Search For Tomorrow 1981 closing

[TimsDale4ever]

Not a huge fan of SFT but I did watch occasionally during this time. Amazing that if the show were still around today (09/03/11), it would be its 60th television anniversary. And just a few weeks from now on 09/24/11, LOVE OF LIFE would have also seen it's 60th anniversary. I "think" these were the first 2 television soaps broadcast nationwide with SEARCH being only 3 weeks older. Such gems.....

[butchboy13]

I loved this theme, hated that trumpet theme, and liked the last theme.

[wesinalabama]

i notice Patsy Pease mentioned on the credits playing "Cissy". She dated my brother, we were from Charlotte NC. After this show she did Days of Our Lives, but supposed erratic behavior got her the axe from there. She had not been heard from since except a couple B-movies in the early 80s. I recall she did one w/an unknown named Tom Hanks ("He knows you're alone"), Tom's first movie.

[en9nui]

That SFT in 1981 actually turned to writer Gabrielle Upton, a retread who had made messes of (admittedly futile) projects like late Love of Life and The Secret Storm, reflected creative torpor.

[TimsDale4ever]

soap1919jt: Why would a title design placed on top of white, puffy clouds and beautiful blue sky look "eerie" to you? My definition of eerie is strikingly different from yours. :)

[soap1919jt]

This was certainly my favorite SFT theme and visuals. The logo it self is incredible...a little eerie looking, but beautiful against the sky backdrop. None of the openings after that compared.

[softwater88]

This theme is/was one of the all time most beautiful themes ever ! ! Could you imagine being one of the musicians who was in the recording studio performing this theme? ! ? I cried when this theme was changed in late 1981 to that awful trumpet version ! ! Yeeck ! ! I think that there is an extended two-minute closing version of this theme. I hope that theme ends up here on YouTube here sometime in the future.

[TimothySEnglish]

I agree... I vaguely remember the extended closing theme when I was a kid, but it always put me in a happy place. I hope someone posts it soon

[thegreenhornet95]

@softwater88 I agree this version is the best. There's no comparison between this one and that trumpet version later on. That trumpet version was not only awful, it was lame. Yeeck ! ! is absolutely right. This version is beautiful. Why would anyone want to change it?

[burbank]

@thegreenhornet95 well I hear you. I think they wanted to modernize it and update it. Sometimes such updates and modernizations kill a great thing!

[thegreenhornet95]

@burbank That is so true. I couldn't have said it better myself. You took the words right out of my mouth. LOL

[christheone8773]

My late mother was a big fan of Search for Tomorrow, even when it debuted in 1951 -I loved it too, when Morgan Fairchild got her start on this show as Jennifer Pace Phillips--

[mark40511]

Really. I knew Days and GH had action adventure. But never knew All My Children did. But I will agree. CBS soaps didn't draw me in like the other networks did. I loved the action/adventure of the 1980s. I do love this search theme though! You'd think with a network change, fans would follow the show. I know I would. Unless the affiliate didn't carry it. But I think most did.

[stopthemachine]

I'm trying to find some clips of episodes which featured Billie Lou Watt. I have heard her so many times (in cartoons such as Astroboy, Gigantor, Kimba, Superbook, and The Flying House), but I have not physically seen her act in anything before.

Could someone help?  Thanks! :)

[gymnastix]

Unfortunately, the years in which Billie Lou Watt was on "Search" are the episodes which fell in that era when networks "wiped" or mass-erased videotapes so that they could re-use them for additional programming, thus saving on costs of videotape and additional storage.

Some of the very early years of soaps (1950-65, or so) were saved because they were preserved on kinescopes (essentially, filmed images off of a monitor, shot with a special camera).

[gymnastix]

And, of course, a larger amount of the more recent decades' soap episodes--from the early-to-mid 1980's onward--WERE preserved on videotapes and, with today's technology, digitally. Obviously, from the '80s to today, the farther on years passed, the more likely episodes exist.

But the episodes from the late 1960s through about 1980 are extremely rare, victims of that wiping policy.

[gymnastix]

I should also point out that practice of wiping extended to all daytime, network programming, which is why many game shows (such as the daytime "Password" on CBS & especially the later run on ABC) from that period are also lost forever.

