WLS Channel 7 - AM Chicago - "Anthony Geary at Northbrook Court" (Complete Edition, 2/23/1981) 🧼

Here's raw footage of a complete edition (albeit not the broadcast version) of AM Chicago which originated from the Northbrook Court Mall. Host is Robb Weller, and the guest was Anthony (Tony) Geary (a.k.a. Luke Spencer) of General Hospital fame.

NOTE: There are no commercial breaks or promos, nor opening music or titles (or ending credits or lower-third supers), but this is shown as went out from the mall, and shows what usually goes down "in the studio" between segments (which the home audience usually never sees).

Note: Previously we have seen a promo for another edition from this same week of shows, which can be seen here:    • WLS Channel 7 - AM Chicago - "Northbr...  

Includes:

Behind-the-scenes countdown directing audience to applaud, followed by Robb coming out, explaining they will originate from the mall for the week to come, and doing a "spell-out" in introducing Tony by citing his character's name, before taking a break

Audience fires up again on cue after first break, Robb explains how most seats were sold out but welcomes passersby to come look, after which the man of the hour arrives to screaming fans; upon entering the stage he makes like a rock star and explains how he "always wanted to do that," before settling down for business; Robb goes on about all the preparations they made for his appearance, and asks other probing questions to the star including whether he thinks it's frightening, his plans after returning later that night to L.A., and how he sees himself in later years, before the host signals for the next break

After the usual off time, the audience comes alive again and the action resumes, with Robb asking who of the women at the mall would Tony pick, whether he always had "this effect" on women, when "this effect" clicked for him (and him speaking of his co-star Genie Francis a.k.a. Laura), after which Robb fields questions from members of the audience including Debbie from Elmhurst (about how much of Tony is in Luke), before going to the next break

After this down time, where Tony gestures to one Kathy Cardinello (sp?), we pick up again with Robb fielding questions from Linda Levy from Glenview (about where he was the previous night), Jack Chenowicz (sp?) from Skokie (about being adored by millions of women), then Robb asks him about things he cannot do now because of his fame and standing, and what his life's about at the (then-)present time; next Renee Schneiderman from Des Plaines asks a question relating to Genie, before the host asks what it's like to do a love scene; then Leslie Krachowski (sp?) from Highland Park asks if Tony has a girlfriend (he says the time he works on GH cost him at least one relationship), after which Robb signals for another break

After the "Applause" command, Robb previews next day's edition with real-life Chicago playboys, before asking Tony about how he sees himself five years from now, and how long he would continue on GH, after which Robb signals the end of this edition (which would have had a copyright notice superimposed on the screen on the broadcast edition).

After the host and guest and audience leaves, a lady comes out to apologize it couldn't have been longer or that anyone else couldn't talk to Tony, but the mall was lucky to have gotten him at all, and she invites the attendees to stay around to watch if they wish, and she has assistants out to get audience members out in a quiet, orderly manner; she continues her instructions as the recording ends.

With the usual trappings, this aired on local Chicago TV on Monday, February 23rd 1981.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: [email protected] Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, please e-mail [email protected] Thank you for your help!