One Life To Live-A Daytime to Remember

[LOLOLUTHER]

@Abbyviki Recasts were a huge deal back when the soaps were 30 minutes and there were fewer characters on the canvas. Also, it was rare when major characters were "backburnered" at they are today. You had leading and supporting roles back then, and each character served a specific purpose. I remember Claire Malis took over the role of Dorian when OLTL was 45 minutes. She didn't have any of Pinkerton's icy Nancy Reaganisms, but she did do an admirable job during her two-year tenure.

[TheOriginalSupreme]

I would love to see more scenes of Nancy Pinkerton as Dorian. Though I've grown up with Robin Strasser in the role and can't imagine anyone else as the ever so fabulous Dorian Cramer Lord, I can't help but wonder had OLTL not fired Nancy in 1977 what Dorian would've been like today had she stayed in the role until her passing or quit sometime before that. I can only hope that one day someone will release scenes of Nancy as Dorian because I'd love to see her opposite Erika Slezak.

[netguy02]

Dorian, as played by the late, great Nancy Pinkerton, is definitely OLTL's best villainess. She was such a cold, conniving bitch. I never thought Dorian cared a bit about Victor; she was only after his money. It was so frustrating that she never got her comeuppance for what she did to him, and, to this day, she never really has. But Robin Strasser has added some vulnerability to Dorian that wasn't there before. It was impossible to feel any sympathy for Dorian before Strasser played her.

[dtw1958]

Thank you for this video. Hoping the one with that hunky Brad comng in from his jogging to rape Karen will make it up one day.

[soapfave06]

I love how Dorian's reflection was shown! Added a nice touch of suspense, and it was so simple! The people could act back then too!

[rickram1961]

The guy who played Dr. James Craig on OLTL was on ATWT for many years. He was married to Ellen Stewart's mother, Claire.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

Dorian wouldn't be the true enemy in this storyline though: a pschotic Cathy Craig(Tony's wife, Jim's daughter/Anna's stepdaughter) would put the Riley's through sheer torture when she kidnapped the young tot Kevin Riley(I heard this was the first child napping on soaps ever) Viki would also be smack in the middle of the same crisis exactly a decade later with Jessica/Natalie!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@Abbyviki I've always had a hard time liking Jessica, don't get me wrong. And I don't like Natalie either. I guess Megan was really the only of Viki's daughters I've ever cared for. Bree is too HARD looking and I really despise how their making her a vampy teen again(though she wasn't vampy when Erin played her as a teen) Brody and Jessica belong together. I never cared for Cristian(at least not this one!) It seems like he just wants to screw anything with breasts!

[calalilygirl]

Loved the music back then

[sweetnancyp]

Nancy Pinkerton, easily could have been a superstar, with the right writers and producers,who recognized her special facial features, and acting abilities. Her and I, could have made a sweeet bundle of pinkbread - colored greeen.

[CandidCandor]

Actually, Nancy Pinkerton was fired from OLTL. Not because she wasn't a good actress, but because the writers wanted to lighten Dorian up after she killed Victor, so that she wouldn't be written into a corner, They thought that the audience wouldn't be able to see past all the evil Dorian did while NP played her. So they brought on someone else to give her a cleaner slate.

[sweetnancyp]

Thanks for the truth Candid Candor. Nancy, was a heavy weight actress,and she was no light weight; and what happened to her, also happened to actresses,such as Laura Sisk Wright,Kimberlyn Brown,Beth Ethers,and Heather Tom. Soaps,must keep their plots fresh - therefore actors and actresses, must be shuffled, from soap to soap - and most,either are unemployed, go back to theater work - like Robin Riker - or quit the whole thing, and live normal lives,like Kimberley Simms.Miss you, Nance.

[gun15509]

Yeah, let's not forget Ellen Holly as well (Carla Scott), I mean it was wrong how they did this veteran & wonderful actress.  She was the main reason why OLTL got a big boost in the ratings (particularly among African-Americans) when it first started back in the late 60's, especially with it's very controversal storyline at that time, about her racial ethnicity. But I have to say, Agnes Nixon was a genius with that one! Lol!! She had the viewers hooked, guessing & confused, lol!!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

yeah during OLTL first decades(60's and 70's) it was Carla that was the leading heroine...not Viki Riley.

