From the Archive: Ellen Holly Offers Behind the Scenes Scoop on 'One Life to Live' (Part 2)

We Love Soaps TV visited with Ellen Holly in 2012 at her home in Westchester County, New York. In this never before seen clip, Ms. Holly offers behind the scenes details about her time on One Life to Live when she portrayed Carla Gray in the 1970s.

From the Archive: Ellen Holly on the Early Years of 'One Life to Live' (Part 1)

We Love Soaps TV traveled to Westchester County, New York, in 2012 to speak with daytime television legend Ellen Holly about her storied career. In the never-before-released video below, Ms. Holly talks about the early years of soap opera One Life to Live, which premiered on in 1968, and the cultural impact of her character, Carla Gray.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

1980: As the World Turns' Nick met Lisa.
1985: Santa Barbara's Peter kidnapped Eden.
1987: Brenda Dickson was honored.
2007: Guiding Light's Tammy and Jonathan were married.

"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...

1937: Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1973: On The Doctors, Martha Allen (Sally Gracie) visited her friend, Dr. Hank Iverson (Palmer Deane), at the hospital. Hank, working on the mobile unit, had been shot by a drug addict and was longing for his former love, a nurse turned chanteuse, Lauri James (Marie Thomas).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each expanded to an hour.

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident. Sam accused Laura of causing it to happen. Roger Collins decided to destroy the new painting but found it had already been burnt. Sam was shocked as the fire wasn't anywhere near the painting.

1967: On Peyton Place, Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) accepted an offer to stay at the home of Constance Mackenzie (Dorothy Malone) and Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor).

An Oral History of Television: Ellen Holly Interview

The Archive of American Television is now The Interviews: An Oral History of Television. The latest addition to the archive is a five-hour masterpiece with One Life to Live legend Ellen Holly, who played Carla Gray from the show's beginning in 1985 until the mid-1980s.

Watch the fascinating interview below.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

1980: As the World Turns' Nick met Lisa.
1985: Santa Barbara's Peter kidnapped Eden.
1987: Brenda Dickson was honored.
2007: Guiding Light's Tammy and Jonathan were married.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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...

1937: Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1973: On The Doctors, Martha Allen (Sally Gracie) visited her friend, Dr. Hank Iverson (Palmer Deane), at the hospital. Hank, working on the mobile unit, had been shot by a drug addict and was longing for his former love, a nurse turned chanteuse, Lauri James (Marie Thomas).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each
expanded to an hour.

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident. Sam accused Laura of causing it to happen. Roger Collins decided to destroy the new painting but found it had already been burnt. Sam was shocked as the fire wasn't anywhere near the painting.

1967: On Peyton Place, Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) accepted an offer to stay at the home of Constance Mackenzie (Dorothy Malone) and Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

1980: As the World Turns' Nick met Lisa. 1985: Santa Barbara's
Peter kidnapped Eden.  1987: Brenda Dickson won an award one
month after being fired from The Young and the Restless.
2007: Guiding Light's Tammy and Jonathan were married.

"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...

1937: Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1973: On The Doctors, Martha Allen (Sally Gracie) visited her friend, Dr. Hank Iverson (Palmer Deane), at the hospital. Hank, working on the mobile unit, had been shot by a drug addict and was longing for his former love, a nurse turned chanteuse, Lauri James (Marie Thomas).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each
expanded to an hour.

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident. Sam accused Laura of causing it to happen. Roger Collins decided to destroy the new painting but found it had already been burnt. Sam was shocked as the fire wasn't anywhere near the painting.

1967: On Peyton Place, Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) accepted an offer to stay at the home of Constance Mackenzie (Dorothy Malone) and Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

1980: As the World Turns' Nick met Lisa. 1985: Santa Barbara's
Peter kidnapped Eden.  1987: Brenda Dickson won an award one
month after being fired from The Young and the Restless.
2007: Guiding Light's Tammy and Jonathan were married.

"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...

1937: Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1980: On General Hospital, Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) acted out when he became jealous while watching Laura (Genie Francis) and Scott (Kin Shriner) dancing.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each
expanded to an hour.

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident. Sam accused Laura of causing it to happen. Roger Collins decided to destroy the new painting but found it had already been burnt. Sam was shocked as the fire wasn't anywhere near the painting.

1967: On Peyton Place, Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) accepted an offer to stay at the home of Constance Mackenzie (Dorothy Malone) and Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor).

FLASHBACK: Mother Daughter Relationships - An "Imitation of Life" on Daytime TV (Part 4 of 4)

Ellen Holly starred as Carla Hall on One Life to Live.

Mother Daughter Relationships: An "Imitation of Life" on Daytime TV

The Soap Box
Vol. IV No. 1 January 1979

(continued from Part 3)

The relationship Maeve Ryan (Ryan's Hope) has with her daughters Mary and Siobhan is a study in contrasts: Mary is everything Maeve wants in a daughter. She's bright, warm, competent, completely family-oriented and fairly conventional. Siobhan, on the other hand, is a rebel; a non-conformist who never allowed herself to be squeezed into the classic Ryan mold. While Johnny Ryan can accept Siobhan—and even enjoy the offbeat nature she most likely inherited from him—Maeve and her daughters are on a constant collision course. No one can deny that Mary is the favorite—not even Maeve—and that's something Siobhan will always have to live with. But what's harder for her to cope with is her mother's inability to have faith in her, to give her a chance. For her part, Siobhan reacts like a young child, testing her mother to see just how far she can go. Taking a job in a family planning center was just that kind of move, since Siobhan knew all-too-well her mother's strong feelings on abortion.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

1980: As the World Turns' Nick met Lisa. 1985: Santa Barbara's
Peter kidnapped Eden.  1987: Brenda Dickson won an award one
month after being fired from The Young and the Restless.
2007: Guiding Light's Tammy and Jonathan were married.

