OLTL: Thoughts on Llanview in the Afternoon

Here is my long form review of sorts of "Llanview in the Afternoon" by Jeff Giles about "One Live to Live." This will list the positives and negatives of the publication.

This book is a collection of interviews with direct quotes from people who were intimately involved with OLTL. It is told in chronological order. Unfortunately, there are no set chapter marks in the eBook, a table of contents, or an index. These would increase the ease of reading, so I will do my best explaining the contents. I wish the book had was a complete list of contributors who were interviewed. One of the main things I've done is list where people are first quoted. While I do mention some of the content, I don't go into detail about most of the quotes as I want people to buy their own copy of the book.

The introduction of the book has Jeff Giles writing about his history with soaps. He watched in the 80s growing up the entire ABC lineup, but his favorite show being General Hospital. He explains why he started writing the book, "as a tribute…and a warning to anyone who felt like laughing off the dial". This isn't exactly what the book became, but I understand that point of view. Jeff started this project due to Paul Glass, who now works for General Hospital as the musical director, as their friendship was the starting point.

The Beginning is about the start of One Life to Live. Jeff includes a quick biography of Agnes Nixon's work history in soap opera prior to OLTL. Agnes Nixon's own words are shared. In this section, other interviews from people involved in soaps in the 60s included Jozie Emmerich (from ABC daytime), Don Wallace (the original OLTL executive producer), and former cast members Allan Miller (Dave Siegel), Lee Warrick (Julie Siegel) Michael Storm (Larry Wolek), Ellen Holly (Carla Gray), Roy Thinnes (who was at GH in the 60s, but first appeared on OLTL in the 80s), and Marilyn Chris (Wanda Wolek). Don Wallace discusses how he and Agnes created the program along with the production company called Creative Horizons. Michael Storm touches upon the racial story about Carla, and then some experiences in the writing and casting. There is also mentions how much of the cast in the early days were involved in theatre as they had time as the show was merely 30 minutes a day. This chapter continues with comments from Peter Miner (a director who began with the show in the 70s), and cast members Erika Slezak (Viki Lord) and Brynn Thayer (Jenny Wolek). The late OLTL director David Pressman is discussed as well.

The next section called: The Audience Responds where the interviewed people discuss the "soap stigma".  This has stories about "normal" viewers who watched from all generations. There is also one upsetting story shared by Lee Warrick, about someone who escaped a mental institution and tried to kill her. This segues to a section about how OLTL changed once Agnes Nixon's All My Children went into production. There is some talk back between Ellen Holly and Agnes Nixon that is must read. Don Wallace talks about how he left OLTL and Agnes bought him out because they had such different visions. Sam Hall (a former head writer) and Joseph Stuart (former executive producer) and actor Steve Fletcher (Brad Vernon) also chime in this section. Gordon Russell, who was a head writer, is discussed by both behind the scenes and on screen personnel. Sam Hall and Don Wallace both have not so positive things to say about Agnes, which I find interesting as now she is seen as a legend that no one dares speak of in an ill manner. Erika also shares her hiring story.

The next section called: Change is about later in the 70s, once Agnes Nixon was less involved. Don Wallace speaks about how he got back into working for OLTL as there was no conflict. Peter Miner goes into details of how things worked in those days when it came to the average day. New contributors to this section include performers Julie Montgomery (Samantha Vernon), Margaret Klenck (Edwina Lewis), Tony Call (Herb Callison), and Judith Light (Karen Wolek) along with cameraman and director Howie Zeidman. This section explains how OLTL was taped in sequence in those days like it was a live broadcast, and they would only stop if there was a catastrophe. This taping method allows everyone to interact within the cast, but also made a longer day. The writing for Viki and her alternate personality early on  is discussed. Then there is a section about soap acting and that stigma within the theater, which is ironic as so many people have done both in New York City. Stories discussed included Brad Vernon raping his sister-in-law going to prison and being raped there, and the late Gerald Anthony's Marco Dane, who won his Daytime Emmy for the part while on General Hospital back in the 90s.

