Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 4, 1991 TAG: 9104040369
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
"ATWT," which was created and written by Irna Phillips, debuted April 2, 1956. It earned an Outstanding Daytime Drama Emmy for the 1986-87 season, and held the No. 1 position in the daytime Nielsen ratings for an unprecedented 20 years, 1958-78.
The show continued to maintain a position in the top 10 with its strong romantic stories and its willingness to deal with social issues, including AIDS, teen suicide, euthanasia, drug and alcohol abuse, male homosexuality and, most recently, incest.
In its early years, viewers witnessed riveting stories revolving around two core families, the Hugheses and the Lowells. There was nothing more relaxing than watching Chris and Nancy Hughes (played by Don McLaughlin, who died in 1986, and Helen Wagner, the show's only remaining original cast member), Bob Hughes (Don Hastings) and Lisa Miller (Eileen Fulton) and Ellen and David Stewart (Pat Bruder and Henderson Forsythe).
Over the years, "ATWT" has broadened its horizons and story lines.
The soap was produced live for 20 years before it went to video tape. The use of tape enabled the writers to take their viewers to exotic places like Greece, Spain, Italy, England, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
by CNB