Douglas Marland (born Marland Messner, May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993) was an American writer of soap operas. Marland wrote for a number of soap operas, creating some of the best known characters on daytime, including The Quartermaines, Bobbie Spencer, Luke Spencer on General Hospital, and Nola Reardon on Guiding Light. He is perhaps best known for his tenure as head writer and co-creator of As the World Turns, a position he held from 1985 until his death in 1993. // is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ... Information Gender Male Occupation Owner of E.L.Q. Address 66 Harbor View Road Port Charles, New York Portrayed by John Ingle (1993-2004; 2006 - ) Jed Allen (2004 - 2006) David Lewis (1978-1989; 1991-1993) Edward Quartermaine is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. ... Information Occupation Nurse Address Port Charles, New York Portrayed by Jacklyn Zeman Bobbie Spencer (born Barbara Jean Spencer) is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera , General Hospital. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Luke Spencer and Laura Webber. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

Career

Before soap operas

He began his soap opera career as an actor, appearing on the Irna Phillips series The Brighter Day and As the World Turns. He also did odd jobs on the side as a director for small theatre groups. On one such job, staging the DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson musical "Good News!", he worked with Broadway dancer Edie Cowan and pianist Ethan Mordden, both of whom went on to professional careers as, respectively, choreographer and writer. Marland also wrote some Nick Carter mysteries, under one of the publisher's standard pseudonyms. The Brighter Day was a soap opera which aired on CBS-TV from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Ethan Mordden is an American author. ...

Early writing career

He first started writing scripts for soap operas in the 1970s, as a subwriter to Harding Lemay on Another World. He was hired by ABC Daytime in 1977 to work with Gloria Monty on their serial General Hospital. At that time, the show was near cancellation. Marland's writing, along with Monty's extensive production changes, helped the show rise in the ratings. Marland was instrumental in pairing the iconic supercouple of Luke Spencer and Laura Spencer, as well as creating vixen Bobbie Spencer and The Quartermaines The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Harding Lemay (born 1922 in Bombay, New York) is a well-known American soap opera writer. ... Another World (sometimes called Another World: Bay City as it was briefly known) is a Daytime Emmy-winning American soap opera which ran on the NBC television network from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. ... ABC Daytime (ABCD) is a programming block on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). ... Gloria Monty is an American TV producer working primarily in the field of daytime drama. ... For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... Luke and Lauras record-breaking wedding, November 16, 1981. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Luke Spencer and Laura Webber. ... Categories: Supercouples ... Vixen can refer to: A female fox, or A shrewish, ill-tempered or spiteful woman; a virago An attractive woman Vixen (band), an all-female rock and roll band from the 1980s Another rock and roll band formed in 1982 featuring Marty Friedman (guitarist). ... Information Occupation Nurse Address Port Charles, New York Portrayed by Jacklyn Zeman Bobbie Spencer (born Barbara Jean Spencer) is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera , General Hospital. ... Lila was a bedrock character on General Hospital. ...

Although the changes at General Hospital were a success, Marland was not interested in moving to Los Angeles, where the show was produced. In 1979, he assumed the head writing reins of New York-based Guiding Light. Marland's run on GL produced popular storylines and characters. One character Marland introduced was Nola Reardon, played by Lisa Brown. The uncoventional Nola started as a villainess and became the heroine of the show. Another story was an envelope-pushing story that featured the character of Carrie Todd Marler (played by Jane Elliot). Carrie was diagnosed with multiple personalities, and Marland had barely delved into her psychosis when Elliot's contract was abruptly terminated by Executive Producer Allan Potter in 1982; Marland resigned in protest. For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ... Lisa Brown (born August 2, 1954) is an American actress, born in Kansas City, Missouri. ... Jane Elliot (born January 17, 1947 in New York, New York) is an award-winning American actress. ... Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), as defined by the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), is a mental condition whereby a single individual evidences two or more distinct identities or personalities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

Marland next teamed up with fellow writer Agnes Nixon to create Loving, which he wrote for the show's first few months in 1983. Agnes Nixon Agnes Nixon (born Agnes Eckhardt on December 27, 1927) is a Daytime Emmy award-winning writer and producer. ... The soap opera Loving aired on ABC from June 27, 1983 to November 10, 1995. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

During the 1982-1983 season, he co-wrote, with James Rosin, a show that he had created, "A New Day In Eden" for the cable channel Showtime. The show was hailed as TV's first "nude" soap opera, in which many cast members would perform their love scenes without clothes. Then unknown Jack Wagner debuted as Clint Masterson, a college student who was having an affair with an older woman, Miranda Stevens (played by Maggie Sullivan). Miranda was the show's power-driven bitch character, secretly in love with her brother-in-law Bryan Lewis (Jim McCullum), the head of the family's electronics corporation which was the driving force of the little town of Eden. Among all the sexual goings-on and power plays, Eden was in the grips of a serial rapist's terror. The story thrived on the taboo, showcasing bodies and a perverse combination of sex and violence, including a deflowering in a barn, a sexual assault in a shower, and one story in which a woman seduced the rival for another man's affections in a lesbian storyline. Despite its controversy and the fact the cast included daytime legends Jane Elliot (fresh from her run as Tracy on GH & Carrie on GL), Lara Parker (famous as the witch Angelique on the cult series Dark Shadows), and was produced and sometimes directed by daytime veteran actress Susan Flannery, "A New Day In Eden only lasted 13 episodes, and, in its cliffhanger, left the question of who the town's serial rapist was up in the air. Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States. ... Jack Wagner (born October 3, 1959 in Washington, Missouri) is an Emmy Award-nominated American actor. ... Maggie Sullivan is a fictional character in the American soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by actress Tammy Lauren since October 30th, 2006. ... Jane Elliot (born January 17, 1947 in New York, New York) is an award-winning American actress. ... Lara Parker was born Mary Lamar Rickey in Knoxville, Tennessee on October 27, 1940. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester from The Bold and the Beautiful. ...

