50 Things You Didn't Know About General Hospital
General Hospital is a popular soap opera series that has kept viewers enthralled for over half a century. General Hospital premiered on ABC in 1963 and is still going strong today. The soap opera has served as a launching pad for some actors, while others have been on the show for decades. In the fifty-plus years that General Hospital has been on the air, fans have seen some interesting stories unfold. There are trials and tribulations that take place in the little town of Port Charles.
General Hospital Was Created By A Husband And Wife Team
General Hospital was created by the husband and wife team, Frank and Doris Hursley. The show premiered on 1963's April Fool's Day, and its ratings and longevity have proven it to be successful.
The first stories were filmed on the seventh floor of a general hospital. Frank and Doris viewed the series as a big wheel, the hospital being at the center, and the characters as spokes. The married couple was also known for Have Gun, Will Travel, and Search for Tomorrow.
Finola Hughes
Finola Hughes plays the role of Anna Devane on General Hospital. She originally played the role from 1985 until 1992, taking a break to appear in other television roles and films. She also won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1991.
In addition, she appeared as Anna and Anna Devane's identical twin, in All My Children. However, she returned to General Hospital as Anna in 2012 and has been playing the role ever since.
The Front Gates Are The Focal Point Of The Opening Sequence
Sometimes it's the seemingly trivial details that stir up warm sentiments in the hearts of viewers. An example is the front gates that are featured in each episode. The gates are the focal point of the opening sequence of the series.
They are actually the gates of the LAC+USC Medical Center and they have become a well-known and popular landmark. Many people travel to the gates just to take a picture in front of them.
The Young Marrieds
General Hospital had a sister soapie called The Young Marrieds, which started in 1964. Unfortunately, the soap opera didn't do as well as General Hospital and was canceled after just two years due to low ratings.
It doesn't always pay off making a spin-off of a successful series, but you have to give Selmur Productions credit for trying. After all, they did create General Hospital, which has been a massive success.
Celebrated Its 55th Anniversary In 2018
On April 1, 2018, General Hospital celebrated its fifty-fifth anniversary. It is the longest-running soap opera currently in production in America.
The show has aired a total of more than fourteen thousand episodes and doesn't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. The soap opera has received many nominations and awards.
Originally, General Hospital Began With 30-Minute Episodes
In the beginning, General Hospital aired thirty-minute episodes, which were neat, action-packed chapters. However, the production team and fans were concerned that the episodes ended too quickly. By 1976, ABC had decided to extend the run time to forty-five minutes per episode.
Then, two years later, the show was extended to a full hour per episode. This made fans very happy as many stated that thirty minutes just wasn't long enough.
General Hospital Was Initially Called Emergency Hospital
Initially, General Hospital was called Emergency Hospital by the creators. There wasn't any huge reason why the name didn't stick other than the fact that the creators just thought General Hospital sounded better.
General Hospital has a more personable and less intense tone than Emergency Hospital. However, the initial title might have caught viewers' attention more easily, but most can't imagine it being called anything else after all of these years.
The 15,000th Episode Centered Around One Of GH's Legendary Characters
The fifteen-thousandth episode was standalone and was mostly centered around the legendary character, Laura Collins, better known as Laura Spencer. She is the woman who now goes by Mayor Collins.
In the episode, she had all of Port Charles rally around her when an anonymous op-ed threatened her position as mayor. In the opening, Laura gets out of her car and looks up at the big sign saying General Hospital, and then she walks into the famous building.
An A-List Star Joined The Cast
It's a rare thing for a major movie star to appear in a soap opera, but James Franco did just that. Franco appeared in fifty-four episodes between 2009 and 2012. His character was a mysterious artist and a serial killer. Franco stated, "I said, 'I want to play an artist, and I want him to be crazy.'"
He stated that he had wanted to be on a soap opera since he was a kid and said, "I was home sick a lot because I didn't like school when I was little." While he was home sick, he would watch soap operas. When he left the show, Roger Howarth took on the role of Franco, who later died on the show in 2021.