[gymnastix]

The episodes of game shows from the '60s & '70s which are preserved (such as "Hollywood Squares" & "Let' Make A Deal," which aired on the GSN cable channel) were largely from prime time & syndicated runs, and the ones from the '50s and early-to-mid '60s also on kinescopes.

The survivors of Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions allowed GSN to mass transfer kinescopes of its library to videotape or digital format, using the basement, duplicating facility of CBS Television City in Hollywood.

[gymnastix]

But it never hurts to look around, keep an eye on You Tube, eBay and soap website bulletin boards. I have a feeling some more soap episodes from the "lost period" may exist, whether random, single episodes or multiple, consecutive shows, on cartridges & reels surfacing from among soap actors', network employees' and/or soap production staffs' belongings. Some may be found in attics and basements after estates of deceased among these entities have been settled.

[gymnastix]

It is also not impossible some, additional game show and soap video may be discovered in lost vaults, at either the networks and/or the programs' producers & sponsors.

I used to become incensed when I thought of how many hours of great, daytime programming were erased, at how the networks and show producers could have been so careless about their properties, particularly after more compact videotape had been developed, like it was something akin to a cultural crime.

[gymnastix]

But having read more about the subject and putting myself in these entities' places, I now realize their actions were not malicious, just they never comprehended the long-term value of daily programming, regarded as something around which to sell soap and other consumer products, of which to be viewed once and disposed.

[gymnastix]

I wouldn't give up yet on finding some video of Billie Lou Watt as "Ellie Harper Bergman." I simple cannot believe there isn't one video left on the planet of a "Search For Tomorrow" episode in which she appeared. And, believe me, as one who faithfully watched "Search" in those years, I am also keeping my eyes peeled wide open for any such discoveries.

[gymnastix]

I can tell you she was a fine actress, her early years on the soap a loyal employee (at an auto body repair shop) and confidante of "Stu Bergman," as well aunt to Vietnam vet & attorney "Scott Phillips" (son of attorney "Doug Martin," stepson of "Eunice Gardner Twining Martin [later "Wyatt"]," "Jo's" sister) and grand aunt to his adopted son, "Eric Leshinsky Phillips."

[gymnastix]

After "Stu" lost his beloved wife "Marge" (when the actress who originated & played the role for two decades, Melba Rae, died suddenly, of a cerebral hemorrhage, at age 49) in 1972, gradually the comical rapport between "Ellie" & "Stu" evolved romantically, to the point their on-air marriage became an anticipated event prompting many thousands of letters & telegrams from well-wishers. That's how seriously folks took their soaps in those days!

[gymnastix]

I stopped watching "Search" shortly after "Ellie" & "Stu" moved into a hotel, to help their old friend "Jo" (Mary Stuart) run "Hartford House." But I was appalled when I heard from a friend "Ellie" had left "Stu" to run off with the town butcher or some such.

I couldn't believe a relationship in which so much was invested, on the part of the soap's actors, writers & viewers, would dissolve itself in such a ridiculous manner!

[gymnastix]

I've also read "Stu" had at least one more serious romance before "Search" ended its 35-year run in 1986, was watching some of the NBC episodes of the soap to capture some of what I'd missed, but AOL recently dismantled the Procter & Gamble Classic Soaps videos on its website.

I hope this helps explain a bit about the difficulty in obtaining the soap episodes (with Miss Watt) for which you are looking; also a bit about her character of "Ellie" on "Search."

[stopthemachine]

Thanks so much for the information! It's greatly appreciated. Although it's a shame that her character was dismissed in such a ludicrous manner, at least the animation world profitted from this situation when she and Ray Owens worked on the classic, heart-warming Christian series, "Superbook" and "The Flying House." Her superb acting talents are not down-played in any way. (Her role as the widow in the Elijah story is very emotional, especially when her son dies, only to be brought back.)

[TimothySEnglish]

CBS runied that show. Successful for years, "Search" concentrated on Jo's trials and turbulations beautifully acted by the late great Mary Stuart. By the late 70s and into the early 80's, daytime had shifted to action and adventure plots like General Hospital. Search for Tomorrow seemed instantly outdated. So by the time it was dropped by CBS and picked up by NBC, Jo was no longer central to the storylines and the plots were out of touch with the viewers. It was a great show and is sadly missed.

