After varied roles in showbiz, James Rosin gave up acting to concentrate on a writing career. He’s authored a number of books focusing on popular TV shows of the past. His latest tome is Peyton Place: The Television Series, which holds the honor of being prime-time’s first soap opera, and ran from 1964-69 on ABC. Here, the author talks shop with Digest, and shares what it was like to be chased by Robert Scorpio during they heyday of GH.
Soap Opera Digest: You’ve authored books on QUINCY, WAGON TRAIN, THE INVADERS. Why PEYTON PLACE?
James Rosin: Well, I’ve done books on television series that were unique, enjoyable and watched by millions of people — that I also enjoyed. PEYTON PLACE was billed as the first nighttime soap opera. I would call it what Ryan O’Neal [ex-Rodney] termed it when I talked to him for the book. It really was a novel for TV. It was unique, because it never went into reruns. There were 514 episodes over five years. It was well written, well acted and well produced, and that’s why I wrote the book. I grew up with it.
Digest: You’ve got a great collection of actor interviews, story synopses and rare photos. How long did that take you to compile?
Rosin: I would say, from start to finish, probably about a year. The photographs came from various sources: some of the actors, some from collectors.
Digest: What will soap fans glean from the book?
Rosin: I think it enlightens the reader as to how this type of show was produced and how it was sustained, which is even more important because five years and 514 episodes is quite an achievement. If you were to compare that to a weekly, hour-long series that’s on once a week, PEYTON PLACE was on 15 years! An important part of my book is the commentary from the actors, not only because it gives the book an authenticity but it also gives the reader a first-hand knowledge of what took place at the time.
Digest: Any fun stories from interviewing the cast members?
Rosin: I enjoyed talking to everybody: Dorothy Malone [ex-Constance], Ryan O’Neal, Barbara Parkins [ex-Betty], Ed Nelson [ex-Michael], Tim O’Connor [ex-Elliot]. What I always find interesting and enlightening when I do these books is how these shows dealt with the conflicts and the challenges that arose, like when Mia Farrow [ex-Allison] left the show. What happened was, it necessitated changing the whole storyline.
Digest: PEYTON PLACE also tackled risqué topics, which would actually seem tame by today’s standards.
Rosin: In those days, particularly when the show first went on the air, they had to be very careful what they did on network television so it would not offend the interests at the time. They couldn’t use certain words. Barbara talks about the beds being a certain number of feet apart. They were measured! In the beginning, two people couldn’t sit on the bed together. Network censorship was strict and enforced in those days. It did loosen up as the show went on but compared to today, it was very austere.
Digest: Do you think it’s time for an update?
Rosin: Well, you never know [laughs]. The first 64 episodes, which is a little more than half of the first season, are now available on DVD and if it does well, who knows? It might get people thinking. They’re always remaking something these days.
Digest: Before you wrote about television, you appeared on it and played a jewel thief on GH. Tell us about that.
Rosin: It was very brief. I worked there in 1983. When I did the show, John Beradino [ex-Steve] was still on. Demi Moore [ex-Jackie] and Janine Turner [ex-Laura] were both on it. Of course, the regulars, Tony Geary [Luke], Tristan Rogers [ex-Robert; Colin, Y&R], Leslie Charleson [Monica], Stuart Damon [ex-Alan]. They were a very nice group of people. When I worked there, what amazed me was the set. It was so small but on television, it always appeared so much larger [laughs].
Digest: Tell us what you did.
Rosin: I played a jewel thief, and we were attempting to steal a very valuable piece of artwork from a museum and Scorpio was hot on our trail.
Digest: You also appeared on EDGE OF NIGHT.
Rosin: Yes, I worked there two different times, two days each. [In 1979], I played a hunter in the woods and my partner accidentally shot Frances Fisher [ex-Deborah; Gladys, DAYS] in the woods. He mistook her for prey. They actually they wanted me to shoot her but I said no. I had quite a reaction to that. Then I came back about a year later and played a bartender for a couple of shows. I remember Kim Hunter [ex-Nola; ex-Faye, AMC, et al] was on the show when I was on it, so I remember sitting talking to her. That was a treat.
Digest: And you also wrote for a prime-time soap.
Rosin: Yes. The soap opera I wrote for was on Showtime and it was called LOVING FRIENDS AND PERFECT COUPLES. It was a half-hour series and it ran for one year, 85 episodes. It was created and produced by David Jacobs, who did DALLAS and KNOTS LANDING, among many others. It was adult-oriented, but very tastefully done, because that’s what David did. It ran from 1982-83.
Digest: So basically, between daytime and now PEYTON PLACE: THE TELEVISION SERIES, you just can’t get away from soaps.
Rosin: No…thank goodness!
For more information on James Rosin and his books, check out www.classictvseriesbooks.com.