How The Pandemic Affected The Show
The pandemic, of course, changed things on the set of General Hospital, as it did with most shows. However, after the show resumed, some of the veteran stars were not happy with the working conditions.
All of the stars were required to be vaccinated, which resulted in some actors leaving the show. Actor Steve Burton applied for religious and medical exceptions to stay with the show, but they denied his requests, and he was let go.
Cameos You May Have Missed
There have been many memorable cameos on General Hospital throughout the years. Gene Simmons was a fitness guru and was well-known in the 1970s and 1980s. He taught exercise on the show, playing himself. Another star to make a cameo was Billy Dee Williams from the Star Wars franchise.
He stated, "I'm having a good time with that. It's a whole different experience and format. The characters are involved in some very interesting situations. The production pace was faster than anything I've ever done."
Merrie Lynn Ross
Merrie Lynn Ross played the role of Emma Lutz on General Hospital in the early 1980s. Emma was close friends with Lila Quartermaine and was part of the Ice Princess intrigue during the early 1980s.
Ross is also an award-winning filmmaker and producer with films such as The Lucifer Complex, White House Madness, and Class of 1984. In addition, she is the author of eight books.
The Show Has A Tight Budget
The General Hospital producers need to be conscientious of the show's budget to make sure the soap opera remains profitable enough to stay on the air. They have had to find clever ways to keep the cost down while filming.
For example, they have stuck with the same sets for many years. The furniture and props are almost always reused, and they don't often film on location because it is expensive.
The Actors Have An Impressive Clothing Assortment
General Hospital has so many characters and storylines, and as a result, the costume department is impressively complex. Each character has a specific closet and accessories box, and Shawn Dudley-Reeves is the costume designer.
Sometimes, there are more than seventy costumes for a single episode. They even source shows and clothing from the historical period for the actors to wear. However, the actors and actresses are not allowed to keep any of the clothing from the show.
How One Star Went From Guest To Regular
Australian actor Tristan Rogers was looking for any role in the early years of his career. In 1980, he was told about a casting opportunity that was seeking East African actors. Rogers decided to take the job, but he didn't realize how popular the soap series was. He had five script readings over five days and was given the part.
Initially, the role was nameless and only supposed to last for two days. During his first day of filming, executive producer Gloria Monty called him into her office and asked him to stay on the show longer as she wanted a lot more screen time for this new character. His character was given the name of Agent CK8, which stands for 'can kill.' His character became the famous character Robert Scorpio.
Real-Life Romance Started On Set
The core of any soap opera is romantic relationships, and often the characters find love multiple times throughout the series. In addition, several actors end up in real-life relationships, including Bryan Craig and Kelly Thiebaud. The couple announced their engagement on The Talk in 2016; however, they didn't last.
Chad Duell and Kristen Alderson also met on the show and dated until 2015. Another couple from the soap opera that was linked was Rebecca Herbst and Michael Saucedo, who were married in 2001 and have since had three children.
The Hospital Files
Some people always thought that the hospital files in General Hospital were scripts. It would probably make the actors' lives a little easier if they had the scripts in those files, but they actually don't contain any words.
The only thing that is in those files is pieces of paper with some scribbles on them. There is no information, no words, and no one is actually putting their script in the file to read it as they film.
Pieces Of Pine Valley In Port Charles
Another soap opera called All My Children was a major soap opera, but it was eventually canceled. As a result, the General Hospital crew took on the show and some of the show's things. They took some actors and actresses, and they took some items.
If you watch closely, you can see things from the Pine Valley set, such as Ava Jerome living in the penthouse that was once Erica Cane's. There are many parts of All My Children here and there.
Grey's Anatomy Is Their Neighbor
The General Hospital set is one of the best in the business, and they have the best neighbors. They have the cast and crew from Grey's Anatomy as their neighbors.
The two shows are both very successful as General Hospital has been blowing fans away daily for more than five decades, and Grey's Anatomy has wowed audiences for twelve years now. They are perfect neighbors.
Insane Taping Schedules
The cast of General Hospital has insane taping schedules, mainly because it is broadcast on a daily basis. The show films roughly eighty pages of dialog every day, as where primetime shows usually only tape about ten pages a day.
