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The Setting
'The Green'
I have long been fascinated by the set of the Main Square (not so much the Wharf, but it too will be included as, I concede, you can't really have the one without the other) and how everything outside revolves around it! There is a wonderful moment in episode 3 when Betty Anderson stares up at the stocks, guilt-ridden about what she has done and even worse, what she was about to do ......... The voiceover describes it thus : "On a sunny morning almost 300 years ago a young woman was drummed across this square to do public penance in the pillory. Afterwards they shaved her head and sent her out of town forever. Like every girl in today's Peyton Place, Betty Anderson has heard this story many times, but knowing it didn't stop her giving her love."
Betty Anderson approaches the Stocks on the Peyton Place Green on her way to a meeting with new-doctor-in-town Michael Rossi
Betty stops to read the historical indictment on the Pillory plaque as Allison Mackenzie approaches
The 'Historical Marker' of the Pillory dating the founding of 'Peyton Place' (named after Samuel) in 1650
Ep. 122 provided us with a different aspect of the dreaded historical stocks - I thought I would include it as neither the images above nor the panoramic view thoughtfully provided by Getty below really do them justice.
The Pillory and Bandstand are clearly visible on a sunny day (the Fire Station behind the Bandstand and Town Hall to the right are visible as is the entrance to the Wharf area on the left) - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Together with the Bandstand, Gun emplacements and statue the 'Green' is a historical record as well as being extremely picturesque whether covered in snow or enjoying blazing sunshine.
The opposite end of the Green from the Pillory that so disturbed Betty earlier - the soldier in the monument is not identifiable despite being the entry point into Peyton Place itself - this view is rarely (if ever) seen during the original series - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : Peyton Place 'Now Entering' Set Appearing In 'Peyton Place'. Unspecified - 1964: Peyton Place 'Now Entering' location / set appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Surrounding 'The Green'
Looking up from the Pillory end you can see this view which is the top end of the lift side of the street (right side of the Green parallel with the Gun emplacements seen in an earlier image above). Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 19: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
This image tells us quite a lot about the grouping of the professions of the many principal characters. Starting at 'The Book Gallery' we know that this is the Book/Paper ephemera/Post cards/Newspapers/Bric a Brac/Lending book service run by Constance Mackenzie a very substantial lead in the early episodes. This building also houses the 'Artists of New England' Gallery (upper window) but there is no reference to this in the series, the upstairs space appears to be a storage area and rest area for Connie during her pregnancy and Allison during her bouts of ill-health following on from the road accident. Next are a Real Estate Office and Jewellers which, actually never get a look-in or hold a story line therefore onwards to the entrance next to the gap between buildings - this, is the entrance to the Professional Building which is used by Dr. Rossi and whose office is situated in the corner tower-like pale extension at the extreme end of the building. From there the Doctor would have an three excellent views (looking left) of the road leading to the Wharf, (straight ahead) looking directly at the Fire Station and (on the right) overlooking first of all the Gun emplacement, the statue of the Soldier and the Courthouse which is on the opposite side of the Green to this building. Next to the sheltered and anonymous entrance are the offices of 'The Clarion' the proud domain of Matthew (Matt) Swain who on retirement hands over the ownership to Elliot Carson on his return from prison following complete exoneration of a crime he did not commit; making him a credible and knowing addition to the intricate plots of this small New England Town. Right next door is the General Store, which started its life as a Chandlery and has always been the domain and under the ownership of Eli Carson, Elliot's father and Allison's grandfather. Just partially out of site is a parked motorboat of some sort which seems to be on a permanent repair mission and conveniently points us in the direction of the Wharf (no not time for that yet!) Atop this building three floodlights are also clearly visible denoting that this is a working stage set.
'This shot of Peyton Place shows false fronts glued to the outside wall of one of the huge studios. "Town Square" is all here…'
I call this an 'odd shot' because it only features in one place as far as I can tell and that is the very entertaining article entitled 76 Acres of Real Life which is well worth a read as it, too. is a written homage by an aficionado of the show! The picture shows us, in full glory, the strange little tower that is the domain of any resident Peyton Place GP and gives us a rare glimpse of the Fire Station (which is featured below) from this particular aspect. Theoretically turning right before 'Doctor's Corner' should take the viewer to 'The Wharf' that ugly place full of secrets!
Here is a clear location identifying view of the Fire Station it is at the top end of 'The Green' and our soldier seems to be guarding or menacing this new 'Art Moderne' structure just on the boundaries of the entrance to Peyton Place - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : Peyton Place Fire Department Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified: Peyton Place fire department location / set appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The entrance to the not so 'oldy worldy' Fire House, but then we shouldn't have been surprised as there were no Fire Houses as we know them today in the 1650s, this proclaims the town to have taken advantage of the boom years of the 1930s (before the Wall Street crash) and built themselves an art moderne state of the art Fire House - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : Peyton Place Fire Department Set Appearing In 'Peyton Place 'Unspecified - 1964: Peyton Place fire department location / set appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
A full view of the Peyton Place Fire House - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney Image Provenance : Peyton Place Fire Department Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified: Peyton Place fire department location / set appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Yes, I am a fan of the Fire Station/House because it is a world away from the typical New England claustrophobic atmosphere of the 1700s and all its prejudice, it's sleek, clean, modern and no frills! If old man Martin Peyton commissioned it 'good on him' I say!
Here is a remarkable image from episode 202 (now in colour) featuring the resident Fire truck which I believe I have identified as the 1950 Seagrave Pumper, so quite an old design considering the series was running in the early-mid 1960s and the 1960s versions of Fire trucks differ significantly in design as they now appear to have permanent static cabs. (Don't be fooled by what looks like a roof on this vehicle, it is in fact the ledge on which supports the 'Peyton Place Fire Department' sign.
