I'LL BE SEEING YOU: THE LIBERACE MUSICAL!

"I cried all the way to the bank."

-Liberace

Happy Friday!

I hope this finds you gearing up for an arts filled weekend. 

Tonight, I'm interviewing Peggy Pope at Barnes and Noble in New York to celebrate her hilarious memoir, "Atta Girl". It would mean a lot to have as many of my friends, family, friends, and readers of this blog there as possible. IF this is a huge turn out, this will forge a relationship with B and N that will allow me to do more evenings like this. The details are below. 

Today is the birthday of Irving Berlin. composer Jerome Kern concluded that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music—he is American music." 

He wrote the theater's national anthem, There's No Business Like Show Business.

Today, I'm celebrating the man who epitomized that more than any other: Liberace! Pre-production is underway for a new, original Broadway musical about Liberace. A renowned pianist with a flair for the outlandish, Liberace gave his audiences impeccable performances while clad in sequined capes. In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned. During the 1950s–1970s he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world and embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off the stage.

Tom Jones, center, blows out candles at a surprise birthday party at Caesars Palace on June 6, 1974. Guests included Joan Rivers, Sonny Bono, Dionne Warwick, Debbie Reynolds and Liberace.

I am a huge fan and one of my greatest regrets is that I never saw him perform LIVE. However, if Barbara Carole Sickmen has her way, all that's going to change. I met Barbara several years ago at a backer's audition for The Christmas Story, based on the tele-movie of the same name about Ralphie who has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's.

After the "audition" that evening, a group of us ended up at Joe Allen's for a late night supper.  

Barbara was among three Barbara's at our table. HOWEVER, this Barbara made the biggest impact. She had actually seen my tribute to Carol Channing. What struck me the most about Barbara was her passion about this project she was working on, a musical CELEBRATING the life and legacy of Liberace. 
She wants to celebrate not only his HUGE contributions to popular culture, but honor him as the man he was as well. 

Robin Leach (yes, THAT Robin Leach) said earlier this week, "Listening to the songs, seeing the storyline of the book and knowing Liberace from interviews I had with him over the years, I know that he would be genuinely happy with this new Broadway project."

 Barbara has said that  Bugsy Siegel played a role in Liberace’s Las Vegas career. This musical is a celebration of the showman, but it’s also about how Las Vegas became the Gaming Capital of the World. Bugsy and Murder, Inc., who are very much a strong subplot, had a vision for Vegas, and Liberace had a vision to become more than a piano player.

Liberace is in the news again. Michael Douglas is also currently in production on a bio-pic called The Man Behind The Candelabra.

Next week on the 16th, it would have been Wladziu Valentino Liberace's 93rd birthday. He was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. 

His father was an Italian immigrant who played French horn in orchestras providing background music for silent movies. He required his children to learn music.

 Lee had difficulty speaking and had speech therapy, concentrating on giving his speech a smoother flow, eliminating the effect of listening to one parent who spoke with an Italian accent and another with a Polish accent.

During the Great Depression,  Mom worked in a cookie factory, brother George drove a a grocery truck and gave piano lessons, sister Angelina worked as a secretary and nurse's aide. 

 He excelled academically at West Milwaukee High School, and was active in extracurricular activities, excluding sports.

His big break came in 1939 with an audition for Dr. Frederick Stock of the Chicago Symphony. He eventually found a spot with the Jay Mills Orchestra, a popular dance group.

  "I don't care if he played on a street corner with the Salvation Army Band," said the maestro after hearing him on a local radio broadcast. "He will play with us." 

  For the next six months, Walter Liberace performed as "Walter Buster Keys." 

He eventually got to Vegas and getting a little advice from the King, Elvis Presley, that would change the way the world would see Liberace, his costumes became more and more extravagant and it became a contractual obligation with the Vegas hotels that demanded that he outdo even himself.

It is hard to believe that Liberace has been gone 25 years. 

He died on February 4th, 1987.

He made his Las Vegas debut in November 1944.

 The city would become the entertainer's home -- one of many around the country -- but more important, it would become the place he would develop his spectacular stage persona. 

Liberace's museum was a financial wellspring that funded scholarships for aspiring musicians and artists.The museum has since closed due to a failing economy. 

Asked in a 1985 interview how he wished to be remembered, Liberace replied: "I'd like to think that the most enduring quality about me will be the music, because everything I'm doing ... is to promote the music of future talent.