The actors are on set filming for very long hours, and sometimes they have to do scenes four times in a row. They definitely work very hard and earn every dollar they make.
Recurring Rogers
Robert Scorpio is a very popular character in General Hospital. He used to be the main staple, and now he pops up every now and then. Originally, Tristan Rogers was hired for a short time but stayed on for twelve years. He is also known for playing Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless and Hunter Jones on The Bold and the Beautiful.
He said about the world today, "Zoom is fine for maintaining connection, but it's not the same as seeing people in the same room. We've definitely lost a certain part of communication with people. You'd do personal appearances in the 1980s, and the reason so many people turned out is that you'd reached them by doing your show Monday through Friday. People wanted more."
Stuart Damon
Stuart Damon joined General Hospital in 1977 and played the character Dr. Alan Quartermaine. His character was the chief of staff at General Hospital and was addicted to the painkiller hydrocodone.
His character was killed off in 2007, after thirty years, but Stuart remained on the show for another year as a ghost who haunted his sister Tracy. He then appeared on As the World Turns in 2009 and 2010 and later returned to General Hospital in 2011 for two episodes.
BLT's
If you have paid attention, you would have noticed that many people in Port Charles love to order a BLT when they are out to eat. What is the big deal about the sandwich that makes everyone order it?
It is actually an inside joke with the cast, which they haven't revealed. The joke of always ordering a BLT has been running on and on throughout the show for many years. I guess we just have to use our imaginations.
Alcohol On Set
When you see the actors and actresses on set drinking a cocktail, it's not actually what you think it is. They don't actually get to drink alcohol on the show. What they are drinking is just watered-down soda or ginger ale in a cup that has been lightened by the water so that it looks like alcohol.
It has also been said by actors from the show that the drinks on the set are used over and over again. Either way, watered-down drinks aren't the best drink out there.
Breaking The Record
In 1981, General Hospital broke the record for the number of viewers tuning in for an episode. It was the episode when Luke and Laura got married, and it remains the most-watched episode of any American soap in history.
It was even listed as number thirty-five on TV Guide's 100 Most Memorable Moments on TV. In addition, the show has aired more than fifteen thousand episodes, which is huge because many shows don't make it past one hundred.
Raising Awareness
General Hospital isn't scared of having controversial storylines. The biggest storyline featured the characters Stone and Robin and HIV/AIDS. In the storyline, Stone assured Robin that he had been tested for HIV and was negative, but it turned out that he did, in fact, test positive for HIV.
Robin also became very ill and tested positive for HIV. It followed their story, and sadly, Stone died after a heartbreaking scene where he took in Robin standing by the light of the window one last time.
The Carly Connection
Carly Benson Corinthos is another huge character in General Hospital. There have been three actresses that have played Carly and have attained great success portraying the character. Sarah Brown was the first to play the role, and she won three Daytime Emmys for her performance.
Tamara Braun replaced Sarah in the role of Carly, and she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2004. Finally, Laura Wright is currently playing Carly, and she has received six Outstanding Lead Actress nominations and took home the award in 2011.
Meghan Markle Appeared On General Hospital
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, actually appeared on General Hospital early on in her career. Her father was the lighting director in the 1990s on the show, which is part of the reason why she got her start in show business.
Other television shows that Meghan appeared in include The War at Home, CSI: NY, Fringe, and Century City. Ever since she has become well known for marrying Prince Harry, her career has come to a halt.
Anna Lee
Anna Lee was an actress who played the role of Lila Quartermaine from 1978 until 2003. Lila was the matriarch of the family and was considered the 'voice of reason.' In addition, she also played Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music.
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993 and was the first daytime drama actress ever to receive the honor. Anne also received the Lifetime Achievement Award just one week after she died.
The Pens At The Nurse's Station Can't Be Moved
Another interesting fact about General Hospital is that the pens at the nurse's station are actually super glued down so that they can't be moved or taken.
It is another small way of being strict on the budget. Another tidbit is that the elevators in the hospital don't actually work. Crew members have to physically open and close the doors. In addition, they just change the numbers on the elevator.