The Town Hall (which also houses the Court House, Library and Holding Cells) in full glory - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 19: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Backdrops to the Sets
Dorothy Malone (Constance Mackenzie) against a backdrop of her character's Books & Prints Book Gallery Shop - it is interesting to note that her character's name is always spelled Mackenzie (as is Allisons) but the shop sign definitely has it as 'MacKenzie' - image sourced from 50plusworld with thanks. Matt Swain (Warner Anderson) against the backdrop of the Clarion - image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 3 & 4" 9/22/64 - 9/24/1964 Warner, Anderson (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
l to r Ryan O'Neal (Rodney Harrington) and Barbara Parkins (Betty Anderson) against the backdrop of the rarely glimpsed frontage of 'Les Femmes', the very upmarket Fashion Shop/Boutique on the Green and Chris Connelly (Norman Harrington) and Patricia Morrow (Rita Jacks Harrington)against the backdrop of the ultra-moderne Fire Station. Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 26: PEYTON PLACE - "Gallery" 1964 Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episode 52" 3/16/65 Patricia Morrow, Christopher Connelly (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
l to r Paul Langton (Leslie Harrington) against a backdrop of the Antiques/Dress Shop double frontage and Ryan O'Neal (Rodney Harrington) against a backdrop of the Peyton Place Town Hall - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : Paul Langton Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Paul Langton appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and Ryan O'Neal Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Ryan O'Neal appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
l to r Patricia Breslin (Laura Harrington Brooks) against a truly unusual backdrop of the Church Spire that only ever appears on the opening credits as far as I am aware and a truly joyous looking Mia Farrow (Allison Mackenzie) against a magnificent backdrop of the Bandstand which also is rarely shown in its full glory - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 3 & 4" 9/22/64 - 9/24/1964 Patricia Breslin (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 33 & 34" 1/7/65 - 1/12/65 Mia Farrow (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
I determined the direction of Church (for the map's accuracy) as this tree was used in many publicity shots usually with the stars facing the street leaving either the Town Hall/Court House/Library or the Bandstand as a backdrop - a quick flip and it seems you would turn right at the 'Banking & Trust Co.' wherein sits Steven's Office!
l to r Guarding the entrance to Peyton Place, against a backdrop of the 'Peyton Place Town Hall', a soldier from the time of its founding in 1650 before either the American War of Independence or the Civil War although the uniform seems to favour the 'Yankee' style as you would expect from the Bostonians in the North and the Pilgrim Fathers of 1620 and Mia Farrow (Allison Mackenzie) and Richard Evans (Paul Hanley) posing at the street level of the stairwell leading to the Pharmacy's living quarters - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenances : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) No clues to the uniform in the Provenance and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episode 64" 4/20/65 Mia Farrow, Richard Evans (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
It would seem the soldier (of whatever denomination) was a short-lived character despite appearing in so many publicity shots, he has been removed from sight leaving just the gun emplacements and what is probably a flag-pole. The plinth behind the 'Entering Peyton Place' sign is definitely empty, there is a small bonus in that the secret area at the side of the Professional Building entrance is clearly visible. Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 19: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
In ep. 296 (the series is now in a wishy washy colour mode) we are given a head-on view of the entrance to the 'Peyton Professional Building' with the 'Clarion' shown on the right of the screen and the 'secret' area lit by a street lamp on the left. The Clarion entrance is through the Professional Building entrance turning right after the double doors.
Has our soldier (above) got it wrong? Matt Swain is standing in front of the Peyton County Court house! - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Warner Anderson (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Warner Anderson (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Two images featuring Richard Evans as Paul Hanley at the entrance (next to the Fire Station) to the Wharf area clearly defining the direction - - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance (l to r) : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episode 60" 4/13/65 Richard Evans (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episode 60" 4/13/65 Richard Evans (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Mia Farrow (Allison Mackenzie) and Chris Connelly (Norman Harrington) against the backdrop (partial) of the Banking & Trust Co. which houses Steven Cord's professional law offices and with the Church Spire clearly visible. Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 3 & 4" 9/22/64 - 9/24/1964 Mia Farrow, Christopher Connelly (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and Mia Farrow, Christopher Connelly Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: (L-R) Mia Farrow, Christopher Connelly appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episodes #3 & #4. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
I base this assumption* of the placement of the tree which matches the background where Patricia Breslin (Laura Harrington Brooks) reveals the 'Spire' to us in a earlier image. In addition to revealing the 'Spire' that image also allows for the jutting balcony also visible in the image with Allison and Norman, whose head is obscuring the spire! The balcony matches that in Laura's picture and the shutters on the windows are also visible in the screen shots taken with Chris and Lee Webber.
* My assumptions were correct and a picture confirming the location and 'lack of spire' has now been uncovered!
Ep. 122 happily provides images of the, I suppose some would call it 'iconic', church spire which features in the opening credits - however it doesn't really play any part in this series as most of the weddings are held in the Peyton Mansion, Colonial Inn or over the border in White River.
Dorothy Malone (Constance Mackenzie), Ed Nelson (Dr Mike Rossi) and Patricia Breslin (Laura Harrington Brooks) against a backdrop of the Professional Building with its unusual tower extension and the Bandstand and Barbara Parkins (Betty Anderson) by her favourite backdrop of the Pillory on the Green during 'Founders Day'. Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 3 & 4" 9/22/64 - 9/24/1964 Dorothy Malone, Ed Nelson, Patricia Breslin (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and Barbara Parkins Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Barbara Parkins appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episode #9 and #10. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The Wharf
An excellent flavour of 'The Wharf' which appears in the end credits after the series is presented in colour for the first time following 267 episodes in b&w - the opening credits remained the same featuring the Church Spire (now in colour) and introduced as 'In Colour - the continuing story of Peyton Place'. - Image sourced from classictvhistory with thanks
This picture also shows us how changes have been introduced to the original (see below) promotional images. The 'Shoreline' having only ever featured briefly as an arcade in some very early episodes following Steven and Betty's courtship is now used as a storage space for empty beer barrels (at least I assume they are empty) and the odd propped up canoe/surf board to remind us that we are near the sea and some benches which may or may not belong the the Tavern. There are no tables to encourage patrons outside on a warm day, but either a waste bin or maybe a post box has been installed as additional set dressing to give it some realism. Interestingly, what is not obvious on the official photographs is what the wall with windows represented, from the end credits we see that it is the ubiquitous boarding house which seems to be available for short and long-term leases. Anne Howard stayed there briefly and Eli Carson has made it his permanent home for decades, even returning to it after a spell in Florida. What is not explained is whether there is an easier access to the boarding house and the stairwell used by those who already have rooms there. It's a very steep staircase and sprightly as he is I should have thought it was an absolute hazard in the winter for Eli and anyone else using it - just another of those design 'mysteries' ..... The telephone kiosk is also visible in this image - it became a very handy prop for Jack Chandler to use when he entered the series, it is located in front of the boarding house (in this image) obscuring the 'Lobster' sign and parallel to the, now identified, ground floor entrance/reception of the Boarding House in time it will migrate to at least two more different Wharf locations.
