The loss of Ryan’s Hope from the ABC schedule is something that is still lamented by soap fans to this day. There was nothing else like it in the daytime landscape, and there’s never been another show that has come close to replicating the tight-knit feel of the blue-collar characters. And now, Tom Lisanti’s book, Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap, finally gives viewers that jaw-dropping reason why the show was axed — and there’s one shocking “villain” to the entire plot.
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With this being St Patrick’s Day, I wanted to remind people that there once was a soap that would be celebrating the holiday in the most festive way possible. Even when the show, Ryan’s Hope (1975- 1989), after 13 years, went off the air. Who could forget the show’s matriarch, Maeve Ryan (Played by Broadway legend, Helen Gallagher) singing the song, “Danny Boy” as the last frame faded to black.
When Tom Lisanti’s book, Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap, came out last fall, I requested a copy, as someone with Irish roots, I started watching the show with my mom in
1976, and became an avid fan in 1980. I chatted with Lisanti’s through email this past week.
The new episode of the Forgotten Filmcast is here! This time, Todd is joined by Tom Lisanti from sixtiescinema.com to discuss a 1964 film featuring three sixties beauties. Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley and Pamela Tiffin star in The Pleasure Seekers.
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TV CONFIDENTIAL commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley is available online for listening on demand. Guests include Steve Binder, director of Elvis: The 1968 Comeback Special; actor Michael Dante (Kid Galahad, Winterhawk); film historian Tom Lisanti (Talking Sixties Drive-In Movies); and renowned Elvis Presley historian Cory Cooper help TV CONFIDENTIAL commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. Plus: A replay of our February 2017 conversation with Steve Binder, producer and director of Elvis: The 1968 Comeback Special.
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A feature-length documentary about Star Trek's iconic Green Girl, Susan Oliver - Prolific actress of the '50s - '80s, original member of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, record-setting female aviator; Tragically taken by cancer in 1990.
Film Historian Tom Lisanti of SixtiesCinema.com on TCM
Don’t miss an Author’s Afternoon with Tom Lisanti live in The Locher Room. Tom is stopping by to talk about his new book, Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap. The book is out now and is a definitive look at the popular serial from the people who made it so beloved and how it made its way into millions of households through a combination of compelling storylines, incredible publicity, a slew of younger viewers who became loyal fans, and daytime star power that made it so innovative during the Golden Age of Daytime Soap Operas. Joining Tom to discuss the book and their experience working on this beloved soap are Christopher Durham and Ilene Kristen. Tom is an award-winning author of eleven books about the ‘60’s and 70’s film and television. He has appeared on Turner Classic Movies co-hosting with Ben Mankiewicz a week of 1960s spring break/beach movies and he is featured in the documentary The Green Girl about actress Susan Oliver, and an upcoming documentary about novelist/screenwriter Terry Southern. He has recently written articles for Cinema of the 70s; Films of the Golden Age; Scary Monsters; and Cinema Retro magazines.
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"Ryan’s Hope" aired on ABC from 1975 to 1989, and along the way received multiple Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series and its iconic cast which included: Helen Gallagher, Bernard Barrow, Kate Mulgrew, Marg Helgenberger, Michael Levin, Ilene Kristen, Nancy Addison Altman, Ron Hale, Justin Deas and many more. On Tuesday night, October 10th, author Tom Lisanti chats live with Michael Fairman about the release of his upcoming book on the soap opera, "Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap" due out on October 24th. Joining Tom as a special guest, will be "Ryan's Hope" favorite, Ilene Kristen (ex-Delia Ryan). Lisanti's 'Ryan's Hope' tribute book takes the reader behind the scenes of the series in the words of the cast, crew, and its co-creators and head writers, Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer. An award-winning author of eleven books about the ‘60s and ‘70s film and television, Lisanti has appeared on Turner Classic Movies co-hosting with Ben Mankiewicz a week of 1960s spring break/beach movies and he is featured in the documentary "The Green Girl" about actress Susan Oliver, and an upcoming documentary about novelist/screenwriter Terry Southern. He has recently written articles for Cinema of the 70s; Films of the Golden Age; Scary Monsters; and Cinema Retro magazines.
Exclusive! The stars of the beloved daytime drama Ryan's Hope, Ilene Kristen, Karen Morris- Gowdy and Malcolm Groome, along with Tom Lisanti, award-winning author and film historian, author of An Oral History of Daytime's Ground-Breaking Soap, Ryan's Hope share behind the scenes stories with award-winning television, radio, multimedia personality, host, journalist and entertainer Jim Masters on this special episode of The Jim Masters Show Live entertainment, lifestyle, celebrity talk show series.
