Charles Albertine
Theme Song Co-Writer
February 24, 1929-May 18, 1986

     Charles Albertine began playing piano at age 5 and was earning money giving lessons on the clarinet by the age of 9. He eventually mastered most of the major woodwind instruments, and was accepted into Juilliard after high school. He decided he didn't belong in a formal educational setting, that he would be "tuned out musically," and opted instead to get a job playing oboe in the pit band at Radio City Music Hall. He then switched to tenor sax and worked with a variety of dance bands, including Sammy Kaye's, in the late 1940s. He then spent a year in the pit band of a Broadway show, Top Banana before approaching Les Elgart to arrange for Elgart's newly-formed band in 1952. Although entirely self-taught, Albertine quickly became the lead arranger and a prime factor in the success of the Elgart sound, which kept one foot in traditional sweet swing and another in the more minor-keyed jazz of late bebop. Elgart and his brother and occasional partner, Larry, enthusiastically embraced Albertine's contributions. Larry recorded an entire album of his original compositions, Music for a Barefoot Ballerina. Another Albertine original for Elgart, "Bandstand Boogie" was adopted by Dick Clark as the theme song for his long-running series, "American Bandstand."  
     Albertine remained a freelancer throughout his career, and while working with the Elgarts, he began taking jobs from Al Nevins, guitarist in The Three Suns and by that time, a busy independent producer. He arranged most of The Three Suns' later albums during the RCA "Living Stereo" era, including the classic Movin' and Groovin,' Fever and Smoke, Warm and Tender, and On a Magic Carpet. These albums contain some of the boldest, most jarring use of stereo separation and contrasting instrumentation to be heard in supposedly safe, mainstream pop music. Most of these albums also featured one or two originals penned by Albertine. Through Nevins, who was developing the Japanese market for RCA, he was commissioned to write an original wedding dance, which he titled, "The Happy Prince Waltz," for the wedding of Crown Prince Akihito. Trumpeter and band leader Harry James also hired Albertine, to write a "Blues Ballet" that James recorded on his album, The Spectacular Sounds of Harry James. In the early 1960s, Albertine began a collaboration with Sammy Kaye that lasted through the mid-1960s.  

     Albertine moved to Hollywood in 1964, where he worked on a few film scores, including the Viking epic, "The Long Ships," but mostly arranged and conducted incidental music for television series like "Hazel," "Gidget," "Grindl," and "Days of Our Lives." He picked up a steady stream of television commissions, composing for episodes of"The Incredible Hulk," "The Bionic Woman," and "Fantasy Island." His last works were heavily influenced by early new age musicians. The only album released under his name was packaged to look like something from Windham Hills and featured ethereal, meditative pieces performed by Albertine on synthesizer and piano.



Anne Howard Bailey
Head Writer, 1989-1990
July 26, 1924-November 23, 2006

     Anne Howard Bailey, a writer who won Emmy Awards for the opera ``The Trial of Mary Lincoln'' and the soap opera ``Santa Barbara,'' has died. She was 82. Bailey, who lived in the Hollywood Hills nearly 20 years, died Friday of congestive heart failure at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, said her friend, Dr. Aidan O'Brien. ``She had a great lyric sense and a great sense of drama,'' said Thomas Pasatieri, a composer who collaborated with Bailey on ``Mary Lincoln,'' which aired on PBS in 1972. ``Anne was a great historian who could make history of any period come alive.'' The opera earned her an Emmy for the writing of a comedy, variety or musical program.
     W
ith composer Kenton Coe, Bailey wrote the libretto for ``Rachel,'' based on the love story of Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel, who died weeks before his presidential inauguration. The Knoxville Opera Company premiered the work in 1989. That same year, Bailey won a daytime Emmy as a head writer on the now-defunct NBC soap ``Santa Barbara.''
     
Bailey's adoptive parents found their only child as a newborn on their doorstep July 26, 1924, in Memphis, Tenn. A doctor who placed infants of unwed mothers had alerted the couple to expect her, Pasatieri said. By 15, Bailey was performing with a theater group and had developed an appreciation for opera that became a ``lifelong passion,'' Pasatieri said. After graduating from Rhodes College in Memphis, Bailey headed to New York and television. In the 1950s, she wrote for several dramatic anthology series, including NBC's ``Armstrong Circle Theatre.''
     Her most enduring television success was in the soap opera genre, where she also served as head writer on "General Hospital'' (ABC) and "Days of Our Lives'' (NBC) in the 1980s. In 1974, Bailey created a short-lived soap opera for NBC called ``How to Survive a Marriage'' despite never having tied the knot. She often said the most important requirement to succeeding as a writer was living alone. (Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2006)