Ada's Tavern on the Wharf - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 19: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
There is a dearth of pictorial information about the Wharf where so much of the sinister and unsavoury action takes place so the dedicated page will utilise screenshots to try to piece it together. Apart from Ada Jacks' Tavern, there is the 'Lobster (or Chowder) Pot' where people congregate to eat their lobsters or take them home to cook. There is a Night Club/Meeting Place called just 'The Shoreline' where the 'hip' kids go. The Shoreline Arcade shown above does not seem to carry much weight and disappears behind a stack of beer barrels in the end credits which also show the location of the Boarding House the other mainstay of the 'Wharf'. On the outskirts we find Rodney Harrington's newly acquired Motor Business and as seen in the backdrop to Paul Hanley's pictures there is a permanent structure where many an action takes place including the hiding place of the runaway Kim who finds solace in its dark and secluded atmosphere. There is the 'Cider Barrel' (possibly Charlie's Cider Barrel) where Sandy Webber finds gainful employment. In due course I will try to source some images even if they are only screen dumps. The Wharf is now being explored on its own page shared with meaningful 'anomalies'.
The Secret Places
In addition to all the secrets in the lives of the people in the series, the set also had some Secret/Hidden/Morphing secrets my favourite one is the White Picket Fence we keep seeing, usually from a distance, always just peeking our cheekily but it has been captured as an image:
l to r Ed Nelson (Dr. Michael Rossi) and Patricia Breslin (Laura Harrington Brooks) stroll past a backcloth of the White Fencing panels squeezed in between the Peyton Professional Building and the Jewellers and Barbara Parkins (Betty Anderson) against the backdrop of the Peyton Professional Building which is only ever seen as a doorway. Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 09: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 3 & 4" 9/22/64 - 9/24/1964 Ed Nelson, Patricia Breslin (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Episodes 8 & 9" 10/8/64 - 10/13/1964 Barbara Parkins (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The 'White Picket Fence/Panels' appear tantalisingly quite frequently in shots of the Green or the characters strolling past or entering a shop so who is the mysterious person who lives there? As far as I know it is never revealed and that is (most) probably because this was never part of the original street. Did the designer get his dimensions wrong, was it the fault of the construction team? I don't suppose we'll ever know, especially as it also exposes its own backdrop, which we know from the construction images below that this part of the set was propped up against the 'back lot' wall and in reality does not lead to the Wharf as indicated on my map! By the way, as an aside there is more than just the prosaic details above about this piece of the set. This is my second attempt at covering this mystery, but somehow between the time it was originally created on 4th December 2020 until its reconstruction today, it all disappeared - all my reference points and information etc. Luckily the prepared photos (scaled and with a red surround) survived so, I was able to reconstruct it again, hopefully completely intact with my original thoughts .... spooky or what?
Details from existing images on this page showing the attention to detail to a 'nothingness'!
Couldn't resist this one! It really looks as if Ed Nelson (Mike Rossi) is punching a fist and shouting 'Yes' - well it is a 'yes' moment for me - this is just the perfect shot of the best of the 'secret places'! - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Ed Nelson, Patricia Breslin Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: (L-R) Ed Nelson, Patricia Breslin appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episodes #3 & #4. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Episode 151 - Ruth Warrick (Hannah Cord) and George Macready (Martin Peyton) return to 'Peyton Place' to attend Rodney's murder trial - as he arrives Martin Peyton surveys his tenanted estate and marches over to inspect the broken brick he sees on the side of the Professional Building - in a glorious backdrop the space inhabited by the white trestles and unruly bush is splendidly visible!
The 'Peyton Professional Building' which houses the Tower and 'Doctor's Corner' (I call it thus because I used to attend a GP clinic at Doctor's Corner when I lived in Wollaton) is also a mysterious area because Mike Rossi (in particular) is often seen entering this way but the interior (of the entrance way) has never been seen - luckily, doing the publicity shots we get one of Betty Anderson giving us an insight into who occupies this building - which I think I have interpreted correctly (nearly going squint-eyed in the process as :
R.F. Wilson - Dentist - Rm 201
Al Gaynor - Atty. at Law - Rm 204
Dr Michael Rossi - Phys & Surg - Rm 208
James Contill - Public Acct. - Rm 205
B.F.Carter - Bus. Manag. - Rm 203
A clearer picture of the list of occupants - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Barbara Parkins Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Barbara Parkins appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episode #9 and #10. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
It would be great to know the secrets behind the naming of the occupants (except Dr. Rossi) because none of them, to my knowledge actually appear - so who was having some fun with the names and occupations - the Designer? the Props Maker? The Construction Crew, the Director, the Cast? The names aren't a play on words of the professions they represent, some bear initials, others a preferred name it's all a bit higgledy-piggledy and the shortforms are a bit hit and miss as well : Atty for Attorney and I thought the Bus Manager was a Bus Manager until I realised that this was a Business Manager, as expected a Bus Manager would work out of the Bus Depot (probably at White River).
Two screenshots from episode 251 which is pivotal to the whole Anne Howard/Martin Peyton/Hannah Cord/Brian Cord/Catherine Peyton-Harrington mystery and holds vital evidence that when revealed will change the lives of the above mentioned,will turn the lives of Steven Cord, Lee, Chris and Sandy Webber and Allison Mackenzie upside down and continue its tsunami impact on many of the other inhabitants of Peyton Place. Why, therefore, on this occasion has somebody had a joke or played a malicious prank by 're-arranging' the Professional Building name board? Or was it just an error and the stage managers/property supervisors just not notice?
Then we have Steven's Office which is at the opposite end of 'The Green' and again, rarely seen but I have finally captured a part of it. The building is often visual when cars drive around the square or when Steven looks out of his office windows through the blinds at what is happening out there. Linking to the storyline concerning Anne Howard who, as a child, had been accused of blinding Chris Webber, the continuation of the 'phantom alphabet re-writer' at the Professional Building entrance storyline plays out in front of the Banking & Trust Co. where Steven's Office is located. Chris Webber is determined to see Steven Cord and we see him entering and climbing the stairs. His brother remains outside and we don't get any further glimpses of the indoors from that point in episode 252. Connie having witnessed the hostility between the brothers has sought out Norman Harrington to help Chris. Thanks to this intervention we get the two screenshots below.
In the top image we can seen Chris and Lee Webber heatedly discussing why Chris wants to talk to Steven Cord, in the background the stairwell is clearly visible giving substance to the Banking Building. In the image below as Lee paces about waiting for his brother the entrance of the building is clearly visible, it is beautifully appointed with wrought iron work and lighting. Shrubs are planted in tubs to take away the austere feeling and there is a board with a mountain of information by the doorway. (At this point I have not been able to capture the content of the board).
