After a lifetime in the arts while living in New York City, the videos on this channel sometimes reflects programs I've appeared in, or more often something I've created for whatever reason: Most recently our Shakespeare Alive! readings during Covid have provided our community of actors a place of challenge -- fabulous performances I just had to share. Other highlights are from the attorneys who played softball every summer while I worked in a law firm; promos for our company, History Alive and other personal creations reflecting the many chapters lived within this soap opera I call my life.
Ciao Denise, sono Simone un tuo fan dall'Italia. Ho amato molto il tuo personaggio, ma con il tuo bellissimo aspetto, meritavi di continuare per sempre. Hai talento, sei spontanea e bellissima. Gli autori avrebbero dovuto costruire su di te il personaggio centrale della soap, sulla scia dei Bauer. Ma negli anni 80 hanno stravolto tutto, inserendo trame e personaggi di una confusione allucinante, elimindo anche le bellissime musiche di scena che c'erano fino ai primi anni 80. In italiano Guiding Light si chiama Sentieri. Tu sei stata uno dei miei personaggi preferiti insieme a Bert, Mike, Ed (Mart), Rita, Holly, Adam, Barbara. In seguito Moreen, Lucy con Alan Michael e Brent Lawrence, Jenna, Ben (Matt) e Richard. Non ho mai amato Reva Shayne con tutta la sua famiglia. Hanno portato solo confusione. Adesso ti saluto e ti raccomando fatti sentire. Ciao
GL was great in this time period. It was ruined when the Texas team took over. Wished the Dobsons had stayed with the series. Marland added his share, but wrote too many favorites out.
Thank you! Now that we're finally publishing our Rehearsal Club "Cinderellas of West 53rd Street" book by the end of this year . . . the universe might find me something else to occupy my time. Follow me on social to hear the latest.
I starting watching GL around 1977 & 1978 and watched till the very (bitter) end. The nurses hub saw all the action. Good memories. Keep up the good work.
Thank you! Our Covid-inspired Shakespeare Alive theater group has been my latest surprise. Some early videos are archived on our History Alive site: www.historyalivenycom.com. Horribly behind. We got thru 16 plays - & the actors want to keep it going in the fall. A new life. Until a new “fantasy” life evolves.
Interesting that you tested for Jackie, as it looked like you were being considered by the writers for Justin's love interest after Jackie was killed off - Katie was very supportive of Dr. Marler in the aftermath. But that was about the time Doug Marland was either leaving or just left and the show was in a odd period of transition so the coupling might have gotten lost in the shuffling of writers. Thanks for sharing your memories - it means a lot to us fans who miss the glory days of the CBS soaps. Wishing you continued success!
Thank you, Nate. Appreciate the sleuthing & yes, I remember that possibility happening w/“Justin.” We had good chemistry together (like “Riva” & “Josh” later). Missed opportunity. And the world keeps spinning round. The life I write for myself is quite fun. Some shared on social if you follow.
These are great "lessons" from Denise Pence - what she went through is exactly what the viewer experienced - even with Marland, many longtime vets were let go or recast - Adam, Barbara, Ed (recast), Sara, Dr. Jackson, etc. While not as bad as the Kobe/Long purge, it was the beginning of things to come. Don't think the viewers didn't notice, and after the irrevocable damage to the show by Kobe/Long, basically creating an entire new show, GL never recovered - never had a heart again.
Thank you, Russell. Glad I told my story, my way. New “real” life these days. Reading thru all the Shakespeare plays via zoom w/a other frustrated, fabulous actors. Archived on our History Alive! Site: www.historyalivenycom.com
I had mixed feelings--there were really fun and interesting storylines with the Lewis and Shayne families (and particularly fun to see Patricia Barry and Audrey Peters on the show)--but when the show was so dominated by those families, the Bauers and Spauldings nearly disappeared, just as gaining the Reardons went along with losing so many old favs.
Thank you for this. I watched Guiding Light when I was little kid with my mom and through the last eposode. I loved Texas, too, and Pam Long was my favorite. It was so painful to watch what she and Gail Kobe did to our show. I was shocked. Texas was great.
Imo making it the Reva Shayne show is what destroyed The Guiding Light. I grew up with this soap. I quit watching it by the end. I did watch it to last episodes for nostalgic purposes it is sad that it was canceled.