[calalilygirl]

You're right; i think they need to do that. great comment

[AyatollahPez]

@CandidCandor Wow, that sucks for Nancy Pinkerton, but I do heart Robin Strasser.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@CandidCandor But she was great!

[netguy02]

@CandidCandor OLTL's execs must have decided to focus on the long-term potential of the Viki/Dorian feud after Victor's death. It certainly seemed like Dorian would eventually be punished in some way for what she did to Victor, but she never was, which is probably the biggest anticlimax in OLTL's history. Over the years, OLTL has apparently tried to resolve (or rewrite) the story of Victor's death in various ways, but none of them has been particularly satisfying.

[Muffy2314]

Loved the storyline with Rachel Farmer Larry and Dorian around 1974--the whole show's storylines were great back then.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@Muffy2314 oh yeah that was a great one! So many of them were great! High drama at it's best! Nobody could do it like OLTL!

[lovenancyp]

I'm so glad,that there are those out there,who like me, love these old soap clips.Thank you so much,you tube,and donna1515!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp I know I've been saying for years that we just need a classic soap opera station(70's, 80's, and then once, I don't know we get to the 91 or 92 eps, it reverses back to the beginning again, for those newer viewers inerested, the older gen who want to rewatch(and missed the first time, whatever the case) hey stations do it for game shows, sitcoms and movies why not the soaps?

[lovenancyp]

Not only was Nancy Pinkerton a great actress,she could have been a excellent model,theatre actress,and facial character model;seeing her again back in those days when soaps were soaps, was fantastic.

[lovenancyp]

To discern,how great,actress is,you have to faithfully follow the storyline,and you have to listen,to the words, that are spoken by that certain actress - and the facial expressions, that they are conveying,in what they are saying;when all that,is "clicking together,with perfect harmony",then,you've got something special;and God, blessed Nancy Pinkerton, with that special gift.Nancy, could have easily had the leading role on this soap at that time;too bad her bosses, didn't discern that.

[lovenancyp]

CORRECTION:On the first line of this comment,here is the corrected first line:"To discern,how great a actress is.."

[Muffy2314]

agree 73-77-great years! glad i was there back then to watch.

[lovenancyp]

muffy2314:In those beginning years of this soap,the ORIGINAL actors and actresses, should have been REMEMBERED MUCH MORE,than they are;there wouldn't HAVE BEEN a Dorian,if NANCY PINKERTON(who was a full package)actress - who didn't have to disrobe,to reveal her gems-as the actresses(soft porn) do today.Yes, those were the good ole days.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp yeah it's really sleazed up. TPTB are forgetting the meaning behind OLTL and soaps in general. Sex is only necessary if it moves the story along(but still not so much flesh) But too much "Afternoon Delight" has really gotten on my nerves something awful! It's time to do another AIDS story with all this cavorting!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@Muffy2314 you lucky devil. All I know I have only read or maybe seen in a flashback or told by a fam member(not born yet, but what I'd give to see that magical time era, I don't even bother watching today's though I'm told how run to the ground it's become) I like that old classic soap opera!

[lovenancyp]

This video, to me, IS a rare antique to treasure;because,finding any photo,video,or dvd,featuring Nancy Pinkerton,is very, very, VERY rare.

[lovenancyp]

I personally believe, that 1973-1977, were the best years of this soap.The reason being three:Dorian,Viki,and Joe,these first four years.If they were the only three characters on the soap,I would still watch!Nancy Pinkerton,and Erika Slezak-those two high facial profile actresses at that time-"fighting"over Joe,was that really interested me,about faithfully staying with the storyline.Nancy,was the real deal;and I'd

love,to have two b&w 8x10's of Nancy(1973)facial.Thanks,for your comments.

[Muffy2314]

Yeah, i haven't followed this show since the 70's when it was so good. it was never the same after that. how it's doing now i don't know because i don't watch.

[lovenancyp]

Muffy:THANKS for the email!! This website,much to my sadness, left the internet 3 months ago;I had no way to get it back - and it was the ONLY website,that gave Nancy Pinkerton, a reasonable expression, of her 4- year existence, on the early days of this soap.After she was replaced, I saw no reason to watch anymore. In soaps, the actors/actresses that play the characters, make the soap "jell"; and when a actor or actress is replaced,ouch! When Nancy left,so did I.She, was Dorian.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp I can't believe this show is still on because of all the replacements! I'm guessing a lot of backbiting and fights went on backstage and actors found it increasingly hard to work with each other(and everyone else at the network) Amazing how stressful life can get just to put on a program to entertain us!

