About
"We'd always talk so slowly on 'As the World Turns' originally. I can't tell you how many people say, 'I learned to speak English watching your show. Because you spoke slowly.'"
In his nearly three-hour interview, Don Hastings talks about his early years in theater and radio. He then recalls his television debut on the DuMont network. He describes in great detail his regular role as "the Ranger" on the popular DuMont children's television series Captain Video and his Video Rangers. He discusses his work in soap operas starting with The Edge of Night, where he played "Jack Lane" from 1956-60. He then details his experiences on the series with which he is most associated, As the World Turns, where he played the role of "Dr. Bob Hughes" continually from 1960 until the end of the show in 2010 (eight years after the filming of this interview). For As the World Turns, Hastings talks about the creative team behind the series and working with his long-time co-stars (and their characters' relationships), as well as his then-current shooting schedule and how he goes about learning his lines. He also compares the eras that the show has seen and talks about some of his favorite storylines. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on November 21, 2002 in Millerton, NY.
Highlights
Don Hastings on As the World Turns switching from live to tape, on live bloopers, and on the use of cue cards
Don Hastings on doing a scene on As the World Turns which was preempted by the Kennedy assassination
Don Hastings on getting the role of "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns, and on the history of the character on the show
Don Hastings on his stint as a writer on As the World Turns, and on show creator Irna Phillips
Don Hastings on being cast and co-starring on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on how As the World Turns has changed over the years
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on getting into acting, and on early roles on radio; on appearing on Broadway in the play "Life with Father"
On various acting jobs on radio; on his early impressions of television, and on making his television debut on Magic Cottage; on appearing in various Broadway productions, and on working with Tennessee Williams
Chapter 2
On the Golden Age of Radio; on being cast and co-starring on Captain Video; on the premise of Captain Video and His Video Rangers
On the set and costumes of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the DuMont Television Network; on working with Richard Coogan who played "Captain Video" on Captain Video and His Video Rangers; on the shooting locations of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the crew of the show
On what it was like to act on live television in the 1950s; on on-air mishaps during Captain Video and His Video Rangers; on public reaction to Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Chapter 3
On the fame that came from Captain Video and His Video Rangers; on the villains on the weapons of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the messages of the show; on the end of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the legacy of the show
On the legacy of the DuMont Network and on Allen B. Du Mont; on appearing on Studio One; on appearing on various series after Captain Video and his Video Rangers
On appearing on The Edge of Night; on his Edge of Night character "Jack Lane"; on a typical workweek for The Edge of Night
Chapter 4
On appearing on Chevrolet Tele-Theater; on the cast and crew of The Edge of Night; on his favorite memories of The Edge of Night, and on making the transition to As the World Turns
On appearing on Decoy; on getting the role of "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns; on his role of "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns, and on how the character has changed over time
On how As the World Turns has changed over the years; on originally being a replacement on As the World Turns; on working with Ted Corday on the show
Chapter 5
On various storylines on As the World Turns; on his stint as a writer on As the World Turns, and on show creator Irna Phillips; on keeping As the World Turns fresh
On the process of getting his script and memorizing lines for As the World Turns; on As the World Turns switching from live to tape, on live bloopers, and on the use of cue cards; on the medical accuracy of As the World Turns
On the cast of As the World Turns; on his favorite As the World Turns storylines
Chapter 6
On doing a scene on As the World Turns which was preempted by the Kennedy assassination; on how soaps like As the World Turns are regarded, and how the perception has changed; on his decision not to retire and continue acting, and on his wife
On advice to an aspiring actor; on his mentors and on dealing with fame and celebrity; on career highlights
Shows
As the World Turns
Don Hastings on his favorite memories of The Edge of Night, and on making the transition to As the World Turns
Don Hastings on getting the role of "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns, and on the history of the character on the show
Don Hastings on his role of "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns, and on how the character has changed over time
Don Hastings on how As the World Turns has changed over the years
Don Hastings on originally being a replacement on As the World Turns, and on Ted Corday
Don Hastings on various storylines on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on his stint as a writer on As the World Turns, and on show creator Irna Phillips
Don Hastings on keeping As the World Turns fresh
Don Hastings on the process of getting his script and memorizing lines for As the World Turns
