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EDGE OF NIGHT premiered on the same day as AS THE WORLD TURNS 63 years ago, on CBS on April 2, 1956 and ran until November 28, 1975. The show was the picked up by ABC, premiering on December 5, 1975 and running until December 28, 1984. EDGE was unique in the daytime lineup for its focus on mystery over more traditionally soapy themes (which attracted a comparatively large number of male viewers, who frequently comprised a full half of its audience). It was the brainchild of Perry Mason scribe Irving Vendig, and the radio voice of Perry, John Larkin, was tapped to play Mike Karr, star prosecutor in the crime-infested Midwestern burg of Monticello. The series’ first line was spoken by Don Hastings (Jack, who left after four years and began a 50-year run as ATWT’s Bob) and its most celebrated head writer was mystery scribe Henry Slesar, who plotted the show from 1968-83.
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In 1973, before the official indoctrination of the Daytime Emmys, EDGE won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Program Achievement in Daytime Drama (the precursor to the Outstanding Drama Series award), and in 1974, it won the Daytime Emmy for Writing.
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Monticello’s stand-out lovebirds included Mike and Nancy, Adam and Nicole, Bill and Martha, Miles and Nicole, Sky and Raven, and Preacher and Jody.
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Famous Alumni: Kate Capshaw (Jinx, 1981), Dixie Carter (Brandy, 1974-76), Marcia Cross (Liz, 1984), Frances Fisher (Deborah, 1976-81), Larry Hagman (Ed, 1961-63), Lori Loughlin (Jody, 1980-83) and Holland Taylor (Denise, 1977-78), are notable Monticello alumni; John Travolta even notched an appearance as a messenger.
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Famous Fans: Eleanor Roosevelt was known to send fan mail to EDGE, and actress Tallulah Bankhead once called producers to complain about a story that was dragging. Bette Davis and Cole Porter were also devotees. Location Scout: For the majority of its run, EDGE’s title sequence showed the darkened Cincinnnati skyline, standing in for Monticello.
EDGE OF NIGHT premiered on the same day as AS THE WORLD TURNS 63 years ago, on CBS on April 2, 1956 and ran until November 28, 1975. The show was the picked up by ABC, premiering on December 5, 1975 and running until December 28, 1984. EDGE was unique in the daytime lineup for its focus on mystery over more traditionally soapy themes (which attracted a comparatively large number of male viewers, who frequently comprised a full half of its audience). It was the brainchild of Perry Mason scribe Irving Vendig, and the radio voice of Perry, John Larkin, was tapped to play Mike Karr, star prosecutor in the crime-infested Midwestern burg of Monticello. The series’ first line was spoken by Don Hastings (Jack, who left after four years and began a 50-year run as ATWT’s Bob) and its most celebrated head writer was mystery scribe Henry Slesar, who plotted the show from 1968-83.
In 1973, before the official indoctrination of the Daytime Emmys, EDGE won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Program Achievement in Daytime Drama (the precursor to the Outstanding Drama Series award), and in 1974, it won the Daytime Emmy for Writing.
Monticello’s stand-out lovebirds included Mike and Nancy, Adam and Nicole, Bill and Martha, Miles and Nicole, Sky and Raven, and Preacher and Jody.
Famous Alumni: Kate Capshaw (Jinx, 1981), Dixie Carter (Brandy, 1974-76), Marcia Cross (Liz, 1984), Frances Fisher (Deborah, 1976-81), Larry Hagman (Ed, 1961-63), Lori Loughlin (Jody, 1980-83) and Holland Taylor (Denise, 1977-78), are notable Monticello alumni; John Travolta even notched an appearance as a messenger.
Famous Fans: Eleanor Roosevelt was known to send fan mail to EDGE, and actress Tallulah Bankhead once called producers to complain about a story that was dragging. Bette Davis and Cole Porter were also devotees. Location Scout: For the majority of its run, EDGE’s title sequence showed the darkened Cincinnnati skyline, standing in for Monticello.