[Muffy2314]

Your welcome. i was young when i watched back then, but will always remember the powerful storylines. How could you top those years? i'm hoping more clips from that time emerge here or somewhere. i think anyone would be captivated by them.

[lovenancyp]

It is my dream,as a writer,to build a think-tank staff,to help me create imaginary plots,that "exploit" or display that the abilties,of great actresses as Nancy Pinkerton,Erika Slezak,and Ann Flood. As you stated, most fans of today's soaps,are so violence-sex oriented, they don't know good acting when they see it. I intend to find old videotapes from ABC,of OLTL(1973-7) and purchase them.The Edge of Night (1969-73),and Santa Barbera(1987-1989) were grand as well.RED SKELTON(1965-8) on CBS.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp I can't believe my aunt loves today's soaps(GH) OLTL and GH used to be my favorites but I will never watch again. It's stuff I'd like to just take out to my dumpster!

[zellcurrie]

I was born in 1980 and i've been watching oltl since 1985 and i have to tell you the show is horrible now. the characters and s/l's are weak

[lovenancypink]

zellcurrie,soaps have been on the decline plotwise since1977 - when Nancy Pinkerton, left OLTL.I lost my zeal and love for soaps since she left . I was infatuated with her I guess.

[zellcurrie]

I had never seen any clips of nancy pinkerton's dorian before until yt. I would love to hear the story behind her departure from OLTL. I love me some Robin Strasser but after seeing these clips nancy cannot be washed out of history her acting abilities are phenomenal and I cant understand why OLTL never thought to bring her back on the show possibly as another character so many other soaps have done this. OLTL has declined more then any other soap on daytime imho.

[lovenancypink]

Her departure,was for the same reason, why Heather Tom left Y/R,and Beth Ethers left GL - THEY GOT TIRED OF THE ROLE.They also had problems, negotiating their contract, and they also,didn't see themselves playing the watered down plots in their roles.Some actresses and actors, have too much respect for themselves,to play a degraded or a insignificant role; some things, are just intolerable, Zellcurrie.The soap opera business, is a cut throat business.Just ask the actresses and actors.

[gun15509]

I have to disagree a little bit, I think soaps got better (or had their heyday) around the mid to late 70's up until the mid 80's. I think they started to decline (or got really ridiculous with the storylines) when they continue to put their veteran actors on the back burner. Or the main characters in a life or death situations, when you pretty much can predict they will survive. Worse, making the characters like superheros (Luke & Laura comes to mind) from a comic book.

[calalilygirl]

I think you're right about that-- mid 70's great and that did persist into the 80's for a while.

[sonyab1974]

Or the main characters in a life or death situations, when you pretty much can predict they will survive.

===========================

It doesn't matter if you can predict if the person can survive or not. This is a soap opera. :) They have to write storylines for the vets. There is nothing wrong with life or death situations. Or do you want all of them to be in happy storylines all the time with nothing wrong happening? :)

[gun15509]

You miss my point sonyab1974, take Knott's Landing for example, the reason why it lasted longer, became better than Dallas & the other primetime soaps of the 80's, was because the writers rarely (think of Dynasty Alexis Carrington) put the characters in a life or death situation. The writers on Knotts Landing were brilliant (IMO) in writing REALISTIC storylines, cliffhangers without always involving the main characters in a stupid, unrealistic life or death plot in the season finally.

[sonyab1974]

Well gun15509 every soap is different. Not every writer is going to write the same thing. OLTL has been awesome back then and still is. :)

[imachildofthe80s8089]

well you're half right. OLTL WAS awesome. It ain't worth two cents of my time and devotion today. It would help if they set a blowtorch to Manning and let him expand in flames! Maybe that will get me to watch again. Smug SOB he is!