William J. Bell
Head Writer, 1966-1975 & Story Consultant, 1975-1978
March 6, 1927-April 29, 2005


     William Joseph Bell, the former head writer of "Days of Our Lives", passed away from complications of Alzheimer's on April 29, 2005. He was 78. Mr. Bell still holds the record for the longest-tenure of a head writer at "Days of Our Lives." He held that position for 8 years, 9 months. Mr. Bell was born on March 6, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. In college, he started out as a pre-med student at DePaul University. To earn money, he began writing scripts for a Chicago radio station. He then worked as an advertising executive for McCann-Ericson. While working at WBBM, he met his future wife, Lee Phillip. They wed in 1954, staying in Chicago until moving to Beverly Hills in 1987. 
     He submitted a sample script to daytime drama writer Irna Phillips in 1956 and she hired him to write for "The Guiding Light" that same year. He then moved on to "As the World Turns" from 1957-1966. In 1964, he co-created the long-running "Another World", which aired on NBC for 35 years, with Ms. Phillips. In 1966, he took over head writing duties at the one-year-old "Days of Our Lives", helping save the show from cancellation. He left his head writer position in 1975, staying with the series in a story consultant role until April, 1978. In 1973, he and his wife created "The Young and the Restless" for CBS. They later created "The Bold and the Beautiful" in 1987. All four CBS daytime dramas that are currently on the air were at one time written by Bell.
     He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lee Phillip Bell, as well as three children: son Bill Jr. (who nows the Bell production company); son Bradley (who now runs "The Bold and the Beautiful"); and daughter Lauralee (an actress who appeared on "The Young and the Restless").


Tommy Boyce
Theme Song Co-Writer
September 29, 1939-November 23, 1994




Ruth Brooks Flippen
Head Writer, 1980
September 14, 1921-July 9, 1981

     Ruth Brooks was born September 14, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York. She married actor/comedian Jay C. Flippen. Her writing won her an Emmy for "Oh Baby, Baby, Baby." She wrote scripts for "Bewitched", "My World and Welcome To It", "The Odd Couple" and "Gidget" as well as several "Gidget" movies. Her final stint was at "Days of Our Lives" for a month in 1980. She died in Marina del Rey, California of heart disease on July 9, 1981 at the age of 59.


Elizabeth Harrower
Head Writer, 1979-1980
May 28, 1918-December 10, 2003

     Elizabeth Harrower, veteran actress and soap opera writer, died Dec. 10 at her home in Valley Village, Calif., of cancer. She was 85. Born in Alameda, Calif., she was educated in Berkeley and Los Angeles. She appeared in "Becky Sharp," the first feature-length color film, in 1935. Later pics included "Plymouth Adventure," "Teacher's Pet," "The Sterile Cuckoo," "Cat Ballou," "Towering Inferno" and "True Grit." Harrower appeared in hundreds of episodes of live and filmed TV dramas, including "The Twilight Zone," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gunsmoke" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." 

     A longtime radio actress and member of Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, she became a soap opera writer in the 1970s, working seven years with Bill Bell's Emmy-nominated team for "The Young and the Restless." In 1979, she was head writer for "Days of Our Lives." Harrower later worked on the soap "Generations." In 2003, while taking chemotherapy, she returned to "The Young and the Restless" as an actress, portraying Charlotte Ramsey.

     She is survived by her daughter, soap actress Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams on "Days of Our Lives"). (Daily Variety, February 16, 2004)



Jack Herzberg
Producer, 1965-1982
June 15, 1916-April 23, 1992



     Jack L. Herzberg, Emmy award winner for his production of the daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives," has died. He was 75. Herzberg died Thursday after heart surgery. Herzberg produced the popular series from 1965 to 1982 for Corday Productions. He was nominated for television's Emmy award five times and won for best daytime drama in 1978.
    
After retiring in 1982, Herzberg spent his time as a story consultant and program adviser, and as a guest lecturer to drama and communications classes in high schools and colleges. He also judged beauty contests and chili cook-offs. A graduate of USC's cinematography program, Herzberg began his career somewhat traditionally in a studio mail room. During World War II, he directed and produced Army training films at the Signal Corps Photographic Center in Astoria, N.Y. After a few more years in television's trenches, Herzberg became a producer and director at Ziv-United Artists. From 1954 until 1963, he produced and directed more than 100 episodes of such popular series as "Highway Patrol," "Everglades" and "I Led Three Lives."
    