My foundation is based on promoting new talent, and I feel that my longevity will survive through other people in this business because I'm going to provide a lasting support and a foundation for artists. "

When an entertainer is as "out there" on stage as Liberace was, most people tend to forget that there is a human being underneath the facade.  

I've experienced it performing as Carol Channing. 

with Marilyn Michaels and friend

I discovered over the years that if I told people that I was an entertainer, some people would be impressed, some, maybe not.  However, if I told them that I performed as Carol Channing, instantly, some people formed an entire picture of me based on, most of the time, their OWN ideas of who and what I am all about.

with KT Sullivan

I've had people make comments about me with me standing right next to them as if I could not hear them and/or as if I had absolutely no feelings. 


If it weren’t for Liberace, there would be no Madonna or Lady Gaga, Elton John, Bette Midler or Elvis because it was Liberace who helped the King glitz up his act.

Yesterday, I saw an interview on the Billboard website in which a "reporter" interviewing Liza Minnelli about the release, for the first time on CD, of her live Winter Garden Concert. 

We all know that she was born into Hollywood royalty, but Liza has made her own name on stage and screen and concert halls around the world.

Rather than focusing on the CD and the concert, the interviewer went the usual route of asking about Liza's "gay icon" status and the Broadway production of End of The Rainbow which deals with the final days of Judy Garland. Why would a reporter ask their subject that deals with the final days of that subject's mother's life? 

And while we are on the subject, why are audiences going to see this? If Tracie Bennett is as wonderful as critics and Tony voters are saying she is, why not a show that celebrates Judy's life and legacy rather than a show that focuses on the dark side. 

I won't be seeing this show.

Allen and Chris Bell as the Allen Brothers, 1967.

I loved the Boy From Oz beyond Hugh Jackman's phenomenal performance because it CELEBRATED Peter Allen. 

His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, "Arthur's  Theme", winning an Academy Award in 1981. 

He left an incredible legacy and yet in interviews some people only want to acknowledge him as "Liza's gay husband". He, AND Liza, deserve better than that!

 In addition to recording many albums, he enjoyed a cabaret and concert career, including appearing at Radio City Music Hall(Liberace also had very successful appearances at Radio City Music Hall) riding a camel.

Right now, John Travolta is in the news. He has been vilified before a trial has taken place. Why do we build people up in our culture to quickly knock them down? 

When bloggers, pundits, comedians, etc. say the hurtful comments they make about anyone, they are no different than the kids on the schoolyards who are bullying each other.

That brings me back to Barbara Sickman and the project she is involved with, along with Johnny Rodgers.

She lives, breathes, and sleeps Liberace. She is the ONLY one who has the exclusive rights to this through the Liberace estate. Movies and other productions may come along who want to treat his personal life like pulp fiction. 

Thank God for the Barbara Sickman's of the world who will respect their subjects. He admitted that he hated shabbiness. 

THAT is why Barbara is the perfect person to bring this project to fruition. Liberace's desire was to Entertain! 

PERIOD!!

No other entertainer in the world ever took the risks that Liberace took. However, it is not a risk for Barbara to bring us this incredible story. The time is ripe for this.

"Except for music, there wasn't much beauty in my childhood," he later recalled.

(Robin Leach is a source for parts of this blog)
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Alison Arngrim  also writes about Liberace in her hysterical memoir, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch.   

In 1965, Alison's family moved to Hollywood. 

 Thor Arngrim, Alison's father worked with Seymour, Heller and Associates and later Arngrim Petersen, and as a manager worked with Liberace, Rene Simard and Debbie Reynolds. He also managed the careers of his children. Stefan starred as Barry Lockridge in Irwin Allen's TV science fiction drama Land of the Giants and opposite Kirk Douglas in The Way West. 

Alison played the despised Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. 

Today, Alison continues as an actress and comedian in Los Angeles and around the world. 

I will be going to see Allison at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in NYC on June 15th! Please join me if you're available!

Thank you Liberace and Barbara Carole Sickmen for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world!Barbara and her creative team, I am convinced, will be breaking legs all over the world.

Your devoted fan,

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!

May 11
7-9pm

BARNES AND NOBLE UPPER EAST SIDE, 150 East 86th Street

RICHARD SKIPPER CELEBRATES PEGGY POPE!

