In other sad news, legendary soap...
In other sad news, legendary soap producer
Gloria Monty passed away on Thursday from cancer in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was 84. Back in 1978, Monty took over as
General Hospital's executive producer when the ABC sudser's ratings were considered poor and cancellation was a very real threat. During her memorable tenure, this tough, ambitious auteur made
GH No. 1 by stepping up its sluggish pace, rustling up cash to spruce up shabby sets and introducing fan-fave supercouples like Luke and Laura, Frisco and Felicia and Robert and Holly.
"Gloria Monty transformed soap-opera viewing from a housewives' pastime to
the cool thing to do," says
Jane Elliot (Tracy). "As I was a beneficiary of that transformation, I will be eternally grateful and will miss her terribly. I can’t wait to see what she does with heaven."
Monty produced
GH from 1978-87 and again from 1991-92. Before that phenomenon, she began her career directing soaps like CBS's
The First Hundred Years and
The Secret Storm in the '50s and '60s. While directing NBC's short-lived
Bright Promise, she first worked with
Anthony Geary,
Susan Brown and
David Lewis, who all went on to long careers as beloved
GH characters, thanks to her.
With a heavy heart, this daytime devotee tips his hat to Ms. Gloria Monty. She's one of the greatest there ever was.