He is survived by his daughter, Margaret Scully, a sister and one grandson. (Los Angeles Times, April 25, 1992)


Nina Laemmle
Head Writer, 1980
November 20, 1910-August 12, 2008

      Writer Nina Laemmle died on August 12, 2008. She was 97. Nina Jeanne Dainty was born in London, England on November 20, 1910. She moved to the United States with her mother in 1935. In 1940, she married producer Ernest Laemmle, the nephew of Universal Pictures mogul Carl Laemmle. They had three children (Victoria in 1941, Michael in 1942 and Christopher in 1946). When her husband died in 1950, Nina took a job as a secretary in the film industry. She then worked in the story department at Four Star, Dick Powell’s television production company, from 1958-1963. From 1964-1969, Laemmle was the story editor of "Peyton Place", and one of the three writers who mapped out the prime-time serial’s complex plotlines. From 1969-1974, Laemmle worked as the executive story consultant on "Marcus Welby, M.D." She later wrote for "Tales of the Unexpected" in 1977 and her final stint came as "Days of Our Lives" head writer in 1980.
     Former WGA president Del Reisman issued this statement: "Stories were her passion.  All manner of stories.  Stories from celebrated literature.  Stories from the headlines.  Stories from her own considerable life’s experience.  She applied this passion to whatever project she worked on, from the highly theatrical Peyton Place, serialized for years, to the clean, clear narratives of Marcus Welby, M.D., semi-anthological, a new story each episode.  In the most professional sense, she was obsessed, and offered one hundred percent of her restless mind to all who worked with her and for her." Laemmle is survived by her three children.


Gene Palumbo
Head Writer, 1991-1992
November 10, 1945-October 10, 2000

     Gene Palumbo was born on November 10, 1945. He was the head writer of "Guiding Light" from 1982-1983, where he won an Emmy for his work. He then co-created the soap "Rituals" in 1984. Palumbo then became the head writer of "General Hospital" from 1989-1991 and "Days of Our Lives" from 1991-1992. In his later years, he went back to his first love of playing piano and conducting music. Palumbo died in Florida of a head injury caused after he fell unconscious from a blood disease on October 10, 2000 at the age of 54.


Peggy Phillips
Head Writer, 1965-1966
June 25, 1916-December 27, 2004

     Theatrical press agent Peggy Phillips died of complications from a stroke Dec. 27 in Dana Point, Calif. She was 88. Phillips repped works on Broadway such as "Angel Street," "South Pacific" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." During her career in showbiz, Phillips worked as an actress, playwright, press rep, TV writer and memoirist. Phillips also worked a press representative for the Theater Guild and Group Theater, among other companies.
     Born in New York, she moved to California in the 1960s where she worked as director of publicity for Los Angeles Public Library, Center Theater Group at the Los Angeles Music Center's Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theaters, as well as directory of publicity for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera.
As a member of the Dramatists Guild and Writers Guild of America, she wrote one play, and for television including such series as "Days of Our Lives," "Lassie," "The Donna Reed Show" and "My Three Sons," and the screenplay for the film "The Crimson Canary." Her books included "A Golden Sorrow," "Ascent to Hell," and her most recent book, "My Brother's Keeper," about life in Gotham from the 1920s to the 1950s. 
    
Ms. Phillips is survived by son Jon Bucci, daughter-in-law Tara and two grandchildren. (Daily Variety, January 5, 2005)


Al Rabin
Co-Executive Producer/Director, 1975-1992
January 26, 1936-August 14, 2012
 