[dcat918]

CBS didnt ruin it NBC did

[TimothySEnglish]

Technically, CBS did most of the damage. By the time NBC got their hands on it, the quality of the show had greatly diminished.

[kulvir15]

Search had decent ratings when CBS dropped it, but it probably drew an older audience like most of CBS's shows do. In the 1980s CBS was trying to compete with the action/adventure/young love/supercouple storylines on General Hospital, All My Children, and Days; CBS's lineup (except for Y&R) was old school in comparison. So Search was dropped in favor of Capitol (CBS's attempt at a daytime Dallas). Even if CBS kept Search, it probably would've ended in 1987 to make way for B&B.

[stopthemachine]

I see the great Billie Lou Watt's name in the credits, but unfortunately, after having watched it, she was not actually in the episode! Does anyone have any episodes of "Search" where Billie Lou Watt is actually seen? I've heard her in everything from Astroboy to Superbook, but I've never actually seen her acting. Can someone help? Thanks. :)

[GenXorcist1976]

"Search" always came on AFTER "Y&R" when I was growing up. Did it air before "Y&R" in most other places? I'm pretty sure the line up for KIRO Seattle was:

Y&R - 11:00

SEARCH - 12:30

ATWT - 1:00

GL - 2:00

[gymnastix]

In Boston, in my very early childhood (1963), the CBS daytime line-up was: "Captain Kangaroo"-8:00a "I Love Lucy"-10:30a "The Real McCoys"-11:00a "Pete & Gladys"-11:30a "Love Of Life"-12:00p "The CBS Midday News with Douglas Edwards"-12:25p "Search For Tomorrow"-12:30p "The Guiding Light"-12:45p "As The World Turns"-1:30p "Password"-2:00p "Art Linkletter's House Party"-2:30p "To Tell The Truth"-3:00p "The Edge Of Night"-3:30p "The Secret Storm"-4:00p

[gymnastix]

In 1965-66, the schedule varied slightly: "Sunrise Semester"-5:30a "CBS Morning News"-7:00a "Captain Kangaroo"-8:00a "I Love Lucy"-10:00a "The McCoys"-10:30a* "Andy Of Mayberry"-11;00a* "The Dick Van Dyke Daytime Show"-11:30a* "Love Of Life"-12:00p "The CBS Midday News with Douglas Edwards"-12:25p "Search For Tomorrow"-12:30p "The Guiding Light"-12:45p "As The World Turns"-1:30p "Password"-2:00p "Art Linkletter's House Party"-2:30p

[gymnastix]

[Cont'd. from prev. list]:

"To Tell The Truth"-3:00p

"The Edge Of Night"-3:30p

"The Secret Storm"-4:00p

*Daytime reruns of prime-time sitcoms were re-titled to avoid confusion with prime-time runs, until latter were canceled

[gymnastix]

At various points, "I Love Lucy" reruns were dropped for "Candid Camera" reruns, then "The Lucy Show"; "The McCoys" & "Pete & Gladys" dropped for "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Andy Of Mayberry" & "Family Affair" reruns.

In 1967, a new soap opera titled "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" debuted, replacing "Password" (which moved to ABC eventually), and another new soap, "Where The Heart Is," debuted in 1969.

[gymnastix]

By this time, all the 15-minute soaps ("SFT," "The Guiding Light" and "Secret Storm") had expanded to half-hours, as had the lone 25-minute soap, "Love Of Life," which only ran that length to accommodate the network's midday news. In Boston, after about 1968 or '69, "Love Of Life" was pre-empted for our local affiliate's half-hour news.

[gymnastix]

This was the case in other viewing areas as well, so, depending on time zones, viewers either missed "Love Of Life" or "Where The Heart Is," had to watch one of them on a delayed basis at another time off the network schedule.

[TimothySEnglish]

I think today that's why the Bold and the Beautiful will always be stuck at a half hour despite being a top rated soap and on the air for more than 20 years. The local CBS affiliates simply won't give up that half hour dedicated to the news.

