The show revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austen and Farrell families. Stars included Kathleen Maguire, Maggie Hayes, Lenka Peterson, Jacqueline Brooks, Roy Poole, Walter Coy, Richard Thomas, Frances Fuller, Morgan Sterne, Gordon Gray, Barbara Rodell and Margaret Ladd.

A Flame in the Wind was renamed A Time For Us in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year. The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of The Edge of Night aired on ABC.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind premiered on ABC. Producer Joseph Hardy, whose creative efforts helped turn Love of Life into one of the top-ranking daytime dramas, changed things up for the new series.

"With most new serials it takes months to build up audience awareness," Hardy explained at the time. "The story usually doesn’t begin unfolding until long after each of the characters has been introduced. I deliberately shortened this traditional build-up period with new serials by concentrating on themes that move quickly from event to event."

A Flame in the Wind told the story of a young widow, who returned to her husband's boyhood home and found the town and its inhabitants reflected alarming frailties and distorted values. The show revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austen and Farrell families. Stars included Kathleen Maguire, Maggie Hayes, Lenka Peterson, Jacqueline Brooks, Roy Poole, Walter Coy, Richard Thomas, Frances Fuller, Morgan Sterne, Gordon Gray, Barbara Rodell and Margaret Ladd.

A Flame in the Wind was renamed A Time For Us in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year. The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of The Edge of Night aired on ABC.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind premiered on ABC. Producer Joseph Hardy, whose creative efforts helped turn Love of Life into one of the top-ranking daytime dramas, changed things up for the new series.

"With most new serials it takes months to build up audience awareness," Hardy explained at the time. "The story usually doesn’t begin unfolding until long after each of the characters has been introduced. I deliberately shortened this traditional build-up period with new serials by concentrating on themes that move quickly from event to event."

A Flame in the Wind told the story of a young widow, who returned to her husband's boyhood home and found the town and its inhabitants reflected alarming frailties and distorted values. The show revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austen and Farrell families. Stars included Kathleen Maguire, Maggie Hayes, Lenka Peterson, Jacqueline Brooks, Roy Poole, Walter Coy, Richard Thomas, Frances Fuller, Morgan Sterne, Gordon Gray, Barbara Rodell and Margaret Ladd.

A Flame in the Wind was renamed A Time For Us in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year. The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of The Edge of Night aired on ABC.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind premiered on ABC. Producer Joseph Hardy, whose creative efforts helped turn Love of Life into one of the top-ranking daytime dramas, changed things up for the new series.

"With most new serials it takes months to build up audience awareness," Hardy explained at the time. "The story usually doesn’t begin unfolding until long after each of the characters has been introduced. I deliberately shortened this traditional build-up period with new serials by concentrating on themes that move quickly from event to event."

A Flame in the Wind told the story of a young widow, who returned to her husband's boyhood home and found the town and its inhabitants reflected alarming frailties and distorted values. The show revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austen and Farrell families. Stars included Kathleen Maguire, Maggie Hayes, Lenka Peterson, Jacqueline Brooks, Roy Poole, Walter Coy, Richard Thomas, Frances Fuller, Morgan Sterne, Gordon Gray, Barbara Rodell and Margaret Ladd.

A Flame in the Wind was renamed A Time For Us in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year. The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 5)

Another World starred Jacqueline Courtney, Vera Allen and Susan Trustman
as Alice, Granny and Pat Matthews.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 10 September 1978
by John Genovese

(continued from Part 4)

1964
Another slow-but-sure hit came on May 4 when NBC cashed in on Irna Phillips' knack for family drama. Another World began as the story of the Matthews family following the death of attorney Will Matthews. The role of Will's flighty and domineering widow Liz Matthews was originated by Sarah Cunningham but soon taken over by Audra Lindley. John Beal was Jim, Virginia Dwyer was Mary, Susan Trustman was Pat, and Jacqueline Courtney was Alice. A Procter & Gamble Production, it was the first soap to deal with the subject of abortion and also the first to expand to a full hour on January 6, 1975. William J. Bell originally co-wrote the series.

Alas, this sudden string of success was short-lived. On October 5, 1964, The Young Marrieds made its mark on ABC as another West Coast serial. Created by James Elward (The Secret Storm), it revolved around three married couples in New York City. Peggy McCay, Paul Picerni, Susan Brown (now Dr. Gail Adamson, General Hospital), Mike Mikler, Norma Connolly and Barry Russo starred. Comedy actor and director Charles Grodin, Susan Seaforth, Irene Tedrow and Constance Moore held other roles. It expired March 25, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of The Edge of Night aired on ABC.