"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...

1937: Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1980: On General Hospital, Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) acted out when he became jealous while watching Laura (Genie Francis) and Scott (Kin Shriner) dancing.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each
expanded to an hour.

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident. Sam accused Laura of causing it to happen. Roger Collins decided to destroy the new painting but found it had already been burnt. Sam was shocked as the fire wasn't anywhere near the painting.

1967: On Peyton Place, Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) accepted an offer to stay at the home of Constance Mackenzie (Dorothy Malone) and Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"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...

1937: AUNT JENNY'S REAL LIFE STORIES premiered on CBS Radio. The popular radio soap opera ran until November 16, 1956.

1968: On ANOTHER WORLD, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Ada (Constance Ford) some money and told her to take Mary (Virginia Dwyer) out to lunch instead of bringing her to their shabby apartment.

1980: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Luke (Anthony Geary) acted out when he became jealous while watching Laura (Genie Francis) and Scott (Kin Shriner) dancing.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: ONE LIFE TO LIVE and GENERAL HOSPITAL
expanded to an hour.

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"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...

1958: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike (John Larkin) warned Toni of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Benson.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Sam (David Ford) accused Laura (Diana Millay) of causing the fire.

1973: On ANOTHER WORLD, Louise (Anne Meacham) eavesdropped when Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) phoned Mary and Jim to have her things removed from Steve's house and shipped to her.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 18)

On this date in...

1977: On ANOTHER WORLD, Marianne (then Ariane Muenker, now Ariana Chase) told Michael (Lionel Johnston) she saw Russ at Liz's house. Michael later relayed the news to Sharlene (Laurie Heineman).

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Nicole (Jayne Bentzen) was knocked unconscious during a struggle with an out of control Miles (Joel Crothers).

1982: Joseph Mascolo debuted as Stefano DiMera in DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Two other actors made their first appearances on the same day: John de Lancie as Eugene Bradford and Catherine Mary Stewart as Kayla Brady.

1984: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Carla (Ellen Holly) had a heart to heart talk with Sadie (Lillian Hayman).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

Ellen Holly

On this date in...

1958: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike (John Larkin) warned Toni of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Benson.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Sam (David Ford) accused Laura (Diana Millay) of causing the fire.

1973: On ANOTHER WORLD, Louise (Anne Meacham) eavesdropped when Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) phoned Mary and Jim to have her things removed from Steve's house and shipped to her.

Ellen Holly and Phylicia Rashad Pay Tribute to Al Freeman Jr at Howard University

It was a star-studded affair for the late Albert C. Freeman Jr. who was remembered at a memorial service on Monday for the roles he played as an iconic American stage and screen actor and as a deeply passionate Howard University professor.

Friends and admirers spoke of Freeman's disciplined approach to acting, a skill honed from innumerable stage and screen productions over a 30-year career. Images in a slide show that played through the service showed Freeman sharing scenes with Frank Sinatra, Sidney Portier, Ruby Dee, Burt Lancaster, Cicely Tyson and Denzel Washington.

WLS Interview Archive: Ellen Holly (January 2012)

We Love Soaps' Roger Newcomb and Kevin Mulcahy Jr. spent an unforgettable afternoon with Ms. Ellen Holly in January 2012 which resulted in a four-part interview released as part of our annual Black History Month celebration. The beloved actress (and historian) shared her story with us and as we celebrate our five year anniversary this week, we wanted to post the archive as one of our favorite interviews ever.

Part 1 - We take a close look at the early, genial days of Nixon and Holly's occasionally rocky partnership. Join us as Ellen Holly herself takes us back to the late '60s, when cultural revolution, TV innovation, and two brilliant women came together to launch and popularize the one and only ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Part 2 - We now pivot to a more frank (and somewhat unsettling) discussion, one where race is a major factor in the business of making daytime soap operas. Ms. Holly takes us through the subtleties, and ironies, surrounding the irrational (yet very real) challenges faced by actresses of color trying to land roles on camera in the 60s and 70s. We'll learn about Ms. Holly's early, illustrious theater career, see why the character of Carla was something of a contemporary paradigm, and also touch upon the inevitable exploitation of undervalued minority talent. Join us on a journey through hidden soap opera (and United States) history, as Ms. Holly guides us through tricky creative and racial landscapes that continue to fascinate because they continue, to a certain extent, to endure.

Part 3 - We begin to relate some admittedly ugly episodes from the annals of soap opera history. Some of these behind-the-scenes stories are unpleasant, and even shocking. Some involve ONE LIFE TO LIVE employees behaving badly. We share these blemishes from the past in order to help prevent our beloved genre from making the same sorts of mistakes again. Sunlight can be the best disinfectant, and as long as themes from Ellen Holly's life story continue to resonate in our coverage of the far-too-few black dramatic television actors of today, we will endeavor to let the sunlight in.

Part 4 - We look at Ms. Holly's return to ONE LIFE TO LIVE, more popular than ever, with fresh hope of a long, rewarding career and dreams of building a family. Before long, she finds herself being spit on by then executive producer Paul Rauch; but the beginning of her final contract is surprisingly auspicious.