[LeeColby1]

@imachildofthe80s8089 OLTL I believe will be cancelled the writers and the other powers have killed that show 100 times over. The show has no real connection to its rich history they have shoved the mannings particularly todd down our throats for the past 20 yrs almost. The show has no compelling storylines that make the audienec want more and those teens omg, i so not even watch it anymore.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@sonyab1974 well not exactly good anymore. Not by a long shot. I've been fed up and said c'est la vie and so has many other people. This is a very perverted program nowdays that I just...I don't recognize it anymore. It's called OLTL but it's not OLTL if you know what I'm saying. MY OLTL was the(Good) Lord's, the Wolek's, Gray's, Cramer's and Buchanan's. It's nothing but a sexfest nowdays(boring and nasty!)

[imachildofthe80s8089]

yeah a former friend of mine wanted happy on the soaps all the time. I said this is a soap opera, if everybody sat around sipping tea and telling ghost stories...these shows wouldn't of made it out their first year!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@sonyab1974 Very true. My former bf(she's a little on the "slow" side) thought that soaps needed to be happy all the time. I said "Rach, a happy soap is a boring soap and WON'T last past 2 years!) People want happy, they should go turn on Full House(again another good program, but we all know problems can't be solved within a half an hour with a simple hug and kiss)

[imachildofthe80s8089]

yeah I don't and will never get why L@L had all the hoopla. There was so much better stuff going on than JUST them. Plus they started out with a rape between them which is hardly romantic. I would never fall in love with the man that raped me. I would more than likely be trying to find a place to stick a knife...sorry but if the punishment fits the crime...

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@gun15509 I agree. I personally will NEVER understand the hubbub surrounding L@L. Yes they were (Okay) to me but far from the best.(I just can't understand why a woman would fall for her rapist and leave her safety net(husband and parents) for this...rogue. And how everybody else afterwards liked as well. It's incomprehensible to me.

[calalilygirl]

@lovenancyp Without a doubt.

[lovenancyp]

I believe, that it is MORE of a challenge, to play the role,of the actress,who DOESN'T have the attention, of the leading man -as Nancy Pinkerton did in this video- and has to reveal to viewers,the deviate side of a scorned woman,which every woman has inside her..even the perfect Vikki.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp oh yeah even "saint Viki(which Dorian sarcastically and RIGHTFULLY) has called her over the years(because Viki really ain't) Viki should have went to prison several times. And I can't stand her excuses for her PIG brother!

[manussa77]

This actress may have been good as Dorian, but ROBIN STRASSER is Dorian

[lovenancyp]

Perhaps to you and others; but not to all, thank you.Nancy was the first, and she set the foundation, for Robin to play Dorian.Nancy DOES HAVE her fans;so be careful, when it comes to comparisons.I LOVE Nancy Pinkerton;she was a hellava actress-and I'd give an arm and a leg,if I could find 2FACIAL,8x10 black and whites of this actress, with a billion-dollar facial profile.1973-77..wow Nance!!

[calalilygirl]

was there someone else who played Dorian for a while between Nancy and Robin? I remember a different face back then too.

[zellcurrie]

Yes Nancy pinkerton went on paternity leave and dixie carter played dorian until pinkerton returned. Then when pinkerton left the show for good in 1977,Claire Malis played dorian until1979 then robin came in and played DL until 1987. From 1989 until 1993 elaine princi played dorian until robin returned in 1993.

[calalilygirl]

Thanks, i'll know who to ask if i have antymore questions. I loved this soap back then in the 70's--great storylines and actors.

[zellcurrie]

I was born in 1979 so I missed alot of these good s/l

[7563250]

No kidding.  Great detail zellcurrie, you must be a ture fan?

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@zellcurrie Then Robin left again in 2000(traveling the world with Drake Faraday, what happened to Damian Smith's good twin, LOL) and has been back in 2003(since she married Mitch Laurence and took over Llanfair/Llandump once more.) Glad that story didn't last too much longer

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@calalilygirl Claire Malis. And the recently deceased Dixie Carter(Designing Women's Julia) stepped in for one of the two actresses maternity leaves(sometime in '77)

[imachildofthe80s8089]

@lovenancyp Too bad Strasser didn't stay on as AW's Rachel(first soap role) She could've been diva Rachel to the end and Pinkerton as Dorian til the end. Sadly though, if Nance was still playing Dorian, Dorian would have to be bumped off(because Nancy had recently passed away) and Dorian still has so much LIFE in her!