Rituals (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Rituals is an American
soap opera
that aired in syndication through Telepictures
from September 10, 1984 to September 6, 1985. Created by Gene Palumbo
, Ken Corday
and Charlene Keel (she wrote a novel also called Rituals, but the show was very loosely based on the novel), 260 25-minute episodes were produced.
The series later aired France
from 1989 to 1990 under the name La Ligne de Chance.
town of Wingfield. The community was the home of Wingfield Mills and Chapin Industries, the town's leading employers. Also located in Wingfield was a boarding school
for girls called Haddon Hall. The story focused on the Chapin, Gallagher and Robertson families and the people who were connected with them either socially or professionally.
The story began with the death of Chapin family matriarch, Katherine, and while everyone mourned her, her long-absent daughter, Taylor (Jo Ann Pflug; Tina Louise) stepped off a helicopter holding a racehorse's victory wreath. Katherine's will
was read, setting off a round of battles and squabbles over the will.
Much of the focus of the show was set at Haddon Hall, the boarding school in town, which was run by the school's president, Carter Robertson, a man who didn't much like the Chapin family. Even when he was discovered to be Patrick Chapin's illegitimate son, he didn't change his views on the family. He was married to Christina Robertson, whose sister, Sara, was married to sleazy Eddie Gallagher, a working class man, who was shot and killed in self-defense
by his daughter, Haddon Hall student, Noel, for years of physical and sexual abuse. (This was the result of an on-air contest, to discover who the victim was, the killer, and the motive.)
The tendency to recast many of the show's main roles was one of the many reasons why the series didn't do so well, and at the end of one season, was taken off the air.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
that aired in syndication through Telepictures
Telepictures
Telepictures is an American production company, currently operating as a label of Warner Bros. Television, with Hilary Estey McLoughlin currently serving as President...
from September 10, 1984 to September 6, 1985. Created by Gene Palumbo
Gene Palumbo
Gene Palumbo was an American television producer and writer.-Career:Palumbo served as the Head Writer of the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light with L...
, Ken Corday
Ken Corday
Ken Corday is an American television soap opera producer and music composer. He is the son of the late Ted and Betty Corday...
and Charlene Keel (she wrote a novel also called Rituals, but the show was very loosely based on the novel), 260 25-minute episodes were produced.
The series later aired France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1989 to 1990 under the name La Ligne de Chance.
Storylines
The show took place in the fictional VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
town of Wingfield. The community was the home of Wingfield Mills and Chapin Industries, the town's leading employers. Also located in Wingfield was a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for girls called Haddon Hall. The story focused on the Chapin, Gallagher and Robertson families and the people who were connected with them either socially or professionally.
The story began with the death of Chapin family matriarch, Katherine, and while everyone mourned her, her long-absent daughter, Taylor (Jo Ann Pflug; Tina Louise) stepped off a helicopter holding a racehorse's victory wreath. Katherine's will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
was read, setting off a round of battles and squabbles over the will.
Much of the focus of the show was set at Haddon Hall, the boarding school in town, which was run by the school's president, Carter Robertson, a man who didn't much like the Chapin family. Even when he was discovered to be Patrick Chapin's illegitimate son, he didn't change his views on the family. He was married to Christina Robertson, whose sister, Sara, was married to sleazy Eddie Gallagher, a working class man, who was shot and killed in self-defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
by his daughter, Haddon Hall student, Noel, for years of physical and sexual abuse. (This was the result of an on-air contest, to discover who the victim was, the killer, and the motive.)
The tendency to recast many of the show's main roles was one of the many reasons why the series didn't do so well, and at the end of one season, was taken off the air.
The Robertsons
- Carter Robertson (Monte MarkhamMonte MarkhamMonte Markham is an American actor. During his career, Markham has appeared in film, in television, and on Broadway.Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, the son of Millie Content and Jesse Edward Markham, Sr., who was a merchant.Of his television roles, Markham is perhaps most famous for...