All The Nurse Station Scenes Are Shot In The Same Area
Many viewers believe that when different scenes are filmed in the hospital setting, they are being filmed on different floors. However, all of the hospital scenes are filmed on the same set, including the scenes at the nurses' stations.
They change the elevator numbers and the floor signs in order to make it look like they are on a different floor. They do a really good job of making it look like a real hospital.
The Actors Are Only Given Scripts A Few Days Prior To Filming
The actors in General Hospital do not get a very long time to memorize their lines before filming the scenes. In fact, they only get their script just a few days before filming an episode.
Josh Swickard stated, "I'll get my scripts seven days before, and I'll read it 10-20 times, then again." In addition, none of the actors on the soap opera read any of their lines on prompters, which happens in a lot of soap operas.
The Food In The Vending Machines Have Been There For Years
The vending machines that you see on General Hospital don't actually have fresh food that can be eaten. The food in the machine has been there for years, so if you happen to visit the set, don't plan on getting a snack.
When you watch the show, you would never guess the food is old because it looks normal. They actually put stickers on the packages to cover up the actual brands.
Lynn Herring Puts Honey On Her Face Before Filming
Lynn Herring plays the character Lucy Coe on General Hospital and has for years. She has stated that she puts honey on her face, skin, and hands. It's actually her own honey from the ranch that her family owns.
Lynn left the show after six years and played a role on Days of Our Lives, but returned to General Hospital to reprise her character. She was on and off the show several times, but in 2012 she returned to the show after more than eight years off-screen.
Some Actors Get Tattoos On A Daily Basis
Several characters on General Hospital have tattoos, which means the actor that plays the tone of those characters has to have a tattoo applied daily for filming. The actors are most definitely used to long hours in hair and makeup.
Some of the tattoos are real, but others are applied with makeup. In addition, some actors' tattoos are intentionally covered up with makeup, as they don't ever prevent actors from doing anything to their bodies, but they will cover it up if needed.
Two Of The Main Actors Don't Like Each Other
When you have a show like General Hospital with many actors and actresses involved, it's only natural that not every single person on set will get along. There are reportedly several actors from General Hospital that don't like each other.
Two of those actors that don't get along are Billy Miller and Steve Burton. Other actors from the show have said that when Burton returned, there seemed to be friction with Miller.
The 1990s Saw General Hospital Evolve Into A Social Soap
General Hospital evolved into a social soap in the 1990s. Gloria Monty was no longer the executive producer, and Wendy Riche was the new executive producer. In addition, the show had a new head writer, Claire Labine. It was around this time that the show started shifting focus back to medical stories and the hospital on a regular basis.
They had the heartbreaking story of the school bus accident that left BJ brain dead and her heart was donated to her cousin, Maxie Jones. Another huge story was about Robin and Stone and how they were diagnosed with HIV. Stone dies, but Robin continues to portray a doctor living with HIV.
In 1963, A Young Leonard Nimoy Played Bernie On The Show
Leonard Nimoy was famous for his portrayal of Star Trek's Mr. Spock. However, in 1963, he played the character named Bernie the Pill Pusher in an episode of General Hospital. He was a drug dealer during season one and initially showed up on the doorsteps of Peggy Mercer to drop off pills for Roy Lansing.
Leonard was paid just one hundred and forty-five dollars for the episode he appeared in, and it was three years later when he embarked on the Star Trek adventure.
Elizabeth Taylor Guest Starred On The Show
Elizabeth Taylor was extremely famous, and she was also a huge fan of Luke Spencer and Laura Spencer on General Hospital. She wanted to be at their wedding on the show and just called the producers and demanded to be a guest star.
They created the role of Helena Cassadine for her, which she played for three episodes. Her character shocked wedding guests with a curse against the couple. She was paid two thousand dollars for her time on General Hospital, which she donated to charity.
Jackie Zeman Was A Playboy Bunny In 1972
Jacklyn Zeman plays Bobbie in General Hospital, but in the 1970s, she was a Playboy Bunny. She worked for the NY Playboy Club for roughly one year. Eventually, Zeman decided to focus more on acting and took on the role in General Hospital in 1977. In addition, she was the spokeswoman for Excedrin aspirin and works with the Home Shopping Network, where she designs and presents a signature line of jewelry.