In her new acting memoir, "Atta Girl: Tales from a Life in the Trenches of Show Business", the Obie-winning actress Peggy Pope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Pope) details an eventful life in the theater, film and television spanning over five decades. But unlike most celebrity tell-alls, this thoughtful and deeply personal account brings to light the trials and experiences of the vast majority of actors, those who either flirt with stardom or play supporting roles throughout their careers. Richard Skipper and Peggy Pope are sitting down for an exploration of Peggy's incredible career in show business. Email me at Richard@RichardSkipper.com for more info.

Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!    
                 

Tomorrow's blog will be..YOU TELL ME! I'm open to suggestions!!


Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!

  

Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING  and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

Sign The Petition!

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com                            

This Blog is dedicated to Harlan Boll and Al Koenig! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

Myles Savage

"I feel proud to be living in a country where people are not afraid to laugh at themselves and where political satire is tolerated by the government, if not the television network."
-Pat Paulsen (1927-1997)


Happy Wednesday!
I hope this finds you well. I begin today's blog with good news and bad. Last week, I interviewed Myles Savage, who will be appearing as part of Randie Levine Miller's Divo night Showstopper Divos-A Swell Party will be presented April 29 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. The evening, which begins at 6:30 PM with dinner, will be followed by an 8 PM concert featuring the talents of Tony nominee Stephen Bogardus, Jim Brochu (Zero Hour), Bistro Award winner Nicolas King, Myles Savage (The Platters) and stage and screen star Kevin Spirtas.
Myles is proud to be part of his and The Platters' legacy.
My interview with Myles was a WONDERFUL interview. Savage bellowed with thunderous resonance last week at the very start of a phone interview.
This morning, I went to transcribe my interview and accidentally deleted it! After screaming and yelling at technology, I rolled up my sleeves and set down to give you a blog on Myles Savage which is not the one I intended on giving you , but rather, one that I hope you will enjoy. Today, I celebrate Myles Savage! For Myles Savage, lead singer of The Platters, it’s hitting those first three notes of that golden oldie “Only You” that reminds him of why he loves to perform. 
Did you know he studied opera?  Savage studied opera before the late Platters lead singer Tony Williams recruited him in 1976. Savage was touring with the musical “Bubbling Brown Sugar,” in which he impersonated Billy Eckstine and Johnny Mathis.
 In Los Angeles, Williams introduced himself to Savage backstage and the rest is history, as the cliche goes!
“Then he said something that was kind of strange at the time.
He said, ‘Can you do an impersonation of me?’ I thought about it for a second,” Savage recalled before launching back into “Only You.” “And Tony said, ‘You’re hired.’ I said, ‘Hired for what?’ He said, ‘You’re a Platter now.’ And I was like knocked out. I gave two-weeks’ notice.”
 Williams struggled with alcoholism, and there were some rocky times on stage, Savage said. Williams died in 1992, but Savage is quick to recall the best of times: “It was fabulous, man. You couldn’t get any better than that.”
Miles did tell me that "Doo-wop and the music of the '50s and '60s is such beautiful music.
I feel bad for our young people today.
I feel this pop and rap is contributing to a lost generation because a lot of it is so violent and demeaning to women.
Twenty years from now, are they going to remember any romantic songs?
Our songs are like poetry in motion, like "Twilight Time" (by The Platters)."

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/06/10/1685156/five-minutes-with-doo-wop-group.html#storylink=cpy

  For the past few years the SAHARA HOTEL AND CASINO in Las Vegas has been the home of "America's Musical Gift to the World", The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Beary Hobb's Drifters.
    Audiences scream, shout, and sing along with them every night to hits like "Only You", "Under the Boardwalk", "Charlie Brown", "My Girl", "Shout" and many others. Myles has decided to take the show a step further by creating their own version of their Las Vegas engagement.

They are currently on their "Farewell Tour" and the fans are loving every minute of it.
Hits like "The Great Pretender", "Charlie Brown", "Poison Ivy", "My Girl", "Get Ready", "Up On The Roof" and many, many more are having a fantastic resurgence of popularity all across America and around the world.
It's all happening because of the music, the memories and THE STARS who are taking the 50's and 60's to the people who love it most.

   Myles promises, as he has always delivered, an electrifying and unforgettable night of first class entertainment.
 Myles Savage delivers smooth renditions, crooning a middle of the road style that puts a soulful coat of uptown polish on pop-harmony rich material. He's a part of a legacy that includes a lengthy string of hits like "Only You", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "My Prayer", "The Great Pretender", and many more. THE PLATTERS were inducted into the 1990 Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. Savage is proud to be a part of the legacy of The Platters, known as "The International Ambassador of Romance".
Savage is off and running.Myles Savage has also appeared on Broadway in the opera, PORGY AND BESS and in THE WIZ as the "Tin Man". He also portrayed Billy Eckstein in BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR with Cab Calloway. Feinsteins? Are you ready to parrrtttyyy?