I was looking for something else in episode 243 when I spotted this splendid view of the top of the Peyton Place Banking & Trust Co. It seems I have now captured nearly all angles one way or another, but I still hope to get a view of the entire building which, when it happens will appear in this section.
So here, finally, in ep. 294 we get a glimpse of the full facade of 'Steven's Building' (the Peyton Place Banking & Trust Co.) whose entrance features heavily in much of the action and is partially used as a backdrop to some of the early publicity shots of Allison and Norman.
So there you have the mysteries, now slightly embellished after their original appearance and disappearance so what else is there? Ah yes, take a look at this :
'Peyton Place' Inn or 'Colonial Post' Inn?
l to r Ryan O'Neal (Rodney Harrington) gazing at the Peyton Place signage and James Douglas (Steven Cord) against a backdrop of a very colonial looking carriage - Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Ryan O'Neal (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and James Douglas Appearing In 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1965: James Douglas appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place' episode #82. (Photo by Buddy Graybill /Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
I can't actually remember seeing this carriage during the action, but I still have a couple of hundred episodes to view (again) so I might spot something! (Updated on 17th May to show the newly found evidence below).
Episode 100 gives a good street view of the 'Colonial Post Inn' - the weather is clement enough for the old carriage to be uncovered and the new signage and the addition of a mailbox are evident from the pavement areas. We now also have a defined border to the Inn making way for the Police Station which has now squeezed in its stepped entrance from the pavement.
l to r Warner Anderson (Matt Swain) and 'Girl Power' Mia Farrow (Allison Mackenzie), Dorothy Malone (Constance Mackenzie) and Gyl Roland (Selena Cross in the pilot episode) outside the Peyton Place Inn. Images sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Images Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Warner Anderson (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) and PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Pilot" 9/15/64 Mia Farrow, Dorothy Malone, Gyl Roland (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
At the start of episode 233 we see the lonely figure of Paul Langton (Leslie Harrington) emerging from the 'Colonial Post Inn.' This puzzled me for a time until someone mentioned in our Group chats, that there had been an original hour-long 'Pilot' episode staying much closer to the original storylines in the Grace Metalious novel. Some of the themes were deemed to sordid for what was considered a high-class evening drama - my thanks to the Peyton Place Fb Fan Club for bringing this to my attention. In the meantime I also came across this excellent snippet explaining it all further!
'The hour-long pilot, directed by Irvin Kershner, was shot in September 1963. A casting trip to New York had found some promising newcomers, including Mia Farrow (the daughter of Tarzan's leading lady Maureen O'Sullivan) who would play the central teenage character, Allison Mackenzie. Oscar winner Dorothy Malone, the only name star in the original cast, was cast as her mother, Constance. The other major character from the novel, Selena Cross - a girl from the "wrong side of the tracks" who kills her sexually abusive stepfather - was played by Gyl Roland, daughter of another movie star, Gilbert Roland.
Melnick (Head of Programming) left ABC and the project fell into the hands of a rival executive, Edgar Scherick, who envisioned it hewing closer to the format of a daytime soap. Cramer, Scherick's subordinate, had tried and failed to buy the rights to the U.K. hit Coronation Street (which had a twice-a-week format later copied by Peyton Place). Cramer's next idea was to bring in soap opera queen Irna Phillips, creator of Guiding Light, as an uncredited consultant. Phillips suggested cosmetic changes that would maneuver characters more easily into storylines, making school principal Michael Rossi (Ed Nelson, the show's nominal leading man) the town doctor, and the doctor a newspaper editor. Scherick also excised Selena and her family entirely (casting Gyl Roland into obscurity as Mia Farrow became world-famous), ostensibly because the familial rape angle was tasteless. Monash countered that ABC wasn't interested in doing stories about poor people. Underlying much of the tension was a fear that the sexual content of the novel could trigger unwelcome criticism from the press or even from Congress (which had led a bruising crusade against television violence only a few years earlier). ABC briefly considered disguising the show with a name change, to Eden Hill.'
Unsatisfactory but visible signage denoting that the former 'Peyton Place' Inn has now been re-liveried as the 'Colonial Post' Inn which is much more in keeping with the whole concept of 'Concord' and its relevance to the American War of Independence.
Luckily episode 180 provided all the proof we needed! The 'Peyton Place' Inn has been renamed 'The Colonial Post' Inn
Building the Set - You mean it's not a real place?
So here we have it - a real 'myth buster' as the more interesting side of the street starts being constructed against a back lot wall. Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Construction Of Sets For 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Construction of town sets, behind the scenes, making of the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
We can now see the familiar bandstand which was a shelter to many wanting to have private thoughts or others whose romances were just starting or re-igniting - on the far left the 'Banking & Trust Co., which housed Steven Cord's Law Practice, can just be seen peeping through, otherwise the set dressers are 'primping' up the trees. Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Construction Of Sets For 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Construction of town sets, behind the scenes, making of the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The Bandstand completed as we now turn our attention to the right side of the street and the Town Hall. Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Construction Of Sets For 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Construction of town sets, behind the scenes, making of the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Set 'Dressing Up' - 'Founders Day'
Dressing the set for 'Founders Day' in an early episode of 'Peyton Place' (not attended by the current illustrious holder of the title, Martin Peyton - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Making Of 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Wide shot behind the scenes, making of the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episode #9 and #10. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
It must have been fun dressing up the set ready for rehearsals and filming (I noticed in a very early episode that the Banking & Trust Co. had also been thoroughly bedecked!) - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Making Of 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Wide shot behind the scenes, making of the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place', episode #9 and #10. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
The set was also frequently covered in snow as the seasons changed - there are plenty of images to choose from, on this page, to see how it was done, fully and partially (the thawing process) - remember this is filmed in California!
My Maps
Ages ago, I really don't know how long ago, maybe when I started watching the 'pirated' versions of the DVDs I decided I wanted to create a street map of Peyton Place. It was proving a bit tricky as although I knew the general direction of the Wharf it was tricky trying to position the Hospital and the Peyton Mansion although there was the odd clue which pointed in which direction they might be ... Dr Rossi's Cottage (formerly Elliot Carson's bolt-hole) and general domestic homes were also difficult to guess at - I'm thinking of Connie's house, Julie Anderson's house and Betty and Steven's generously gifted mansion. The Boarding House is on the Wharf and accessed by a very steep outdoor stairwell - not sure how Eli manages it, especially in Winter - so, my maps are confined to 'The Green'.
My original sketch of 'The Green' with changes as I watched more episodes, queries and other unresolved ideas remain to be discovered.