My grandmother was a fan of Guiding Light from the time it started on radio through its transition to television. She got my sister and I addicted to the show at a young age. I was very young 5-6 but since she was watching it, so did we. I remember a hospital holiday puppet show that you were involved in as well. At the time the character of Phillip and young Christina (later became Blake) were in the scenes as well as Bert Bauer I believe. My grandmother watched the show until her death in 1993. She was 92, and never let anyone interrupt her stories when we visited her in the nursing home.
Loved the creepy Andy Ferris blackmail storyline (1981) and was so looking forward to Katie finding love with Tony Reardon, but, alas, he was in love with Katie's bff, Hillary! Katie couldn't catch a break, but she was always smiling!!!! Thank you, Ms. Pence (I was a CHILD watching GL!)
Welcome to the world of grown ups! Much happier in real life -- my husband of 40+ years says why would he ever want hamburger when he's got steak at home? I expect Tony missed out . . .
I'm 29 almost 30 and I've loved GL all my days. I watched from 92 to 09. I started watching older episodes on YT around 2005. I truly enjoyed Katie. She was truly a special character to watch. I wish Gail Kobe had kept Katie on GL.
Love hearing that, Cat. Thank you! Yeah, the ability to catch past episodes keeps my character a little more alive - my best time, tho, were those first 2 creative years. Staying on GL 7 years later, would have been a lot easier for me raising family, but when I look back now, I've learned soooo much more about "me," found other skills (but still have the acting bug) and feel "survival" has been a bit of a badge of honor in this biz. If interested, I have 3 "History Lessons" out there on my website. Pretty much tells the story of the changes corporate-wise during my time: '77-'85. Hate that the soaps died in NY. Great training ground for all of us.
Thank you for your wonderful contributions as Katie Parker. I especially enjoyed your scenes with Marsha Clark (Hillary Bauer)--I loved the Katie and Hillary friendship!
Thank you, Lisa. Glad to bring back good memories - these first few years were great fun (pregnant most of the time)! Now my daughter is on the verge of making me a granny! Amazing where the time goes -- cherish the day.
I loved Guiding Light during these years & enjoyed your character. Once, as you said, the core characters left it wasn’t the same. Enjoyed seeing you on the Locher Room.
I was a huge fan of GL from the mid-70s right up until I started college in '83, so it's fascinating to hear your insights and behind-the-scenes recollections. I'm trying to envision you as Jackie Marler. (The character would certainly have been quite different from Cindy Pickett's version.) I'm glad they came up with the character of Katie. Those nurses station scenes were always so much fun, back in those days.
Thank you, Mar! I so appreciate the fans who remember those days. They were, of course, quite special for me -- changed my real life, that's for sure. Just for the record: Cindy was wonderful as "Jackie." And I loved growing with "Katie." The discovery process was so much more rewarding than my fitting into the preconceived storyline. The writers pulled from me; the directors directed the comedic timing they found in me &, of course, the fans supported what was happening. Those early years were all great. Now, I still owe a History Lesson #3 . . . for whatever reason, that's been the hardest for me to create. Maybe in the New Year!
+Denise Pence You were great in GL. My mom was a big fan of GL. She passed away in 2009 at age 77. She also remembered listening to GL on radio when she was a teen then watched it when it came to TV in 1952 and watched it until her death ( She passed away5 months before GL went off the air). She talked about alot ofyou were one of her favorites. And ironically your character shared the same last name (her maiden name was Cooper) whenever she seen you on GL she felt you were like a member of our family. i would watch GL during the summer and winter breaks between school back in the early 1980's. I thought you were a great and beautiful actress. You look great today. Happy New Year! All the best to you in 2017.
Aren't you terrific, Tommy, for sitting down and actually sharing those memories with me. Thank you. This is what I love about social media -- knowing whatever I'm doing is being remembered and appreciated "out there." I am honored to be considered a part of your family. Your mom sounds like she raised quite a good little man in you -- probably all those life lessons taught on GL! The "light" always trumped the "dark." In church today, we're encouraged to be a "Soldiers of Light" when sharing on social media (I'm now teaching the same at SAG-AFTRA's Conservatory). Another good life lesson I take with me daily and yes, looking forward to a good New Year in 2017 (trusting our country is being led in the right direction). All my best to you on your life's journey!
Wow! Nice editing! Denise, you now have the "keys to the kingdom" -- but now that you have unlocked "the code" I can't wait to see what you do as an editor. There's nothing to stop you know!
