This piece appeared in a local newspaper, the Tribune, on November 16, 1981.

Tribune/TODAY Monday, November 16, 1981

Luke and Laura
Soap opera's hottest lovers to wed at last
by Doris G. Worsham
Tribune Staff writer

After a two-year romance that began with a rape and has included spending a summer "on the lam" from the mob and saving the world from a megalomaniac, soap operadom's most famous couple, Luke Spencer and Laura Webber Baldwin, will finally reach the altar this week.

Luke and Laura.

These two characters have helped to transform ABC's monotonous "General Hospital" into a genuine cultural phenemenon [sic] of the 1980s and the highest-rated daytime drama in television history.

Luke, played by Anthony Geary, the reluctant anti-hero and Laura, played by Genie Francis, the victimized golden girl, will become husband and wife, in a lavish ceremony to be televised today and tomorrow at 2 p.m., on Channels 7 11, 13.

Between 14 and 15 million viewers will watch Luke and Laura exchange vows before a wedding party composed of some 140 cast members, including an international film superstar--actress Elizabeth Taylor, a "General Hospital" fan.

Appearing today, tomorrow and Thursday, Taylor--flashing those violet eyes and dripping in her million dollar diamonds--stars as the cunning Helena Cassadine, widow of Mikkos Cassadine, the flamboyant mad scientist who wanted to rule the world.

Overnight Nielsen ratings for Taylor's first appearance last Tuesday set records: a 56 share in Chicago, a 36 share in New York and a 41 share in Los Angeles, which means of all of the television sets turned on at that time, that percentage are tuned to a particular show.

The outdoor wedding was taped at a rambling estate in Los Angeles that is replica of a 17th century French-Norman chateau. With the theme of "Indian Summer," the estate will be decorated with gourds, pumpkins, fruit and flowers. Some of the wedding party will arrive in vintage cars, including a Rolls Royce and a 1908 Flanders.

"Luke and Laura" mania has spawned cover stories on Newsweek, People, US and the Star. Lengthy articles have detailed every thought and movement of Geary and Francis, including Francis' possible departure next month when her contract expires.

The strong audience identification with Geary and Francis is the most apparent reason for the popularity of "General Hospital." But the secret to the "General Hospital" phenemenon lies behind the scenes.

Jacqueline Smith, ABC vice president of daytime programs since 1977, is regarded as the chief architect of ABC's successful daytime dynasty.

Smith's innovative ideas have created a solid ratings block that is kicked off at noon with "All My Children," followed by "One Life to Live," and "General hospital," which became Smith's showcase daytime drama.

An advocate of action, fantasy, humor and vigorous promotion for daytime stars, Smith initiated sweeping changes that incorporated her concepts.

Gloria Monty took over as producer of GH in 1978, A veteran of two soaps and prime time television movies, Monty had previously worked with Geary on several projects, including a TV movie-of-the week.

Saddled with a soap opera that was on the verge of cancelation [sic] and at the bottom of the ratings heap, Monty set about revamping a show flawed with sleepy storylines and dull characters.

The plodding plots frequently often focused exclusively on the strong-willed Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and his loyal, but long-suffering assistant, Jessie Brewer, R.N. (Emily McLaughln [sic]).

Monty shifted the focus of the show to the talented stars already on GH, notably Denise Alexander as Dr. Leslie [sic] Williams a blonde youngster featured as Williams' long-lost illegitimate daughter Laura Vining, played by 14-year-old Genie Francis.

"When I heard Gloria Monty was coming on the show," the soft-spoken Francis said in an earlier interview, "I went home and told my dad she was the new producer. My dad grabbed his head and said 'Gloria Monty! I worked with her in New York for many, many years.'

"He said, 'She's not going to take any nonsense, so pull up your pants lady, you're going to work,'" Francis remembered. "I was very excited about that because prior to that I hadn't been given any real direction about acting. Gloria is successful because she has a concept in mind and something she knows is going to work so she steps in and takes control because she knows what is going to make the show work."