) Husband of Christina and Headmaster of girls school, Haddon Hall. He is the illegitimate son of Patrick Chapin. Was accidentally shot by his wife, Christina, and used a wheelchair for mobility. - Christina Robertson (Christine JonesChristine Jones (actress)Christine Jones is an American actress.Jones is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Janice Frame on the NBC soap opera Another World from 1978–1980 and again in 1989, but had also appeared as Amy Gifford on the series in 1977...
) Wife of Carter and sister of Sara Gallagher. She accidentally shot her husband, and devoted her life to taking care of him.
The Chapins
- Patrick Chapin (Dennis PatrickDennis PatrickDennis Patrick was a well-respected American character actor best known for his works in television shows such as Jason McGuire and Paul Stoddard in Dark Shadows, Somerset, Vaughn Leland in Dallas, movies such as Joe...
) Head of the Chapin family. Head of Wingfield Mills and Chapin Industries, as well as one of the wealthiest people in Wingfield. He is the father of Brady, Taylor and Carter Robertson, and the grandfather of Julia Field. The funeral of his wife, Katherine, was the opening scene of the show which eventually sets in motion most of the plotlines. He eventually died himself. - Brady Chapin (Marc Poppel in 1984, Jon LindstromJon LindstromJon Lindstrom is an American actor, writer, director, producer, and musician. He is well-known for his longtime role of Kevin Collins on the soap opera General Hospital from 1993–1997, 2003–2004 and then moved the character to Port Charles from 1997-2003.-Early life:Lindstrom was born and raised in...
from 1984-1985) Son of Patrick, brother of Taylor, and half-brother of Carter Robertson. He is an irresponsible playboy. - Taylor Chapin Field von Platen (Jo Ann PflugJo Ann PflugJo Ann Pflug is a former American motion picture and television actress, who retired in the 1990s.Pflug's first major role was as U.S. Army nurse Lt. Maria "Dish" Schneider in 1970's MASH. Other notable roles include the voice of Invisible Girl in the 1967 animated version of Fantastic Four, Lt...
in 1984, Tina LouiseTina LouiseTina Louise is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for her role as the "movie star" Ginger Grant on the television situation comedy Gilligan's Island .-Early life:...
from 1984-1985) Daughter of Patrick, sister of Brady, and half-sister of Carter Robertson. She was once married to C.J. Field, with whom she procreated Julia. Taylor is resented by her daughter. She made her first appearance at her mother's funeral stepping off a helicopter with a race horse's victory wreath. She is also involved with Logan Williams.- C.J. Field (Peter HaskellPeter HaskellPeter Abraham Haskell was an American actor who worked primarily in television.-Early years:Haskell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Rose Veronica Golden and geophysicist Norman Abraham Haskell...
) Wealthy former husband of Taylor Chapin and father of Julia, with whom he lives. - Julia Field (Andrea Moar) Daughter of Taylor Chapin and C.J. Field. She resents her absentee mother, Taylor, which prompts her to have a closer relationship with her father.
- C.J. Field (Peter Haskell
The Gallaghers
- Eddie Gallagher (Greg Mullavey) Husband of Sara, and father of Jeff and Noel Gallagher. He is the brother of Tom and Mike. Eddie owns a diner. He is murdered in self-defense by his daughter, Noel, for physically and sexually abusing her.
- Tom Gallagher (Kevin SpirtasKevin SpirtasKevin Blair Spirtas is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Craig Wesley on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Spirtas starred in the slasher film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood , started his career on Broadway with roles including Hugh Jackman's understudy in...
) Brother of Mike and Eddie. Husband of Diandra Santiago. - Mike Gallagher (Kin ShrinerKin ShrinerKin Shriner is an American actor, best known for playing Scott Baldwin on both daytime serials General Hospital and Port Charles .-Personal life:...
) Brother of Tom and Eddie. Husband of Lacey Jarrett. - Diandra Santiago Gallagher (Gina GallegoGina GallegoGina Gallego is an American actress, known for her work in television.Gallego was born in Los Angeles, California, daughter of Maria, a homemaker, and George Gallego, a landscape designer....
