GL: DVDs are released & a Free Episode

On the occasion of the first (and hopefully not last) set of Guiding Light from www.soapclassics.com an old episode was released from August 26, 1983. Here is a summary and my thoughts on it. I wasn’t watching back in 1983, but I am familiar with just about every actor or character based on what I saw years later whether it was on GL or from watching other soaps on CBS, ABC, or NBC.

It is Mindy’s (Krista Teserau in her signature role, though she also played Tina on One Life to Live in the 90s) 18th birthday party that is being thrown by her boyfriend Phillip (Grant Aleksander). The four musketeers along with their adult friends are at the Lakeland Country Club. At this point Beth (Judi Evans – who is on Days of Our Lives as Adrienne currently) and Rick (Michael O’Leary) are dating, but if one knows GL history the ladies swap places. H.B. Lewis (Larry Gates), who is Mindy’s grandfather, has just come to town. She wears a fur coat, he got her as a present, (in August) and later he gives her the keys to a brand new red convertible sports car.

Alan (Chris Bernau) and Justin (Tom O’Rourke) talk about the blackmail note that is telling people that he is really Phillip Marler and not Phillip Spaulding. Phillip and Mindy go out to the patio. Mindy makes them sing Happy Birthday as they were missing from the party during the song. This is actually adorable, but Phillip said it sounded like something out of a funeral. Late Alan and Trish (Rebecca Hollen) discuss Phillip’s situation. Alan shares a story about Phillip at Lincoln Prep. Phillip expressed an interest in equestrian activities, so Alan sent him riding equipment and other things one would use for horseback riding. Instead of using these tools, he hid them in the basement of the dorm where he lived, keeping it quiet from Alan.

Ross (Jerry verDorn who was Clint on One Life to Live) crashes the party with his date Irene Sheldon as they weren’t on the guest list, but Josh (Robert Newman) ran into him in the bar before this episode started. H.B. was introduced to Ross as Trish’s boss and they seemed to like each other. This is before Trish and Ross became involved (and Irene is a random used to annoy Trish) though she had taken a position on his political campaign.

At the Chamberlain home, Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead) talks to Quint (Michael Tylo – who has had numerous roles like Blade on Y&R and Matt on All My Children) about how everyone except her father hates her. Nola (Lisa Brown – who is also known as Iva on As the World Turns) had left because she had come down to talk. Quint tells her that while he loves her, she is really hard to like. Vanessa is upset about Billy too (and it sounds like he called her a hothouse flower.) She mentions that perhaps due to the controlling interest that she, Quint and Henry have in Spaulding that she could work at the company while Henry is in the hospital. Nola comes back and then Vanessa apologizes for the horrid things that she said about her sister-in-law. They all live together so they need to get along.

Tony (Greg Beecroft) and Annabelle (Harley Jane Kozak – best known for her role on Santa Barbara as Mary who was killed by the falling letter “C”) are in the boarding house kitchen. Nola comes in and they talk about a lecture that Annabelle needs to attend. Annabelle leaves and she and Tony talk. Nola and Tony talk about her theory about why Henry had a heart attack.

Lillian (Tina Sloan) and Bradley (James Rebhorn who is one of those who’s that guy actors as his IMBD credits are really long.) There is an awkward moment in which Bradley and Alan talk about how Alan let Bradley go from work.

Justin’s date is Helena (Rose Alaio who is most known as Rose on Ryan’s Hope). They were kissing and Ed and Maureen (Peter Simon and Ellen Dolan aka Margo on As the World Turns) walk out and interrupt them. Justin tells Ed how he feels about telling Phillip and it feels like he is falling.

Billy (Jordan Clarke), Josh and Trish talk about HB giving money to Josh who will have nothing to do with it as he made it without his help. Billy mentions how H.B. told him that he let Vanessa slip through his fingers.

Also after talking to Phillp. Alan asks him to call before he goes to sleep and they will have to meet the next day. The four muskateers are together and they toast. Rick and Phillip use bad French accents in honor of Beth’s work on the decorations for Mindy’s party. There are no mentions though of blue skies or palomino ponies.

Beth wants to leave the party, and Phillip tries to convince her to stay. When they are alone at the stable, (there is a horse in the background that makes noise) Phillip tells Beth that he is in love with her and it is much more than friendship. He feels guilty in hurting his best friend Rick by wanting to date Beth. They are kissing and crying during their first kiss. Bradley interrupts their tortured romantic moment. Bradley is mean to Beth and calls her a filthy little slut. Phillip saw this and attacked Bradley. Bradley tells Phillip that he isn’t a Spaulding after all (Justin's is his dad), but a Marler and he is nothing but a bastard.

A few musical notes other than Happy Birthday, a Michael Jackson song plays from the “Off the Wall” album and Steppin Out (Kool and the Gang) are in this episode. Disco being popular in 1983, very surprising. This episode had a lot of different characters appearing. In some ways it is odd to see a lot of these actors at ages so much younger than they are now. Then I remember this episode is nearly 30 years old and feel a lot better about it.