FLASHBACK: 'Another World' The Story of Steven, Rachel & Alice (Part 3)

It didn't take long for Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) and her mother (Viginia
Dwyer) to see through Rachel for the scheming, manipulating woman she was.

ANOTHER WORLD: The Story of Steven, Rachel & Alice

The Soap Box
Vol. IV No. 6 June 1979
by Bryna Laub

(continued from Part 2)

Rachel tried desperately to fit in with Russ's family but Mary and Alice sensed the artificiality in Rachel's attempts. Jim Matthews, Russ's father, however, was enchanted with Rachel. Out of a need to gain the approval of every man she met to replace the love and approval of her father, Rachel seemed to sense what a man wanted her to be and that's what she became for him. Mary called it twisting Jim around her little finger.

Rachel's delight at living in the Matthews' home was soon tempered by her disappointment at Russ's prolonged absences. She had pictured a marriage as a never-ending whirl of parties and restaurants and dancing and she decided Russ was just being difficult by spending all his time at the hospital. And when he did have a few hours off, she resented the way he came home and collapse on the bed when he should have been taking her out for some fun.

FLASHBACK: 'Another World' The Story of Steven, Rachel & Alice (Part 2)

Dr. Russ Matthews (Sam Groom) couldn't resist his former patient, Rachel
Davis (Robin Strasser), and the two of them secretly married.

ANOTHER WORLD: The Story of Steven, Rachel & Alice

The Soap Box
Vol. IV No. 6 June 1979
by Bryna Laub

(continued from Part 1)

Rachel tried valiantly to make a good impression on Russ's mother but in her eagerness, her distorted picture of the Matthews' social and financial position was more than evident. Mary Matthews tried to set the record straight but Rachel was convinced Mary's simplicity was by choice, that somewhere the coffers were overflowing. Mary and her daughters tried to tell themselves that once Rachel was well Russ would turn his attention to another insecure patient. But deep down they feared that Rachel might have already snared him.

And so she had. During the last days of her hospital stay Rachel had taken advantage of her orders to get out of bed by jumping into Russ's arms. She skillfully combined helplessness with passion and, by the time she was released, Russ was drowning in her. He was a constant visitor to the shabby two room apartment she shared with her mother. Ada was very concerned about Rachel's involvement with Russ and tried to warn her that a man like Russ wanted only one thing from a girl like Rachel and it wasn't marriage.

Jean Stapleton Dead at 90

Jean Stapleton, best known for playing Edith Bunker in ALL IN THE FAMILY, passed away on Thursday. She was 90.

For her work on ALL IN THE FAMILY, Stapleton won three Emmys and three Golden Globes. When she was not inhabiting the character of Edith, Stapleton spoke without that New York accent, and sang professionally. She began her career with the Robert Shaw Chorale while still in college, and began working as a stage actress in 1941. In a duet with O'Connor, she sang ALL IN THE FAMILY's opening theme, letting him bellow the first few lines before joining in, hilariously off key, "And you know who you were then...".

FLASHBACK: Judy Garland Loved Constance Ford

From the June 9, 1977 issue of The Dispatch:

The late Judy Garland was such a fan of ANOTHER WORLD that she interrupted one of her concerts when she recognized someone in the audience. "It's Connie Ford - Ada! I watch you all the time!"

Robin Strasser Reflects On Constance Ford, Part Two

In Part One of our unique conversation with legendary Robin Strasser, the Emmy winner reflected on starting out on ANOTHER WORLD, and how We Love Soaps 50 Greatest Soap Actress honoree, Constance Ford (#23), mentored her both on and off stage.  In the second and final part of our interview, Ms. Strasser (who is #5 on the list) shares more anecdotes, as well as her own insights into creating a a relevant character on daytime.

Robin Strasser: I left out a story, it’s too delicious.  She would say, “Tell it, tell it!”  She had made a movie with Sandra Dee, A Summer Place [1959], she plays Sandra Dee’s mother.  Connie was ready to shoot their scene, and it’s a scene, she does it marvelously. She doesn’t want her girl to have sex and she knows she’s messing around with Troy Donahue.  They have a confrontation on a staircase, and Connie is supposed to slap Sandra Dee.  Connie is ready for the scene, she’s all prepared.