     Al Rabin, the long-time supervising executive producer and director of "Days of Our Lives", has passed away. Rabin died on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. He was 76.
     Alvin Rabin was born to Solomon and Fannie Rabin in Waukegan, Illinois on January 26, 1936. He started his career "in charge" early, as he was the President of his sophomore class at Waukegan High School.
     He began his daytime career as a production manager at "General Hospital" in 1965, and later began directing that show. Rabin then joined the "Days" staff as a director in February 1975. His first chance at producing came when "Days" expanded to an hour in April 1975. He did double duty as both a producer and director from 1975-1976, then went back to directing full-time. He continued to direct when he was named supervising executive producer in January 1980. He briefly left his position as executive producer in 1989, while he continued to be credited as a creative consultant. He returned in December 1989 and remained as supervising executive producer until June 17, 1992. Rabin received 9 Daytime Emmy nominations during his time at "Days."
     After leaving "Days", Rabin was executive producer of the short-lived "Valley of the Dolls" in 1994. He then retired from show business and enjoyed spending time with his family, doing lots of traveling and playing golf. He also developed a program at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, teaching young students to do video histories of their grandparents.
     In a 1990 interview, Rabin, who was instrumental in helping create the many supercouples of the 1980s, said that "I am convinced that Tom Horton loves Alice more than Tom loves himself. I am also convinced that Alice Horton loves Tom more than Alice loves herself. I think that's absolutely basic on this particular show, and when we have successful couples, that element is always true. It was true with Bill and Laura. It was certainly true with Doug and Julie. That element is absolutely basic to what the press calls 'the supercouples of Days of Our Lives."
     When asked in 1996 about returning to "Days", he said this: "I've been asked several times to come back. I look fondly with a tremendous amount of pleasure on the years I was there. For the most part, it was an absolutely wonderful time. But that was then, and now, there are other things that are just more rewarding for me, not that soaps weren't for me back then."

     In his 1996 interview with Soap Opera Weekly, he said his philosophy about doing the show was this: "Every day, every act, every scene, we always asked ourselves: What did we share with the audience?" In his speech upon receiving a Soap Opera Digest award in 1989, he gave special thanks to "Jim Young, who taught so many of us professionalism and dedication; Betty Corday, who taught so many of us loyalty and a sense of family; to my children, Beth, Jeff and Larry, who taught me about personal joy; and to my wife, Laura, who taught me openness, honesty and love."
     Rabin is survived by his wife, Laura; three children, Beth, Jefferey and Lawrence; and four grandchildren, Rebecca, Anna, Jake and Ella. Services were held on Friday, August 17, 2012 at 10AM at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries in Simi Valley, California.



James E. Reilly
Head Writer, 1992-1998, 2003-2006
July 29, 1948-October 12, 2008

     James E. Reilly, the former head writer of "Days of Our Lives" and creator of "Passions" passed away suddenly while recovering from cardiac surgery on October 12, 2008. He was 60. Reilly was born on July 29, 1948 in New York. He wrote for many daytime series, including "Ryan's Hope", "Capitol", "General Hospital", "The Young and the Restless", "Sunset Beach", and "Guiding Light", which earned him his first Daytime Emmy in 1993.
     In later years, Mr. Reilly was known for his supernatural storylines, writing the much-publicized possession of Marlena Evans on "Days of Our Lives" in 1994. Reilly even stepped in front of the cameras and spoofed himself in an episode of "Friends." He left "Days" in 1998 to concentrate on creating a new soap, the supernatural "Passions," which enjoyed a nine year run from 1999-2008. From 2003-2006, Reilly was head writer of both "Passions" and "Days of Our Lives", turning out ten hours of scripts each week, and was responsible for over 500 hours of scripts each year.
    Mr. Reilly's agent, Jonathan Russo, released this statement: "James Reilly was one of the most profoundly lovely human beings in our industry. He was a towering person in our industry who had a tremendous faith in God and Catholicism, as anyone who watched "Passions" knows. Everyone will miss him."



Kenneth Rosen
Head Writer, 1965
January 13, 1929-July 2, 1976




Pat Falken Smith
Staff Writer, 1966-1975 & Head Writer, 1975-1977, 1981-1982
January 21, 1926-May 19, 2001

     Pat Falken Smith, a troubleshooting writer for daytime television and feature films, died May 19 in Los Angeles. She was 75. A Minnesota native, Smith studied at the Pasadena Playhouse, where she had her first play produced during the 1940s. She went to work at Warner Bros. as a reader and soon became a junior screenwriter, executing rewrites and dialogue polishing on such films as "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant."
    Smith then moved into television, where she worked on "Climax!" and "Playhouse 90," serving as executive story consultant for such productions as "The Miracle Worker" and "Requiem for a Heavyweight." She went on to troubleshoot on the launch of NBC's "Bonanza" and then undertook writing and story editor duties on such shows as "Father of the Bride," "National Velvet," "Shane," "Rawhide," "Perry Mason" and "Adventures in Paradise." During the 1960s, she worked for Howard Hughes, packaging and producing feature film properties for his production company.
     After this, Smith moved into writing for major shows on daytime television, including "Guiding Light" for CBS, "General Hospital" for ABC and "Days of Our Lives" for NBC. Smith had a 12-year run on "Days" before she became head writer on "GH" in 1979, devising the Luke and Laura story line that pushed the show to No. 1. (Hollywood Reporter, June 13, 2001)