So here's my new rendition of how 'The Green' looks with most of the buildings identified and in place thanks to the image below which provided the location of the Pharmacy* and subsequent staircase to the living quarter above.
* In later episodes the Pharmacy seems to have been moved to where the 'Antiques Store' is pictured (on my map) and as seen in Harrington's backdrop. It would make more sense for it to be located there as the steps leading to the living quarters had previously been seen as the home of Paul Hanley prior to his departure from the series. The double entrance would then have been shared between the Dress Shop and the Pharmacy - in reality I would have thought that the Pharmacy would have needed its own entrance especially as it would likely have been used in out-of-hours shopping.
This is a screenshot at the beginning of episode 3 as we are told why Betty is loitering across the Green instead of heading towards school. The building on the end is quite clearly the very striking double-fronted Antiques and Dress Shop with the steps leading up to the living quarters above where first Paul Hanley resided, then Rod and Norman and eventually Norman and Rita who made it their marital home. It also shows the road forming the T-Junction (on the middle left of the picture) as leading to what can only be the Wharf which can also be accessed by the road at the top of the green between the Fire Station and the Chandlery/General Store (with the Doctor's 'Tower' above.)
Revised Maps (and why)
A fantastic clear view of the 'shop-side' of the Green clearly following my original map (above) - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - "Set Shots" Set (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Using the same image - the double fronted building has the original use highlighted.
This group image of the 'Cast of '66' shows us quite clearly that the Antiques Shop has now been superceded by the Pharmacy-cum-breakfast bar, the Dress Shop remains and from there, after a narrow gap (short cut/passageway to the buildings beyond whose windows can just be seen and presumably form part of the Wharf area and then we reach Connie's shop - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : PEYTON PLACE UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 08: PEYTON PLACE - 1964 Cast (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
As you can see, I'm rather dogged in my determination to confirm that my original scribblings were not incorrect, between these publicity shots and actual filming, Peyton Place is deprived of an 'Antiques' Shop but luckily gets itself a 'Pharmacy.' The shop 'switch' can clearly be seen in the image of the 'Second Cast' 1966 here and above. Presumably the Antiques Shop moved to White River (where Elliot finds a model ship for Eli to restore) or to another part of town.
The top end of the Green and a final view of the shopping area - Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Town Sets For 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Town sets appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
This view moves the street line further towards the apex, the Antiques/Pharmacy disappears (but you can still see some of the antiques display by the double entrance, the 'secret space' by the Professional Building is clearly visible, Doctor's Tower is obscured by the trees, the entrance to the harbour area is clearly defined, the bandstand, gun emplacements and Fire Station are now in full view. (The soldier, however, is not.)
Image sourced from and © of Getty/Walt Disney - Image Provenance : Town Sets For 'Peyton Place' Unspecified - 1964: Town sets appearing in the ABC tv series 'Peyton Place'. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
As we 'utch' up the shop side of the street, the Pharmacy (just in view) is still the Antiques Shop and near plum-centre we see the 'Secret' niche.
Just when you thought I'd got it right .....
Episodes 285 and 286 introduce something more than the continuing storyline of runaway Rachel Welles (played by Leigh Taylor-Young) they point to an addition to the setting on the Town Hall/Colonial Inn portion of the set. After nearly 300 episodes the producers must have been patting themselves on the back thinking they had a permanent hit on their hands so why not expand the set. The series had also gone into colour transmission as can be seen from this screen shot. So, back to the changes to the map - first of all I have added the location of the Police Station. We already know, that together with the Court House, Library, Prisoner Holding Area and many other diverse functions, the Town Hall is also linked into the Police Station from the interior. This is the first time we get a glimpse of the exterior and during episode 285 this is consolidated by the appearance of several police vehicles parked outside the picturesque entrance and the appearance of the sign*. In episode 286 (from which this still originates) we are treated to an action scene involving Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) chasing Rachel Welles (Leigh Taylor-Young) in the hope of learning more about the disappearance of Allison Mackenzie (now no longer a member of the cast, expunged from the credits but still mentioned on numerous occasions - possibly in the hope of luring the character back, with or without Farrow reprising her role). All Rodney achieves is using his superior strength to bundle the frightened girl into the Police Station and dumping her there. (Later the two actors were to marry in real life!) At the end of episode 286 Ed Nelson (Dr. Michael Rossi) drives the now-injured (self-inflicted) Rachel to the hospital - the car speeds off in the direction shown on the map. Granted, he may have had to drive the full expanse of the green to get down to the road leading in the direction of the Church but there is no additional information to suggest this so far (we still have over 200 episodes to go for further revelations). *I feel I must add that I find the addition of the entrance to the Police Station a little bizarre, not least because I would not want to stay in a hotel which a Police Station backs on to however picturesquely hidden behind clusters of bushes and rhododendrons; even in a town as quiet as Peyton Place there would be constant to-ing and fro-ing of officers and public alike. Hitherto prisoners have presumably been removed discreetly (and we never knew how) but now there is every likelihood that having put in a sign and entrance, any action needed would take place there. What about the Hotel Gardens, a classy joint like that would have to have them, could anybody overlook them and would they be peaceful with everything that would be going on associated with the Police Station, even in the 1960s? In my view - not a very realistic scenario I'm afraid scoring 'nil points.'
Then episodes from 292 onwards started to reveal many hidden gems ........
I love this picture on many different levels, the first of which is that it encapsulates the enthusiasm of that ray of sunshine called Eli Carson who is here setting up and creating the ideal family memento of his newly arrived grandson in the arms of his mother Connie (Mackenzie) Carson and father Elliot. Eli is gorged with happiness over becoming a grandfather (his time with Allison had been too short - at least the knowledge that she had been his granddaughter and that information had been kept from him for 18 years) and he is wallowing in his happiness. But the Producers have also given us a bonus and an early insight into the expansion of the set (see below).