Writing "As The World Turns"

Marland was hired in 1985 to return to As the World Turns Marland refocused the show and moved the Hughes family back into cornerstone status. He utilized over 30 years of history to create new storylines for vixen Lisa and, most notably, for core characters Bob and Kim Hughes. (The story, where a child previously thought to be dead was found to be alive and living in England, was a dual role played by future Oscar-nominated actress Julianne Moore.) He also introduced a new working class family, the Snyders, into the storyline and added new dimensions to the wealthy Lucinda Walsh (Elizabeth Hubbard) by tying the Walshes and Snyders together. This resulted in the pairing of Lily Walsh (Martha Byrne) and Holden Snyder (Jon Hensley)]]. It was also revealed that Iva Snyder was the biological mother of Lucinda's adopted daughter Lily. This article is about the year. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Kimberley John Hughes (born January 26, 1954, Margaret River, Western Australia) is a former Australian cricketer and Test and ODI captain who played in 70 Tests and 97 ODIs from 1977 to 1985. ... Julianne Moore (born December 3, 1960) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress. ... Elizabeth Hubbard is an American soap opera actress, best known for her role as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors. ... Martha Byrne as Lily Walsh Snyder Mary Martha Byrne (born December 23, 1969 in Ridgewood, New Jersey) is an American actress. ... Holden Snyder is a fictional character on the American soap opera As The World Turns. ... Jon Hensley (born August 26, 1965 in Browns Mills, New Jersey) is an American soap opera actor, most known for his role as Holden Snyder on As the World Turns. ...

The new Snyder family was based largely on Douglas Marland's own experiences; he grew up on a farm in West Sand Lake, NY. In several interviews, Marland remarked that the character of Seth Snyder was based largely on his own life. Seth was the oldest child, who had been taken on great responsibility in helping to raise his siblings following patriarch Harvey Snyder's death. This event was key to the formation of the Snyder family dynamic, in that Marland was allowed to write a strong and independent yet maternal figure in matriarch Emma Snyder (Kathleen Widdoes). Kathleen Widdoes is an American actress best known as Emma Synder on As the World Turns. ...

Marland was also responsible for adding the first gay male character on an American soap opera to his story during his tenure on ATWT, Hank Elliot (Brian Starcher). The story was short-lived (Hank was featured for about 18 months), but groundbreaking; the soap became a pioneer for others who wished to put gay male characters, heretofore unseen, on their respective shows. Although the story centered on Hank, it allowed viewers to see another side to long running characters, when those characters reacted to the news that Hank was gay. The character of Hank was written off of the show to take care of his lover Charles, who was dying of AIDS. For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ...

Marland diversified ATWT's previously white-bread canvas, introducing an Amerasian character as the child of a Vietnam vet, and also featuring a story of a mixed-race couple marrying and having a baby (and showing negative reactions to the marriage and birth). Another story featured town matriarch Nancy Hughes helping a young, illiterate African-American girl learn to read. Nancy Hughes is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. ...

Marland also penned a story featuring the character of Ellie Snyder aborting her baby; abortion is a rarity in daytime and this again allowed Marland to write about both sides of a controversial issue.

Marland wrote the show until his sudden death from a botched abdominal surgery procedure in 1993. His work received an Emmy award after his death.

A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... The Doctors was a soap opera which aired on NBC from April 1, 1963 to December 31, 1982. ... Richard Holland or Richard de Holande (fl. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... Patricia Pat Falken Smith (January 21, 1926 – May 19, 2001) was a television writer, most famous for her stints as head writer of several soap operas, including General Hospital and Days of Our Lives. ... Ralph Ellis is a British historical researcher who has written a number of books on revisionary theology. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Bridget Dobson and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas and created the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara in 1984. ... Bridget Dobson and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas and created the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara in 1984. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ... Patricia Pat Falken Smith (January 21, 1926 – May 19, 2001) was a television writer, most famous for her stints as head writer of several soap operas, including General Hospital and Days of Our Lives. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... The U.S. soap opera Loving aired on ABC from June 27, 1983 to November 10, 1995 for 3,169 episodes. ... Agnes Nixon Agnes Nixon (born Agnes Eckhardt on December 27, 1927) is a Daytime Emmy award-winning writer and producer. ... A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Juliet Law Packer is an American TV writer. ... Richard Backus is an American TV writer and former actor. ...

External links

• Douglas Marland's creed How Not To Wreck A Show