When asked about Wendy Riche, she said, "God, I love her. I think she was an awesome producer. I would like to go on record as saying that when Wendy Riche was producing General Hospital, it had heart and soul and storylines that will resonate for the rest of my life. I just think she has so much to offer. That woman is amazing."
Anna Devane's Scar Eventually Disappeared
Finola Hughes plays the character of Anna Devane on General Hospital. When she first appeared on the soap opera, she had a long scar that later in the show disappeared.
However, it was a fake scar that she wore as her penance for working as a double agent. While on a train with Robert and Sean, Robert rips off her scar. She wore the scar because she had betrayed the World Security Bureau.
Since The Late 1970s, Most Of The Storylines Have Revolved Around The Quartermaine and Spencer Families
Most of General Hospital's storylines revolve around the Quartermaine and Spencer families. The Spencer family was created by Douglas Marland and included Bobby, Luke, Laura, Carly, Lucas, Michael, Cameron, Valerie, and Jake.
They are an adventurous bunch and are known for their longstanding feud with the Cassadine family. The Quartermaine family is a wealthy and prestigious family. The family consists of Edward, Lila, Alan, Tracy, and A.J., just to name a few. The family-owned business is ELQ International.
John Beradino
John Beradino started portraying Steve Hardy in General Hospital in 1963. He played the character for thirty-three years until he fell ill with pancreatic cancer and had to leave the show in 1996. He acted in more than forty-three hundred episodes.
In addition, John was a Major League Baseball infielder and was the only person that has won a World Series and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sadly, he succumbed to his cancer in 1996.
The Quartermaines' quirky Thanksgiving Tradition
The Quartermaine family has a quirky tradition of ordering pizza for Thanksgiving dinner every year. It all started when the family quarreling and anger at the dinner table made it necessary for takeout food to be ordered.
The family can be very unstable, but they do show that they have hearts. At Christmas, they do traditional family Christmas readings in the hospital's Pediatric Ward. They have had this tradition since the passing of former Chief of Staff Steve Hardy.
Leslie Charleson
Leslie Charleson appeared on General Hospital in 1977 as Monica Quartermaine. She is the chief cardiologist at the hospital and is the mother of Dawn Winthrop and A.J. Quartermaine. In addition, she is the adoptive mom of Jason Morgan and Emily Quartermaine and the widow of Dr. Alan Quartermaine.
Leslie has played Monica for forty-three years, making her the longest-serving cast member of General Hospital and one of the longest-serving stars on a daytime drama ever.
A Wedding Gift Of Prominence
The Quartermaine family lives in the Quartermaine Mansion in Port Charles and it has been their home since 1977. Alan Quartermaine got a job at General Hospital as a doctor.
He decided to buy the mansion for his new wife, Monica, as a wedding present. That's a pretty nice and expensive wedding gift. The mansion forms the center of activity for most of the series' action.
Daytime Emmy Top Dog
General Hospital has taken the title of Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, more than any other soap opera. The series has won thirteen Emmy Awards so far.
The show has also won the Writers Guild of America Award, the Directors Guild of America Award, and the Creative Arts Emmy Award. Several of the actors and actresses on the show have also received nominations and awards for their performances in the soap opera.
Getting Real
The show also explored the mob, showing mobster Sonny Corinthos' dark side, which was revealed to be aspects of undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
Sonny took over the Port Charles mob territory and became the mobster with a heart of gold. Sonny has a hot temper and has driven much of the show's plots in the twenty-first century.
The Haunted Star
The Haunted Star is a yacht that was turned into a nightclub and is now owned by Lulu Spencer. It has been a part of the show since the historic wedding of Luke and Laura in 1981. It was a spectacular wedding gift to the happy couple and has since become a place where characters get into trouble.
It is also continually one of the sponsors of the annual Nurses Ball charity event. The yacht originally arrived in Port Charles as the Cassadines cruise ship named the Titan.