The next section called: Daytime Pays for Nighttime is about the end of the 70s into the 80s. New interviews for this section include Shelly Burch (Delilah Ralston) and Margo Husin Call (continuity and post-production supervisor).

The next section called: It's Like Rashomon about what life was like at OLTL once people like Doris Quinlan were gone from the show. Joe Stuart's time at OLTL is then discussed with quotes about him and by him. Susan Bedsow Horgan (who worked at various jobs at OLTL including a producer and writer), Robin Strasser (Dorian Cramer Lord), Arthur Burghardt (Jack Scott), and Bob Woods (Bo Buchanan). Peter Miner makes the interesting comment about how "casting by committee just results in the least offensive person getting the role." Arthur Burghardt and Ellen Holly had major issues working together and those were discussed to great detail.

The next section called: Herb and Dorian is about the two characters, their on screen relationship and the actors who played the roles. This segues to the Karen Wolek story, which Tony Call was involved in as Herb was an attorney.

The next section called: I Never Thought about Dallas at All has to do with the introduction of the Buchanan family in 1979. Sam Hall's quote is where the title came from as they were based on people who lived in Bucks County, PA. Bob Woods discusses how he wanted to play another character, but in the end was glad to get the role of Bo. There is also discussion of Phil Carey at OLTL and earlier in his career. Basically the friendship among Bob, Phil and the late Clint Ritchie were discussed along with their personalities. Alan Needleman (stage manager), Joe Lando (Jake Harrison), Didi, (Barbara Treutelaar) were the new interviews in this section.

The next section called: Solaramite and the Big 80s starts with the 80s stories to a certain extent. This chapter mentions how popular soaps had become and going to fan events. Barbara Treutelaar shares how she got 1,000 for an appearance, but one was bad as Darnell Williams from All My Children ignored her as they were traveling. Bob Woods shared about how he realized how famous he was on an outing with Colleen Zenk from As the World Turns, and there was a mob at the mall. He also shares how Steve Kanaly from Dallas came to understand why Bob stayed in daytime.

The next section called: The Rauch Years was about how Jean Arley (who is interviewed and was a former executive producer) and how Paul Rauch came in later. This title was misleading even though Arley was quickly replaced by him as a chapter about Arley would have been appropriate. Paul Rauch is well-known to fans of other soaps and the statements about him are varied with many being negative though he was decent to people whom he respected. Tracy Casper Lang (who worked in production, directed and edited the show over the years), and actors Brenda Brock (Brenda McGillis), Dennis Parlato (Michael Grande), Barbara Garrick (Allison Perkins), Jill Larson (Ursula Blackwell, though best known as Opal on All My Children) Mark Arnold (Rob Coronal) and Thom Christopher (Carlo Hesser) are interviewed in this section. There were statements about racial issues in the 80s at the program too.

The next section called: Llanview's Most Wanted was about some later on screen stories involving villains. Actors Jack Betts (Ivan Kipling) Roscoe Born (Mitch Laurence), Hillary B. Smith (Nora Hanen), Tonja Walker Davidson (Alex Olanov), and Jerry verDorn (Clint Buchanan) get their first quotes in this part. The evil deeds of various characters are mentioned.

The next section called: The Daytime Dime was about taping the program on remote. The quote "the daytime dime" comes from the late Phil Carey. This also mentions the outrageous stories that happened years ago like Eterna, Viki going to heaven and the old west time travel plot. Actors Nathan Fillion (Joey Buchanan), Chris Stack (Michael McBain), Ilene Kristen (Georgina in the 80s, Roxy Balsom), Gina Tognoni (Kelly Cramer) and former OLTL writer Ron Carlivati are first quoted in this part.

The next section called: Owning the Character was about actors, and how they have ownership of sorts to their character as they typically know their part better than the other people on set. Actor Timothy Stickney (RJ Gannon) is first interviewed in this section, but his dates on OLTL are in the next part. Patricia Elliot (Renee Divine), Mark Derwin (Ben Davidson) also are quoted for the first time. This discusses other topics about working in the industry and the pros and cons. There are other comments about soap acting versus other media and how actors who never appeared on the series interacted with actors who were OLTL cast.

