A strange hybrid of daytime soap opera and mystery series, The Edge Of Night brought us the lives of the residents of the turbulent Midwestern town of Monticello (although the skyline of both Cincinnati and Los Angeles was used at various times in the opening titles).
The series aired on CBS from 1956 until 1975 before switching to ABC for the duration of its 28-year run, becoming the first soap to switch networks (The network change came about as a result of CBS extending As The World Turns to 60 minutes).
The series was unlike any other daytime serial since most of its storylines during the early years involved various crimes and court trials. The main character was an assistant district attorney (and former police officer), Mike Karr. As the series progressed, it became increasingly romance-oriented.
Mike Karr was played by John Larkin until 1962 when he was replaced by Laurence Hugo, who played the role until 1971. Forrest Compton then took over the role until the series left the air in 1984.
Karr’s wife, Sarah Lane Karr (played by Teal Ames) was hit by a bus and killed while trying to save her daughter’s life. This was one of the first deaths of a major character on a daytime television series, and because Sarah was such a popular character, the number of calls and letters protesting her demise was unprecedented.
Both Larkin and Teal Ames appeared in front of the cameras at the end of one of the shows to assure viewers that only the character, Sarah, was dead, and not the actress, Teal Ames.
Other characters seen in the early days were Sarah’s brother, Jack Lane; his wife Betty Jane; Mattie Lane (Jack and Sarah’s mother); Winston Grimsley, a wealthy businessman who married Mattie; Bill Marceau, Monticello’s chief of police; Judy Marceau, his daughter; and Martha, Bill Marceau’s secretary and later wife.
Many of these actors remained on the series until shortly before it left the air.
Humorist PG Wodehouse never scheduled an appointment that conflicted with the broadcast of The Edge Of Night, Eleanor Roosevelt sent an effusive fan letter, and Tallulah Bankhead once became so impatient with a man-troubled heroine that she called the show’s producer and shouted, “Why doesn’t she shoot the bastard?”
D.A. Mike Karr John Larkin (1)
Laurence Hugo (2)
Forrest Compton (3)
Sarah Lane Karr
Teal Ames Jack Lane
Don Hastings Betty Jane Lane
Mary Alice Moore Mattie Lane
Betty Garde (1)
Peggy Allenby (2)
Katherine Meskell (3|)
Winston Grimsley
Walter Greaza
Police Chief Bill Marceau
Carl Frank (1)
Mandel Kramer (2)
Martha Spears Marceau
Teri Keane Judy Marceau
Joan Harvey Dr Charles Weldon
Conrad Bain
Senator Benjamin Travis
William Prince
Dr Charles Weldon
Ken Bruce Martin
Ada Chandler
Billie Allen
Willie Saffire
Jackson Beck
Brandy Henderson
Dixie Carter
Draper Scott
Tony Craig
Danny Micelli
Lou Criscuolo
Dr Miles Cavanaugh
Joel Crothers
Dr Jim Field
Alan Feinstein
Detective Deborah ‘Red’ Saxon
Frances Fisher
Joe Pollock
John Gibson
Liz Hillyer Prentiss Field
Alberta Grant
Dr Hugh Lacey
Brooks Rogers
Elaine ‘Cookie’ Pollock Thomas Christopher
Fran Sharon
Vic Lamont
Ted Tinling
Cliff Nelson
Ernie Townsend