Mr. Savage also produces and performs the show, "MYLES SAVAGE SINGS A NAT 'KING' COLE BIG BAND AND CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION", which includes such hits as: "Mona Lisa", "Route 66", "Nature Boy", "Straighten Up and Fly Right", "The Continental", "Rambling Rose", "Unforgettable", and many many more.

Myles, I've learned so much from you in this interview and I cannot wait to celebrate you in person next Sunday night at Feinsteins!

Thank you, Myles, for the gifts you have given and continue to give to the world.

Your devoted fan,

Please join me on April 29th as we celebrate Randie Levine-Miller and her Divos in person at Feinsteins!

Myles Savage and his wife Karin

FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY

PRESENTS

RANDIE LEVINE-MILLER’S

“SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS - A SWELL PARTY”

A SPECIAL EVENT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 29

STARRING

STEPHEN BOGARDUS, JIM BROCHU, NICOLAS KING, MYLES SAVAGE AND KEVIN SPIRTAS

Jim Brochu

FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed “Best of New York” by New York Magazine and “an invaluable New York institution” by The New York Post will continue its Spring 2012 season with Randie Levine-Miller’s “SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS – A SWELL PARTY” on April 29 starring Tony Award nominated actor Stephen Bogardus, Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu, Bistro Award winner Nicolas King, star lead singer from The Platters Myles Savage, and acclaimed vocalist/actor Kevin Spirtas. With musical direction by Richard Danley and Mike Renzi, “SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS – A SWELL PARTY” presents an extraordinary night of entertainment with an all-inclusive dinner, show and after-party. The special event will be held at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

RANDIE LEVINE-MILLER has produced, hosted and/or performed in over 80 star-studded events featuring celebrities from legendary composers Charles Strouse, Marvin Hamlisch and Ervin Drake, Tony and Oscar winning producer, Marty Richards to award winning entertainers Tovah Feldshuh, Jim Dale, Len Cariou, Tony Roberts and Lee Roy Reams. Her Showstopper Divos and Divas, spotlighting the crème de la crème of Broadway and cabaret, always draw a sell-out crowd and is consistently a fun-filled party atmosphere. Randie’s shows at the prestigious Friars Club earned her the reputation as a modern day "Hostess with the mostess"! As Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk and Drama Desk Awards, this is her 16th year producing the Drama Desk Nominations and Breakfast, to be held at Feinstein's at Loews Regency for the first time, with Donna Murphy and Brian d’Arcy James on Friday, April 27.

STEPHEN BOGARDUS is a Tony nominated theater veteran. Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include White Christmas, Falsettos, Les Miz, Love! Valour! Compassion!, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland.

JIM BROCHU is a multiple-award winning actor/author and director. He authored and stars in Zero Hour for which he received every major theatrical award, including the coveted Drama Desk Award. He also wrote and directed the Off-Broadway Hit Musical, The Last Session, as well as The Big Voice -- God or Merman?, in which he co-starred with composer/partner Steve Schalchlin.

Nicolas King

NICOLAS KING is a cabaret wunderkind. At age 20, as an opening act for his mentor, Liza Minnelli, he's one of the fastest rising young musical performing talents in the U.S. He will open for her Ms. Minnelli in Las Vegas in May. As an actor, Nicolas is a veteran of three Broadway shows, Beauty & The Beast, A Thousand Clowns and Hollywood Arms. King was honored this season with a 2012 Bistro Award.

MYLES SAVAGE the star lead singer from The Platters (1990 Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductees) is proud to be part of their legacy. Myles is known as the International Ambassador of Romance! Broadway credits include The Wiz and Bubbling Brown Sugar.

Kevin Spirtas

KEVIN SPIRTAS, who starred for seven years as Dr. Craig Wesley on NBC's "Days of Our Lives", first appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line. Immediately after co-starring in Hairspray in Las Vegas, Kevin was cast as Hugh Jackman's standby in The Boy From Oz! Currently touring the country, as well as the high seas, Kevin stars in his one-man show, "Night and Days".

FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY will present Randie Levine-Miller’s “SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS – A SWELL PARTY” on Sunday, April 29 with dinner at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM. The all-inclusive evening costs $125.00, which includes tax, gratuity and service charge. Festive attire is suggested. The club is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in New York City. For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit us online at Feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!

Reserve today for Peggy Herman. Click on the above banner and be part of our star studded audience!

Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!

                    
Tomorrow's blog will be..My exclusive interview with Gary Beach on Hello, Dolly!




Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!

  Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!

Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING  and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

Sign The Petition!

  
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com                            

This Blog is dedicated to Al Koenig! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! 

Beginnings, Change, And Endings: A Tribute to ALL MY CHILDREN

"Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's"
-Billy Wilder, Austro-Hungarian-born American movie director (1906-2002)

Happy First Day of Autumn 2011,
Fall began here in the Northern Hemisphere this morning at 5:05 A.M. although it certainly has been feeling like autumn for the past week. It is a time of endings and beginnings. Summer is OFFICIALLY over, folks. This time next month, most will be in preparations for Halloween and then Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's are in quick succession.
I don't know about you but I keep asking where this year has gone!
As I was growing up, I kept hearing that as I got older, it would go faster and faster. Well, it is frightening how fast it is going now! I can't imagine 10 years from now.

I've always been taught to believe that certain things are definite: taxes, death, and change. Originally, I was going to write about Ziegfeld and his women today. I have decided to table that till tomorrow.

This week we have seen the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a complete overhaul of Facebook (much to the consternation of its thousand of users).
Having seen what the new Facebook has to offer,
I'm intrigued but skeptical.
And today, after 41 years, we are truly seeing the true end of an era in television. Right now, there are only 5 soaps left on TV. One Life To Live is slated to end its run in January of next year. God only knows how long it will be before The Bold And The Beautiful, Days Of Our Lives, General Hospital (which is the next to go after One Life To Live leaving ABC with no soaps)and The Young And The Restless fade to black. There is even talk that The Bold And The Beautiful will merge its characters into The Young And The Restless!
ALL MY CHILDREN ended its 41 years on ABC today.
Don't even think I can cover 41 years in this blog!
What I'm going to attempt to do is cover my two favorite story lines, my favorite actress from the series (sorry Susan Lucci) and touch upon some fun facts, I hope for you. For example, did you know that Mary Fickett who played Ruth Brent Martin was the FIRST actress to win an Emmy, in 1973, for Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Daytime Drama? Interestingly enough, perhaps, she passed away last week at the age of 83.

Did you know that the first year of ALL MY CHILDREN, Erica Kane (Susan Lucci), was a senior in high school? She was pursuing Phil Brent (Richard Hatch) but he had eyes for Tara Martin played by Karen Lynn Gorney. Erica managed to break them up.



When Hayley Vaughan bopped into town as punk rocker, Tinkerbell from Hell,she ended up marrying her onscreen lover in real life...it was Kelly Ripa of Regis and Kelly Fame! The husband of course is Mark Consuelos.

Last episode today.... so sad it's ending!! I guess the most famous aspect of AMC is Susan Lucci. She was there from the first episode and has remained with the show 41 years!

Susan Lucci is the most famous actress in daytime drama, but her reign came to an end today.

I know I haven’t watched this in years, but I will miss it. Angie and Jesse? Tad and Jenny? Anybody? Just me? OK.

Created by Agnes Nixon, AMC was the first show to actually go on location. From 1970 to 1990, All My Children was recorded at ABC's TV18 at 101 West 67th St, now a 50-story apartment tower.
From March 1990 to December 2009, it was taped at ABC's television studio TV23 at 320 West 66th Street in Manhattan, New York City.
In December 2009, the locale for taping the series moved from the costly New York City to California.

The show ended production on Stages 1 and 2 on August 30th at the Andrita Studios in Los Angeles.
It was confirmed on August 4, 2009 that All My Children and One Life to Live would go HD.
All My Children started filming in High Definition on January 4, 2010 and began airing in high definition on February 3, 2010.
All My Children was the third soap opera to be produced and broadcast in high definition.

Now, you can take Susan Lucci home with you!

"See that moon up there?
You can reach that high.
Never be afraid because you can be anything you want to be."

Susan Lucci was only five years old when her father shared these encouraging words with her. They inspired the highly imaginative child who loved make-believe to craft one of the most enduring characters in television history, an achievement that would earn her a record twenty-one Emmy nominations—the most for an actor in the award's history—and the crown as "Leading Lady of Daytime." She finally won in 1999 for Outstandling Lead Actress in a Drama series. Interesting side note, the show and its performers have been nominated in excess of 250 times!
Read more by ordering Susan's memoirs.




