Big Changes at Marlena and Five More Passover Questions

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passalacqua Hayman We’ve made some changes here at marlenadelacroix.com in an effort to upgrade our service to you, our Thinking Fans. We’ve added a search box, all the better to help you locate what we’re had to say in the past about your favorite soaps and their characters, casts and storylines. And we’re … [Read more...]

The Mega-successful, Classy World of Bill Bell

By Marlena De Lacroix a.k.a. Connie Passlacqua Hayman When I was a girl soap reporter, I called him "Mr. Bell" during interviews because of Bill Bell's exalted status in the soap industry.  And Bill Bell (1927-2005) would just laugh and go ahead to speak about what one always talked to him about: the work.  He was the only person I ever … [Read more...]

As the World Turns Stops: Sobs! All Those Afternoons!

By Marlena De Lacroix When I was in high school I was noted for spending my afternoons watching soap operas and eating cole slaw. Decades later, I am sobbing ... and I mean real big salty tears ... into my slaw as As the World Turns is drawing to a close, heading to  With the end of As the World Turns, let’s celebrate soaps. Our memories of … [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’s Last Fade-out: Only Love Can Save the Soap World

By Marlena De Lacroix I thought Kim Zimmer looked absolutely gorgeous in her last scene on Guiding Light set a year after the action, when Reva and Josh pledged their love "always."  Clad in a  emerald gown, the top of her blond hair nicely swept back, she looked truly amazing.  A goddess, indeed. Surprised I wrote this?  Well, I m going to … [Read more...]