TV: “Our Private World”

Apr. 24, 1965 - “Our Private World,” CBS-TV’s answer to “Peyton Place,” will make its debut May 5. A nighttime twice-a-week serial, “Our Private World” is a spin-off from the CBS daytime soap opera, “As the World Turns,” which has been turning for nine years. Now, the two “Worlds” of CBS, with some characters moving back and forth from one to the other, will become television’s latest device for stimulating nationwide small talk.

On “As the World Turns” (1:30 to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday), Eileen Fulton (pictured) portrays a principal character named Lisa Hughes, a divorcée with an 8-year-old son who lives with her. Lisa lives in Oakdale, a town that is stateless but is probably in the Midwest, as are most towns in radio and T.V. soap operas. 

In the early afternoon of May 5, Lisa will bid goodbye to Oakdale. That evening, at 9:30, a viewer still tuned to CBS will find that Lisa has started work in the admitting room of a Chicago hospital. Thereafter, on Fridays from 9 to 9:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m., a viewer can follow the adventures of Lisa.

On “Our Private World,” according to CBS, Lisa begins a “new search for life and tries to forget all the sorrow and problems of the past.” But in the story lines of “Our Private World” and “As the World Turns,” there will be cross references to circumstances in both shows. Allen Potter, producer of the evening serial, said there was a possibility that Lisa may be seen again on the daytime show.

Geraldine Fitzgerald has been assigned a principal role in “Our Private World.” She will portray a well-to-do widow with two sons who are partners in a law firm, a daughter in a mental institution, and another daughter just dismissed from college for failure to apply herself academically.

“Our Private World” was devised by Irna Phillips and William Bell, who also initiated the parent program. Miss Phillips has been writing soap operas for 35 years and is a consultant to ABC in the production of “Peyton Place.” Robert J. Shaw, who wrote some scripts for “Peyton Place,” is the writer for “Our Private World.”

“Our Private World” is booked only for a summer run. But if it’s a success, will it spoil CBS program plans for next fall?“If it’s a hit, it will stay,” said Michael Dann, vice president of programs.

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