Here is my summary and review of "As My World Still Turns", which is a memoir by Eileen Fulton best known as Lisa on "As the World Turns". The book came out in 1995 and is "the uncensored memoirs of America's Soap Opera Queen." It was with Desmond Atholl and Michael Cherkinian. This is about the first four chapters.
The book begins with a dedication page where many people are listed. Then it has a table of contents with 12 official chapters not including the prologue. The Prologue shares stories of when Eileen felt she made it. For her success meant that people were reacting to her character of Lisa. She shared how the program got telegrams and calling about how much they hated Lisa with Bob (then played by Ronnie Welch). Ted Corday, who was producing ATWT at that time though of course is best known as the creator of Days of Our Lives, told her that she was a "hit." She also shares going to a department store named Orbach's (which she notes no longer exists), and how she was called a "bitch" like her character while shopping for a bargain. Then later at a Lord & Taylor she was knocked into a gutter by a fan of ATWT who hated her character.
Chapter One - The Minister's Daughter
This chapter discussed how it was to grow up the daughter of a minister. She goes in depth over what it was like to be a pastor kid. Basically she was scrutinized more due to her father and had to move quite regularly (nine times by the age of 17). At two, she couldn't take the mood of a service and ended up singing a song, the congregation clapped and she thought she was being spanked. Her father explained and everything was okay as everyone laughed. It continues her life through high school and college ending with her departure to New York City.
Chapter Two - No Obscene Work, Please
This chapter discussed her time at The Neighborhood Playhouse including her relationship with her first husband Bill. They met at school and he was a fellow performer. Her name change to Eileen Fulton, was actually a typo as she was to be Aileen. This was about her life prior to ATWT.
Chapter Three - The Birth of a Glamourous Vixen
Eileen got the two roles that changed her life due to the pregnancy of another actress that had the same agent. Girl of the Night was her first film, and the second was ATWT in both she was to play someone named Lisa. Eileen shares the made up background she created for Lisa while waiting to audition for Ted Corday (whose name is spelled incorrectly in the book). The original makeup of Lisa was different as Nancy would have an issue with her because she reminded her of her dead daughter. The book went into details about her early material and how at times she and Ted Corday wouldn't be on the same page. While working on ATWT, she was also doing Girl of the Night. Other theater roles followed in shows like "The Fantasticks", "Abe Lincoln and Illinois" with Hal Holbrook, and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"with Elaine Stritch. While working on Woolf, there was an accidental fire, which made it in the papers as they ad-libbed away the situation. Soon after Eileen left ATWT for a time, and Irna Phillips, the show's creator wished her well.
Chapter Four - Even the Corpse Won't Come
After finishing at ATWT, Eileen went on a vacation to St. Thomas as she had walking pneumonia. The chapter explains how someone else was hired to play Lisa, but it didn't work out, so Eileen eventually came back due to the prime time spinoff "Our Private World". She then went on a cabaret tour after the prime time series failed. During this time she met Dori Davis, who became her manager. The title was something a funeral director said about how ATWT was so popular that no one would come to memorials if they were scheduled during its broadcast. She also shared a story about how she met the famous pianist Van Cliburn.
That's a quick summary of the first part of the book about Eileen's early life and her first two stints on ATWT.
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