[gymnastix]

In 1969, here's how the Boston CBS affiliate (WHDH-TV, Channel 5) aired the network daytime schedule: "Sunrise Semester"-5:30a "CBS Morning News"-7:00a "Captain Kangaroo"-8:00a "The Lucy Show"-10:00a "The Beverly Hillbillies"-10:30a "The Andy Griffith Show"-11;00a "Love Of Life"-11:30a* Local news (pre-empted "Where The Heart Is")-12:00p "Search For Tomorrow"-12:30p "As The World Turns"-1:30p "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing"-2:00p "The Guiding Light"-2:30pm [Cont'd.]

[gymnastix]

[Cont'd. from prev. list]:

"The Secret Storm"-3:00p

"The Edge Of Night"-3:30p

Note that both Linkletter's "House Party" & "To Tell The Truth" have been dropped, the former in 1968, the latter (which had been moved to 4 p.m. in '68) by '69. Some areas carried reruns of "Gomer Pyle, USMC" after "Edge Of Night," but Boston aired local programming. For many years, when "Secret Storm" ended at 4:30p EST, the Boston franchise of "Bozo The Clown" aired right after the CBS daytime line-up, at 4:30p.

[jmsweat]

What did they air at 1-1:30pm during the affiliate break? They didn't air Where the Heart is there since they had local news at noon?

[gymnastix]

You know, you might actually be correct, because I do recall seeing the opening of "Where The Heart Is" at some point, and can certainly recall its theme song.

But I also recall that, for a time, between 1-1:30p, after "Search" and before "As The World Turns," our CBS affiliate ran reruns of "Peyton Place" in that time slot.

I verified as much information as I could from a few local TV guides I have, some on-line network guides & just my own recollections. The info. is about 99.9% accurate.

[gymnastix]

By the spring of 1973, two more CBS soaps had vanished, "Where The Heart Is" & "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing," adding five new game shows and one new soap, "The Young & The Restless."

Also by this time, CBS switched back to a previous Boston affiliate, WNAC-TV (Channel 7), after the owners of the former Channel 5 (The Boston Herald Traveler newspaper) lost its license to operate WHDH-TV in a landmark FCC ruling prohibiting dual media ownership in one market.

[gymnastix]

That FCC ruling which cost Boston's first Channel 5 its license has since been reversed, allowed a succeeding owner of "The Boston Herald-American," Rupert Murdoch, to also own the Boston FOX affiliate, WFXT-Channel 25.

Here's how the CBS daytime line-up looked in Boston in the summer of 1973:

"Sunrise Semester"-5:30a

"CBS Morning News"-7:00a

"Captain Kangaroo"-8:00a

"The Joker's Wild"-10:00a

"The New Price Is Right"-10:30a

"Gambit"-11;00a

"Love Of Life"-11:30a

[gymnastix]

[Cont'd. from prev. list]:

"The Young & The Restless"-12:00p

"Search For Tomorrow"-12:30p

"As The World Turns"-1:30p

"The Guiding Light"-2:00p

"The Edge Of Night"-2:30p

"The $10,000 Pyramid"-3:00p

"Match Game '73"-3:30p

"The Secret Storm"-4:00p

[gymnastix]

There have been many changes to the CBS daytime line-up since this, as mentioned "SFT" eventually moving to NBC, then canceled; also the loss of the only network children's program for three decades, "Captain Kangaroo," and the eventual cancellation of two other long-running, CBS soaps ("Edge Of Night" & "Secret Storm") and the addition of two more, "Capitol" and "The Bold & The Beautiful" (the former since canceled), while three of the remaining four soaps (all but "B&B") expanded to an hour.

[jmsweat]

What aired at 1:00-1:30pm during the affiliate break?

[QBCNetwork]

Not 5 new game shows, only 2; The $10,000 Pyramid & Hollywood's Talking (Geoff Edwards' debut), a short lived game that got replaced by Match Game 73.

Joker's Wild, Gambit & TPIR came on in 1972.

[kav23]

That's the schedule I remember for KIRO as well, with The Price is Right at 10 am, and local news at noon. When Search ended, KIRO expanded their noon news to 1 hour. I remember seeing Capitol (I don't think the entire run aired though) on KVOS Bellingham, and the rest of the CBS game shows on KCPQ. I remember being so disappointed that I didn't get to see the Y&R/B&B crossovers in1992 and 1993 because KIRO didn't air B&B then.

[joninindiana]

Thank you for posting this!!!