Economically, it has gotten harder and harder for film and television production in New York.

The soap just earlier this year moved its stars to L.A. after taping for over 30 years in New York, but the move didn't viewership quite enough. As always Susan Lucci, AKA Erica Kane is still involved with two men and deciding which will be her next husband. I think the move spelled the beginning of the end.

ALL MY CHILDREN, set in fictitious Pine Valley, started it's life on January 5th, 1970.

(This was the cover of Time Magazine that day). Today was the 10071st episode. Here is the description of the last episode on their website, "Jack is frustrated when a business offer from Kit to Erica interrupts their planning for the wedding yet again. This time, Jack says he doesn't want to live like that anymore. Erica gets a difference of opinion on the matter from the rest of the family. Greenlee and Ryan spend quality time together at the park. JR learns of Dixie and Tad getting engaged and congratulates them, then announces that he's decided to leave town. Dixie helps him see AJ one last time. Scott and Madison agree to move in together again. Adam and Brooke rush to the hospital and learn that Stuart is still alive. The others feel grateful to David for saving yet another life. Adam apologizes to Stuart for shooting him, but Stuart says there is nothing to forgive. Scott informs Marian of the news."

It made Susan Lucci a star. Also Kim Delaney (Jenny Gardner) who went on to star in both Army Wives and NYPD Blues, Kirstie Alley, and Josh Duhmel (Leo). J.R. Martinez, who is currently a contestant on this season's Dancing With The Stars. TCameron Mathison had that distinction in season 5 (The year that Helio Castroneves along with Julianne Hough won).

He is now on Good Morning, America.

Susan Lucci was on season seven of DWTS along with Cloris Leachman (who has never done a soap opera). Season 10 had Aiden Turner who played Aiden Devane (see below) appeared on DWTS.

On newsstands now is a special commemorative PEOPLE MAGAZINE TRIBUTE to All My Children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kendall Hart (1993-1995)
As the conniving, long-lost biological daughter of Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane, 15-year-old Gellar played Kendall so well she won a Daytime Emmy and a place in the annals of soap history as one of daytime’s most devious daughters. After leaving All My Children, Gellar landed roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2 as well as the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where fellow AMC alum Michelle Trachtenberg played her sister.

Michelle Trachtenberg as Lily Montgomery (1993-1996)
Before she was Harriet the Spy and the Ice Princess — and long before she made out with her brother in EuroTrip — Michelle Trachtenberg played the autistic Lily Montgomery, whose disorder prompted her mother to embezzle millions in order to pay for private care. The role was later briefly played by Mischa Barton.

Lacey Chabert as Bianca Montgomery (1992-1993)
The future television and film actress shared only a single episode with Gellar as Bianca, whom she played briefly as a child. The character would go on to become daytime’s most prominent out-of-the-closet gay figure. (Chabert and Gellar played half-sisters who shared the same mother — Erica Kane.)

Melissa Leo as Linda Warner (1984-1985)
Melissa Leo, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in 2010’s The Fighter, began her acting career with another award-worthy performance, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for her role as Linda Warner on All My Children.







Eva LaRue who is currently on this season's CSI Miami!
Over the years, many Broadway and television stars appeared on the show: Karen Lynn Gorney (who went on to do Saturday Night Fever), Dancer James Mitchell (who was dream Curly in the film version of Oklahoma!)

David Canary, Eileen Herlie, Rosemary Prinz, Ruth Warrick, even Carol Burnett loved the show so much that she was written into a story line! Over the years, I got hooked a couple of times on the show! My all time favorite story line was when Dorothy Lyman was on the show as Opal Sue Gardner, for which she received two Emmy Awards -- as Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series in 1982 and for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1983.

She brought a humor to soap operas that was rare. I became a HUGE FAN of hers! Dorothy Lyman (born April 18, 1947) is an actress, director and producer. She is most commonly known for her work as architect Gwen Parrish Frame in Another World (1976–1980,1989) and in All My Children as Opal Sue Gardner, and on the syndicated sitcom Mama's Family, as Naomi Harper.