"A page of history is worth a pound of logic."
― Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A Flame in the Wind premiered on ABC. Producer Joseph Hardy, whose creative efforts helped turn Love of Life into one of the top-ranking daytime dramas, changed things up for the new series.

"With most new serials it takes months to build up audience awareness," Hardy explained at the time. "The story usually doesn’t begin unfolding until long after each of the characters has been introduced. I deliberately shortened this traditional build-up period with new serials by concentrating on themes that move quickly from event to event."

A Flame in the Wind told the story of a young widow, who returned to her husband's boyhood home and found the town and its inhabitants reflected alarming frailties and distorted values. The show revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austen and Farrell families. Stars included Kathleen Maguire, Maggie Hayes, Lenka Peterson, Jacqueline Brooks, Roy Poole, Walter Coy, Richard Thomas, Frances Fuller, Morgan Sterne, Gordon Gray, Barbara Rodell and Margaret Ladd.

A Flame in the Wind was renamed A Time For Us in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year. The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 28)

1984: The final episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT aired on ABC.

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
- Winston Churchill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Daytime soap opera A FLAME IN THE WIND premiered on ABC. The stories revolved around the community of Haviland, and the Skerba, Reynolds, Austens, and Farrells families.  The show was renamed A TIME FOR US in 1965, but ABC canceled it the following year.  The final episode aired on December 16, 1966.

Jacqueline Brookes Dead at 82

Jacqueline Brookes, an actress and teacher who appeared on stage and film for more than four decades, passed away on April 26 at age 82.

Brookes, born July 24, 1930, made her Broadway debut in 1955's "Tiger at the Gates" and would go on to dozens of stage roles, including off-Broadway's "Six Characters In Search of An Author" and "The Cretan Woamn," which earned her an Obie Award and a Theatre World Award respectively.

For a year and a half starting in April 1975, Brookes played Beatrice Gordon, the Cory housekeeper, on ANOTHER WORLD. Beatrice left Bay City to take care of her son Ray's children in California. Ray was played by Ted Shackelford, who had just exited the soap.

FLASHBACK: Jane Elliot 1965

Girl Who 'Went Wrong' Rights Herself on B'way

The Hartford Courant
September 5, 1965

NEW YORK -- "Out of my graduating class of 45," lovely Jane Elliot said during a break in rehearsals for her forthcoming Broadway appearance in "The Impossible Years," "44 went to college. I was the only one who went wrong."

In all probability, the other 44 members of her class regard her with just a trace of envy these days.

Busy Year

In little more than a year, the 18-year-old went to England, played a lead on the BBC production of "Come Back, Little Sheba," played a part on THE NURSES that led to her being signed for the running part of Linda on the FLAME IN THE WIND soap opera for four months, and played a role in the Bucks County Playhouse production of "Hay Fever." This led to her being signed to a lead in the "Impossible Years," which stars Alan King.

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #12 Jane Elliot

NAME: Jane Elliot
RANK: 12
SOAP ROLES: Tracy Quartermaine, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1978-1980, 1989-1993, 1996, 2003-present); Tracy Quartermaine, THE CITY (1996-1997); Anjelica Deveraux, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1987-1989), Cynthia Preston, ALL MY CHILDREN (1984-1986), Carrie Marler, GUIDING LIGHT (1981-1982); Judy, KNOTS LANDING, (1980-1981); Madge Sinclair, A NEW DAY IN EDEN (1982); Linda Skerba, A FLAME IN THE WIND (1965)

AWARDS:
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Villainess
1993 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villainess: Daytime
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Villainess: Daytime
1989 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villainess in a Daytime Serial
1981 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): A hoot and a delight for thirty years of GH. Does anyone remember her shattering performance as Carrie Marler's dual personalities in the Doug Marland-written years of GUIDING LIGHT?

Rita Lloyd Dead at 79

Actress Rita Lloyd passed away on September 6 at age 79.

Her daytime soap opera roles included Lucille Wexler on GUIDING LIGHT, Millicent Whitehead in LOVING, Leslie Farrell on A FLAME IN THE WIND, Edwina Walsh Cabot in AS THE WORLD TURNS, Gloria Madden on LOVE AND LIFE, and both Toby Marshall and Jessica Webster in THE EDGE OF NIGHT.