DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '14 II => Topic started by: Mysterious Benefactor on November 01, 2014, 04:56:25 AM

Title: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on November 01, 2014, 04:56:25 AM
Today in Soap Opera History (October 31) (http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/10/today-in-soap-opera-history-october-31.html)

(And who knew 10/31/68 was also Joan Crawford's last day on The Secret Storm?)
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Uncle Roger on November 01, 2014, 10:24:19 AM
Don Briscoe was on Guiding Light? [8_1_1]
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on November 01, 2014, 03:10:12 PM
That was news to me, too.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Gerard on November 01, 2014, 05:11:53 PM
I saw somewhere again on-line (don't ask me where; I can't remember - oh, that memory of mine!) that urban legend that Joan Crawford was considered for the role of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard but was rejected because of, well, you know, her "Pepsi cooler" problem.

Gerard
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: michael c on November 01, 2014, 06:39:50 PM
I've heard the Joan Crawford "rumor" circulating around the fanbase for years too...


seems like the DS cast jumped around from soap to soap a lot in the late 1960s and early 1970s in general. there was a lot of crossover amongst the New York based soap community at the time.

'the secret storm' in particular was where several castmembers ended up at one point or another.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: MagnusTrask on November 02, 2014, 02:57:39 AM
I intend to make use of the words "Joan Crawford Pepsi cooler" in tonight's Googling.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Gerard on November 02, 2014, 03:15:27 AM
When you do, Magnus, make sure to have a shaker, some ice and just a bit of vermouth depending on how dry or wet you prefer it!  Christinaaaaaaa!....bring me the ax

Gerard
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: MagnusTrask on November 02, 2014, 03:42:17 AM
Gee, a party's coming my way, and I didn't even know it... reminds me, must Google.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Gothick on November 02, 2014, 03:46:22 AM
Gerard, that is hysterical!  There's an audio recording of Joan on that soap opera in one episode.  She sounds drunk and under-rehearsed.  But she's still JOAN.

She was sixty-something and supposed to be playing the town slut... lord a mercy.

The word "cougar" had not yet been invented.

G.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: MagnusTrask on November 02, 2014, 03:55:03 AM
Can't be as surreal as Mae West, elderly plastic surgery creature, being presented as the girl who's catching all the men's eyes, on Mr. Ed...
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: michael c on November 02, 2014, 03:01:07 PM
Crawford was the "understudy" for her viperous daughter Christina during her brief acting stint. apparently she begged for the role...

at the time it probably seemed like too big a piece of "stunt casting" for the producers to resist. but I'm sure they secretly knew it was train wreck television. and of course in retrospect it was grotesque.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Uncle Roger on November 02, 2014, 07:02:19 PM
True on all counts. But it was an extremely successful publicity stunt. My father, who had zero interest in any daytime TV that wasn't the World Series, made a point to catch at least one of Crawford's appearance.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Joeytrom on November 03, 2014, 03:49:51 PM
If they had Christina Crawford as Carolyn, imagine JC playing daughter to Joan Bennett!
When did these episodes with JC air?
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Uncle Roger on November 03, 2014, 04:24:08 PM
Wikipedia says the episodes aired in October of 1968.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: MagnusTrask on November 03, 2014, 07:46:56 PM
Do they still exist?
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Uncle Roger on November 03, 2014, 08:10:13 PM
CBS did not hold onto most of the videotapes of its soaps. There is audio available, probably from a diehard fan. There are also some publicity pictures.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: Joeytrom on November 03, 2014, 11:12:28 PM
YouTube has the audio of that episode available.
Title: Re: Today in Soap Opera History (October 31)
Post by: dom on November 05, 2014, 06:38:43 PM
it is also available via the link provided at the beginning of this topic