Lyman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Violet E. (née Brightwell) and Hector H. Lyman, who was a stockbroker.
She first appeared on her first soap opera A World Apart as Julie Stark in 1971.
Several years later, Dorothy appeared as the evil Elly Jo Jamison on The Edge of Night.
Lyman played Ralphie's mother in Jean Shepherd's Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss from 1988. She appeared in the Tales from the Darkside television series in the 'In the Cards' episode (1985), in ALF as Maura Norris in the episode 'Tequila' (1988), Generations as Rebecca Whitmore (1990–1991), and in The Bold and the Beautiful as Bonnie Roberts (1991–1992).

Lyman attended high school with Jill Larson, the actress who would eventually succeed her in the role of Opal Gardner.
In an appearance on Vicki Lawrence's talk show Vicki!, Lyman noted that she continued to perform on All My Children concurrently with the beginning of Mama's Family's production, flying back and forth each week between New York and Los Angeles. While the commute was brutal, she remembered it fondly, referring to that stage of her career as "All My Paychecks."
When Mama's Family ended its run, Lyman went behind the camera, producing and directing a total of 75 episodes of The Nanny (all episodes of the third and fourth seasons, and all but four episodes of the fifth), even making a special guest appearance on the Fran Drescher sitcom.

After Mama's Family ended in 1990, Lyman had a recurring role on Bob, Bob Newhart's third series. She also made a cameo appearance in I Love Trouble, a film starring Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts.
In 2007, Lyman guest-starred in the third season of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica as Starbuck's mother. Lyman is currently living in New York City after spending time in California. In California, she made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom Reba, playing Reba Hart's mother. She is only 8 years older than Reba McEntire who plays Reba.

When the writers of All My Children had characters Greg and Jenny meet in 1981, after having Jenny move to the fictional town of Pine Valley with her mother, Opal Gardner, they applied four obstacles to the couple's love story:

Age (Jenny is younger than Greg. In 1981, Greg is a senior in high school while Jenny is only fifteen)
Economic backgrounds (they come from different economic backgrounds; Jenny is working-class while Greg comes from a rich family in Pine Valley)

Ex-girlfriend (Greg's ex-girlfriend, Liza Colby (originally played by Marcy Walker from 81-84 during this story line, a short time by Alice Haining, and lastly by Jamie Luner), refuses to allow Greg and Jenny to be happy together and schemes to displace Jenny at all costs)
Parents (Greg's mother, Enid Nelson (played by Natalie Ross), is a snob who thinks that Jenny is not good enough for her son)
Greg and Jenny build slowly on their romance due to the four obstacles.
In 1982, Liza almost succeeds in winning Greg back, but Jenny returns from vacation and his infatuation with Jenny grows even stronger.
Liza rigs the Miss Junior Pine Valley contest so that she will win instead of Jenny; this does not deter Greg, who eventually tells Jenny that he loves her and wants to marry her.
Jenny eventually finds out that her father, Ray Gardner (Gil Rodgers), who she thought was dead, is in fact in prison for rape.
Liza finds out about this, and threatens to tell Greg unless Jenny withdraws herself from his life. Jenny runs away to New York City, followed by her friend Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams), who has been falsely accused of attempted rape by Liza, who hates him for his friendship with Jenny. Jesse saves Jenny from being forced into making a pornographic movie, and the two stand up for each other against the odds in the big city. Their summer in New York is considered one of the greatest story lines in the history of All My Children.
Eventually, Jenny and Greg are reunited, as are Jesse and his love, Angie Baxter (Debbi Morgan).


In the summer of 1984, I was doing the American version of the Oberammergau Passion Play in Strasburg, Virginia.
This version was originally written by Val Balfour.
Locals volunteered as extras, and church groups came from all over Virginia, Maryland, etc. to see the play.It was one of the worst experiences of my life (that's a whole other blog!), but every day I stopped to watch ALL MY CHILDREN following the story line of Jenny and Greg.

When she died in that jet ski accident, it affected me so much, I thought I had lost a friend! Greg Nelson and Jenny Gardner were fictional characters and a super couple. Greg was portrayed by Laurence Lau, and Jenny was portrayed by actress Kim Delaney.
They were best friends to fellow super couple Jesse Hubbard and Angie Baxter.
Greg suffered a fall in 1983 and was paralyzed from the waist down.
He wanted the best for Jenny, so he broke up with her romantically and encouraged her to go to New York and pursue modeling. Jenny went to the big city and eventually was engaged to another model, Tony Barclay (Brent Barrett), even though she still loved Greg.

