ALL HER CHILDREN

by Dan Wakefield ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 1976

Wakefield, once a closet soap addict, admits to being at one with the twenty million spellbound Americans (eleven percent men and a growing campus contingent), who watch the daytime TV serials. This is about #1, ""All My Children."" First comes an amusingly affectionate rundown on the citizens of Pine Valley--""a suburban community. . . about an hour's train ride from New York City, where people sometimes go for abortions or art-gallery tours."" Then Wakefield pays tribute to the Creators who made possible all Pine Valleys--primarily the late Irna Phillips, an ""eccentric"" writer who started it all with ""Painted Dreams"" on Chicago radio in 1932, and her protÉgÉ Agnes Nixon, who reached the summit with A.M.C. Wakefield, luxuriating in Pine Valley, interviews Agnes and the actors. He is edgy with actress Susan Lucci since she speaks with the voice of ""bitchily neurotic"" Erica, and flies for comfort to Mary Pickett's ""steadfast and true"" Ruth Martin. He strains for hints of future developments; sits in on rehearsals and tapings; researches in the A.M.C. Bible (treatment outline); and has, in all, a thrilling few months. Although they will not learn whether Claudette will pull out of her cocaine/alcoholic coma, or whether Tar and Phil will ever wed, devotees can expect a bonanza entertainment; and straights may catch a note or two from the siren song which lures so many to the ""babbling gossip of the air.

Pub Date: March 5, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1976

Categories: NONFICTION