Don Hastings on As the World Turns switching from live to tape, on live bloopers, and on the use of cue cards
Don Hastings on the medical accuracy of As the World Turns
Don Hastings on Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on Don MacLaughlin as "Chris Hughes" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on Santos Ortega as "Pa Hughes" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on William Johnstone as "Judge James T. Lowell" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on Ruth Warrick as "Edith Hughes Frye" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on Eileen Fulton as "Lisa" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on the cast of As the World Turns
Don Hastings on his favorite As the World Turns storylines
Don Hastings on doing a scene on As the World Turns which was preempted by the Kennedy assassination
Don Hastings on how soaps like As the World Turns are regarded, and how the perception has changed
Don Hastings on the fan base of As the World Turns, and on the then-future of the show
Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on being cast and co-starring on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on the premise of Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on the set and costumes of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the DuMont Television Network
Don Hastings on working with Richard Coogan who played "Captain Video" on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on the shooting locations of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the crew of the show
Don Hastings on on-air mishaps during Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on public reaction to Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on the fame that came from Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on the villains on the weapons of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the messages of the show
Don Hastings on the end of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the legacy of the show
Chevrolet Tele-Theater aka Chevrolet on Broadway
Don Hastings on appearing on Chevrolet Tele-Theater
Edge of Night, The
Don Hastings on appearing on The Edge of Night
Don Hastings on his Edge of Night character "Jack Lane"
Don Hastings on a typical work week for The Edge of Night
Don Hastings on the cast and crew of The Edge of Night
Don Hastings on his favorite memories of The Edge of Night, and on making the transition to As the World Turns
Magic Cottage
Don Hastings on his early impressions of television, and on making his television debut on Magic Cottage
Studio One
Don Hastings on appearing on Studio One
Topics
Advice
Don Hastings on advice to an aspiring actor
Bloopers
Don Hastings on on-air mishaps during Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Don Hastings on his mentors
Fame and Celebrity
Don Hastings on dealing with fame and celebrity
Historic Events and Social Change
Don Hastings on doing a scene on As the World Turns which was preempted by the Kennedy assassination
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Don Hastings on doing a scene on As the World Turns which was preempted by the Kennedy assassination
Network Creation
Don Hastings on the set and costumes of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the DuMont Television Network
Pivotal Career Moments
Don Hastings on his mentors
Pop Culture
Don Hastings on dealing with fame and celebrity
Television Industry
Don Hastings on the set and costumes of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, and on the DuMont Television Network
Don Hastings on advice to an aspiring actor
Professions
Actor
Don Hastings on what it was like to act on live television in the '50s
Don Hastings on the process of getting his script and memorizing lines for As the World Turns
Don Hastings on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
Don Hastings on what it was like to act on live television in the '50s
Don Hastings on the process of getting his script and memorizing lines for As the World Turns
Don Hastings on advice to an aspiring actor
Genres
Children's Programming
Don Hastings on his early impressions of television, and on making his television debut on Magic Cottage
Don Hastings on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Don Hastings on appearing on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Classic Anthology Series
Don Hastings on appearing on Studio One
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Don Hastings on appearing on The Edge of Night
Don Hastings on appearing on The Edge of Night
Don Hastings on playing "Bob Hughes" on As the World Turns
Don Hastings on As the World Turns
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Don Hastings on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
People
Richard Coogan
Don Hastings on working with Richard Coogan who played "Captain Video" on Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Ted Corday
Don Hastings on working with Ted Corday on As the World Turns
Allen B. DuMont
Don Hastings on the legacy of the DuMont Network and on Allen B. Du Mont
Eileen Fulton
Don Hastings on Eileen Fulton as "Lisa" on As the World Turns
Don MacLaughlin
Don Hastings on Don MacLaughlin as "Chris Hughes" on As the World Turns
Santos Ortega
Don Hastings on Santos Ortega as "Pa Hughes" on As the World Turns
Irna Phillips
Don Hastings on his stint as a writer on As the World Turns, and on show creator Irna Phillips
Helen Wagner
Don Hastings on Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns
Ruth Warrick
Don Hastings on Ruth Warrick as "Edith Hughes Frye" on As the World Turns
Tennessee Williams
Don Hastings on appearing in various Broadway productions, and on working with Tennessee Williams