In 1985, I was working for The Green Room Answering Service. At that time,the story line involved Zach Grayson, played by Robert LuPone. When he was killed off, practically EVERYONE in Pine Valley had a motive. The catchphrase was "Who killed Zach Grayson?" I had such a crush on him.
He was one of the clients on the Green Room. One late shift, he surprised me by dropping by with a pizza along with his girlfriend. Just the three of us! I'll never forget that!He gave me a pin that said "I Killed Zach Grayson!"
Marian murdered Zach Grayson in self-defense
Marian was a frustrated homemaker who seduced a very young Tad Martin while he was dating her daughter, Liza. When Liza found out about her mother and Tad's torrid affair, Liza left Pine Valley. After Marian lost both Tad and then her husband Larry (heart attack) Marian turned her attention to Zach Grayson, a hustler and con artist, who blackmailed half of Pine Valley.
Zach Grayson was found murdered and Daisy Cortlandt was convicted.
When Donna Tyler was hypnotized, Marian was found to be the real killer (she claimed self defense). Due to her rewarding the warden with her infamous favors, Marian only spent 6 months in jail.

Then there was Tad Martin.

When it was announced that All My Children, would be the latest victim of the changing times would cancelled, many were disappointed. A lot of my generation grew up watching that soap opera. As I've stated earlier in this blog, I did, and even though I watched it sporadically over the years, it was a fun part of some of my years.
They say it is now moving online with webisodes. How many of you also watch (or have watched) All My Children? Who's planning to watch the show online when it continues in that platform?

I don’t have many friends that watch the soaps, but the ones who do are very loyal to their favorite shows. Also, my friends Glen Charlow and Diana Templeton are tuned in each day. If they miss an episode, they’ll catch it on Soapnet that night. As The World Turns, which starred my friend Eileen Fulton for 50 years, was replaced by a talk show, The Talk, and All My Children will be replaced by The Chew.

(Julie Budd, Eileen Fulton, and myself)



I think today’s audiences aren’t interested much in soap operas the way our generation was.
That old notion about stay-at-home moms doing nothing has long since been debunked. (Interestingly, now dads are also getting the same rap.) At least I hope it has. Moms I know are much more interested in current events, politics, parenting news, health, education, technology, and a host of other things.
Reality TV, anyone?
Soaps can be addictive. Tad and Dixie, Jessie and Angie, and Adam and Erica have all certainly meant something to me. Like many others, I couldn’t wait to see what happened at the Pine Valley Ball and I mourned when Dixie was killed (or kinda killed) and Tad was left distraught after all those years of being Tad the Cad.


Even if you’re not familiar with All My Children, most people know Susan Lucci. Lucci was a pioneer when she filmed the abortion story in the 1970s and soaps were used to highlight the new era of current social drama.
Ironically enough, Lucci says she suffered a miscarriage while filming that abortion story and had not told anyone at the studio about it.

Susan Lucci joined "The View" this morning for the morning gab show's hourlong salute to "All My Children,".
Cast members, former cast members, fans and former fans have expressed consternation as well as sadness since it was announced in April that the soap would be taken off the air.
The daytime drama had been gradually losing viewers, and ABC feared losing money on the production. On Thursday, Lucci, Erica Kane on "AMC," took to Twitter to note her upcoming "View" appearance saluting "41 incredible years."
Show creator Agnes Nixon was on hand for the special, and there were several "surprise guests."
According to Wikipedia, "All My Children (abbreviated as AMC) is an American television soap opera that has been broadcast on ABC in the US Monday through Friday after it debuted on January 5, 1970; repeat episodes air weeknights on SOAPnet. Created by Agnes Nixon, the show is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. Since its inception, the show has featured Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most popular characters.
he title of the series. sometimes abbreviated as AMC, refers to the bonds of humanity. The first new network daytime drama to debut in the 1970s, All My Children was originally owned by Creative Horizons, Inc., the company created by Nixon and her husband, Bob. The show was sold to ABC in January 1975.

Originally a half-hour in length, the show expanded to an hour on April 25, 1977. Earlier, the show had experimented with the hour format for one week starting on June 30, 1975, after which Ryan's Hope premiered.

Thanks to ALL the creative personalities that was part of the creation of this landmark series.
May the next 41 years in all of your lives be as exciting if not more so.

Thanks to Glen Charlow and Wikipedia for many of the details of this blog.

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The Great and the Least,
The Rich and the Poor,
The Weak and the Strong,
In Sickness and in Health,
In Joy and Sorrow,
In Tragedy and Triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN.
-Agnes Nixon