Eli is happily setting up his picture to remember and mark the occasion, what about the set? Needless to say it would have been potentially difficult (and prohibitively expensive) to move the Town Hall (and all its other uses) a few feet to accommodate this new Police Station 'entrance.' It has to be said that the area next to the Town Hall doesn't get highlighted too much, but you can find the occasional glimpse in a couple of photos when it serves as part of the construction or a background to Rodney. In the construction shot you can see the outline of a square building which rarely, if at all appears in the various changes to the 'frontage' and pavement areas to the Town Hall. Possibly it was hidden until something requiring its attention occurred in the storyline such as the aforementioned pursuit of Rachel by Rodney where he drags her into the Police Station from the Street (Signage and stairs [1]). I think there was also a lot of foliage, particularly at the side of the hotel which now reveals other spaces as I mentioned previously that in every day circumstances, in the real world, I wouldn't be too comfortable staying at a hotel which adjoins a Police Station and all that implies. (We later discover that the cell windows are accessible from the front when Leslie misguidedly provides Chandler with a hand gun ...... little realising that Norman has witnessed the entire scene). On to point [2] which I hadn't grasped the significance of immediately - if, as I surmise the Old Executive Building was used for the 'Doctors Hospital' then I have at least got the direction of the hospital correctly marked on the map (much later on ambulances with sirens blaring to attend an incident are seen coming from the direction passing by Rita and Norman's apartment.) By exposing the entrance to the Police Station we see a little more detail [3] of the Colonial Post Inn.
Bringing the Baby out for a photo session also gave us two more gems for the 'Secret Places' and soon to be constructed 'Anomalies' page
Here's what prompted Eli into wanting to take pictures and the infant is paraded up the street right in front my favourite 'Secret Place' the hitherto unexplained pretty garden frontage leading to where exactly? The studio building in the background is still a barefaced wall with no attempt at dressing it up as something different!
Well this no longer looks like the entrance to the Professional Building as it appears to have been taken over as the 'Clarion' entrance only (does Dr. Rossi now have to parachute himself in to his part of the building via the roof?) and has acquired the world's most dreary prop of a wastebasket - are those copies of the 'Clarion' in there? The inhabitants listed on the board in the entrance to the Professional Building has also been removed and replaced by what looks like a leaflet stand.
'Tecchie Stuff'
As it happens I love 'Tecchie stuff' probably as a result of my many years of employment in Theatre and Television I suppose one's 'craft' never leaves one (sounds a bit pompous but you know what I mean) so delving into and researching how things were achieved is always a lot of fun for me.
The first bit of interesting information for this section is the discovery of a website concerned with mapping and preserving various studio lots, which programmes they were involved with and if the location names were subject to change. The area of interest for me is the 'Lot' on which all things Peyton Place (especially 'The Green') were filmed, which of it was real, does any of it still exist. I don't get so excited about interiors because they could be anywhere, in a purpose built stage setting, an actual house interior miles away from the central action, a camouflaged existing studio building etc. etc. etc. which would have a) no real cohesion and b) prove a logistical nightmare! so no. 1 find is, thanks to retroweb.com which confirms that the 'Peyton Place' Green exteriors were built and filmed at the 20th Century Fox Studios located at : 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California. These Studios still exist even though the back lots may have been re-invented, the web-site lists that the "Peyton Place (town square set) / Batman (interiors, "Peyton Square" & false fronts next to stages 5 and 6)" were indeed located here. The second part is a little confusing but I'm not too concerned about that, the reference to the 'Town Square Set' is sufficient for the purposes of this page.
The second piece of good fortune comes from VashiVisuals which provides us with a map of the Lot including Stage 9 which we know was the province and provenance of 'Peyton Place'. There is no specific mention of 'Peyton Place' in the article but there is an intriguing image of the 'Old Executive Building' (rear) which looks, to me, as a match for the front of 'Doctor's Hospital' - I shall be investigating that in due course to see if I can get a match!
A plaque showing quite clearly that the home of Peyton Place between the years of 1964-1969 was located on Stage 9 - image sourced from thestudiotour.com with thanks
The Fox Lot Directory - image sourced from VashiVisuals.com with thanks
Aerial views of the 'Home of Peyton Place'
The all-important detail of the the placement of Stage 9, home to 'Peyton Place' and Building 88 which doubles as 'Doctors Hospital' - image sourced from VashiVisuals.com with thanks
An aerial view of the Fox back lot
This is the rear of the old Executive Building 88 which stands quite close to Stage 9 and the 'Peyton Place Square' - it is quite obviously not an entrance of any sort but an extension to a room to allow those using it to get some fresh air. I think that this could easily be the rear of the building which could have doubled up for the entrance to 'Doctor's Hospital'. There are no images of the front (so far) that I can find but I have one archival image, which if it is the front of the building squashes my theory! - image sourced from VashiVisuals.com with thanks.
Here is an image from Getty which describes this as 'Twentieth-Century Fox Studio Exterior view of the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Studio building, Hollywood, California, 1948.' (Photo by Eric Johnson/United States Information agency/PhotoQuest/Getty Images),
Could this have doubled up as the hospital entrance? The only shots we ever get are from ground level looking up at the steps with good views of the car park. The green sections could have been whitewashed over to give the pristine effect and the bushes and railings removed. Anyway, I just loved this image with all the fabulous retro cars!
Update - yes, this is the old Executive Building and yes, it is 'Doctor's Hospital' and here is how and why!
These two detailed images are taken from the 'Twentieth-Century Fox Studio Exterior view of the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Studio building, Hollywood, California, 1948' as seen in the previous paragraph. I have paid particular and deliberate attention to the entrance to the right (looking at the image on screen) of this very distinctively shaped building (no.88). I have also focused on two distinctive structures visible to and above the entrance. The first are the decorative lamp posts and what appears to be either scaffolding or possibly a ladder leaning against the plinth/sunshade above the doorway entrance.
In episode 100 we are shown the entrance to 'Doctor's Hospital' and clearly visible is a decorative lamp post, the plinth now concealed and boxed in to accommodate the 'Doctors Hospital' sign but still retaining the balcony entrance and what is now visible (but had not been at a distance) as a retractable ladder (Fire escape?)
A little more of the entrance way as seen in episode 100 but with no higher a level than the first balcony - I can't help feeling that it was poorly designed if the ladder is there permanently as it would split up any group trying to enjoy the balcony. Perhaps Fire Regulations would not allow for the ladder to be kept stored away?
Episode 300 (now in colour) gives us a slightly higher span and the second level of the balcony area is also (just) visible. What makes it doubly interesting is that the support struts of the higher balcony have not been camouflaged leaving them exposed and matching the original photograph from 1948.
From an earlier episode (ep.145) which, I have to admit I had previously completely missed is this 'grand reveal' and giving my theorising some credence - not that I found this without a little help - so credit where credit is due, I was going through marvin1934's episode list when I was looking for a specific Stella Chernak image and noticed the Marvin had mentioned that the 20th Century Fox lettering could be found in this episode and here it is!
