In 1978, Barbara Ryan -- now played by Colleen Zenk -- returned to Oakdale after an absence of several years. She rekindled her youthful romance with Tom Hughes, and was poised to marry him, when James Stenbeck re-entered her life, and she regained custody of Paul, the child she'd had by James and given up for adoption. After discovering what kind of man James truly was, Barbara devoted herself to protecting Paul from James, but one could easily argue that her efforts were for naught, considering how Paul turned out.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Barbara was one of the young heroines of ATWT, but after the death of second husband Gunnar, she underwent a drastic personality change, and pulled out all the stops to steal Tom away from Margo, whom Barbara never much cared for after she had an affair with James while he was still married to Barbara.
One of my earliest vivid storyline memories is Barbara leaving Tom at the altar. What's yours?
Rob, Barbara has had so many wonderful stories over the years but for some reason I always come back to Gunnar. That was my favorite romance and I remember being a kid root SO hard for them. Maybe because he died too soon that I felt cheated as a viewer (and never recovered!). :)
ReplyDeleteIt was fascinating to learn in Damon's interview with Colleen that Gunnar was almost brought back a couple of years ago. I would have been in heaven.
It was so need to read that Gunnar's return was contemplated. When Dusty returned, I myself thought it would have been great for Gunnar to have turned up alive. My recollection is that we did not see him die but, rather, he died in a plane crash overseas and Barbara (with the help of Brian McColl) eventually found what she believed to be his burial site. SO, in soapland, it would have been entirely plausible for him to come back. It would have been a nice change for Barbara instead of those repetitive "I will do anything I have to to protect my children" storylines she was saddled with the last few years
ReplyDeleteI can remember Barbara with James and his torturing of her--plus her romance with Gunnar, but I don't remember Barbara with Tom in the late 1970s. Who did Barbara nearly marry--Tom as played by Tom Tammi or Justin Deas? I assume with C. David Colson leaving the role of Tom sometime in (late?) 1978 and Colleen Zenk's Barbara coming to Oakdale in September '78 with a romance that disintegrated by Christmas of that year, she didn't have lots of scenes with C. David Colson's Tom before he left and was replaced by Tammi?
ReplyDeleteGosh, I wish we could see the episodes from the '70s. Heck, the ENTIRE run of the show!
I loved the Barbara & Gunnar storyline, too. BTW, I love this photo of Kathy/Kim & Colleen/Barbara! :-)
ReplyDeleteTom was played by Tom Tammi when Barbara left Tom at the altar. Tom left town shortly thereafter and returned in the guise of Justin Deas.
ReplyDeleteEarliest memory - two words, "Hello Barbara" !
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