Monty brought cinematic and prime time production techniques to "General Hospital." She modernized the set with bright hospital set designs, introduced new editing techniques, hired new actors and writers and took the soap out into the streets of Port Charles, the fictional setting of "General Hospital."

In recent years, Monty has also has assembled one of the most exotic casts in daytime history, Andre Landzaat (ex-Tony Cassadine) is Dutch, rock singer Rick Springfield (Dr. Noah Drake) and Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) are Australian and Thaao Penghlis (ex-Victor Cassadine) is Greek-born.

Coupled with these revolutionary ideas and the larger budgets allotted to daytime television under Smith's direction, Monty experimented with a variety of storylines on "General Hospital."

These storylines have included a May-December romance involving Laura and an older man (who she later accidentally killed). Laura's experience as a runaway, and her young marriage to Scotty Baldwin, played by popular Kin Shriner, who later jumped to the rival NBC soap "Texas." but is returning to the "General Hospital fold.

But Monty's boldest move was hiring Geary to play the shadowy, street-wise Luke Spencer--originally a short-term role--to play a sympathetic anti-hero.

One of the most controversial storylines of the past year was Luke Spencer's rape of Laura Baldwin. It was later explained by Francis that the rape was an "acquaintance rape," but the storyline upset parents, feminists, and many fans.

Despite this rocky beginning, Monty had Luke and Laura on the run from the mob in the summer of 1980, and those episodes went down in daytime television history as among the most highly watched episodes since the show premiered in 1963.

Shortly after Geary was persuaded to perm his straight blond hair by "General Hospital" hairdresser Kathy Kotarakos, a succession of "Luke Spencer" clones popped up on "Another World," "The Edge of Night" and "Search for Tomorrow." Such was the popularity of his curly locks.

But what those actors couldn't duplicate was Geary's unpredictability, sense of flair, humor and improvisation, a rarity in daytime television.

"I'm usually pretty loose and the improvisation that goes on--Gloria loves improvisation," Geary said in an interview. "Sometimes things just happen and it comes off naturally. Luke has his own rhythm and the thing about improvisation is that spontaneous moment that you can't plan. What's really exciting is two people working together and getting off on each other's chemistry.

"I've been called the J.R. of daytime," Geary explained. "Seriously, it's a nice compliment, but I want to know if people ask Larry Hagman how he feels about being the Luke Spencer of nighttime? All I'm saying is that is J.R. more valid than Luke Spencer? They're both pieces of fantasy. Luke was alive before J.R. was alive."

The chemistry between Francis and Geary is legend, as is the sexual content on "General Hospital." The show is said to have the highest incidence of sexual involvement of any soap on the air, according to researchers at Michigan State.

During one of my appearances on the daily television talk show "AM San Francisco," one woman called in to ask about Luke and Laura's next "bedroom scene."

When I confessed that I didn't know when that would occur, she replied. "I want to know because I want to stay home from work and watch it!" That caller represents the fanatical loyalty of Luke and Laura fans.

Sidebar: Elizabeth Taylor?

Oscar-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor has joined the daytime television world of disease, divorce and dalliances.

Other soaps have featured celebrity guest appearances by well-known stars such as Dina Merrill, Carol Burnett, Sammy Davis Jr., Dick Cavett and Van Johnson, but "General Hospital" has scored the coup of the television season--daytime or nighttime--with the signing of the superstar.

Fun and humor have marked Taylor's appearances, particularly during a scene with the popular Anthony Geary as Luke. Taylor said "Then you did see the good in him?" referring to her deceased husband Mikkos.

Luke replied; "I don't know what I saw...'cause I'm up--forgotten my lines," and added. "GAWD! It's Elizabeth Taylor!" as he, Taylor, cast and crew all broke into laughter.

Taylor had to retake several scenes after she mispronounced her own character's name. In reassuring tones, Taylor told Geary, "You should have heard me yesterday, I was Madam Flub!"

Sidebar: Wedding Party Who's Who