The next section called: Changing of the Guard has a lot of stories about actors who left the show while Paul Rauch was in charge or early in the time that  Gottlieb was the show runner as there was turnover.

The next section called: Goodbye Rauch, Hello Gottlieb has the first quotes from Linda Gottlieb. She got the position at OLTL because she knew Mary Alice Dwyer Dobbin whom she refers to as Mickey Dwyer. Paul Glass (musical director), Suzanne Flynn (writer, producer), Michael Malone (former head writer) and Nathaniel Marston (Al Holden/Michael McBain), are also interviewed here. The taping style changed at OLTL and story highlights were shared.

The next section called: I Think There's a Fantasy It Speaks To is about Todd's gang raping of Marty and the development of that character along with Todd and Blair falling in love. Kassie DePaiva (Blair) discusses that for a bit. The Viki, Sloan and Clint triangle also gets a treatment.

The next section called: The Turbulent '90s is about how ABC was sold by Capital Cities to Disney and all the craziness having to do with money. Howie Zeidman mentions how when he started at OLTL they had 18 engineers and by the end there were seven.

The next section called: The Trial(s) talked about OJ Simpson and other things that hurt soaps generally. Things like more channels, less potential audience, and age issues are discussed. Then some of the changes when it came to scene length were gone into detail. The part about how the directing changed at the show was very enlightening and frankly that is one issue that has hurt acting a lot within soaps. Erin Torpey (Jessica Buchanan), Sean Ringgold (Shaun Evans), John Brotherton (Jared Banks), David Fumero (Cristian Vega), Brandon Buddy (Cole Thornhart) and Melissa Archer (Natalie Buchanan) are first quoted in this part.

The rest of the sections are much shorter. The Golden Handcuffs is a quote from Bob Woods about how actors make a great living in daytime, but you don't have the ability to stretch yourself in other kinds of acting. Chemistry is about the elusive on screen interactions that actors have with one another. There is a bit on Ben and Viki's story in this part. Uncertain Times is about different things that happened since 1999 to the present day with soaps being cancelled. There are more quotes about how things started to be different on set.  The only new interviewed person is Brian Kerwin (Charlie Banks). Faster and Harder is about the out of order taping process. There are no quotes from new interviewed people. Recast and Cast Aside is about Michael Storm and how OLTL stopped using him. Also featured is how Clint Ritchie and Phil Carey left the program. Erika Slezak talks a bit about working with Jerry verDorn and Brian Kerwin, her last two love interests on OLTL and verDorn talks about being a recast.

Something has to Explode is about Frons being in charge at ABC daytime and the lack of support. This also discusses Marcie and Al, and how the character of Al was revived as Michael including what happened when Nathaniel Marston was let go for bad behavior. Cuts of actors along with pay cuts were mentioned. Not Your Normal Cup of Tea is about how being a soap performer is different when it comes to fan recognition. Well, There it Goes. It's Gone. is about race on One Life to Live and primarily discusses Sean Ringgold and Timothy Stickney's time at OLTL. Rumors in the Air is about the rumors of the show ending and what happened like less promotion. The Axe Falls is about when OLTL was specifically cancelled. It goes into general feelings about what happened and ABC replacing the show. Prospect Parked is about how Prospect Park had wanted to pick up the show and how it didn't happen in 2012. A Family is about how people moved on whether it was on a web soap or elsewhere and how the relationships were important while on set. A New Beginning is the last section and it talks about what it was like to work in Connecticut for the Prospect Park version. The book ends on that positive note.

I wish there were more works like this on the soap opera genre. It reminded me of one of my favorite non-fiction books from the 90s called "The Box" by Jeff Kisseloff. That particular book tells the history of television from 1920-1961 with the help of 300 separate interviews. I can appreciate the amount of work Jeff Giles did to create this work of non-fiction. I hope people who are fans of soaps in general and not just One Life to Live take the time to read it. Since some of the people interviewed worked at other shows, quotes were also included about those programs.