'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 04-03-2006, 09:35 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/03/obit.monty.ap/index.html

'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84

Monday, April 3, 2006; Posted: 7:37 a.m. EDT (11:37 GMT)

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AP) -- Gloria Monty, a groundbreaking producer who turned the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" into a pop sensation in the late 1970s, died Thursday. She was 84.

Monty died of cancer at her home, ABC announced.

With more women joining the work force, the traditional audience for soap operas like "General Hospital" was waning when Monty took over the slumping show in 1978 and was given 13 weeks to turn it around.

She quickly set about reinventing the show to appeal to teens and young adults. Monty added action-adventure and science fiction to plot lines, cast younger actors, quickened the pacing, and had a Broadway designer modernize the set.

Among Monty's boldest -- and most controversial -- moves was a story line in which the characters Luke and Laura began a romance after he had raped her on the floor of a closed disco.

Critics accused Monty of glorifying violence against women, but she appeared unfazed.

Played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, Luke and Laura became pop icons and their 1981 TV wedding drew a stunning 30 million viewers. A Newsweek magazine cover featuring the couple declared the soap "TV's Hottest Show."

"General Hospital" went on to become the No. 1 show for five years and won two Emmy Awards.

Copyright ©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CNN.com-April 3, 2006

80sTrivia · 04-03-2006, 08:17 PM

RIP, Ms. Monty....

JT · 04-05-2006, 11:07 PM

RIP to a daytime legend! She will be forever missed!

It should also be noted that prior to joining GH as executive producer, she was the main director on "The Secret Storm" for most of its 20 year run.

04-03-2006, 09:35 AM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84 http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/03/obit.monty.ap/index.html 'General Hospital' producer Monty dies at 84 Monday, April 3, 2006; Posted: 7:37 a.m. EDT (11:37 GMT) RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AP) -- Gloria Monty, a groundbreaking producer who turned the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" into a pop sensation in the late 1970s, died Thursday. She was 84. Monty died of cancer at her home, ABC announced. With more women joining the work force, the traditional audience for soap operas like "General Hospital" was waning when Monty took over the slumping show in 1978 and was given 13 weeks to turn it around. She quickly set about reinventing the show to appeal to teens and young adults. Monty added action-adventure and science fiction to plot lines, cast younger actors, quickened the pacing, and had a Broadway designer modernize the set. Among Monty's boldest -- and most controversial -- moves was a story line in which the characters Luke and Laura began a romance after he had raped her on the floor of a closed disco. Critics accused Monty of glorifying violence against women, but she appeared unfazed. Played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, Luke and Laura became pop icons and their 1981 TV wedding drew a stunning 30 million viewers. A Newsweek magazine cover featuring the couple declared the soap "TV's Hottest Show." "General Hospital" went on to become the No. 1 show for five years and won two Emmy Awards. Copyright ©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CNN.com-April 3, 2006
	__________________ HBO Documentary: Left of the Dial: Grade: B+ "Morals aren't supposed to stop because it's politically inconvenient to continue them." Keith Olbermann - *Countdown with Keith Olbermann* April 22, 2009 (MSNBC) UPCOMING DVD RELEASES June 16, 2009: The Three Stooges Collection: Volume 6 Star Trek coming to KDOC-TV Monday May 4 @ 9:00pm Farewell KNX/CBS Columbia Square (April 30, 1938-August 12, 2005). Thanks for 67 great years of information and entertainment. My DVD Collection

04-03-2006, 08:17 PM	#2
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	RIP, Ms. Monty....
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

04-05-2006, 11:07 PM	#3
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	RIP to a daytime legend! She will be forever missed! It should also be noted that prior to joining GH as executive producer, she was the main director on "The Secret Storm" for most of its 20 year run.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk