Agnes Nixon’s Tribute to OLTL

We want new leadership and a long overdue headwriter; a creative team who will restore Llanview to its original premise of a diverse community populated by a variety of fascinating, multi-cultural characters. Let Agnes Nixon’s own words from 1998 describe her original concept for Llanview, as the compelling and socially relevant stories she envisioned and masterfully told are the type we want to experience again. Many other creative teams, including former headwriter, Michael Malone, followed in her tradition; crafting stories of mesmerizing intensity, invoking a connection to our own joys and tribulations, and showcasing topical problems troubling our society.

Not so long ago, One Life to Live, was a daytime drama like no other...

“One Life to Live’s 30th Anniversary” Book
written by Gary Warner

Agnes Nixon, creator of One Life To Live“Years ago, when One Life To Live was first germinating in my mind, Saul Alinsky addressed a television conference at the Aspen Institute. This renowned social activist and front line fighter in the war against poverty and injustice posited that until diverse human beings better understand and respect one another, we can never live in harmony and peace on this planet.

By definition, all television entertainment shows have a mandate to entertain. If they fail at that, they go off the air. But isn't an expansion of mental horizons a key ingredient of entertainment? I believe this deeply.

Therefore, Saul Alinsky’s challenge struck me as uniquely applicable to a daytime serial whose stories are spun over 260 contiguous episodes a year. His words also resonated to my childhood in the distressingly segregated south of the late 1930s and 40s, and to all the other ethnic, religious and socio-economic prejudices I had encountered along life's journey, many of which I was probably thoughtless guilty myself.

Thus came into focus the basic mission of One Life To Live: to fashion stories about richly diverse people as their lives intertwined, as they interacted with one another. To explain the hopes and hardships, the goals, fights and failures that are ultimately shared by all mankind no matter how desperate their lifestyles.

And were born the Polish Wolek family; the wealthy Victor Lord with his daughters Victoria and Meredith; Jewish David Siegal, married to Irish-catholic Eileen Riley; and the supposedly Italian actress Carla Benari, who, it was learned five months later, was actually Clara Gray, daughter of the beloved African American Sadie Gray.

It goes without saying that the success of these characters and their stories depended quite as much on the enormous talents of the actors as on the writing. This has held true ever since, as fine writers have fashioned timely, compelling stories played by superlative talent. The wealthy Buchanans, the struggling Hispanic Vega family, and the African American Gannon brothers. The other indispensable component, of course, is you the viewers who responded to these life affirming plots and whose loyalty has kept One Life to Live on the air for thirty years ... To you and the wonderful producers, directors and the company teams through the years go my sincerest respect and admiration.

I salute you all.” – Agnes Nixon


And we salute you, Agnes Nixon, for creating a daytime drama we were proud to watch. We faithfully tuned in, and invested our time and emotions in sharing the joys and sorrows of your Llanview citizens. We owe you a debt of gratitude for bringing a special and totally unique vision to daytime television. We fans sorely miss your gifted talent for intense, emotional and inspiring storytelling on One Life to Live. – Fans For A Better OLTL.

**Agnes Nixon Tribute to One Life to Live on it’s 30th Anniversary copyrighted 1998, ABC/Daytime Press. All material included in these pages is, in our belief, for educational purposes, in accordance with the “Fair Use” act.**