Woman With a Past

1 9 5 4 (USA)
15 minute episodes

The woman with a past in this short-lived CBS soap opera was Lynn Sherwood (Constance Ford), a dress designer in New York City whose big secret was that her 7-year-old daughter Diane (Felice Camargo) was illegitimate.

Her rival Sylvia Rockwell (Mary Sinclair initially and then Geraldine Brooks) attempted to use that information and some other machinations to keep Lynn from winning the affections of Sylvia’s in-name-only husband Steve (Gene Lyons).

Keeping an eye out on the activities of both were friends Gwen (Jean Stapleton) and Pegs (Ann Hegira), the latter being Lynn’s schoolteacher sister.

In April 1954, Lynn opened her own shop to allow the show to stage fashion exhibits for home viewers. Even for a daytime soap opera, which typically had a lot of personnel changes, the turnover among regulars during this show’s five-month run was high.

Lynn Sherwood
Constance Ford
Diane Sherwood 
Felice Camargo (1)
Barbara Myers (2)
Sylvia Rockwell
Mary Sinclair (1)
Geraldine Brooks (2)
Steve Rockwell
Gene Lyons
Gwen
Jean Stapleton
Pegs (Peggy Sherwood)
Ann Hegira