) Wife of Tom Gallagher. She is the daughter of a former Latin-American politician, Enrique Santiago. - Lacey Jarrett Gallagher (Philece SamplerPhilece SamplerPhilece P. Sampler is an American voice actress and television actress, whose credits include various characters in anime. She also goes by the aliases of Sue Beth Arden, Victoria Pryne, and Debra Cunningham...
) Wife of Mike Gallagher. She is an art teacher at Haddon Hall. - Sara Gallagher (Lorrine Vozoff in 1984, Laurie Burton from 1984-1985) Wife of Eddie Gallagher, and mother of Jeff and Noel. She is the sister of wealthier Christina Robertson, and tends to be kinder and more down-to-earth than her sister.
- Noel Gallagher (Karen KellyKaren KellyKaren Kelly is a camogie player and teacher, winner of two Soaring Star awards in 2009 and 2011 and played in the 2009 All Ireland junior camogie final. The leading scorer in her side's impressive march to the final, Karen has won two National League medals, Munster titles in the Junior and...
) Daughter of Eddie and Sara Gallagher, and sister of Jeff. She is a student at Haddon Hall. She killed her physically and sexually abusive father in self-defense. - Jeff Gallagher (Tim Maier) Son of Eddie and Sara, and brother of Noel.
The Washingtons
- Maddie Washington (Lynn Hamilton) The Chapin family housekeeper, and mother of Lucky.
- Lucky Washington (Randy Brooks in 1984, Lawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-Jacobs is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in a number of films and television programs, including Claudine , Cooley High , Roots , Welcome Back, Kotter , Bangers and Mash , and The Jacksons: An American Dream .Lawrence's name, at least as shown in the credits of Welcome...
from 1984-1985) Son of Maddie Washington.
The Lanes
- Dakota "Koty" Lane (Claire YarlettClaire YarlettClaire Yarlett is a British-born American actress, best known for her role as Bliss Colby in The Colbys, the spin-off series to the 1980s prime-time soap opera Dynasty....
in 1984, Mary Beth EvansMary Beth EvansMary Beth Evans is an American actress. She was born in Pasadena, California.-Career:Evans is most famous for her role as Kayla Brady Johnson in the soap opera Days of our Lives from 1986 to 1992, 2006 to 2009, and 2010 to present. Her character became half of the supercouple Steve and Kayla...
from 1984-1985) An actress, daughter of Cherry Lane. - Cherry Lane' (Sharon FarrellSharon FarrellSharon Farrell is an American television and film actress.-Career:Born as Sharon Forsmoe in Sioux City, Iowa, she made her acting debut in the 1959 film Kiss Her Goodbye...
) Mother of Dakota Lane.
Other characters
- Logan Williams (George LazenbyGeorge LazenbyGeorge Robert Lazenby is an Australian actor and former model, best known for portraying James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.-Early life:...
) An author, and paramour of Taylor Chapin. - Marissa Mallory (Patti DavisPatti DavisPatti Davis is an American actress and author. She is the daughter of former President of the United States Ronald Reagan and Reagan's second wife, First Lady Nancy Reagan...
in 1984, Janice Heiden from 1984-1985) A very manipulative woman, who was the show's primary villainess, aside from Taylor Chapin and Christina Robertson. - Bernhardt Kraus (Cameron SmithCameron SmithCameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
) A young man who married Haddon Hall student Patty DuPunt. - Michelle Davenport (Kelly Bennett) A student at Haddon Hall and friends with Noel Gallagher.
- Lisa Thompson (Wesley Ann Pfenning) A student at Haddon Hall and friends with Noel Gallagher.
- Patty DuPunt (Winifred FreedmanWinifred FreedmanWinifred Freedman is an American actress and singer primarily known for her roles in television.She is perhaps best known for playing Annette Mastorelli, Chachi Arcola's cousin and bass guitar playing bandmate in Joanie Loves Chachi, the short-lived spin-off of Happy Days...
) A student at Haddon Hall and friends with Noel Gallagher. She married Bernhardt Kraus.