Peyton Place… 76 acres of real life
6th April 2018 | Henry Gris
An in-depth look at the people behind the scenes at hit soap opera Peyton Place in 1967
THE spring thaw had set in and green shoots were thrusting through the melting snow around the bandstand. Life was unfolding in Peyton Place — although it was still December. From the TV Times for 16-22 December 1967April comes in December there because each episode is screened in America four months after filming. Peyton Place is superimposed over 76 acres of 20th Century-Fox studios in Los Angeles. Yet, the whole world, it would seem, is looking in on Peyton Place. What a tricky town it is. You may have been distracted, or gone away and missed the latest developments, then wondered what was happening. No need. You pick up the thread as if you've never been away. Why? Has nothing happened? Of course it has. Plenty, if it isn't apparent to you it's because the people who determine the destinies of Peyton Place had planned it this way. "The pace of life in Peyton Place," says executive producer Paul Monash, "has been specially evolved to make you think, if you've been away, that you haven't missed a thing. Yet in reality you have missed plenty. How else could we make our audience, millions of people on five continents, want to stay with us?" A Rolls-Royce has just pulled up outside the office of The Clarion, the town's newspaper, and the chauffeur is helping old Martin Peyton through the slush on the pavement. It's spring 1968.
What is happening in episode 418 is a secret no one in Peyton Place is allowed to reveal. Anyone breathing it to a friend in a bar may be fired. At the time one leading figure was about to leave Peyton Place, an actor was written out of the series for revealing the plot to a newspaper friend. American television viewers who go to Britain gained prestige by telling friends what will happen in Peyton Place in months to come. After all they are episodes ahead of the Peyton Place episodes in Britain — but British TV viewers in turn are ahead of viewers in other places. The tale is unfolding in 32 countries to reach such faraway spots as Thailand and Korea, El Salvador and Guatemala, Australia and New Zealand. The only continent that has yet to become aware of the intrigues in Peyton Place is Africa — if you leave out the United Arab Republic. Let's admit it to Mr. Monash. A lot has happened in this town of his. It all began with Rodney Harrington being tricked into marrying Betty Anderson. Eventually, she ran off to the big town and then their marriage was annulled. Meanwhile Rodney was really in love with Allison, only he didn't know it. His father was having an affair with Betty's mother, and in the state prison Elliot Carson, innocently convicted of the murder of his wife Elizabeth, was defying the parole board. Remember..? "We unfolded the story step by step," says Monash. "We've had no masterplan. If you had asked me a year ago I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint the events of today. A lot just happened. "Other events could have gone this way, or that way, and we spent sleepless nights and argued for days until I knew where to go from there."
Monash, who earns £100,000 a year [£1.8m in 2018, allowing for inflation], has been close to quitting his job so many times, he doesn't remember the number of real life crises that shook Peyton Place "Originally, Constance was to kill Elliot Carson, the father of her illegitimate child, when he returned to Peyton Place, but I was able to prevent that and now they're a happy if troubled couple… "Sometimes you set down a course of events because you are out to please a certain audience. And we know our audience. "Then there are times when our actors refuse to accept a turn of events in Peyton Place and we have to go along with that. It is not healthy to lose principals. May they be happy and live forever…" So far, Monash has "lost" only one regular in Britain, Leigh Taylor-Young, so that as casualties go Peyton Place's mortality is very low indeed. Meanwhile, at least three dozen actors and actresses to hold major parts for as long as a year have come and gone. This traffic of featured players is necessary to keep the story exciting, and nothing accomplishes that better than new faces. But Monash admits that he is never sure that a new face, added to the cast for a limited period, may not catch on and become a valuable acquisition. Young Pat Morrow, who plays Rita, is a case in point. "We thought we'd keep her around for three months or so," Monash reflects. "As you know, she's still with us, and Peyton Place would never be the same without her." They never thought of following author Grace Metalious' format, though, and if today the only similarity between the original book and the series is the title, then it's by design, not by accident. "I thought they had gone much too far in taking the pepper out of Peyton Place," was the way Barbara Parkins (Betty in the series) put it not long ago. "They didn't let me and my husband have love scenes for fear it would offend our viewers." To keep her happy, producer Everett Chambers, let Barbara do a love scene with her "husband" in one episode. But Betty is the one protesting. Most of the rest of the cast are fond of Peyton Place. "I call ours a family show," says Dr. Michael Rossi — Ed Nelson, a father of six, including four little girls. "I know not everybody will agree with me. but this is what I believe in." Nelson is another who has caused quite a few script revisions, granted because of his definite value to the series.
"As TV stars go," Monash says happily, "our 11 regulars are a strong team." It would seem that time has proved him right because the regulars now before the cameras are the same as those appearing on British screens this week. Most of these 11 were in the "pilot" show which was filmed on Peyton Place's £370,000 [£7.5m] exterior set in September 1963. Surviving almost 400 half-hour episodes over four-odd years these Peyton Place "regulars" have found themselves a "home" they may hate to leave if and when the series ends. Allison Mackenzie's haircutting rebellion was an incident which had international hairstyle reverberations and was the one occasion when television pointed up a strange inter-dependence of Peyton Place's make-believe and the outside world of reality. "Mia," actor Ed Nelson said, "was very much on edge during several preceding weeks and we all felt something was going to happen. "By then she was very much at odds with the character. She had outgrown it, and was fighting it." What triggered the "rebellion" was the studio keeping people late the night of Frank Sinatra's birthday party. Mia was to attend. "She cut her hair while in her dressing room," Nelson said. "I must hand it to Monash. His reaction to the news that Allison had lost her Alice in Wonderland hair was to order a scene in which Allison comes to the hospital to test Dr. Rossi's reaction to an impulsive act of self-disfiguration. We were handed a new page of script and within two hours of Mia cutting her hair we were shooting a different scene." One member of the company commented: "When we told the boss he said: 'Great, let's see the script.' He was cool as a cucumber. He then improvised the psychological reasons why Allison would cut her hair which largely paralleled Mia Farrow's own reasons. "He felt that, in fact, she was partly reflecting what was happening to the character in the story."
