General Hospital: Where is the Love?

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman “Where is the love?”  This is a famous soap world quote from the late beloved headwriter Doug Marland (As the World Turns, etc.) spoken when he used to look at other soaps and find anything but.   This question can now be most fairly asked of General Hospital, once a good soap opera but now … [Read more...]

Sunday Reflections 4: The Young and the Restless’ Jeanne Cooper Book Reviewed; General Hospital

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman The Young and the Restless:  Like gossip on old movies and TV and the soap opera world? Like to laugh?  Wanna get all the inside whispered into your ear by a great soap opera icon?  Then get yourself a copy of Not Young, Still Restless (HarperCollins) the very frank and entertaining … [Read more...]

What’s to Watch Now?

By Marlena De Lacroix As the World Turns was over on Friday and at least two dozen of my old soap pals all called or wrote. But what to watch now? If you are still around to watch afternoons, it's slim pickings. Days is way too juvenile even to contemplate. Young and Restless is very competent soap opera. But someone help! We're left with the … [Read more...]

As The World Turns: Love and Family in the Heart of America

My friend Ed Martin weighs in, too,  on the loss of As the World Turns in a new post immediately following this one. ___________________________________________  By Marlena De Lacroix I broke into tears when I heard that As the World Turns was canceled yesterday. I'm sure many of you did, too.  ATWT has been a part of all our lives for so … [Read more...]

Guiding Light: What Happened? Start Your THINKING Long Ago

Thinking Fans savor vintage Guiding Light: Mike Goldberg says, "It seems to me that Guiding Light has had so many magical periods and then so many dreadful periods. The era you describe was magnificent" ... while from Italy, Giada declares, "I don't want to be a 'laudator temporis acti,' someone who praises the past for its own sake, but I do … [Read more...]

Douglas Marland: A Personal Remembrance

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 By Marlena De Lacroix In 1981 I was the editor of a soap magazine which had a great reputation and no budget.  Every year we gave out awards, but we had to do it in small ceremonies on the set.  My head was whirling from the first one on the set of All My Children.  An actor I had admired who … [Read more...]

Remembering Douglas Marland: Timeless Storylines, Timeless Talent

 Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 By Patrick Erwin It's been fifteen years since Douglas Marland's death. That seems impossible to me, but then again, maybe that's because I still see aspects of his work and his characters on screen every day. Certainly, his body of work has had a big impact on me. I was eagerly watching his … [Read more...]

Remembering Douglas Marland: Actors Recall Their Marland Moments, Part 2

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993  By Patrick Erwin We continue our celebration of the life and work of Douglas Marland with some more memories from the people who performed Doug's work on a daily basis -- the actors. Today we're featuring comments from two gifted performers who worked with Doug on As The World Turns, Hayley (Barr) … [Read more...]

Remembering Douglas Marland: Highlights of a Great Career

  Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 By Patrick Erwin As an actor: -- Doug appeared in a 1956 episode of Playhouse 90 called Forbidden Area (as Marland Messner, his real name). -- In 1973, he appeared on As The World Turns, playing Lisa's doctor, Eric Lonsberry, during the infamous "phantom fetus" storyline. -- Doug also appeared … [Read more...]

Remembering Douglas Marland: A Week-long Celebration

Douglas Marland:  May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993 By Marlena De Lacroix Can it really be 15 years since the light was turned off?    Those were the words of my friend, soap historian Leona Barad when I wrote to her  telling her we were planning a special week of articles here at marlenadelacroix.com to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Douglas … [Read more...]