The hulking hospital exterior in the opening credits is familiar to Los Angeles residents because it is an image of the landmark USC Medical Center, east of downtown L.A. Unlike older soaps, which were produced in New York, “General Hospital” has long been a West Coast production. “It became one of the first soaps to go on location for shoots, they introduced younger characters and they tackled sensitive issues like cancer, AIDS and rape,” Herman said.
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The archive has collected oral histories of nearly a dozen actors from the show, including Francis and Geary. “‘General Hospital’ changed the mold for soap operas,” said Karen Herman, director of the Archive of American Television, part of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. Martin said network executives used to boast that “General Hospital” generated enough profits during the 1980s to fund the network’s entire annual development slate for prime-time. The November 1981 marriage of Laura and Luke (played by Anthony Geary) attracted 30 million viewers, which still holds the record for the biggest audience for a daytime program.
“Then, when they added Luke to the mix it was like catching lightning in a bottle.” “That’s when the show really came alive,” Martin said. She did so by increasing the screen time of young characters, including Laura Spencer, played by Genie Francis. The show had recently been expanded to an hour from 45 minutes, and Monty was given a few months to produce results. In 1977, the show was in desperate need of resuscitation when ABC hired the late Gloria Monty as executive producer. “Other soap operas like ‘Young and the Restless’ and ‘All My Children’ dabbled in it, but ‘General Hospital’ was most aggressive.” “‘General Hospital’ was the soap opera that brought young people to daytime television,” said Ed Martin, television columnist for MediaPost Publications.
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