This incident pointed out the basic truth that each and all of the characters populating Peyton Place had been gradually changing, some growing older and wiser, others "evolving". "The people who determine our destinies have deliberately left us a lot of elbow room so we may move around within our characters," actor Jim Douglas (Steven Cord) said. They've all "evolved". "As Elliot Carson," says actor Tim O'Connor, "I began as the embittered convict seeking to find the truth about the crime I was not guilty of, and to find the real murderer. "From this I moved on to a love affair, a second love, in a sense, for Constance. I married, I became a very involved father and all that, yet essentially I've been playing the same character — a man quick to anger and essentially fair. A man who has a strong sense of justice. "The reason I became the editor of the town's newspaper? They were very careful to give me something to do in the story. I couldn't just be there. My sense of justice was what determined my job. Suddenly, we arrived at the conclusion that I could be nothing else…" Possibly, the Harrington boys "evolved" even more over the years but then, as Ryan O'Neal said: "We were like all young boys growing up. Only comic book characters never change." Rodney was originally the spoiled rich young boy with some good instincts who has gradually grown into a young man determined to make it on his own. Norman went through a greater change. He started as a sensitive young companion of Allison, something of a bookworm, and he is now a young man in the throes of a marriage to a girl who has more troubles than she should have. "It is true," says Barbara Parkins, "that I often feel as though I am Betty Cord. And if the things that have happened to her have not happened to me in real life—well, they could, or they might yet." Betty Anderson (as she was) is another character who has "evolved" over the year, but so has Barbara Parkins.
The leeway that the producers have given their characters, never dotting all the "i's" and crossing all the "t's," allows for the dramatic explosion that has to take place to keep Peyton Place what it is. "I have the feeling," said Dorothy Malone, "that as often as not they translate the drama in our personal lives into events in Peyton Place. It is we who offer them material." Miss Malone has had some stormy encounters in real life with ex-husband Jacques Bergerac. Monash denies that he has made a point of it. But then, the last episode of the series has yet to be written. In fact, the writing team is about three months ahead of the events taking place in Peyton Place, the writers continually exploring new possibilities. But viewer reaction cannot be taken into consideration since American viewers are seven months behind the writers. "It's very complicated," actor Chris Connelly said. "They know what's going on, but they won't tell us. "In the beginning we had a pool, guessing how certain things would turn out, such as, I remember, Rodney's trial. I lost. Nowadays we sort of take things for granted. Do as we are told. At least I do." The Peyton Place stars' cars are as motley as they themselves. Dorothy Malone has a black Cadillac. Barbara Parkins owns a green Jaguar, Ryan O'Neal's is a powder-blue Mercedes Benz. Chris Connelly's is a red Corvette, usually parked next to Pat Morrow's silver Corvette. Tim O'Connor's black Porsche is tucked away in a corner, as is Ed Nelson's white Mustang. Which, occasionally, is joined by another "loner," George Macready's silver grey Humber. Some of them are "loners" because this is their nature. Jim Douglas, for instance, makes a point of always lunching alone at a small table in the studio restaurant, very much the brooding Steven Cord.
George Macready, alias Martin Peyton, is never around until he is needed on the set — he is in his portable dressing room, as often as not, having a cup of tea he prepares himself. But Ed Nelson plays chess with members of the crew. Chris Connelly spends all his free time pottering around his car. At lunch time. Ed Nelson entertains visitors from Pomona where he lives, or a couple of his kids, while Pat Morrow usually joins the Harrington boys for lunch. Dorothy Malone drives home to lunch to be with her two little girls. She lives 10 minutes away from the studio. None has become a millionaire, but Dorothy Malone is extremely well off, having had a steady job since the series began. So is Ed Nelson. So is George Macready, and so are the show's "youngsters" — Ryan O'Neal, Chris Connelly and Barbara Parkins. Their salaries are another of Peyton Place's well-guarded secrets, but it is known that originally Miss Malone was getting the only high salary, a reported £650 a week. [£11,520] Today, it is said that the total star salary is £7,000 a week. [£124,100] To be sure, they are worked hard, and the money does not come easily. Two episodes are filmed every week, each taking up four concentrated days of shooting with the actors expected to report to work knowing their dialogue. Since television does not allow for fluffing of lines, the Peyton Place regulars spend their evenings at home cramming. No more than two takes a scene are allowed and anyone who causes a slowdown may expect to confront Mr. Monash or Mr. Chambers after horns and he had better have a good explanation. Monash readily admits that one additional reason why his regulars have remained regulars is that all are quick at studying. In other words, they're pros. At the breakneck pace of life in Peyton Place — it is essential that filming proceeds at a lively clip. As a rule, two companies work simultaneously, each headed by its own director, one occupying the well-used town square set while the other is at work on one of the five sound stages. Occasionally, the regulars have worked for both directors on the same day. Nothing is allowed to come in the way of production, with 'Life goes on in Peyton Place' having become as much of a maxim as the famous "The show must go on."
When Dorothy Malone became very ill, she was replaced by actress Lola Albright and audiences were expected to accept the temporary replacement without protest. They did. Until the spring of 1967 the regulars worked with less than a fortnight's annual holiday. A change of policy — from three half-hour episodes in America to two a week — gave the regulars their first solid vacation — three months. It didn't affect Barbara Parkins, though. She spent her holiday doing "Valley of the Dolls" on a different 20th Century-Fox sound stage. Not that she minded that. An ambitious girl, Barbara hopes that a movie career may free her to do bigger and better things. "The only way for me to be written out of Peyton Place," she says, "is to prove to my bosses that I can do better for them in movies." She adds that she will "feel lost" for a while but that one is never a star unless one switches to movies. And she is resolved to be a star. Not as outspoken, the two Harrington boys are also looking forward to a chance at movie stardom, convinced, though, that Peyton Place was the best thing that could have happened to them: the acting world's best drama school. Monash readily and happily concurs: "Anyone who's gone through the Peyton Place mill has won himself the rank of colonel." Most recently, agents have begun sustained campaigns on behalf of their clients, usually experienced actors, to get them stints in Peyton Place. Old-timer Dan Duryea's proudest day came when not long ago he was allowed to join the Peyton Place gang as Ida Jack's long-lost husband. Beautiful Gena Rowland followed in the footsteps of Lee Grant. Today, the line of applicants, all excellent actors more than willing to work in Peyton Place, if necessary at a financial sacrifice, forms to the right. Significantly, regulars and non-regulars have formed a tightly-knit actors' family that is as concerned with what will happen in Peyton Place tomorrow as the most avid viewer. Peyton Place has brought about only one personal involvement — Ryan O'Neal marrying Leigh Taylor-Young whom he met in the series. "They finish work and go home," is the way publicity woman Doris Kaler sees things in Peyton Place. "Each in his own direction." To be sure, all Peyton Place regulars with the exception of Barbara Parkins, Pat Morrow and Chris Connelly are married, with families of their own.
They, then, are the people of Peyton Place. Count them off, the two producers, one story editor, four writers, four directors, the eleven regulars, and some 60 members of the Peyton Place crew. Between them, one must admit, they've caused quite a global stir.
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