Robin Strasser Reflects On Constance Ford, Part One

Emmy-winning legend Robin Strasser recently took some time to pay tribute and reflect on her time working with Constance Ford, who came in at #23 on the We Love Soaps 50 Greatest Soap Actresses of All Time countdown. The phenomenal Ms. Ford portrayed Ada Lucas Davis on ANOTHER WORLD, mother to Strasser's Rachel Davis from 1967-1971, and again when Strasser returned in 1972. Please enjoy Ms. Strasser's eloquent and beautiful memories.

We Love Soaps: When we met at the Cramer Lunch, we discussed honoring Constance Ford on We Love Soaps Top 50 Actress List. Tell me about Constance.
Robin Strasser: I’m going to take you back to 1965. As I remember, it was around April 1st, no fooling. I had done a year at Yale Drama School, right out of the High School For The Performing Arts. I won a regent scholarship, I could have gone to any academic school in New York state tuition, free. I did one year at Yale, then was understudying and taking over a part on Broadway. At one of these shows I had come back from one of these four auditions for a daytime serial. I show up in my dressing room and some of the other actresses asked, “What did you do?” I said, “I auditioned for a daytime soap but I’m telling my agent no more soap auditions. I’m never going to get one, I’m not the type they want.” The stage manager said, “There’s a telephone call for you, Robin.” It was my stage agent and it was ANOTHER WORLD saying I was cast as Rachel, I was being offered a five year contract.

FLASHBACK: Constance Ford 1961

How She Lost 25 Lb.

By Lydia Lane
Los Angeles Times
October 24, 1961

Constance Ford is 25 lb. thinner than when I saw her about two years ago.

"I feel well," Constance said. "And I have not gained any of the weight back in over a year and a half. It took the actors' and writers' strike to give me time to lose weight. I couldn't say 'manana' any more because I had nothing to keep me from dieting.

"I knew my habits were bad because I had not been eating breakfast, very little lunch, and I had a full meal at night when I had less chance of burning up the calories. It is not easy to break longstanding habits but I told myself I was going from 142 to 130, but the pill I had to kill my appetite encouraged me so much that I stayed with it and lost another 10 lb. and then three more. Now, I'm 117 and I consider 120 my danger signal. When I gain those 3 lbs. back, I lose them immediately.

FLASHBACK: WOMAN WITH A PAST 1954

From the January 17, 1954 issues of the Wilmington Sunday Star:

CBS-TV premieres two soap operas Feb. 1. The 4-4:15 p.m. slot will be taken by THE BRIGHT STAR, featuring Peter Hobbs, sponsored by American Home Products. The 4:15-4:30 p.m. period will be given over to WOMAN WITH A PAST, starring Constance Ford. No sponsor is listed yet. Mona Kent, one of the all time top notchers in radio soap operas writes this one.

Among Mona Kent's writing jobs was as a script write for CAPTAIN VIDEO AND HIS VIDEO RANGER referenced in the recent We Love Soaps interview with Don Hastings. She also wrote for PORTIA FACES LIFE, WOMAN OF AMERICA and THE CARTERS OF ELM STREET.

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #23 Constance Ford

NAME: Constance Ford
RANK: 23
SOAP ROLES: Ada Hobson, ANOTHER WORLD (1967-1992); Eve Morris, THE EDGE OF NIGHT (1964-1965); Rose Peabody, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1955-1956); THE WAY OF THE WORLD (1955); Lynn Sherwood, WOMAN WITH A PAST (1954)

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Roger Newcomb: Connie Ford's Ada was able to establish so many wonderful relationships and friendships over the years. I grew up watching Ada deal with raising her daughters but it was always nice to see her in other settings like her flirtations with Sidney Sugarman or Captain Delaney. I remember her husband Charley Hobson but have only seen clips of Ada's relationship with Gil. I would love to see that marriage play out and the birth of Nancy. It's hard to describe just how much Ford added to ANOTHER WORLD, but we all felt something missing after she was gone.