News

Former OLTL and Dark Shadows Writer Sam Hall Has Died: Co-Wrote Karen's Courtroom Confession Classic On One Life!

September 29, 2014

Courtesy/YouTube

Courtesy/YouTube

Over the weekend, news that legendary soap scribe Sam Hall had passed away at the age of 93 on Friday September 26th, began to circulate in a very quiet way via his son Matthew’s personal blog!

Hall was responsible at coming in to ABC’s Dark Shadows at a critical juncture in 1967 and giving the Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) storyline a much needed lift where many say he saved the show at that point from cancellation!

Hall was married to actress Grayson Hall, who eventually would find her way to Dark Shadows as s Dr. Julia Hoffman, an eccentric blood specialist who would discover that Barnabas was a vampire! Grayson died in 1985 at the age of 62. Sam was with Dark Shadows until 1971. “I’ll never escape Dark Shadows,” he said in a June 2005 interview. “Never, never!”

Later, Hall joined former Dark Shadows scribe Gordon Russell over at One Life to Live in 1978 and remained a head writer there until 1984. Gordon and Sam wrote one of One Life to Live’s most memorable story; Viki Lord’s (Erika Slezak) 1979 trial for the murder of Marco Dane (Gerald Anthony). During the trial, housewife Karen Wolek (played by Judith Light) revealed, in a heartbreaking emotional meltdown, that she was working for Marco as a prostitute. The episode earned Sam and Gordon a Daytime Emmy nomination, and Judith Light won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. The duo also created the Buchanan family which remained prominent for decades after Hall left One Life to Live.

Courtesy/ABC

In January 2014, Sam Hall filed a lawsuit against ABC in New York state court claiming he had not been paid the weekly royalties he was owed for the showing of Prospect Park’s online reboot of One Life to Live via iTunes, Hulu and other services. According to the complaint, ABC made a deal in 1984 with Wildercliff, Ltd. for Hall’s writing services. The agreement was said to have entitled Hall to a weekly royalty “as long as the One Life to Live series is broadcast.”

Hall went on to also write for General Hospital, Santa Barbara and even started his career in the soaps with The Brighter Day!

So share your thoughts on the passing of Sam Hall below …. and on his contributions to One Life to Live and Dark Shadows!

Up Next

Michael Muhney Speaks Out And Denies Allegations Surrounding His Dismissal From Y&R!

Don't Miss

Fred Willard and John McCook Discuss The Arrival of John Forrester On The Bold and the Beautiful!

17

newest oldest

Guest

jimh(leave it beaver)

Dark Shadows had many flaws in its storylines and unexplained character departures(later explained in tv guide by Sam Hall after shows cancelation) but DS which remains my favorite soap ever was still fun, very entertaining, escapism five days a week!!!

Guest

vinman

Still watching “Karen’s” Judith Light confession, brings me back to that courtroom in Llanview, Pa……..GREAT WRITING AND GREAT ACTRESS!!! “RIP” SAM HALL!!

Guest

Mark

Dark Shadows was so good and I had no idea he wrote that scene for Judith light who rocks!! She is the only reason to watch the Dallas reboot!

Guest

KK Davis

RIP Mr. Hall

Guest

Henrietta Boyd

R.I.P. ANOTHER REAL WRITER LOST THANKS FOR THE GREAT STORIES !!

Guest

su0000

Dark shadows was before my time..
but!
I broke my leg and a friend gave me the link to Dark Shadows, full series, I was bored from being down..So, I watched and I could not stop watching!!
I had to watch 6 episodes or more a day..!!
Sam Hall thanks for the best entertainment I could have ever hoped for while housebound, Dark Shadows is truly unforgettable..
You were a phenomenal writer!! Dark shadows will never fade away..

Guest

KansasGuest

That was good stuff on OLTL! Well done, Mr. Hall.

Guest

Llanviewer717

Thank you Mr. Hall for your contributions to our beloved OLTL. Watching Karen’s courtroom confession gives me chills even today. RIP.

Guest

JLH

Thanks for some great stories and memories, Mr. Hall! Rest in peace.

Guest

davlestev1

R.I.P Mr.Hall …Legendary!!

Guest

Laurie

Dark Shadows was before my mind, but I remember my mom raving about that courtroom scene and Judith Light for years after it aired. I was a kid when I first saw it and pulled it up not long ago to re-watch it on youtube. It was every bit as great as I remember it. Really, that kind of drama and the build-up to it is really defines what a soap should be. Seems that scene really propelled Judith Light’s career & changed her life. Wouldn’t you love to have THAT on your resume? I wish there were still writers… Read more »

Guest

Alicia Douffet

My condolences to the family of Sam Hall. OLTL was my favorite soap opera. He was a great writer and did it with perfection. RIP Mr. Hall.

Guest

A Baptiste

How lovely to recognize the man who wrote Karen Wolek’s/Ms. Light’s quintessential scene. It may have revealed a sensational topic, but stood for the lack of self-esteem and even self-loathing that so many of us may have had at the time, as did Karen. That’s why our hearts were broken, and we rooted for her, as we secretly rooted for ourselves. We were a nation of evolvement when it came to self-love and Mr. Hall’s writing may have tapped into our collective pain and hopeful evolution. God bless.

Guest

dmr

The OLTL courtroom scene with Judith Light (as Karen Wolek) is daytime television at its best! I’ve watched the scenes on YouTube (as they were before my time) and they are riveting!

Guest

mgb357

Wow – two great pieces of television art. Thanks for the opportunity to remember.

RIP.

Guest

MBmomof3

My condolences to the Hall family & friends. Mr. Hall provided the very best in daytime drama entertainment. Dark Shadows and One Life to Live are my all time favorites soaps. I have many fond memories of watching these shows with my mom & sisters. I started watching when I was pre-K and still remember my sister peeling my fingers away from covering my eyes as Barnabas Collins creeped from the shadows. Ah, sisters. Gotta lov’em.

R.I.P. Sam Hall & thanks for the memories!

Guest

Christy

How great is it that he was such a big part of two wonderful projects! No matter how old I get, those are two of my favorite shows and those courtroom scenes with Karen are permanently etched in my memories. I always think of that storyline whenever I see Judith Light!

General Hospital

Ashton Arbab Says Farewell To General Hospital: “It Was Such An Honor To Have Worked Alongside Of Such Talented Actors”

November 24, 2020

Yesterday, viewers of General Hospitals witnessed that as a result of the bomb explosion at the Floating Rib; it meant the end of the road for a couple of characters. One of those was Dev, and thus ends Ashton Arbab’s over two-year run in the role.

In key scenes, Dev dies in the ambulance ride to the hospital and thanks Sonny (Maurice Benard) for making him a part of the family and tells Sonny to tell Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that he is sorry. Will Sonny recall what Dev said and pass that on to Joss? Will anyone figure out Dev’s duplicity in keeping Joss and Cameron (William Burton) apart? Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Ashton took to Twitter on Tuesday and shared these words of praise and ‘thank you’ for his time on the ABC daytime drama series.

Arbab expressed: “I am forever grateful to Producer Frank Valentini and Mark Teschner (casting director, GH) for this amazing opportunity. It was such an honor to have worked along side of such talented actors and I’m beyond blessed for your friendship. Most of all thank you General Hospital fans.”

So, what did you think of Dev being killed-off? Will you miss Ashton? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

I am forever grateful to Producer @valentinifrank and @TeschnerMark for this amazing opportunity. It was such an honor to have worked along side of such talented actors and I’m beyond blessed for your friendship. Most of all thank you @GeneralHospital Fans! pic.twitter.com/8BcZkjeEG8

— Ashton Arbab (@ashton_arbab) November 24, 2020

;

All My Children

All My Children Virtual Reunion On Tap With Jill Larson, James Kiberd, and More

November 24, 2020

Some more residents of Pine Valley are set for another virtual reunion.

This time circle your calendars for next week on Wednesday, December 2nd.

That is when Matt Borlenghi (Ex-Brian Bodine), William Christian (Ex-Derek Frye), James Kiberd (Ex-Trevor Dillon) and Jill Larson (Ex-Opal Cortlandt) will gather from their respective homes for this conversation with Alan Locher on The Locher Room You Tube channel.

To watch the livestream conversation click here next week beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST

What were your favorite storylines through the years involving AMC’s Opal, Ttevor, Derek or Brian? Let us know via the comment section below.

General Hospital

Mark Lawson Shares Heartfelt Sentiments As He Exits General Hospital

November 23, 2020

General Hospital fans knew Monday’s episode would bring with it who might have survived the explosion at the Floating Rib, and who might still be in peril or who did not make out.

This afternoon as viewers were learning the fate of several characters including Dustin, who was proposing to Lulu (Emme Rylan) as the bomb went off, his portrayer, Mark Lawson took to his Instagram to announce his exit from the series.

Mark expressed: “Actors know this moment is bittersweet. Job well done, but leaving a set full of like-minded, inspired people. Playing Dustin was a joy. Every day on set was a gift, as were: Emme Rylan, Kirsten Storms, Brian Lane, Dominic Zamprogna, Lisa LoCicero, Maurice Benard, Bradford Anderson (And others that don’t have social media!) Thank you General Hospital. Honored to be part of television history not only on this show, but to be among the first actors back to work in town post-Covid. The set always felt safe, and I was proud to be in front of the camera in such a strange time Thank you for everything. Stay soapy.”

Check out Mark’s post below.

So, are you sad that Dustin is no longer on the canvas in Port Charles? Will you miss Mark in the role? Comment below.