A Flame in the Wind
Encyclopedia
A Flame in the Wind is a soap opera
that aired on ABC Daytime
from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.
When the series began, Haviland's richest citizen, widowed Kate Austen (Kathleen Maguire
) wrote a novel, in the same manner as Main Street
, which showed Haviland's citizens in a less than perfect light. After the novel was stopped by her publisher, she and her son, Chris (Richard Thomas
), left Haviland, never to return. Her former mother-in-law, Louise Austen (Josephine Nichols) remained in town to become a friend to Jason Farrell (Walter Coy), who had marital troubles with his wife, Leslie (Rita Lloyd); Kate's place as town gossip was taken by Miriam Bentley (Lesley Woods
).
The later stories were focused on young love, embodied by the two Skerba sisters, Linda (Barbara Rodell; Jane Elliot
) and Jane (Beverly Hayes; Margaret Ladd
), battling over the same young man, Steve Reynolds, the son of Kate's former book publisher, Craig Reynolds (Frank Schofield). Linda, who eventually went to New York, to become an actress, dated her director, Paul Davis (Conard Fowkes); and sensible Jane remained behind in Haviland and married Steve Reynolds (Gordon Gray; Tom Fielding). However, later on, Linda and wealthy Roxanne Farrell Reynolds (Margaret Hayes) vied for the same guy, Doug Colton (Ion Berger), who eventually married Roxanne for her money.
When the show's title was changed to A Time for Us, (the title which it became better known) the Skerba family (besides Jane and Linda, the family included their father Al (Roy Poole), a construction foreman; and Martha (Lenka Peterson), the sympathetic mother) underwent a name change as well.
Since the name, Skerba, was considered somewhat ethnic for the time, it was changed to the more Americanized name of Driscoll. Which was successful in that it eliminated the class conflict that had been part of the show's first year, and put the Driscolls on the same social footing as the other families of Haviland.
The series is notable for beginning many actors' careers. A Time for Us marked the first ever appearance of actress Leslie Charleson
, who played a minor character named Pam. She eventually went on to play Monica Quartermaine
on General Hospital
.
Jane Elliot
, who played the second Linda, also moved to General Hospital
as Monica Quartermaine's nasty sister-in-law, Tracy Quartermaine
; which allowed Leslie Charleson and Jane Elliot to work together again. Margaret Ladd, who played the second Jane, later played Jane Wyman
's younger daughter, Emma Channing on Falcon Crest
.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
that aired on ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.
Synopsis
The show focused on the community of Haviland and it's citizens. The main families were the Skerba, Reynolds, Austens, and Farrells.When the series began, Haviland's richest citizen, widowed Kate Austen (Kathleen Maguire
Kathleen Maguire
Kathleen Maguire was an American actress who won an Obie Award in 1958 for her performance in the stage play, The Time of the Cuckoo...
) wrote a novel, in the same manner as Main Street
Main Street (novel)
- Plot summary :Carol Milford is a liberal, free-spirited young woman, reared in the metropolis of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She marries Will Kennicott, a doctor, who is a small-town boy at heart....
, which showed Haviland's citizens in a less than perfect light. After the novel was stopped by her publisher, she and her son, Chris (Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas (actor)
Richard Earl Thomas is an American actor, best known for his role as budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons.- Early life :Thomas was born Richard Earl Thomas in New York,...
), left Haviland, never to return. Her former mother-in-law, Louise Austen (Josephine Nichols) remained in town to become a friend to Jason Farrell (Walter Coy), who had marital troubles with his wife, Leslie (Rita Lloyd); Kate's place as town gossip was taken by Miriam Bentley (Lesley Woods
Lesley Woods
Lesley Woods was an American stage and television actress.-Biography:She was born on August 22, 1910 and began her career in Broadway shows, including "A Case of Libel". She was married to Richard McMurray. Sam McMurray is her stepson. She was a member of Theatre West.She appeared in: Young Dr...
).
The later stories were focused on young love, embodied by the two Skerba sisters, Linda (Barbara Rodell; Jane Elliot
Jane Elliot
Jane Elliot is an American actress, known for her role as Tracy Quartermaine, a role she has played on General Hospital and The City ....
) and Jane (Beverly Hayes; Margaret Ladd
Margaret Ladd
Margaret Ladd is an American actress, best known for playing Emma Channing in the 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest throughout its nine-year run. She was also one of the many actresses who played Jane Skerba on the cancelled 1960s soap opera A Flame in the Wind which later became A Time for Us...
), battling over the same young man, Steve Reynolds, the son of Kate's former book publisher, Craig Reynolds (Frank Schofield). Linda, who eventually went to New York, to become an actress, dated her director, Paul Davis (Conard Fowkes); and sensible Jane remained behind in Haviland and married Steve Reynolds (Gordon Gray; Tom Fielding). However, later on, Linda and wealthy Roxanne Farrell Reynolds (Margaret Hayes) vied for the same guy, Doug Colton (Ion Berger), who eventually married Roxanne for her money.
When the show's title was changed to A Time for Us, (the title which it became better known) the Skerba family (besides Jane and Linda, the family included their father Al (Roy Poole), a construction foreman; and Martha (Lenka Peterson), the sympathetic mother) underwent a name change as well.
Since the name, Skerba, was considered somewhat ethnic for the time, it was changed to the more Americanized name of Driscoll. Which was successful in that it eliminated the class conflict that had been part of the show's first year, and put the Driscolls on the same social footing as the other families of Haviland.
The series is notable for beginning many actors' careers. A Time for Us marked the first ever appearance of actress Leslie Charleson
Leslie Charleson
Leslie Charleson is an American actress most famous for her work in daytime television.-Biography:Charleson was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her career began on short-lived soap A Flame in the Wind in 1964...
, who played a minor character named Pam. She eventually went on to play Monica Quartermaine
Monica Quartermaine
Dr. Monica Quartermaine is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. She is a member of the wealthy Quartermaine family. Her various affairs and quarrels with her husband Dr...
on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
.
Jane Elliot
Jane Elliot
Jane Elliot is an American actress, known for her role as Tracy Quartermaine, a role she has played on General Hospital and The City ....
, who played the second Linda, also moved to General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
as Monica Quartermaine's nasty sister-in-law, Tracy Quartermaine
Tracy Quartermaine
Tracy Angelica Quartermaine Spencer is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital...
; which allowed Leslie Charleson and Jane Elliot to work together again. Margaret Ladd, who played the second Jane, later played Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman was an American singer, dancer, and character actress of film and television. She began her film career in the 1930s, and was a prolific performer for two decades...
's younger daughter, Emma Channing on Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
.